Wire rope clamp, rope thimble, cat's paw wire clip 32mm

The wire rope clamp connection method commonly uses the clamp fixing method. The commonly used wire rope clamps include the saddle type, pressure plate type, and fist grip type. Among these, the saddle type has the strongest connection force and is the most widely used. The pressure plate type comes next, while the fist grip type, due to its lack of a base, easily damages the wire rope and has poor connection force, so it is only used in less critical areas.

When using wire rope clamps, the following points should be noted:

a) When selecting a clamp, ensure that the inner clear distance of the U-bolt is 1–3 mm larger than the diameter of the wire rope. If it is too large, the clamp connection will not be tight, which can easily lead to accidents.

b) When installing the clamp, the bolt must be tightened until the rope is compressed by 1/3 to 1/4 of its diameter. After the rope is under load, tighten the clamp bolt once more to ensure the connection is secure and reliable [2].

c) The clamps should be arranged in the same direction, with the U-shaped part in contact with the rope end and not the main rope. If the U-shaped part contacts the main rope, the main rope may be compressed and prone to wire breakage under load.

d) To facilitate checking the reliability of the connection and detecting any slippage of the wire rope, an additional clamp can be installed about 500 mm behind the last clamp, with the rope end forming a "safety loop." This way, if the wire rope at the connection slips, the "safety loop" will straighten first, indicating that immediate measures should be taken to address the issue.