Automatic cable gripping device

Apparatus for gripping a cable or the like comprising:

• (a) a housing having an axial bore which tapers from a larger first end to a smaller second end;
• (b) a pair of planar slide plates mounted to the interior of said housing in opposition;
• (c) cable engaging means having opposing cable engaging faces and planar outer faces mounted in sliding contact with said pair of planar slide plates for relative movement therealong with each of said cable engaging members being tapered from a thicker end to a narrower end such that the planar outer faces are substantially parallel to the taper of said axial bore and said cable engaging faces are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing;
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• (d) means for urging said cable engaging members toward said second end including an annular bearing member abutting said cable engaging members distal said smaller end and a spring-like member retained within said housing in abutting relationship with said annular bearing member opposite said cable engaging members;
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• (e) means for disengaging said cable engaging members from said cable to remove said cable from said apparatus including a first tubular member adapted to receive said cable therethrough and having a first end operatively connected to said cable engaging members to effect concomitant axial motion therewith and independent radial motion relative thereto, said tubular member having a second end having a threaded surface threadedly engaging a threaded inner surface of a first end of a second tubular member with said first and second tubular members being relatively rotatable to move said first tubular member axially within said second tubular member.

Apparatus for automatically gripping a cable or the like comprising:

• (a) a housing defining an internal cavity which is a substantially conical surface having an apex and a base region with the longitudinal axis of said housing being open at said apex and base region, said conical surface having a pair of spaced apart linear recesses formed therein converging from said base region to said apex and aligned with said longitudinal axis;
• (b) means slideably mounted within said pair of linear recesses for gripping a cable inserted through said apex long said longitudinal axis including a plurality of opposing cable gripping surfaces aligned parallel to said longitudinal axis with each cable gripping surface terminating in a beveled surface proximal said apex for receiving a cable therebetween such that insertion of said cable therein urges said cable engaging means along said linear recesses;
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• (c) biasing means mounted within said housing for urging said cable gripping means toward said apex such that said cable gripping surfaces are urged toward abutment with each other, including an annular bearing member positioned within said housing and engaging said gripping means and a compression spring mounted within said housing and bearing against said annular bearing member to urge said gripping means toward said apex.

Apparatus for automatically gripping a cable or the like comprising:

• (a) a housing defining an internal cavity which is a substantially conical surface having an apex and a base region with the longitudinal axis of said housing being open at said apex and base region, said conical surface having a plurality of linear recesses formed therein aligned with said longitudinal axis, each of said pair of linear recesses defined by a planar surface formed in said housing and inclined substantially parallel to said conic surface;
• (b) means slidably mounted within said pair of linear recesses for gripping a cable inserted along said longitudinal axis including a planar portion abutting said planar surface and a cable gripping surface extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• (c) biasing means mounted within said housing for urging said cable gripping means toward said apex, including an annular bearing member positioned within said housing adjacent said gripping means and a compression spring mounted within said housing and bearing against said annular bearing member to urge said gripping means toward said apex;
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• (d) means for selectively disengaging said gripping means from said cable to remove said cable from said apparatus including a first tubular member inserted within said cavity and receiving said cable therethrough having one end adapted for connection to said gripping means for concomitant axial movement therewith and independent radial movement relative thereto and a second end having an extended thread formed thereon to engage a threaded second tubular member such that relative rotation therebetween moves said first tubular member axially relative to said second tubular member.