UNIVERSAL END FITTING AND FASTENER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH AN END FITTING

Abstract

An end fitting comprises a spigot end designed for reversibly fixing a wire rope to any type of functional part integral with or attached to a socket end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be made more readily apparent from the description of the embodiment below. This example is given by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a schematic perspective view of a spigot end in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic perspective cutaway view of the spigot end in FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a spigot end in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a spigot end in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4 a and 4b are schematic cross sectional views of an assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 c is a side view of the assembly shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b.

FIG. 4 d is a schematic cross sectional view along line D-D of the assembly shown in FIGS. 4a and 4c.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the socket unit in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6 a, 6b and 6c are schematic views of the structural assembly using the spigot unit in FIG. 3 and the socket unit in FIG. 6 shown respectively as a side view and cross sectional view.

FIGS. 7 a to 7c show various functional parts capable of incorporating the object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 a and 1b show a first embodiment of spigot end 100 which is the subject of the invention. Spigot end 100 comprises an outer shell 101 which is cylindrical overall and defines the main body of spigot end 100. Also, this shell 101 ends with a shoulder 120 which is used as an axial limit stop when the spigot end is in position in a matching socket end integral with or attached to a functional part. The external profile of shoulder 120 is determined depending on the constraints for gripping spigot end 100 and the aesthetic constraints associated with the connection of the volumes of the various parts.

Spigot end 100 comprises an axial housing 102 which here opens out at both ends of spigot end 100. Nevertheless and as required, axial housing 102 can be closed at one end. Axial housing 102 is designed to accommodate the wire rope (not shown) which is intended to be attached to spigot end 100.

To obtain this attachment of the wire rope inside housing 102, shell 101 has four openings 117, 118, etc. which are diametrically opposite relative to the axis of revolution of shell 101. Thus, the four openings are opposite each other two by two as shown in FIG. 1b. Openings 117 and 118 thus face two openings drilled in the wall of the shell opposite the axis of revolution. This way, it is possible to insert a rope fastener 116 through openings 117 and 118 and then reclose this rope fastener 116 at the outlet of the two opposite openings. Rope fastener 116 thus makes it possible to attach a wire rope in housing 102 of spigot end 100 and hence maintain their cohesion when the wire rope is subjected to tensile stress.

According to one advantageous aspect of the invention, a recess 115 is made in each of fins 111, 112 so as to fit the tip and the bases of rope fastener 116. Thus, no protrusion exceeds fins 111 and 112 and this facilitates cooperation of spigot end 100 with the matching socket end and avoids any protruding parts potentially capable of causing injury. Recess 115 here consists of a groove made by milling or molding in the middle of each fin 111 and 112.

In the example shown in the Figures, spigot end 100 is a plastic part but it can also be made of metal. Spigot end 100 can be obtained by machining or by molding operations and re-machining. The dimensions of spigot end 100, in particular the thickness of the walls that form its outer shell, are determined by the mechanical stresses likely to be exerted on spigot end 100 through the wire rope under tension. Thus the dimensions can be adapted to suit the intended application.

FIG. 2 shows spigot end 200 in accordance with the variation in FIG. 1. Equivalent elements have the same reference numbers plus 100.

Thus, spigot end 200 has outer shell 201 which is cylindrical overall and axial housing 202 which is open at both ends. The term “cylindrical” here denotes the shape of a straight cylinder. Similarly, spigot end 200 has shoulder 220 similar to shoulder 120 of spigot end 100.

In contrast, spigot end 200 has four rather than two fins 211-214 in the form of crown segments having a rectangular cross-section.

These four fins 211-214 are, according to the invention, diametrically opposite, two by two, relative to the axis of revolution of shell 201. In fact, increasing the number of fins makes it possible to improve retention of spigot end 200 in the matching socket end.

Also, the through-openings here are not machined in fins 211-214 but in outer shell 201. Nevertheless, they are also made at the level of recess or flat 215 which is capable of accommodating the protruding parts of the means of attaching the wire rope to spigot end 200.

