Method and apparatus for locking assemblies
Locking assemblies are provided for connecting to a stranded element. The locking assemblies include a housing with a receiving bore, locking bore, and aperture. The stranded element enters the housing through the receiving bore. A drive shaft can advance a locking element in the locking bore such that the locking element contacts the stranded element to apply a force to secure the stranded element to the locking assembly. Ends of the stranded element can be pushed by the locking element out of the housing through the aperture. The locking assemblies can be used for mechanical and/or electrical connections. Examples of stranded elements include electrical wires, mechanical stranded cables, rope, and other multi-strand materials.
1. A locking assembly, comprising:
a housing having a receiving portion, a locking portion and an exit portion disposed between the receiving portion and the locking portion;
a receiving bore within the receiving portion of the housing, the receiving bore adapted to accommodate a multiple strand element;
a locking bore within the locking portion of the housing, the locking bore adapted to accommodate a locking element;
an aperture formed in the housing exit portion in communication with the receiving bore or the locking bore;
a locking element within the locking bore; and
a drive shaft adapted to advance the locking element along the locking bore and into direct contact with the multiple strand element.
2. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the multiple stand element is a multiple strand wire cable, a multiple strand wire rope, a multiple strand electrical cable, a multiple strand fiber rope, a multiple metal strand strap, or a multiple strand fiber strap.
3. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is adapted and configured as a battery terminal.
4. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive shaft is adapted to advance the locking element along the locking bore by rotation within the locking bore.
5. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein after the locking element has engaged with the multiple strand element a portion of the multiple strand element extends beyond the housing exit portion.
6. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein after the locking element has engaged with the multiple strand element a portion of the multiple strand element extends beyond the housing exit portion and lays against a housing outer surface.
7. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein after the locking element has engaged with the multiple strand element a portion of the multiple strand element adjacent to the locking element is formed to remain within the aperture.
8. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving bore central longitudinal axis is vertically offset and generally parallel to the locking bore central longitudinal axis and the aperture is only in communication with the locking bore.
9. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture is sized to prevent passage of the locking element outside of the housing when the locking element is positioned in the aperture.
10. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving bore within one side of the housing receiving portion and the locking bore within one side of the locking portion are on opposite sides of the housing.
11. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the receiving bore or the locking bore have a section of decreasing diameter between the portion of the bore nearest a housing surface and the aperture or wherein the receiving bore or the locking bore has a section of decreasing diameter between the portion of the bore nearest a housing surface and the aperture and a section of increasing diameter between the portion of the bore nearest a housing surface and the aperture, or wherein the receiving bore or the locking bore has an hourglass shape along the central longitudinal axis.
12. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking element is a ball or a wedge.
13. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking element is formed from one or more of steel, soft steel, hard steel, aluminum, brass, or copper and/or wherein a portion of the locking element deforms when forced against the multiple stand element.
14. The locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from metal, plastic, steel, treated steel, steel alloys, stainless steel, or carbon steel.
15. The locking assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a sleeve over a portion of the housing sized to cover at least a portion of the aperture and a portion of the multiple strand element disposed within or extending beyond the aperture or a sleeve over a portion of the housing sized to completely cover the aperture and the portion of the multiple strand element disposed within or extending beyond the aperture.
16. The locking assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a locking ring over a portion of the housing sized to cover at least a portion of the aperture and a portion of the multiple strand element disposed within or extending beyond the aperture, or a locking ring over a portion of the housing sized to completely cover the aperture and the portion of the multiple strand element disposed within or extending beyond the aperture or a locking ring over a portion of the housing sized to completely cover the aperture and the portion of the multiple strand element disposed within or extending beyond the aperture and a portion of the multiple strand element extending from the receiving bore.
17. The locking assembly of claim 16 wherein the locking ring is adapted and configured for threaded engagement with an outer surface of the housing or wherein the locking ring is adapted and configured for sliding engagement with the housing.
18. The locking assembly of claim 1 further comprising a portion of the housing formed into or coupled to a battery terminal connector or a portion of the housing formed into or coupled to a welding terminal connector, serial battery terminals, a quick connect or disconnect device, distributor cap, an end to end splice, or a turnbuckle.
19. The locking assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a compression element within the locking bore between the drive shaft and the locking element.
20. The locking assembly of claim 19 the drive shaft further comprising a cavity or a reduced diameter section to at least partially house a portion of the compression element.
21. The locking assembly of claim 20 wherein the compression element is a spring.