Clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement

A clamp block comprising:

• a. a symmetrically trapezoidal cavity defined by a set of side surfaces of a pair of blocks which are attached to a top surface of a grip base;
• b. a pair of wedges each of a right angle reciprocal triangular shape, fitting within the symmetrically trapezoidal cavity, and having
• i. a bottom surface that is substantially planar and is in a sliding contact with the top surface of the grip base,
• ii. an outer surface, comprising the hypotenuse of the right angle reciprocal triangular shape that is in sliding contact with the respective side surface of the blocks such that the wedges can contact one another, and
• iii. an inner surface having a planar edge that is perpendicular to the grip base and a semi-cylindrical void wherein the planar edge and semi-cylindrical void of each wedge, when in contact, together form a cylindrical void;
• and
• c. wherein the clamp block is configured to grip a tensile implement that is substantially cylindrical in the cylindrical void, and wherein the diameter of the cylindrical void is approximately equal to the diameter of the tensile implement.

A method of clamping a tensile implement using a clamp block comprising the steps of:

• a. providing the tensile implement to be clamped;
• b. providing the clamp block comprising
• i. an attachment point,
• ii. a grip base having a planar top surface,
• iii. a pair of grip blocks attached to the attachment point and to the grip base, each one of the blocks of the pair of blocks having a bottom surface that is substantially planar fixed to the grip base and also having an inner side surface that is perpendicular to the grip base and defined by a plane, the planes of the respective blocks intersecting at an acute angle,
• iv. a top plate attached to the pair of blocks, and
• v. a cavity between the inner surfaces of the pair of blocks;
• c. providing a plurality of pairs of wedges, each one of the wedges of each of the pairs of wedges of the plurality of wedges having
• i. a bottom surface that is planar and is in a sliding contact with the top surface of the grip base,
• ii. an outer surface that is perpendicular to the grip base, is in sliding contact with the respective inner side surface of the blocks, and is defined by the plane that defines the inner surface of the blocks such that the wedges slide along the plane and are in sliding contact with the inner surface of the blocks, and
• iii. an inner surface having a planar edge that is perpendicular to the grip base and a semi-cylindrical void wherein the planar edge and semi-cylindrical cavities of each wedge of any pair of the plurality of pairs of wedges are symmetrical and parallel such that when the planar edges of each wedge of any pair of wedges are in contact, each of the semi-cylindrical voids together form a cylindrical void;
• d. providing a hammer or mallet capable of imparting blows onto the wedges;
• e. measuring the diameter of the tensile implement;
• f. selecting the pair of wedges from the plurality of pairs of wedges that has a cylindrical void diameter closest to the diameter of the tensile implement without being larger than the diameter of the tensile implement;
• g. inserting the pair of wedges into the cavity between the inner surfaces of the pair of blocks;
• h. placing the tensile implement into the cylindrical void of the pair of wedges;
• and
• i. hammering each of the wedges of the pair of selected wedges with the hammer or mallet until the wedges securely envelop the tensile implement within the cylindrical void.