FIG. 3 shows a spigot end 300 which has a structure similar to the two previous end fittings. This end fitting also has an overall cylindrical outer shell 301. In the example described, said spigot end has two fins 311 designed, as already described, to cooperate with corresponding recesses or housings made in the socket unit. These fins 311 are also an opening 317 designed to let through a rope fastener for fastening the wire rope at this level. The spigot end has a shoulder 320 similar to shoulder 120 of spigot end 100.

In this embodiment, end 321 of the spigot end opposite shoulder 320 comprises a bump 322 which protrudes relative to the plane which bounds said end. This bump 322 is, in this case, in the form of a crown segment. It is designed to cooperate with the bottom of the socket end with which the spigot end is designed to cooperate as described more precisely in relation to FIGS. 6a to 6c.

In addition, shell 301 of said spigot end has, in the vicinity of the end in question 321, a cut-out 323 which extends over part of its circumference. This cut-out 323 is designed to give the spigot end a certain degree of elasticity in this area despite the fact that said end fitting is made of a relatively rigid plastic material (polyoxymethylene or polyamide).

Because of this cut-out 323, spigot end 300 is capable of bending slightly when bump or protrusion 322 cooperates with the bottom of the corresponding socket end and, in particular, makes it possible to force reversible locking of the spigot unit in the socket unit as described below in greater detail.

FIGS. 4 a and 4b show an assembly in accordance with the present invention consisting of spigot end 400 and a functional part, in this case hook 450, which incorporates socket end 451, the geometry of which matches the geometry of spigot end 400. Spigot end 400 is in accordance with one or other of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 or 2. It is represented here in its secured position, i.e. fully inserted into socket end 451 and swiveled on itself in a position where its fins line up with the corresponding hollow housings of socket end 451 so as to form an axial limit stop which resists any tensile stress.

FIG. 4 c shows an attachment means 470 consisting of a nail or pin which can also be seen in FIG. 4d.

Besides this, cross-sectional view 4d shows two axial grooves 460 and 461 made in the lower part of socket end 451 in order to accommodate the fins of spigot end 400 when the latter is initially inserted translationally before the locking phase by swiveling. Obviously, the dimensions of each of the grooves 460 and 461 match the dimension of the fins of spigot end 400 including guidance clearance.

Thus, once the spigot end is in its final locked position as shown in FIG. 4c, tensile stresses exerted on the wire rope are transmitted by nail 470 to spigot end 400 and then, via the fins, to socket end 451 and hence finally to functional part 450 consisting here of a hook.

Also, the axial limit stop of socket end 451 is provided with a spike 471 which makes it possible to repel spigot end 400 when the latter reaches the end of its axial and radial travel. The wire rope is thus slightly compressed by spike 471 when spigot end 400 is in the process of swiveling on itself and is then released when spigot end 400 “drops back” into the housings provided for this effect for the fins. To achieve this, these housings are slightly axially offset relative to the intermediate position in which the spigot end swivels on itself. This produces a non-return function which prevents, without any external action, detachment of the spigot end from the functional part.

However, unlike assemblies according to the prior art, it is easy to detach spigot end 400 from socket end 451 in order to attach the wire rope to another matching socket end attached to another functional part.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the socket unit in accordance with the invention, more especially designed to cooperate with spigot end 300 described in FIG. 3.

This socket end is built into functional part 550 which once again consists of a hook. As already described in relation to FIGS. 4a to 4d, the geometry of this socket unit matches that of spigot end 300.

More specifically, said socket end is pierced by two holes 580 which may or may not pass through it and are designed to cooperate with fins 311, 312 of spigot unit 300. These holes 580 have, at the level of their base, a step or discontinuity 581 which defines an area 582 for stably accommodating said fins. Although only one hole is shown in FIG. 5, the other hole diametrically opposite is symmetrical with the hole shown relative to the axis of revolution of the socket end.

Said discontinuity 581 actually continues inside the socket end as far as the grooves similar to grooves 460, 461 of the socket end described in relation to FIGS. 4a to 4d which are also present in this embodiment in order to make it possible to insert the spigot end complete with its fins into said socket end. In order to force the lock consisting of said discontinuities 581, one must exert pressure on said spigot end in the direction of the bottom of the socket end, thus allowing the base of the fins to pass over said discontinuities, until, still due to cooperation of the spigot end with the socket end, said fins are naturally accommodated in stable reception areas 582 and are maintained there.

