Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to crane wire rope assemblies.

Background of the invention

A general problem with current crane wire ropes is that the end of the wire defining the eye is subject to wear and tear. If the eye is damaged, the entire wire rope must be replaced. This problem is especially pronounced for a ferrule- secured eye termination, made by forming an eye, which is secured by means of a ferrule pressed on the rope. There are two main types, the Flemish eye, and the turn back loop. The Flemish eye is an eye termination where the wire rope end is split in two parts of three or four strands each, which are laid together again in the opposite direction, forming an eye which is symmetrical to the rope axis. The tails of the strands are distributed equally around the main body of the rope. They are fixed in this position by means of a ferrule. The turn back loop is an eye termination, where the rope as a whole is bent to form an eye, the rope end being fixed onto the main body of the rope by means of a ferrule. Both eye termination types may be protected by a thimble. Thimbles are used to protect the eyes of wire rope from abrasion by providing a solid steel barrier between the fragile wire rope strands and the other rigging fitting used in the connection.

Thimbles also prevent eye deformation or kinking by giving structure to the cable eye.

It is therefore desirable to provide a solution, which can solve above mentioned problems.

GB509683A discloses a cover for a spliced wire or other rope eye consisting of a casting, which encases the whole eye and part of the splice and provides a bearing for a shackle.

US20150298770A discloses rope termination devices with flexible members for accommodating fleet angle in the rope without undue frictional wear on the rope. A metal connector is fastened to a tail with a flexure in a direction perpendicular to a plane through an axial centerline of the rope termination device. The rope wraps around the tail and the metal connector, lying in a passage formed around an exterior of the components, and may be secured by an overbraid jacket applied around the tail portion of the rope termination device.

DE202010004704U1 discloses an eye part with attached wire rope. The eye part is configured as a thimble made of a metallic material and encloses one end of the wire rope.

Detailed description of the invention

One aspect relates to a crane wire rope assembly comprising:

- a crane wire rope with an eye termination; and

- a housing adapted for covering the eye termination of said crane wire rope. Preferably, the housing is configured as a crane wire rope counterweight.

The housing is preferably made such that it is slidably mounted to the crane wire rope. The housing is preferably made from a weatherproof material, such as a polymeric material, such as polycarbonate, or polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD), or preferably of steel, such as stainless steel or zinc plated steel.

In one or more embodiments, the housing is configured as a crane wire rope counterweight. A certain tensile load in the wire rope is required so that crane wire ropes can be securely wound up or unwound even when there is no load on the crane hook. Therefore, a hook counterweight is normally provided through which the wire is stretched in order to generate the required tensile load. This embodiment adds an additional function to the counterweight by also using it as a cover for the eye termination of the crane wire rope. Thereby, a more compact solution is provided.

As discussed in the background section, the problem with wear and tear is especially pronounced for crane wire ropes with a ferrule-secured eye termination, made by forming an eye, which is secured by means of a ferrule pressed on the rope. In one or more embodiments, the eye termination is secured by means of a ferrule pressed on the crane wire rope, and wherein the housing is adapted for hanging on the ferrule. Thereby, the ferrule is used to align the housing relative to the eye termination.

In one or more embodiments, the housing comprises a cavity defined by one or more walls. The cavity is present to hold the eye termination such that the walls functions as a cover. The cavity preferably comprises a first end or part, and a second end or part, and wherein the first end or part comprises a channel adapted for receiving a part of the crane wire rope. This configuration allows the housing to be slidably mounted to the crane wire rope. The second end or part preferably comprises a plate of a polymeric material, preferably an elastomeric material, such as rubber, said plate comprising one or more side edges. The cavity is adapted for holding the eye termination of said crane wire rope. The primary function of the plate is to prevent water from entering the cavity. Preferably, the plate is a disc.

As used herein, the term "elastomeric material" means and includes elastomeric polymers and mixtures of elastomeric polymers with plasticizers and/or other materials. Elastomeric materials are elastic, i.e. , capable of recovering size and shape after deformation. As used herein, the term "elastomeric polymer" means and includes a polymer capable of recovering its original size and shape after deformation. In other words, an elastomeric polymer is a polymer having elastic properties. Elastomeric polymers may also be referred to as "elastomers" in the art. Elastomeric polymers include, without limitation, homopolymers (polymers having a single chemical unit repeated) and copolymers (polymers having two or more chemical units). A suitable example is rubber. Examples of suitable rubbers are styrene-butadiene (SBR), butadiene-acrylonitrile (NBR), isobutene-isoprene (HR), and butadiene (BR).

In one or more embodiments, the wall(s) of said cavity comprises a recess adapted for receiving the side edge(s) of said disc, thereby allowing said plate to be releasably fastened thereto.

In one or more embodiments, the cavity comprises a first end or part, and a second end or part, said first end or part being relatively smaller than the second end or part.

In one or more embodiments, the first end or part comprises the channel adapted for receiving a part of the crane wire rope. In one or more embodiments, the first end or part is further adapted as a guide and a stop for the ferrule, thereby allowing the housing to hang on said ferrule. Preferably, the second end or part is adapted for holding the eye termination positioned below said ferrule.

