Cable barrier separator apparatus

Abstract

A cable barrier separator apparatus for separating cables from the barrier support so that the barrier support can be replaced. The cable barrier separator apparatus includes an actuator assembly; and an engagement assembly in communication with the actuator assembly for separating cables from support devices.

Claims

1. A cable separator apparatus comprising: an engagement assembly comprising: a support bracket; a plurality of cable retaining members, each of the plurality of cable retaining members: being pivotally mounted to the support bracket at a proximal end, being configured to extend away from the support bracket in a first plane substantially orthogonal to the support bracket, and, comprising a cable retaining feature at a distal end; a bracket member disposed in the first plane between the plurality of cable retaining members, the bracket member: being configured to be extended, by an actuator, away from the support bracket along a first axis in the first plane, and, comprising, at a distal end of the bracket member, a cable engagement feature configured to retain a first cable in alignment across the distal end of the bracket member when the cable engagement feature is pressed against the first cable along the first axis of the bracket member during the extension of the bracket member away from the support bracket, wherein: the cable engagement feature comprises at least two intersecting surfaces extending away from the distal end of the bracket member, and the pivotal mounting of each of the plurality of cable retaining members is configured such that the cable retaining feature pivots closer to and further from the bracket member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cable retaining members are configured to pivot about corresponding pivot axes oriented substantially parallel to one another.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support bracket is provided with a wall and at least two wings extending outward from the wall in second and third planes substantially parallel to the first plane.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the cable retaining members is pivotally mounted to the support bracket by a corresponding support member passing through the two wings and through at least one aperture in the proximal end of the cable retaining member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable retaining feature comprises a hook.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cable engagement feature comprises a pair of planar sections secured to the bracket member to form a V-shape at the distal end of the bracket member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engagement assembly is configured such that, when at least two of the plurality of cable retaining features engage corresponding cables and the cable engagement feature engages the first cable, then operation of the actuator to extend the bracket member along the first axis causes the cable retaining members to operate against the corresponding cables to displace the first cable along the first axis relative to the corresponding cables.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to the support bracket.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the actuator operable to extend the bracket member along the first axis, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a piston coupled to the bracket member such that the bracket member and the hydraulic cylinder extend along the first axis.

11. A cable separator apparatus comprising: an engagement assembly comprising: a support bracket; a plurality of cable retaining members, each of the plurality of cable retaining members: being pivotally mounted to the support bracket at a proximal end, being configured to extend away from the support bracket in a first plane substantially orthogonal to the support bracket, and, comprising a cable retaining feature at a distal end; and, a bracket member disposed in the first plane between the plurality of cable retaining members, the bracket member: being configured to be extended, by an actuator, away from the support bracket along a first axis in the first plane, and, comprising, at a distal end of the bracket member a cable engagement feature configured to retain a first cable in alignment across the distal end when the cable engagement feature is pressed against the first cable along the first axis of the bracket member during the extension of the bracket member away from the support bracket, wherein the pivotal mounting of each of the plurality of cable retaining members is configured such that the cable retaining feature pivots closer to and further from the bracket member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of cable retaining members are configured to pivot about corresponding pivot axes oriented substantially parallel to one another.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the support bracket is provided with a wall and at least two wings extending outward from the wall in second and third planes substantially parallel to the first plane.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the cable retaining members is pivotally mounted to the support bracket by a corresponding support member passing through the two wings and through at least one aperture in the proximal end of the cable retaining member.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cable retaining feature comprises a hook.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cable engagement feature comprises a pair of planar sections secured to the bracket member to form a V-shape at the distal end of the bracket member.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the engagement assembly is configured such that, when at least two of the plurality of cable retaining features engage corresponding cables and the cable engagement feature engages the first cable, then operation of the actuator to extend the bracket member along the first axis causes the cable retaining members to operate against the corresponding cables to displace the first cable along the first axis relative to the corresponding cables.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a handle attached to the support bracket.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, the actuator comprising a hydraulic cylinder.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the hydraulic cylinder comprises a piston coupled to the bracket member such that the bracket member and hydraulic cylinder extend along the first axis.

