High Tension Release Jumper Cable

Abstract

A high tension release jumper cable and, more specifically, a safety device to be used when releasing the tension on a high tension cable guard rail system is provided. The high tension release jumper cable may be used by fire and rescue personnel to safely release the tension on a cable of a high tension cable guard rail system when necessary to conduct a rescue, recovery, or extraction. The high tension release jumper cable includes a safety cable with a high power clamp mounted on each end. The two clamps are clamped to the cable of the cable guard rail system while leaving slack in the safety cable. The cable of the cable guard rail system may then be slowly cut, while the clamps and safety cable ensure that the proper amount of tension is safely released from the cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety device comprising:
 a first clamp;   a second clamp; and   a safety cable, wherein the safety cable includes a first end and a second end and wherein the first clamp is secured to the first end of the safety cable and the second clamp is secured to the second end of the safety cable;   wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each comprise:
 a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, wherein the movable jaw is pivotally connected to the stationary jaw and wherein the stationary jaw includes a handle; 
 an articulated lever between the stationary jaw and the movable jaw for moving the movable jaw relative to the stationary jaw, wherein a first section of the articulated lever is pivotally connected to the movable jaw and a second section of the articulated lever contacts the stationary jaw, wherein the first section of the articulate lever and the second section of the articulated lever are pivotally connected, and wherein the first section of the articulated lever includes an operating handle; and 
 a retractable member, wherein the retractable member includes a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the retractable member is secured to the movable jaw and the second end of the retractable member is secured to the stationary jaw; 
 wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each have a locked configuration wherein the movable jaw and the stationary jaw may engage a cable of a roadside safety system and an unlocked configuration wherein the movable jaw and stationary jaw are shifted away from each other and may disengage from the cable of the roadside safety system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the stationary jaw of the first clamp includes a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The safety device of  claim 2  wherein the stationary jaw of the first clamp further comprises a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam lock is encased within the rolling cam lock housing. 
     
     
         4 . The safety device of  claim 2  wherein the movable jaw of the first clamp includes a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The safety device of  claim 4  wherein the movable jaw of the first clamp further comprises a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam lock is encased within the rolling cam lock housing. 
     
     
         6 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the stationary jaw of the second clamp includes a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The safety device of  claim 6  wherein the stationary jaw of the second clamp further comprises a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam lock is encased within the rolling cam lock housing. 
     
     
         8 . The safety device of  claim 6  wherein the movable jaw of the second clamp includes a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The safety device of  claim 8  wherein the movable jaw of the second clamp further comprises a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam lock is encased within the rolling cam lock housing. 
     
     
         10 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the stationary jaw of the first clamp and the stationary jaw of the second clamp each include a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration and wherein the movable jaw of the first clamp and the movable jaw of the second clamp each include a rolling cam lock, wherein the rolling cam lock has a generally elliptical configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The safety device of  claim 10  wherein the stationary jaw of the first clamp and the stationary jaw of the second clamp each further comprise a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam locks of the stationary jaw of the first clamp and the stationary jaw of the second clamp are encased within the rolling cam lock housing and wherein the movable jaw of the first clamp and the movable jaw of the second clamp each further comprise a rolling cam lock housing and the rolling cam locks of the movable jaw of the first clamp and the movable jaw of the second clamp are encased within the rolling cam lock housing. 
     
     
         12 . The safety device of  claim 11  wherein each rolling cam lock includes a roughened working surface. 
     
     
         13 . The safety device of  claim 12  wherein the working surface includes teeth. 
     
     
         14 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the retractable member is configured to cause the first clamp and the second clamp to automatically shift from a locked configuration to a unlocked configuration when the first clamp and the second claim are released from their locked configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the operating handle of the articulated lever of the first clamp and the operating handle of the articulated lever of the second clamp each include a release lever that is pivotally attached to the operating handle comprising an operating section and a release section and wherein the release lever is operated by pressing the operating section toward the operating handle. 
     
     
         16 . The safety device of  claim 15  wherein the operation of the release lever of the first clamp causes the first clamp to shift from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration, and wherein the operation of the release lever of the second clamp causes the second clamp to shift from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The safety device of  claim 15  wherein the second section of the articulated lever of the first clamp and the second section of the articulated lever of the second clamp each include an arcuate portion projecting from the second section and wherein the operation of the operating section of the release lever causes the release section of the release lever to contact the arcuate portion. 
     
     
         18 . The safety device of  claim 17  wherein the contact of the release section of the release lever of the first clamp with the arcuate portion of the second section of the articulated lever of the first clamp causes the first clamp to shift from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration, and wherein the contact of the release section of the release lever of the second clamp with the arcuate portion of the second section of the articulated lever of the second clamp causes the second clamp to shift from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The safety device of  claim 1  wherein the first clamp is pivotally connected to the first end of the safety cable and the second clamp is pivotally connected to the second end of the safety cable. 
     
     
         20 . A method for releasing the tension on a cable of a roadside safety system comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a safety device comprising:
 a first clamp; 
 a second clamp; and 
 a safety cable, wherein the safety cable includes a first end and a second end and wherein the first clamp is secured to the first end of the safety cable and the second clamp is secured to the second end of the safety cable; 
 wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each comprise: 
 a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, wherein the movable jaw is pivotally connected to the stationary jaw and wherein the stationary jaw includes a handle; 
 an articulated lever between the stationary jaw and the movable jaw for moving the movable jaw relative to the stationary jaw, wherein a first section of the articulated lever is pivotally connected to the movable jaw and a second section of the articulated lever contacts the stationary jaw, wherein the first section of the articulate lever and the second section of the articulated lever are pivotally connected, and wherein the first section of the articulated lever includes an operating handle; and 
 a retractable member, wherein the retractable member includes a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the retractable member is secured to the movable jaw and the second end of the retractable member is secured to the stationary jaw; 
 wherein the first clamp and the second clamp each have a locked configuration wherein the movable jaw and the stationary jaw may engage a cable of a roadside safety system and an unlocked configuration wherein the movable jaw and stationary jaw are shifted away from each other and may disengage from the cable of the roadside safety system; 
   (b) securing the first clamp of the safety device to the cable of the roadside safety system at a first location;   (c) securing the second clamp of the safety device to the cable of the roadside safety system at a second location, such that there is slack in the safety cable of the safety device;   (d) cutting the cable of the roadside safety system at a location between the first location and the second location.