In one or more embodiments, the wall(s) of the second end or part of said cavity comprises a recess adapted for receiving the side edge(s) of said disc, thereby allowing said plate to be releasably thereto.

In one or more embodiments, the crane wire rope assembly further comprises a shackle releasably fastened to the eye termination, said shackle preferably comprising a bow, ears, a pin, and a shoulder. The shackle makes it easier to replace a hook or other tool with another type of hook or other tool.

In one or more embodiments, the crane wire rope assembly further comprises a shackle releasably fastened to said eye termination, wherein the shackle comprises a bow, ears, a pin, and a shoulder, wherein at least a part of the bow is positioned within said cavity, wherein said plate comprises one or more holes adapted for receiving a part of said bow, thereby allowing said bow to extend therethrough. This embodiment prevents the shackle from hitting the housing during operation. Thereby, both the shackle and housing are less prone to scratches that often leads to oxidation (i.e. , rust) and tear of the steel.

In the present context, the term “shackle” is to be understood as a u-shaped, load bearing connecting device designed to be used with a removable pin. A shackle typically comprises a bow, ears, a pin, and a shoulder. The bow is the curved portion of the shackle body opposite the pin, often referred to as the bail, body, dee, or bowl. The ears are the portion of the shackle body that support the shackle pin. The pin is a bolt, preferably of steel, made to span the two shackle ears. The shoulder is the part of the pin that makes contact against the ear when the pin is fully threaded or engaged. Many different sub-types of shackles exist, such as screw pin, bolt type, and round pin. On a screw pin shackle, a threaded pin is inserted through the ears and tightened down. Screw pin shackles are quick and easy to connect and disconnect so they’re convenient when the hook is often exchanged/replaced. Round pin shackles consist of a round unthreaded pin that is secured in place with a cotter pin. These perform well in applications where the pin may be subjected to torque or twisting. A bolt type shackle is a more secure version and features the combination of a bolt and nut located alongside a cotter pin. Bolt type shackles remain secure even when the shackle is subjected to rotation or torque and are therefore practical in many rigging applications, where the anchor bolt is expected to experience some rotation. The tightening nut and the cotter pin eliminate the need to tighten the pin prior to every lift or movement of a load, so bolt type shackles are excellent choices for semi-permanent or long-term installations, or where the load may slide on the shackle pin causing it to rotate.

In one or more embodiments, the plate comprises one or more drainage holes adapted for removing any water entering said cavity.

In one or more embodiments, the crane wire rope assembly further comprises a hook, preferably of steel, such as stainless steel.

A second aspect relates to a crane comprising a crane wire rope assembly according to the present invention.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or "approximately" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about", it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a crane wire rope assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a crane wire rope assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a housing for a crane wire rope assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a housing for a crane wire rope assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a bottom plate for a housing for a crane wire rope assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of the figures

Preferred embodiments of crane wire rope assemblies 100 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The only difference between the two embodiments is that the embodiment of Figure 1 includes a hook 150. The crane wire rope assembly 100 comprises a crane wire rope 110 with an eye termination 112, and a housing 120 adapted for covering the eye termination 112 of the crane wire rope 110. The eye termination 112 is secured by means of a ferrule 114 pressed on the crane wire rope 110, and the housing 120 is adapted for hanging on the ferrule 114. The housing 120 may be of any watertight material, such as plastic or metal, but is preferably of metal, such as stainless steel, as the housing may be configured as a crane wire rope counterweight. The housing 120 is here shown with a cavity 122 defined by one or more walls. The cavity 122 comprises a first end or part 122A, and a second end or part 122B. The first end or part 122A comprises a channel 124 adapted for receiving a part of the crane wire rope 110. This configuration allows the housing to be slidably mounted to the crane wire rope. Furthermore, wherein the first end or part 122A is adapted as a guide and a stop for the ferrule 114, thereby allowing the housing 120 to hang on the ferrule 114. The second end or part 122B is adapted for holding the eye termination 112 of the crane wire rope 110, and comprises a plate 130, here a disc due to the shape of the cavity, of a polymeric material, preferably an elastomeric material, such as rubber. The disc 130 (see also Figure 5) comprises a side edge 132, and the second end or part 122B of the cavity 122 comprises a recess 126 (see Figure 3) adapted for receiving the disc’s side edge 132. The disc 130 (see Figure 5) also comprises two drainage holes 136 adapted for removing any water entering the cavity 122.

The crane wire rope assembly 100 comprises a shackle 140 releasably fastened to the eye termination 112 of the crane wire rope 110. The shackle 140 (see Figure 2) comprises a bow 142, two ears 144, a pin 146, and a shoulder 148. A part of the bow 142 is positioned within the second end or part 122B of the cavity 122 and the bow 142 extends the disc 130 via two holes 134 (best seen in Figures 4 and 5).

References

100 Crane wire rope assembly

110 Crane wire rope

112 Eye termination

114 Ferrule

120 Housing

122 Cavity

124 Channel

126 Recess

130 Plate

132 Side edge

134 Hole

136 Drainage hole

140 Shackle

142 Bow

144 Ear

146 Pin

148 Shoulder

150 Hook