Advanced Fiber Rope Boom Pendant Technologies for Heavy Eqiupment

Abstract

A method and hardware for damping and controlling unwanted motion in the fixed rigging of large machines. In a first approach large clamp blocks are added to multi-cable rigging systems. These blocks use a first cable to damp the motion of an adjacent cable. The invention also encompasses adding armored sections to synthetic cables to enhance their abrasion resistance and cut resistance.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A cable stabilizing system for heavy machinery, comprising:
 (a) a cab;   (b) a boom connected to said cab, said boom having a distal end;   (c) a first stay connecting said boom to said cab, wherein said first stay supports said boom, and wherein a distal end of said first stay connects to said boom on a first side of said distal end;   (d) a second stay connecting said boom to said cab, wherein said second stay supports said boom, and wherein a distal end of said second stay connects to said boom below said first stay and on said first side of said distal end;   (e) a first bend restrictor attached to said first stay, said first bend restrictor including first and second bend restrictor portions clamped over a first inspection region wherein said first stay's constituent strands are accessible;   (f) a second bend restrictor attached to said second stay, said second bend restrictor including first and second bend restrictor portions clamped over a second inspection region wherein said second stay's constituent strands are accessible; and   (g) a clamp block located proximate said distal end of said boom connecting said first stay to said second stay by clamping over said first and second bend restrictors, said clamp block configured to damp motion between said first stay and said second stay.   
     
     
         2 . The cable stabilizing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said clamp block comprises two halves that are clamped together around said first and second stays.