In other words, once one has overcome the opposing resistance due to cooperation of axial limit stop or bottom 583 of the socket end with bump 322 of the spigot end whilst exerting a rotational force on the latter, said cooperation exerts a spring effect and causes positioning and retention of said fins in this stable position 582, thereby constituting a non-return mechanism and preventing any risk of inopportune detachment of the spigot end from the functional part.

Detaching the spigot end from the socket end uses the same principle, only the direction in which the spigot end is rotated is reversed.

FIGS. 6 a to 6c show, in greater detail, cooperation of spigot end 300 with functional part 550.

The cooperation of bump or protrusion 322 of the spigot end with the axial limit stop or bottom 583 of the socket end of functional part 550 is illustrated in particular.

FIGS. 7 a to 7c show examples of various functional parts such as a hook with an elastic catch (FIG. 7a), a screwed plate (FIG. 7b) and an adjustable end fitting (FIG. 7c).

Other embodiments of the invention are possible without extending beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A spigot end for reversibly fixing a wire rope to any type of functional part which is integral with or attached to a socket end, wherein: said spigot end is defined by an outer shell which is cylindrical overall in shape, said outer shell comprising at least one fin,said spigot end comprises an axial housing adapted to accommodate the wire rope;said shell has at least one through opening for accommodating a means for attaching said wire rope which means passes through said wire rope, andsaid spigot end is adapted to cooperate with said socket end like a bayonet.

2. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell has two or four diametrically opposite openings relative to an axis of revolution of said shell.

3. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axial housing is open at both ends.

4. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises two symmetrical diametrically opposite fins relative to an axis of revolution of said shell.

5. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises four symmetrical diametrically opposite fins, two by two, relative to an axis of revolution of said shell.

6. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one fin comprises crown segments having a rectangular cross-section which segments are concentric relative to said shell.

7. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is machined through the at least one fin.

8. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a recess at a level of each opening, said recess being adapted to accommodate a tip of attachment means.

9. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the spigot end has a shoulder adapted to cooperate with a functional part.

10. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of end of the spigot end has a partial extension forming a protrusion adapted to cooperate with a bottom or axial limit stop of the socket end with which the spigot end is intended to cooperate.

11. A spigot end as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outer shell has, in a vicinity of the one end, a cut-out for giving an end fitting a certain degree of elasticity in said vicinity.

12. A fastener assembly comprising a functional part to be reversibly attached to an elastic or non-elastic wire rope, wherein the wire rope is attached to said functional part by means of a spigot end as claimed in claim 1, an end fitting being adapted to cooperate with a socket end integral with or attached to said functional part, said socket end having a housing with a geometry which matches a geometry of the spigot end so as to cooperate with said socket end reversibly like a bayonet.

13. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the socket end has, for each of fins on the spigot end, a housing with a geometry which matches a geometry of a fin to be accommodated, said housing comprising an axial retention surface for absorbing tensile stresses exerted on the wire rope.

14. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the socket end comprises two axial grooves in a lower part to accommodate fins of the spigot end when the spigot end is initially inserted translationally into said socket end before a locking phase by swiveling.

15. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the socket end comprises non-return means adapted to cooperate with the spigot end and for opposing inopportune detachment of said spigot end from the socket end.

16. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the non-return means comprises two holes which may or may not pass through the assembly and are adapted to cooperate with fins of the spigot end, said holes having, at a base level, a discontinuity defining an area for stably accommodating said fins and extending into the socket end as far as grooves.

17. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the socket end has an axial limit stop surface provided with a spike to repel said spigot end in housings provided for fins of said spigot end, thus causing slight compression of the wire rope when the spigot end swivels on itself in order to cooperate with the socket end, said compression being stopped when said spigot end positions itself in the housings provided for the fins, thus fulfilling a non-return function.

18. A fastener assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the functional part is chosen from a group comprising a hook, a hook with an elastic catch, a lug, a spring hook or a screwed plate.

19. A spigot end as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching comprises a pin or a rope fastener.

20. A spigot end as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cut-out enables the end fitting to bend slightly during cooperation with a corresponding socket end.