wire rope clips how to use quotation
Wire rope clip is otherwise known as a wire rope clamp, wire cable clamp, wire clamp, wire clip, U-bolt, etc. It is widely used for making eye-loop connections or join two wire rope cable ends together. The traditional styles of wire rope clips usually have three components: a U-shaped bolt, a forged or cast iron saddle, and two nuts.
The wire rope clips are available in a range of sizes and finishes, while you can easily find the difference from the appearance, traditional wire clips with u bolt, saddle and nuts, fist grip, stamped cable clamp.
Cast and malleable wire rope clips can only be used under light duty loads applications with relatively light loads, such as handrails, fencing, guard rails, etc.
While the drop forged wire rope clip variety is recommended for important, critical or sustaining overhead loads, such as guy lines, support lines, scaffolding, etc. The drop forged wire rope clips can be used in critical suspending, guying, and tie-down applications for the die forging process make them strong and more durable and the heating and hammering steps make their structure to be consistent and conform to the shape of the forged item.
Simplex and duplex cable clamps are also known as single stamped wire clip and double stamped cable clip are composed of stamping plate, saddle, and bolts, feature an aesthetic design, used for outdoor light duty applications.
Wire rope clips are available in a variety of materials and finishes but basically three types of materials, carbon steel, cast, malleable iron, and stainless steel.
Carbon steel wire rope cable clamps are galvanized, or hot dipped galvanized, the galvanised metal wire clamp has an added zinc layer to prevent rusting and protect against scratching and the addition of carbon corresponds with an increase in the hardness and strength of wire rope cable clamps. G, but stainless steel wire rope clamps are the best choice for corrosion-resistant applications that can be used for saltwater environments.
Commonly wire rope clamp installation is very simple, there’s a well-known saying can help you remember how to attach wire rope clips, that reads “never saddle a dead horse.” Just follow the recommendation ways:
Keep three or more wire rope clips attached at the end of the wire rope dead end, space between each wire rope clip should be at least 6 times the wire rope diameter.
You can see the correct and incorrect ways of installation from the following pictures and find how many wire rope clips to use at one wire rope loop.
The saddle shall be placed on the live end of the wire rope, with the U-bolt on the dead-end side—Remember the well-known saying: “Never saddle a dead horse.” Use at least two or three wire rope clips to secure the ends properly to the length of the rope, and tighten nuts evenly one by one until reaching the recommended torque.
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Sometimes called a u-bolt,u-bolt clip or cable clip, they can be used to join two wire rope ends together, make an eye for a pulling application, or to secure the loose end of a wire rope after a wedge socket (or other appropriate device) has been used to terminate a crane’s hook.
ASME B30.9 states that wire rope clips shall not be used to fabricate wire rope slings, except where the application of slings prevents the use of prefabricated slings.
ASME B30.9 states wire rope clips shall be drop-forged steel of single saddle (u-bolt) or double saddle clip. Malleable cast iron clips shall not be used.
Wire rope clips diminish the working load limit of the wire rope to generally about 70-75% of its original strength. There are better and more efficient ways to fabricate slings for overhead lifting.
For situations where use of wire rope clips are approved, it’s important to remember the proper way to install the clips. Incorrect installation can reduce the working load limit by 40% or more. The easiest thing is to remember, “never saddle a dead horse.”
To comply with manufacturer’s specification the correct number of clips must be installed correctly andtightened to the correct torque using a torque wrench. The correct installation technique is shown below.
The bridge of the wire rope clip should always be placed on the load bearing part of the rope. The U-bolt ofthe clip should be placed on the rope tail, also known as the “dead end” of the rope.
The first clip must be placed one bridge width from the turned back rope tail or dead end of the rope,according to figure 1. Tighten nuts to the specified torque.
The second clip must be placed immediately against the thimble but nevertheless in such a position that thecorrect tightening of the clip does not damage the outer wires of the wire rope (figure 2). Tighten the nutsfirmly but not yet to the specified torque.
