Connector for synthetic and coated wire rope

Abstract

A sleeve for terminating synthetic rope and coated wire rope has a body and a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel formed within the body. Each of the first, second, and third channels form a trilobular opening within the sleeve for receiving and crimping wire rope. The wire rope can have an eye splice formed at one end. A method of crimping the trilobular sleeve includes feeding the rope through the first channel of the trilobular sleeve, looping the rope through the second channel of the sleeve and then through the third channel of the trilobular sleeve, inserting the sleeve between upper and lower crimp dies, and pressing the sleeve between the dies, thereby crimping the sleeve to the rope.

1 . A sleeve for terminating wire rope, comprising:
 a body;   a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel formed within said body, wherein each of said first, second, and third channels form a trilobular opening within said sleeve for receiving wire rope.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said first channel, said second channel, and said third channel are interconnected. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first channel, said second channel, and said third channel comprises a plurality of teeth and recesses formed between said teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of teeth of each of said first, second, and third channels extend inwardly toward a center of said sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is fabricated from metal. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , further comprising a liner which is installed directly on said plurality of teeth on said first, second, and third channels. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein said liner is formed of rubberized plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein said liner forms a gripping surface between said sleeve and said rope. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve of  claim 8 , wherein said liner conforms to said teeth and recesses of said sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein said liner is formed of three separate tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein said liner is formed of a single tube comprising three openings. 
     
     
         12 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is an extruded sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is a mechanical sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said wire rope further comprises an eye splice and thimble positioned within said eye splice, wherein a first end of said wire rope is fed through said first channel of said sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve of  claim 14 , wherein a second end of said rope is looped through said second and third channels of said sleeve forming a loop back of the rope. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein a loop strap is provided to limit said loop back of the rope.