Cable installing and adjusting method

Abstract

Apparatus and method for installing or replacing each of a plurality of cables, each of which is in the form of a loop extending over one of a plurality of sheaves and below a generally horizontally disposed kiln or drum for suspending said kiln or drum from said sheaves for rotation, while the other sheaves and cables support said kiln or drum. Such apparatus includes a connector releasably connecting terminal end portions of said cable for forming said loop, and elements cooperating with such connector and cable for effecting the releasable connection between said portions of each cable, and the seating and tensioning of each newly installed cable to take a share of the load equal to that of each of the other cables while said load is carried by the other cables. The steps of the method include preforming a uniform section of each terminal end portion of the new, or replacement cable between first holding forces applied at the ends of each section with corresponding bends, and then, while so held, said cable is slack-positioned over a sheave and below the kiln or drum to form an endless loop disposed in one plane, and said sections are then held by a second holding force. Thereafter, said first holding forces are removed and the loop of said cable between said sections are tensioned by applying a pulling force on one of said sections outwardly of said loop while restricting movement of the other section until the tension of said loop is substantially equal to the tension of the corresponding loops of the other cables, and then holding the tension of said one cable against slackening while removing the pulling force from said one of said sections.