During assembly and before the rope is taken into service, the nutsmust be tightenedonce again to theprescribed torque. After the load is applied for the first time, the torque value must be checked again andcorrected if necessary. Periodically re-tightening of the nuts must be done at 10.000 cycles (heavy usage),20.000 e.g. every 3 months, 6 months, annually.
In addition, for clips to work properly and gain their design efficiency, the proper number of clips is required and the nuts must be torqued as prescribed by the manufacturer. For more information on proper installation, check out this video from the Crosby Group.
If you have more questions on wire rope clips, comment below. Remember that Safety through Education is more than just our motto, it is our guiding principle. If you need training on proper application on any other rigging hardware, reach out to us. We are here for you.
Wire Rope Clips can have lots of helpful uses – they are a simple fitting that can be easily used in the field or shop. Sometimes called a u-bolt or u-bolt clip, they can be used to join two wire rope ends together, make an eye for a pulling application, or to secure the loose end of a wire rope after a wedge socket (or other appropriate device) has been used to terminate a crane’s hook.
But using clips to create wire rope slings for overhead lifting is NOT one of their many uses. Did you know that not only is it a poor rigging practice to fabricate slings in this manner, in the U.S. it is against the law?
ASME B30.9 states that wire rope clips shall not be used to fabricate wire rope slings, except where the application of slings prevents the use of prefabricated slings.
ASME B30.9 states wire rope clips shall be drop-forged steel of single saddle (u-bolt) or double saddle clip. Malleable cast iron clips shall not be used.
Why these restrictions? Wire rope clips diminish the working load limit of the wire rope to generally about 70-75% of its original strength.There are better and more efficient ways to fabricate slings for overhead lifting.
For situations where use of wire rope clips are approved, it’s important to remember the proper way to install the clips. Incorrect installation can reduce the working load limit by 40% or more. The easiest thing is to remember, “never saddle a dead horse.”
The saddle of the clip is the piece that the U bolt fits into. The dead end of a wire rope is the end of the eye that contains the cut side. The U bolt should always be in contact with the dead end, while the saddle should be on the live end.
In addition, for clips to work properly and gain their design efficiency, the proper number of clips is required and the nuts must be torqued as prescribed by the manufacturer. For more information on proper installation, check out this video from the Crosby Group.
If you have more questions on wire rope clips, comment below. Remember that Safety through Education is more than just our motto, it is our guiding principle. If you need training on proper application on any other rigging hardware, reach out to us. We are here for you.
Wire rope is an extremely versatile mechanical device that can be used to help support and move an object or load. Whether for use on cranes or for other lifting applications, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the rigging components that are being used to attach to and lift a load.
As a rigger or end-user of wire rope, it’s necessary to understand the types of wire rope end termination, or treatments that can be used at the ends of a length of wire rope—one of the most common being wire rope clips.
Wire rope clips can be used to form a load bearing eye at the end of a cable or wire rope, or to connect two cables together with a lap splice. Wire rope clips are popular because they can be installed in the field and provide 80-90% efficiency of the rope breaking strength, depending on the diameter of the wire rope.
As a general guideline, they are NOT to be used for making slings, as ASME B30.9 Slingsstandard states: “Mechanical wire rope terminations requiring periodic adjustment to maintain efficiency shall not be used to fabricate slings.”
There are two main types of wire rope clips—U-Bolt and double saddle clips. U-Bolt wire rope clips are the most common and may be made of forged or malleable metal.
This type of wire rope clip is essentially a U-bolt, two nuts, and a metal base (saddle) that can be made from forged steel or cast iron. Careful consideration and attention must be given to the way U-bolt type wire rope clips are installed.
The base of the wire rope clip is made from forged steel. Forged clips are heated and hammered into the desired shape—resulting in a consistent grain structure in the steel. Forged wire rope clips are used for critical, heavy-duty, overhead loads such as winch lines, crane hoist lines, support lines, guy lines, towing lines, tie downs, scaffolds, etc.
