Shackle assemblies of the type to which the invention relates typically include a U-shaped shackle with two opposed legs defining a mouth and a shackle pin extending between the two legs and releasably engaged therewith to close the mouth. In large shackle assemblies it can be difficult to easily secure the shackle pin in the engaged position. The present invention is aimed at providing a shackle assembly and a locking pin for releasably locking the shackle pin in the engaged or operative position. The invention is also aimed at providing a locking pin which can be used to lock pins other than shackle pins in an operative position.

With the foregoing in view, the present invention resides broadly in a shackle assembly including a shackle having two opposed spaced apart legs defining a mouth with each leg having a shackle pin passage therein adjacent its free end, a removable shackle pin engaged in said shackle pin passages to close said mouth, and a locking pin adapted to be engaged with said shackle pin and one of said legs for locking the shackle pin in the engaged position; at least one of said legs and said shackle pin together defining a locking pin passage or recess extending laterally of said shackle pin, part of said locking pin passage or recess being in said one leg and part in said shackle pin;

said locking pin including an elongate shank with a head at one end and a locking member associated with or operatively mounted to said head and arranged to be selectively expanded beyond said head, said shank being engaged in said locking pin passage or recess with said one leg and said shackle pin so as to lock said shackle pin in said shackle pin passages against longitudinal movement of said shackle pin relative thereto; and

said locking member being engaged in a recess in said one leg to secure said shank in said locking pin passage.

In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a shackle assembly including a shackle having two opposed spaced apart legs defining a mouth with each leg having a shackle pin passage therein adjacent its free end, a removable shackle pin adapted for engagement in said shackle pin passages to close said mouth, and a locking pin adapted to be engaged with said shackle pin and one of said legs for locking the shackle pin in the engaged position,

at least one of said legs and said shackle pin in use together defining a locking pin passage or recess extending laterally of said shackle pin, part of said locking pin passage or recess being in said one leg and part in said shackle pin;

said locking pin including an elongate shank with a head at one end and a locking member associated with or operatively mounted to said head and arranged to be selectively expanded beyond said head, said shank being adapted for engagement in said locking pin passage or recess with said one leg and said shackle pin so as to lock said shackle pin in said shackle pin passages against longitudinal movement of said shackle pin relative thereto; and

said locking member being adapted for engagement in a recess in said one leg upon being expanded so as to secure said shank in said locking pin passage.

Preferably, said locking pin includes forcing means for forcing the locking member outwards into engagement in the recess. In a preferred form, the forcing means includes a plate or a washer or similar device which cooperates with the upper face of the locking pin head to crush the locking member therebetween in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the locking pin so as to force it to expand laterally. In such form, it is preferred that the forcing means be arranged to selectively maintain a crushing force on the locking member and that the locking member be formed of a resilient material adapted to contract upon the crushing force being removed. In one such form, the forcing means includes a bolt arranged to screwthreadedly engage in a complementary screwthreaded bore in the pin head and/or the shank of the locking pin such that upon screwing the bolt into the bore a force is applied to the locking member to force it to expand laterally. In one such preferred form where the locking member is formed of a resilient material, it is preferred that the locking member be formed of a material adapted to shrink laterally upon the bolt being unscrewed to remove the crushing force whereby the locking member and the locking pin can be removed from the shackle. In a preferred form said locking member is a rubber washer and the forcing means includes a bolt adapted to engage in a screwthreaded bore in the shank with a spigot washer mounted on the bolt and the rubber washer mounted on the spigot and the recess in the shackle leg is an annular recess adapted to receive the peripheral portion of the locking member upon it being crushed by the spigot washer acting on its outer face under the force of the bolt. However, in another form, the upper end of the head of the locking pin includes a spigot portion on the opposite side of the head from the shank and the rubber washer is mounted on that spigot portion. In one such form, the forcing means also includes a complementary spigot portion. Of course, where reference is made to the rubber washer it is to be understood that the washer may be made of other flexible and resilient materials and in many cases the washer will be made of synthetic materials which are not susceptible to deterioration from oils and greases of the type commonly used with shackles.