21. A cable separator apparatus comprising: an engagement assembly comprising: a support bracket; a plurality of cable retaining members, each of the plurality of cable retaining members: being pivotally mounted to the support bracket at a proximal end, being configured to extend away from the support bracket in a first plane substantially orthogonal to the support bracket, and, comprising a cable retaining feature at a distal end; a bracket member disposed in the first plane between the plurality of cable retaining members, the bracket member: being configured to extend away from the support bracket along a first axis in the first plane, and, comprising, at a distal end of the bracket member a cable engagement feature configured to retain a first cable in alignment across the distal end when the cable engagement feature is pressed against the first cable along the first axis of the bracket member during the extension of the bracket member away from the support bracket; and, means for extending the bracket member along the first axis, wherein the pivotal mounting of each of the plurality of cable retaining members is configured such that the cable retaining feature pivots closer to and further from the bracket member.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the engagement assembly is configured such that, when at least two of the plurality of cable retaining features engage corresponding cables and the cable engagement feature engages the first cable, then operation of the means for extending the bracket member along the first axis causes the cable retaining members to operate against the corresponding cables to displace the first cable along the first axis relative to the corresponding cables.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a new cable barrier separator apparatus according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new cable barrier separator apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

(6) As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the cable barrier separator apparatus 10 generally comprises an actuator assembly 11; and an engagement assembly 20 in communication with the actuator assembly 11 for separating cables from a barrier support 54. The actuator assembly 11 includes a hydraulic cylinder 12 having a cylindrical barrel 13 and a piston 14 movable relative to the barrel 13 and also includes a control unit 15 conventionally mounted to the hydraulic cylinder 12 for actuating the piston 14. The control unit 15 includes a control module 16 and a lever 17 conventionally connected to the control module 16 for actuating the hydraulic cylinder 12. The actuator assembly 11 also includes a hose connector 18 conventionally coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 12 and in communication with the control unit 15 and adapted to be connected to a power source, and also includes a rigid handle member 19 conventionally coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 12 and the control unit 15.

(7) The engagement assembly 20 includes a support bracket 21 conventionally mounted to the hydraulic cylinder 12 with the barrel 13 conventionally disposed through the support bracket 21 and also includes hook members 28, 33 pivotally mounted to the support bracket 21. The support bracket 21 includes a wall 22 having opposed longitudinal edges 23, 24 with wings 25, 26 conventionally disposed along the opposed longitudinal edges 23, 24 and perpendicular to the wall 22. The engagement assembly 20 also includes hook support members 27 spaced apart and disposed through the wings 25, 25. Each of the hook members 28, 33 has a main portion 29, 34, a proximate portion 30, 35 terminating in an endless loop 31, 36, and also has a distal portion 32, 37 longitudinally curved and forming a hook for engaging a respective cable 50. The hook support members 27 are disposed through the endless loops 31, 36 of the hook members 28, 33 with the hook members 28, 33 being pivotal about the hook support members 27. The engagement assembly 20 also includes a bracket member 38 conventionally mounted to an end 51 of the piston 14. The bracket member 38 includes a tubular portion 39 having a closed end 41, an open end 40 and a bore 42 disposed therein with the piston 14 securely disposed in the bore 42 through the open end 40, and also includes a cable containment portion 43 conventionally attached at the closed end 41 of the tubular portion 39. The cable containment portion 43 includes a pair of planar sections 44, 45 angled away from one another and from the tubular portion 39 forming a V-shape with the cable containment portion 43 conventionally coupled to the tubular portion 39 at a junction of the planar sections 44, 45. The cable containment portion 43 also includes end sections 46, 47 each extending from a distal end 52, 53 of and angled relative to a respective planar section 44, 45 and angled inwardly of the cable containment portion 43 with the end sections 46, 47 being spaced apart and are angled towards one another to ensure that a respective cable 50 is retained by the cable containment portion 43. The engagement assembly 20 also includes a flexible handle 48 conventionally coupled to the support bracket 21 and further includes an adjustable brace 49 conventionally coupled to the support bracket 21 and to the hydraulic cylinder 12.

(8) In use, the cable barrier separator apparatus 10 is positioned adjacent to a barrier support 54. Cables 50 positioned to opposite sides of the barrier support 54 are engaged using the hook members 28, 33 and the bracket member 38. The hook members 28, 33 are engaged to the cables 50 positioned to one side of the barrier support and the bracket member 38 is engaged to the cable 50 to the opposite side of the barrier support 54. The hydraulic cylinder 12 is actuated to separate the cables 50 from the barrier support 54. The piston 14 and the bracket member 38 are moved away from the hook members 28, 33 separating the cables 50 from the barrier support 54.

(9) As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

(10) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(11) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the cable barrier separator apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.