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US 12,000,456 B2Granted
System and method for damping forces exerted on a cable
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsDag Holen, Kristian Tindvik, Rune Skibsrud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damper includes an upper connector configured to be connected to a cable. The damper also includes a lower connector configured to be connected to a load. The damper also includes a body extending between and connecting together the upper and lower connectors. The body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to experience greater plastic strain than the second portion.
Claims11
A damper, comprising:
- an upper connector configured to be connected to a cable;
- a lower connector configured to be connected to a load;
- a cover positioned between the upper and lower connectors;
- a body extending between and connecting together the upper and lower connectors, wherein the body is positioned at least partially within the cover, wherein the body permanently increases in length in response to a tensile load applied to the body by the cable and the load, and wherein the body comprises:
- a first portion that is substantially straight and extends longitudinally between the upper connector and the lower connector;
- and
- a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to experience greater plastic strain than the second portion, wherein the second portion comprises two laterally offset portions, wherein the first portion is positioned at least partially between the two laterally offset portions, wherein each of the two laterally offset portions of the second portion comprises a plurality of continuous loops and a tortuous portion, wherein the tortuous portion comprises a plurality of turns extending in opposite upward and downward directions over a common distance between the upper connector and the lower connector, wherein the plurality of turns comprises first, second, and third turns over the common distance arranged laterally outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the damper, and wherein the body comprises a one-piece configuration having the first and second portions;
- and
- a visual indicator that becomes visible once the body has increased in length, wherein the visual indicator is disposed on the body separate from the first and second portions.
6 more elements
A damper configured to dampen a force exerted on a cable when a load that is supported by the cable experiences a downward acceleration, the damper comprising:
- an upper connector configured to be connected to the cable;
- a lower connector configured to be connected to the load;
- a body configured to be connected to the upper connector and the lower connector, wherein the body permanently increases in length in response to dampening the force, and wherein the body comprises:
- a middle portion that is substantially straight and extends longitudinally between the upper connector and the lower connector;
- a first laterally offset portion;
- and
- a second laterally offset portion, wherein the middle portion is positioned between the first and second laterally offset portions, wherein the middle portion is configured to experience more plastic strain than the first and second laterally offset portions when the force is greater than a first threshold, wherein the middle portion is configured to stretch more than the first and second laterally offset portions when the force is greater than the first threshold, wherein the first and second laterally offset portions are configured to at least partially straighten while the middle portion stretches, wherein the middle portion is configured to break, and the first and second laterally offset portions are configured to remain intact, when the force is greater than a second threshold, wherein each of the first and second laterally offset portions comprises one or more continuous loops and a tortuous portion, and wherein the body comprises a one-piece configuration having the middle portion, the first laterally offset portion, and the second laterally offset portion;
- a cover positioned between the upper and lower connectors, wherein the body is positioned at least partially within the cover;
- and
- a visual indicator that is hidden under the cover before the body increases in length, wherein the visual indicator becomes visible below the cover once the body has increased in length, and wherein the visual indicator is disposed on the body separate from the middle portion, the first laterally offset portion, and the second laterally offset portion.
7 more elements
A damper, comprising:
- a first connector;
- a second connector;
- a body extending between and connecting together the first and second connectors, and wherein the body comprises:
- a first portion that is substantially straight and extends longitudinally between the first connector and the second connector;
- and
- a second portion having a plurality of turns between the first connector and the second connector, wherein the plurality of turns of the second portion define an S-shape in a vertical position along a longitudinal axis of the damper when arranged in a vertical orientation, a top of the S-shape faces toward the first connector, a bottom of the S-shape faces toward the second connector, a first linking portion extends from the top of the S-shape along a height of the S-shape toward the second connector, and a second linking portion extends from the bottom of the S-shape along the height of the S-shape toward the first connector, wherein the S-shape is laterally between the first and second linking portions in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the body comprises a one-piece configuration having the first and second portions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.