Malleable wire rope clips are used for making eye termination assemblies only with right regular lay wire rope and only for light duty uses with small applied loads, such as hand rails, fencing, guard rails, etc. The base of the wire rope clips is made from malleable cast iron, which may fracture under heavy use and does not have the desirable metal properties of steel, or the beneficial grain structure that a forged base has.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see a wire rope clip applied incorrectly. Some of the most common mistakes include:Not torquing to the manufacturer’s expectations
Wire rope clips require the use of a torque wrench in order to function properly. Torquing the nuts on the clips too much or too little can cause the clip to fail. If the clip is over-torqued, it could damage the threads of the wire rope. If the clip is under-torqued, the holding power of the clip is diminished and the wire rope could slip through.
There are a minimum number of clips required for use related to the wire rope diameter. Using less than the number of specified clips could result in decreased efficiency and possible failure.
Depending on the number and size of the wire rope clips, there is a proportional amount of space required between the placement on each clip on the rope.
There are two sides of a U-Bolt style wire rope clip: the saddle and the U-Bolt. When securing a wire rope eye, it is important to place the clip on the correct end of the rope.
A saying commonly used in rigging to help remember this is: “Never saddle a dead horse!” In other words, never put the saddle on the dead end of the rope.
The turnback is the portion of the wire rope eye that runs from the end of the bearing eye to the live end. Having less than the suggested amount of turnback will decrease the efficiency of the wire rope eye and could lead to failure.
It is important to be sure you are using the correct wire rope clip—forged or malleable wire rope clips—for the application. Malleable clips can only be used for non-critical uses, such as tension rope to form a perimeter around a parking lot.
If the use is critical—an application where, if there is a failure, you have potential injury or loss of life or damage to property—a forged clip must be used.
The clip size used—whether it be 1/8”, 3”, or otherwise—must match the diameter size of the wire rope. If it doesn’t, the wire rope could slip out of the clip.
After installing clips, it is necessary to regularly cycle the rope and retighten the clips. Monitoring the torque on the nuts is important, as they will loosen over repeated use.
Basic steps for installing a wire rope clip include:First, wrap the wire rope around the thimble or to form the eye, and turn back the correct amount of rope—as specified by the manufacturer.
Apply the first wire rope clip at the end of the dead end, with one base width of space. Use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts on the wire rope clip.
When applying the second clip (if required), place it as close to the eye loop or thimble as possible. Again, be sure to properly tighten the nuts of the clip with a torque wrench.
Wire rope clips are a common and necessary piece of rigging hardware when it comes to using wire rope and forming end terminations. They are used to form a wire rope eye or to connect two cables together. It’s important to understand how to correctly install a wire rope clip, as incorrect installation leads to decreased efficiency in the wire rope assembly.
Wire rope is commonly used to lift heavy loads. It consists of braided strands of metal, such as steel. When compared to traditional rope, wire rope is stronger and able to support heavier loads.
When using wire rope, however, you’ll need to secure it to an appropriate anchor point. Fortunately, there are wire rope clips available for this purpose
Wire rope clips are load-bearing components that are designed for use with wire rope. To lift an object with wire rope, you’ll typically need to use a load-bearing component. Wire rope clips offer an effective solution. You can mount them to the top of an object, after which you can secure the wire rope to it. The wire rope clip will hold the wire rope while allowing you to lift the object to which it’s mounted.
How do wire rope clips work exactly? There are different types of wire rope clips, each of which works in a different way. One of the most common types, though, is U-bolt.
U-bolt wire rope clips consist of a U-bolt, a saddle and a pair of nuts. You can see an example of a U-bolt wire rope clip in the photo above. The U-bolt itself is the semi-circular orange piece. The saddle, conversely, is the set of pronged metal pieces on the sides of the U-bolt. Finally, the nuts are the threaded fasteners attached to the bottom of the U-bolt.
To use a U-bolt wire rope clip, you’ll need to remove the nuts from the U-bolt. You can then insert the U-bolt wire rope clip onto the top of the object that you intend to lift. Once positioned, you’ll need to reattach the nuts. The nuts will hold the U-bolt wire rope clip to the object. You can then lift the object by placing wire rope through the center of the U-bolt.
