The invention relates to connecting means of the type used for connecting the end of a tendon or the like to another component.

It will be understood that any references to "tendons" include cables, hawsers, ropes, wires, rods, bars and the like. It will also be understood that any references to "another component" include references to ground anchors, building components and generally anything to which a tendon is to be attached.

The means traditionally used for connecting, say, a steel cable to a ground anchor, involve the formation of a loop in the end of the cable which passes through an eye cast in the anchor. The loop is generally formed by passing the end of the cable through the eye and clamping it, by means of a termination, to the cable above the point where it passes through the eye. In situations where the tendons carry high loads, the loops may be strengthened with a solid eye piece which further complicates the loop formation procedure. With or without the additional strengthening, either the connection must be made before the components leave the factory or workshop, or the equipment for securing the loop must be available on site. The former option has the disadvantage that, should a change of size of anchor or strength of cable suddenly be required, the assembled parts must be returned to the factory or workshop for disassembly and refitting. The latter option means that expensive equipment must be stored on site and that trained personnel must be available to make the connection. Unfortunately, the hasty and insecure connection of parts, which sometimes happens

on site, can have disasterous consequences in applications where the tendons are under high tension, should the connection fail.

Another alternative is to have the loops preformed on the tendons and the components to which the tendon is to be attached fitted with a hinged flap above the eye to allow easy assembly on site. This unfortunately raises the cost of the components because of the additional engineering involved and raises the likelihood of parts failure due to the addition of a moving part.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide connection means which overcome these disadvantages, which can easily and securely be put together without the need for addditional equipment.

According to the present invention, there is provided connecting means for connecting a tendon to another component, comprising a generally T-shaped connector and socket means for receiving said connection; said socket means comprising means for allowing the insertion or removal of said connector when the connector is oriented in one direction and means for retaining the connector when the connector is oriented in another direction.

There is now described in detail, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are a lengthways cross-sectional view of the ground anchor of Fig. 3 on the line I-I

illustrating the installation of a cable by connecting means according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cable and ground anchor connected with the connection means of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of a cross-section of the anchoring cable of Fig. 3 with a part of the anchor removed for clarity.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a ground anchor 10, to which a cable 11, shown in chain-dot lines, is to be connected. The connecting means comprise a T-bar 14 and a socket 15 formed in the anchor 10.

Attached to one end of the cable 11 is the T-bar 14, having a tubular shank 12 and a cross-piece 13, both of a similar diameter. This attachment can be made by a process such as swaging which compresses the shank 12 onto the cable 11, or any other suitable process. In the event that the connection is between a rod or bar and another component, the end of the rod itself can be formed into the T-bar.

Formed in the body of the anchor 10 is the socket 15. The socket 15 is shaped with an entry channel 17 of a width not substantially greater than that of the T-bar 14. Inside the socket 15 is a cavity 16 which is preferably generally D-shaped in a first plane co-planar with or parallel to the plane of the anchor. The length of the straight back and radius of the curved portion of the D-shaped cavity 16 are longer than the length of the T-bar cross piece 13 such that it can be received wholly in the cavity 16

and allowed to rotate in the plane of the anchor. The height of the cavity 16 is at least as great as the diameter of the T-bar cross-piece 13, but preferably not substantially bigger, so that the cross-piece is not allowed much vertical movement out of the first plane, thus holding the T-bar 14 secure.

In use, the cable 11 is connected to the anchor 10 by fitting the connecting means together. To effect this, the T-bar 14 is positioned with the cross piece 13 coaxially aligned with the socket entry channel 17. The T-bar 14 is pushed forward until it lies within the socket cavity 17 whilst being held in a generally upright position. The T-bar 14 is then rotated about the axis of the shank 12 through 90° until the cross piece 13 lies against the straight back of the D-shaped cavity 16 as shown in Fig. 2.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the T-bar 14 can then be pivoted upwards and downwards about the axis of the cross piece 13, whilst being held in situe by the socket 15 _^

Using the connection means of the present invention, the connection between a tendon and another part can thus be formed quickly and easily, without the need for expensive equipment. Depending on the application of the connected parts, the materials of the tendon 11 and T-bar 14 can be accordingly selected, as can the connection between the T-bar 14 and tendon 11. The resulting connection is secure enough to take appropriately high loads.

In situations where there is a possibility that the cable 11 may twist and there is a risk that the T-bar 14 could rotate to a position where it could be

pulled out of the socket 15, a wedge 18 can be positioned in the back of the cavity 16. This wedge 18 can either be of a compressible material such as rubber or plastic, which push fits through the entry channel 17 after the T-bar 14 has been installed within the socket 15. Alternatively it may comprise spring loaded means which compress out of the way during installation of the T-bar 14 and recover after installation to fill the cavity 16 and prevent rotation of the T-bar 14.

Although the foregoing embodiment of the invention shows the socket 15 actually formed into the body of the anchor component, another embodiment of the invention includes a separate socket which can be attached to another component. For example, where a cable is to be attached to a wall, socket means can first be fixed to the wall before installation of the T-bar.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the socket may comprise more than one part may be disassembled to allow the entry of the T-bar and reassembled to secure it in position.