An adjustable length tensioning member that comprises a rope, a first connector on the rope, a second connector on the rope, and a plurality of connection points between the first connector and the second connector is disclosed. The plurality of connection points have a diameter greater than a diameter of the rope. The rope may be passed through a socket coupled to a first crane component and one of the connectors on the rope is coupled to a second crane component. One of the plurality of connection points engages a seat on the socket to tension the rope between the socket and the connection point.

Advanced components that are useful in providing a compact overall cable termination for a multi-stranded cable and in providing for the control and inspection of the individual components of a multi-stranded cable. Multiple individual cable strands are provided with a termination on their free end. These terminations are connected to a collector. An advanced collar is provided that assists in the transition of the strands as they leave the collector and transition to the structure found in the free portion of the cable.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a shape memory alloy rope socket for a downhole tool is disclosed. The rope socket includes a coupler formed of a shape memory alloy. The rope socket further includes a housing surrounding the coupler. The housing including a pathway and a connector for attaching a downhole tool is attached. The rope socket further includes a line passing through the pathway and the coupler such that the coupler is in contact with the line along a length of the coupler when the coupler is in a reduced diameter state.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a shape memory alloy rope socket for a downhole tool is disclosed. The rope socket includes a coupler formed of a shape memory alloy. The rope socket further includes a housing surrounding the coupler. The housing including a pathway and a connector for attaching a downhole tool is attached. The rope socket further includes a line passing through the pathway and the coupler such that the coupler is in contact with the line along a length of the coupler when the coupler is in a reduced diameter state.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

A method for straightening, constraining, cutting and terminating a multi-stranded, non-parallel cable. The method includes: (1) dividing the cable into smaller components which are in the size range suitable for the prior art termination technology; (2) creating a termination on the end of each of the smaller components; (3) providing a collector which reassembles the individual terminations back into a single unit; and (4) maintaining alignment between the terminations and the smaller components while the terminations and the collector are in a connected state.

Actuator (100) for an adjustable component, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wire (10) made of a shape memory alloy having a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12) and extending in an axial direction (A) over a variable length (L); an actuating element (20) movable in the axial direction (A) between a first position (I) and a second position (II); a floating support (30) by which the wire (10) is movably supported in the axial direction (A); a fixed support (33) by which the wire (10) is fixedly disposed in the axial direction (A); at least one abutment (40, 45) connected to the floating support (30) or the fixed support (33) and provided with a through-opening (41, 46) for the wire (10) and a support surface (42, 47) adapted to transmit a force in the radial direction (R); and having at least one elastically deformable connecting element (60, 65) which has a receiving opening (61, 66) for the wire (10), which has a variable diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) and in which the wire (10) is clamped in the region of the first end portion (11) or the second end portion (12), and a contact surface (62, 67) which abuts against the support surface (42, 47) of the abutment (40, 45). By shortening the length (L) of the wire (10), a tensile force (F.sub.Z) can be transmitted from the wire (10) to the connecting element (60, 65, 69) by means of which the actuating element (20) can be moved from the first position (I) into the second position (II) and the contact surface (62, 67) can be braced against the support surface (42, 47) in such a manner that a counterforce having a component acting in the radial direction (R) is applied to the connecting element (60, 65) by the abutment (40, 45), the counterforce reducing the diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) of the receiving opening (61, 66) in order to retain the wire (10) in the connecting element (60, 65).

Actuator (100) for an adjustable component, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wire (10) made of a shape memory alloy having a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12) and extending in an axial direction (A) over a variable length (L); an actuating element (20) movable in the axial direction (A) between a first position (I) and a second position (II); a floating support (30) by which the wire (10) is movably supported in the axial direction (A); a fixed support (33) by which the wire (10) is fixedly disposed in the axial direction (A); at least one abutment (40, 45) connected to the floating support (30) or the fixed support (33) and provided with a through-opening (41, 46) for the wire (10) and a support surface (42, 47) adapted to transmit a force in the radial direction (R); and having at least one elastically deformable connecting element (60, 65) which has a receiving opening (61, 66) for the wire (10), which has a variable diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) and in which the wire (10) is clamped in the region of the first end portion (11) or the second end portion (12), and a contact surface (62, 67) which abuts against the support surface (42, 47) of the abutment (40, 45). By shortening the length (L) of the wire (10), a tensile force (F.sub.Z) can be transmitted from the wire (10) to the connecting element (60, 65, 69) by means of which the actuating element (20) can be moved from the first position (I) into the second position (II) and the contact surface (62, 67) can be braced against the support surface (42, 47) in such a manner that a counterforce having a component acting in the radial direction (R) is applied to the connecting element (60, 65) by the abutment (40, 45), the counterforce reducing the diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) of the receiving opening (61, 66) in order to retain the wire (10) in the connecting element (60, 65).

A toggle can secure a cable relative to a structure with a fixing aperture. A body of the toggle can include a cable portion and a set of side walls. The cable portion can receive and secure the cable. The side walls can extend away from the cable portion to define a channel, with the channel being at least partly open along one or more sides of the toggle body. The toggle body can be configured to engage the structure along a loading side of the body to secure the cable relative to the structure.