There are also dual-saddle wire rope clips. As the name suggests, dual-saddle wire rope clips have two saddles rather than a single saddle. Each of the two saddles has a built-in bolt, which is attached to a nut. You can remove the nuts to place a dual-saddle wire rope clip on an object.
Wire rope clips are anchor points for wire rope There are U-bolt wire rope clips and dual-saddle wire rope clips. They work by creating a secure load-bearing point on objects so that equipment can lift the object with wire rope.
Wire ropes are one of the most critical pieces of rigging and lifting hardware. You can use wire ropes for lifting, rigging, and tying loads of virtually any size, shape, and type. To make the most out of wire ropes, however, you need a few additional rigging equipment, one of which includes wire rope clamps.
Also known as wire rope clips, riggers often use this nifty little piece of hardware at the end of the length of a wire rope. You can use a wire rope clamp to:
In short, a cable clamp is what makes a wire rope one of the most versatile pieces of rigging hardware. As these clamps come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, you will need to choose one that perfectly fits your lifting and rigging application. But before we get down to that, first, you need to understand what is wire rope clamp, its types, and a few other things.
It is a simple mechanical device. A typical wire rope clip consists of a saddle, U-bolt, and two hex nuts. This simple device is suitable for less permanent rigging and lifting applications. You must never use wire rope clips to make industrial slings.
The ASME B30.9 Slings standard clearly states that riggers should not use mechanical wire rope terminations that require periodic adjustments to create slings. In other words, you need to be careful when using rope clamps. You can use a wire rope clip to create an end loop for a winching or crane cable. You can also use it to build perimeter cables or increase the length of a wire rope going through a D-shackle or eye bolt.
Based on their shape, there are two types of cable clamps, U-bolt and double saddle. They both have unique mechanical properties and hence applications.
These cable clamps consist of a U-bolt, two nuts, and a metal base called a saddle. The U-bold passes through the saddle, which you can tighten with the two nuts. They come in various sizes and types of materials, including stainless steel and galvanized steel. You can choose a U-bolt wire rope clamp depending on your rigging or lifting application.
These claps consist of two saddles with one leg each and two nuts. As the saddles are mirrored, they can fit into each other without a bolt. This unique design also means you can use these in either direction, which makes them more user-friendly.
Usually, there are three types of materials used for making rope clips. You can choose a material based on your application as each one comes with its unique strengths and weaknesses.
In this type of wire rope clip, the base or saddle is made from forged steel. The manufacturing process involves heating and hammering the clips into desired shapes. Riggers often use these cable clamps for critical and heavy-duty applications as they are very strong. You can see them in winch lines, crane cables, hoist lines, towing lines, scaffoldings, guy lines, and even tie-downs.
The base or saddle is made from cast iron. As cast iron lacks the metal properties of stainless steel, it is not that strong. So, the malleable galvanized wire rope clamps are not very strong. They can break under heavy usage. You will see them being used in small or light-duty applications like fencing, parameter cables, or guard rails.
Stainless steel wire rope clips are arguably the best ones. The base or saddle is made from high tensile strength stainless steel. They are durable and easy to use. You can find these cable clamps in temporary guard rails, flag posts, and other outdoor rigging applications.
Wire rope clamps are an essential part of the rigging hardware. You can’t do away with them. But you have to make sure to use the right ones to keep the load and the riggers safe. If a wire rope snaps because you used the wrong type of clip, it can lead to disastrous consequences.
The first step in choosing cable clamps is to buy them from a trusted and reputed rigging hardware manufacturer. The last thing you want is to use a defective or poor-quality clip. This will compromise the safety of your load and your crew.
As you can see, each wire rope clamp comes with unique properties. You need the instruction manual to understand when, where, and how to use the cable clamps. Make sure the clamps are accompanied by respective user manuals when making a purchase.
By now, you know that some cable clamps are more suited for outdoor environments, while others aren’t. As a result, carefully think about where you want to use the wire rope clips. For example, if it’s a heavy outdoor application, stainless steel wire rope clamps would be a great fit.
