Helical wire-conical wedge gripping device having conically formed rod

Abstract

A deadending device for guy cables and the like is provided which gives enhanced holding power (typically above the rated strength of the cable) while being relatively inexpensive to produce and easy to field install. The device includes a frustoconical, cable-receiving wedge block, preformed gripping wires for application to the cable and about the block, and a socket for receiving the block and surrounding wire portions. The gripping wires are permanently preformed during manufacturing using a novel method to present, adjacent one end thereof, an arcuate section configured to generally define a portion of an imaginary frustoconical surface complemental with the wedge block periphery. In this manner the wires substantially self-align in an even pattern about the block, and the need for wire-holding flanges or the like on the block or socket is completely eliminated. Preferably, an initially helical, multiple-strand wire subset is bent at two selected locations adjacent one end of the wire to form the arcuate, block-conforming section; this simple operation not only gives the proper wire configuration, but also orients the wires so that, upon application, portions thereof are slightly spaced from the block in such manner that the wires resiliently engage and hold the block in place to facilitate final assembly with the socket.