Cable lasher
AssigneeGeneral Machine Products Company, Inc.
InventorsKevin J. Delaney, David Haskell, Layne Blavier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable lasher is provided for securing a utility cable, such as a telephone or transmission cable, to a support strand strung in the air between adjacent utility poles. The lasher is pulled forwardly along the support strand and releases lashing wire from a drum at the rear of the lasher. The lasher has a pair of drive wheels that rotate on the support strand. The drive wheels translate linear motion of the lasher into rotational motion of the drum as the lasher moves forwardly. Lashing wire is released from the rotating drum and helically wrapped around the cable and the strand. Tension in the lashed wire is maintained by an adjustable latch assembly which prevents the lasher from moving rearwardly to unwind the wire.
Claims19
A cable lasher operable on a support strand for attaching a cable to the support strand with wire, comprising:
- (a) a frame that is movable on the cable and the strand;
- (b) a rotating drum attached to the frame;
- (c) a gear assembly for translating motion of the frame on the strand to rotational motion of the drum;
- (d) a latch mechanism engaging the gear assembly for limiting reverse rotation of the drum;
- and
- (e) an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the engagement between the latch mechanism and the gear assembly.
A cable lasher operable on a support strand for attaching a cable to the support strand with wire, comprising:
- (a) a frame that is movable on the cable and the strand, said frame having a front end;
- (b) an elongated cavity in the frame having a width adapted to receive the cable and the strand;
- (c) a rotating drum attached to the frame;
- (d) a gear assembly for translating linear motion of the frame on the strand to rotational motion of the drum;
- and
- (e) a cable guide projecting from the front end of the frame outside of the cavity for supporting a cable as the cable enters the cavity;
- wherein the cable guide comprises a support bar having a rounded top edge for slidably engaging the cable.
A cable lasher operable on a support strand for attaching a cable to the support strand with wire, comprising:
- (a) a frame that is movable on the cable and the strand, said frame having a front end;
- (b) an elongated cavity in the frame having a width adapted to receive the cable and the strand;
- (c) a rotating drum attached to the frame;
- (d) a gear assembly for translating linear motion of the frame on the strand to rotational motion of the drum;
- (e) a cable guide projecting from the front end of the frame outside of the cavity for supporting a cable as the cable enters the cavity;
- and
- (f) a cylindrical roller disposed on the cable guide for rolling engagement with the cable, wherein the roller has a width equal to or greater than the width of the cavity.
A cable lasher operable on a support strand for attaching a cable to the support strand with wire, comprising:
- (a) a frame that is movable on the cable and the strand;
- (b) a rotating drum attached to the frame;
- (c) a drive wheel in contact with the strand that rotates as the frame moves on the strand;
- (d) a gear assembly driven by the drive wheel for translating motion of the frame on the strand to rotational motion of the drum;
- and
- (e) a releasable strand lock for releasably holding the strand in contact with the drive wheel to drive the drive wheel as the frame moves along the strand.
A cable lasher operable on a support strand for attaching a cable to the support strand with wire, comprising:
- (a) a frame that is movable on the cable and the strand;
- (b) a passage through the frame for receiving the cable and the strand;
- (c) a rotating drum attached to the frame;
- (d) a drive wheel in contact with the strand that rotates as the frame moves on the strand;
- (e) a gear assembly driven by a drive wheel for translating motion of the frame on the strand to rotational motion of the drum;
- (f) a strand bar displaceable between a closed position in which the bar is releasably retained in the passage in engagement with the strand for releasably holding the strand in contact with the drive wheel, and an open position in which the bar is moved out of the passage and out of engagement with the strand;
- and
- (g) a lever handle for alternately displacing the bar between the closed position and the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.