Taking into account how large and heavy the load is also equally important. Heavier loads will require strong cable clamps that won’t break under stress. Also, you shouldn’t use clips for any permanent rigging or lifting applications. They are suited only for temporary load applications.
Lastly, it’s always better to get an expert on board when shopping for wire rope clips. Maybe you can hire an engineer or expert with considerable field experience to help you choose the right types of clamps. An expert will help you take every detail into account before making the purchase. Remember, if you choose the right cable clamps right off the bat, you’ll save considerable time and money down the line.
Wire rope clamps are one of the essential rigging hardware. They land wire ropes more flexibility, allowing you to handle a wide range of applications with ease and safety. These are some tips that will help you choose the appropriate clamp for your need.
HHI sells different types of clamps and other rigging hardware, both online and offline. If you are looking for reasonably priced and high-quality cable clamps or other hardware, check out our online store or reach out to our experts.
Malleable wire rope clips are designed for lighter loads but offer considerable cost advantages. Applications that malleable wire rope clamps can be used for include fencing, guard rails, hand rails, etc. As a rule of thumb, if it is an overhead or critical system, drop forged or precision cast steel wire rope clips should be used.
While these clips are not designed to be used in an overhead lifting situation (swage sleeves should be used instead), wire rope clips are heavy-duty wire rope clips that used for sustaining overhead loads. Examples include guy lines, support lines, scaffolding, etc.
U.S. Cargo Control offers two types of clips: standard (or U-Bolt) and fist-grip (or "double saddle"). Our line includes high-quality clips that work for any situation, including:
Install the first clip at the dead end side of the rope. The "U" side of the clip must always cover the dead end of the rope, and the "saddle" side of the clip on the live end of the rope. Place the nuts of the clip and tighten them using a torque wrench.
Next, apply the second clip and place it as close to the eye loop as possible. Same application for the clip. Tighten the nuts of the clip with a wrench. (If you"re planning on using more than two clips, do not tighten the nuts on the clip.)
Place more clips on the rope if you need more than two on the wire rope. Be sure to space them evenly between the end clips. Finally, tighten the end clips and apply tension to reach the recommended torque for the wire rope.
There’s a well-known saying intended to aid in remembering which way to attach a wire rope clip that reads, “never saddle a dead horse.” As our blog title reflects, that’s what we’ll be discussing today.
Wire rope clips are designed with a U-bolt on one end and a saddle and nuts on the other. When installing the wire rope clip, the U-bolt should always be set on the dead end of the wire while the saddle attaches to the live wire. You can see an example of this setup in the image below.
The simple explanation for this technique is that by inverting the clip and fastening the saddle on the dead end, the U-bolt crushes down on the live load and drastically reduces the wire rope’s capacity. It goes without saying that maintaining a predictable capacity is extremely important in ensuring the safety of your workers and load; therefore, utilizing the correct wire rope clip technique is vital.
In short, just as you wouldn’t put a saddle on a dead horse and rely on it to get you where you’re going, you wouldn’t want to improperly fasten a wire rope eye and trust that it will perform without failure.
This topic also warrants that we mention wire rope slings should never be fabricated on-site for general, repetitive, or daily use. However, OSHA and ASME allow that on rare occasions, when the application precludes the use of prefabricated slings and where the sling is designed for the specific application by a qualified person, it may be allowed. In such cases, the designated person should check with the manufacturer of the wire rope clips and follow their recommendations precisely.
For more information on this blog post or details about our products & services, click to chat with a live rental support specialist or call 800-878-7305 now.
There’s a well-known saying intended to aid in remembering which way to attach a wire rope clip that reads, “never saddle a dead horse.” As our blog title reflects, that’s what we’ll be discussing today.
Wire rope clips are designed with a U-bolt on one end and a saddle and nuts on the other. When installing the wire rope clip, the U-bolt should always be set on the dead end of the wire while the saddle attaches to the live wire. You can see an example of this setup in the image below.
The simple explanation for this technique is that by inverting the clip and fastening the saddle on the dead end, the U-bolt crushes down on the live load and drastically reduces the wire rope’s capacity. It goes without saying that maintaining a predictable capacity is extremely important in ensuring the safety of your workers and load; therefore, utilizing the correct wire rope clip technique is vital.
