Cable Daydreaming

[Pelorus]

I have invented (but only in my mind, sadly) a better mousetrap for static cable systems.....mebbe. You gotta use your imagination here a bit, cause drawing sketches electronically or otherwise is a bit of an insurmountable hurdle. This is what I'm thinking:

A cam lock (think vice grips) with encompassing pit bull jaws to grip the cable. Very short stubby handles (to slip a pair of detachable pipes onto.)
No adjustable threaded bolt required. Clamp it down and BAM, you're done. Like castrating a bull calf!

Your thoughts and input would be welcome. I am just throwing this idea out there for inventive personalities here (such as PC and yoyoman) to ponder.
No need to send any royalty cheques this way.

 

[Pelorus]

If youse don't jump on this quick, I might have to shop the idea out to folks on AS or Treehouse. Just sayin'!!!
I think the Ole Pelorus System is gonna revolutionize static cabling.
Remember, BAM, you're done!

First guy to enter into a licence agreement with Sherrill wins!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Adding some sort of lock to keep the clamp jaws in place gives more security.

Rigguy cabling system might be a good one to develop it.

 

[Pelorus]

Hardened / Tempered serrated jaws moulded to grip around the entire circumference of cable. I think Vise grip would have the existing tooling and expertise to develop this if possibly interested. If anyone wants to take a stab at the OPS, be my guest and have at it. Patents and lawyers and engineers exceed my realm of incompetence / disposable $$$.
I don't think a locking mechanism would be needed, Tom. Adjust a pair of normal vise grips so that you have to really squeeze down on the handles to get them to set. Without cheating (by using the release lever), how hard is it to get them to release by just pulling the grips apart; it is kinda sporty, ain't it!. With the OPS, you would have very short "handles"; pipes needed for leverage to set them or release them.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

What you're thinking of is a crimp sleeve for seven strand I think.

If so, I don't think that crimp sleeves are designed to take the load/unload shock that they'd be subjected to in trees. They're meant for static loads or low impact loads.

Not saying that you're not on a good track though. Keep going...

 

[Pelorus]

If a crimp sleeve is like a nicopress fitting, then no.
I want the OPS to be removable if/when necessary, and the tool itself IS the clamp. In order to be able to keep dimensions and weight of the cam clamp (OPS) small, you would need to have detachable handles that thread into the upper and lower levers of the cam. Imagine a pair of vice grips with detachable handles, with no quick release lever, and no threaded adjustment knob.

A simple, compact, fairly inexpensive, powerful cable gripper. You would only need to buy one set of handles to fit any / all of the various OPS sizes, (for different cable diameters). They don't have to be machine threaded handles either. The typical handles that come with hydraulic jacks are pinned, so you just insert and turn to lock them in place for use.