Wedge Socket Attachments

One of the most widely used methods for making a wire rope termination in the field is a three-part device known as a ""wedge socket"" in North America (the German term is seilschloss; the Japanese is kuranpu shinpuru). The basic device, consisting of grooved wedge, body, and pin, seems to have been patented first around 1915 by William H Sandford of Ireland. A French patent was issued in 1915, followed by numerous British and American modifications, one of which was patented as recently as 1986. A notable characteristic associated with these sockets is that frequently the wedges get seated so deeply during service they cannot be dislodged without great effort. Some manufacturers' designs may have been modified to ease the task of wedge removal. As a result, some manufacturer's wedge sockets today are sold specifically for mining use only.