In short, just as you wouldn’t put a saddle on a dead horse and rely on it to get you where you’re going, you wouldn’t want to improperly fasten a wire rope eye and trust that it will perform without failure.
This topic also warrants that we mention wire rope slings should never be fabricated on-site for general, repetitive, or daily use. However, OSHA and ASME allow that on rare occasions, when the application precludes the use of prefabricated slings and where the sling is designed for the specific application by a qualified person, it may be allowed. In such cases, the designated person should check with the manufacturer of the wire rope clips and follow their recommendations precisely.
For more information on this blog post or details about our products & services, click to chat with a live rental support specialist or call 800-878-7305 now.
KingChain Wire Rope Clips and Thimbles are used to create a complete and secure eye or loop on wire rope. Wire rope should be the same diameter as rope clip and thimble. Wire Rope Clips consist of a U-shaped bolt, a forged saddle and 2 threaded nuts. The 2 layers of wire rope are placed in the U-bolt and clamped into place for a tight connection. Wire Rope Thimbles form the inside of the loop eye and provide rigidity and abrasion resistance for the inside of the loop. Both clips and thimbles are made from steel with a zinc-plated finish for weather resistance. If used on plastic coated cable, remove the coating from the assembly area before creating the loop. Do not use to hang loads, lift loads, support weight of persons or objects, and do not use on athletic or playground equipment.Use exclusively with 3/16 in. wire rope
For a safe connection, be sure to use the right number of clips, number of clips to use: 1/16 in. to 3/8 in. rope - 3 clips, 1/2 in. to 5/8 in. rope - 4 clips, 3/4 in. rope - 5 clips
Galvanized fist grips, also known as as a chair clip, are used to secure wire rope turn backs in rigging applications. Unlike U-Bolt type rope clips, fist grips cannot be installed incorrectly with the saddle not on the live rope end. Allows for full arc wrench swing for quicker installation, re-tightening or dis-assembly of nuts. When properly used, these clips will give terminal efficiency ratings of approximately 80% of the catalog nominal strengths of new wire rope.
Turn back specified amount of rope from thimble or loop. Apply first clip one base width from dead end of rope. Tighten nuts evenly, alternating from one nut to the other until reaching the recommended torque.
When two clips are required, apply the second clip as near the loop or thimble as possible. Tighten nuts evenly, alternating until reaching the recommended torque. When more than two clips are required, apply the second clip as near the loop or thimble as possible, turn nuts on second clip firmly, but do not tighten.
When three or more clips are required, space additional clips between first two—take up rope slack—tighten nuts on all clips, alternating from one nut to the other until reaching the recommended torque.
The number of clips shown is based upon using RRL or RLL wire rope, 6 x 19 or 6 x 37 Class, FC or IWRC, IPS or XIP. If Seale construction or similar outer wire type construction in the 6 x 19 Class is to be used for sizes 1″ and larger, add one additional clip The number of clips shown also applies to rotational-resistant RRL wire rope, 8 x 19 Class, IP, IIP, sizes 1-1/2″ and smaller, and to rotation-resistant RRL wire rope, 19 x 7 Class, IPS, IIP, sizes 1-1/2″ and smaller. For other classes of wire rope, additional clips may be necessary. Length of rope turn-back should be increased when more clips are used. Efficiency ratings for wire rope end terminations are based upon the breaking strength of wire rope. The efficiency rating of a properly prepared loop or thimble eye termination for clip sizes 1/8″ through 7/8″ is 80% and for sizes 1″ through 1-1/2″ is 90%. In accordance with good rigging and maintenance practices, the wire rope end termnation should be inspected periodically for wear, abuse and genera adequacy.
Fortune Rope is an industry-recognized supplier of aircraft cable, wire rope, chain, coated cable, and hardware fittings to a wide range of industrial and commercial customers who has the in-house capability to fabricate the custom cable assemblies you need — from one assembly to medium or high volume production runs.