In one form of the invention the locking pin has a cylindrical recess formed in its head coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the shank for receiving therein the spigot of the spigot washer in embodiments where one is used with the locking member. However, where the locking pin head itself includes a spigot portion for receiving thereon the locking member, it is preferred that the forcing member be a washer or plate adapted to be slidably mounted on the spigot or at least a portion of the spigot for axial movement relative thereto at least for limited axial movement over a predetermined distance selected to allow limited crushing of the locking member.

Preferably, the shank of said locking pin and at least a portion of said locking pin passage have substantially the same cross sectional shape and said shape is selected to prevent rotation of the locking pin in the locking pin passage thereby preventing torsional loads on the locking member while allowing the shank to be slidably received in the locking pin passage.

In another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a locking pin including a shank with a head at one end, said shank having a longitudinal axis and being of substantially constant non-circular cross-section, and a cylindrical recess in the head of the locking pin coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the shank and a screwthreaded bore in the head and/or shank coaxial with the longitudinal axis and beyond said cylindrical recess for screwthreadedly receiving therein a bolt or the like for applying a force to a locking member mounted on the head of said locking pin.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a locking pin including a shank with a head at one end, said shank having a longitudinal axis and being of substantially constant non-circular cross-section, and a flange portion extending laterally beyond said shank and a spigot portion on the opposite side of said flange portion from said shank and a screwthreaded bore in the head and/or spigot portion coaxial with the longitudinal axis for screwthreadedly receiving therein a bolt or the like for applying a force to a locking member mounted on said spigot portion of said locking pin.

In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a shackle including:

two opposed spaced apart legs defining a mouth, the legs having respective aligned shackle pin passages therein towards their free ends adapted to receive therein a shackle pin;

a locking pin passage in at least one of said legs partially intersecting the shackle pin passage formed therein, said locking pin passage having a longitudinal axis lying in a plane lateral to the longitudinal axis of the aligned shackle pin passages and being of substantially constant cross-section and adapted to slidably receive therein the shank of a locking pin, the shank having a complementary cross section, said locking pin passage opening to an outer face of said one leg; and

an annular recess in said one leg adjacent the opening of said locking pin passage. Preferably, said annular passage is cast in or machined into said shackle. However, in one form of the invention, the annular recess is provided in an insert which is fitted into a complementary cavity in said one leg and secured therein, for example by welding. In such case, the shackle is cast with such cavity and the insert is subsequently fitted.

It is also preferred that both shackle pin passages extend fully through their respective legs so that the shackle pin can be punched out from one end. Similarly, it is preferred that the locking pin passage extend fully through the shackle leg in which it is provided so that the locking pin can be knocked out from the end opposite to the locking pin head.

In yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a shackle assembly including a shackle having two opposed spaced apart legs defining a mouth with each leg having a shackle pin passage therein adjacent its free end, a removable shackle pin engaged in said shackle pin passages to close said mouth, and a locking pin adapted to be engaged with said shackle pin and one of said legs for locking the shackle pin in the engaged position,

at least one of said legs and said shackle pin together defining a locking pin passage or recess extending laterally of said shackle pin, part of said locking pin passage or recess being in said one leg and part in said shackle pin;

said locking pin including an elongate shank and a securing member operatively mounted to one end of said shank and arranged to be laterally expanded beyond said shank, said shank being engaged in said locking pin passage or recess with said one leg and said shackle pin so as to lock said shackle pin in said shackle pin passages against longitudinal movement of said shackle pin relative thereto; and said locking member being engaged in a recess in said one leg to secure said shank in said locking pin passage.

In yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a shackle assembly including a shackle having two opposed spaced apart legs defining a mouth with each leg having a shackle pin passage therein adjacent its free end, a removable shackle pin adapted for engagement in said shackle pin passages to close said mouth, and a locking pin adapted to be engaged with said shackle pin and one of said legs for locking the shackle pin in the engaged position,

at least one of said legs and said shackle pin in use together defining a locking pin passage or recess extending laterally of said shackle pin, part of said locking pin passage or recess being in said one leg and part in said shackle pin;

said locking pin including an elongate shank and a securing member operatively mounted to said shank and arranged to be laterally expanded beyond said shank, said shank being adapted for engagement in said locking pin passage or recess with said one leg and said shackle pin so as to lock said shackle pin in said shackle pin passages against longitudinal movement of said shackle pin relative thereto; and

said locking member being adapted for engagement in a recess in said one leg upon being expanded so as to secure said shank in said locking pin passage.

In yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a rigging assembly including a mount having at least one passage for mounting a load bearing pin therein and a removable load bearing pin engaged in said passage and a locking pin adapted to be engaged with said load bearing pin and said mount for locking said load bearing pin in the engaged position,

said mount and said load bearing pin together defining a locking pin passage or recess extending laterally of said load bearing pin, part of said locking pin passage or recess being in said mount and part in said load bearing pin and said mount having a recess therein;

said locking pin including a shank and a locking member operatively mounted to said shank and arranged to be selectively expanded to a predetermined size beyond said shank, the parts being made and arranged such that said shank may be engaged in said locking pin passage or recess when the size of said securing member is less than said predetermined size and expanded beyond said predetermined size so as to engage in said recess in the mount and lock said load bearing pin in said at least one passage against longitudinal movement of said load bearing pin relative thereto.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a shackle assembly according to the invention with a locking pin fitted in the shackle and locking the shackle pin in the closed or engaged position;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the shackle assembly of Fig. 1 with the shackle pin and locking pin in line for assembly with the shackle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the shackle assembly of Fig. 1 with the shackle pin fitted to the shackle and the locking pin fitted in the locking passage but unlocked;

Fig. 4 is the same sectional end elevation as in Fig.3 but with the locking pin locked in the locking pin passage ;

Fig. 5 is a pictorial representation of the locking pin assembly shown in Fig. 1 assembled with the insert shown in Fig. 1 removed from the assembly of Fig. 1 for clarity;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the locking pin assembly of Fig. 5 with the locking pin, locking washer assembly and locking bolt in line for assembly with the insert still removed from the shackle;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert with the locking washer unlocked;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the locking pin assembly and insert of Fig. 7 along line 8-8 with the locking washer unlocked;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert as shown in Fig. 7 but with the locking washer locked;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert as shown in Fig. 7 along line 10-10 but with the locking washer locked;

Fig. 11 is a pictorial representation of the locking pin shown in the locking pin assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the locking pin of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of the pin of Fig. 12 along line 13 - 13;

Fig. 14 is a pictorial representation of the locking washer assembly shown in the locking pin assembly of Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of the locking washer assembly of Fig. 14 along a diametral line;

Fig. 16 is a pictorial representation of the insert shown with the locking pin assembly of Fig. 7 from one end;

Fig. 17 is a pictorial representation of the insert of

Fig.16 from the other end;

Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation of the insert of Fig. 16 along a diametral line; Fig. 19 is a pictorial representation of an alternative locking pin assembly which could be used in the shackle assembly of Fig.l instead of the locking pin shown therein assembled with a suitable complementary insert in the same manner as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 20 is an exploded view of the locking pin assembly of Fig. 19 with the locking pin, locking washer assembly and locking bolt in line for assembly with the insert still removed from the shackle;

Fig. 21 is an end view of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert with the locking washer unlocked;

Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation of the locking pin assembly and insert of Fig. 21 along line 22-22 with the locking washer unlocked;

Fig. 23 is an end view of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert as shown in Fig. 21 but with the locking washer locked;

Fig. 24 is a sectional elevation of the locking pin assembly fitted to the insert as shown in Fig. 21 along line 24-24 but with the locking washer locked;

Fig. 25 is a pictorial representation of the locking pin shown in the locking pin assembly of Fig. 21;

Fig. 26 is an end view of the locking pin of Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation of the pin of Fig. 26 along line 27 - 27;

Fig. 28 is a pictorial representation of the locking washer assembly shown in the locking pin assembly of Fig. 21;

Fig. 29 is a sectional elevation of the locking washer assembly of Fig. 28 along a diametral line; and

Fig. 30 is a sectional elevation of the insert shown assembled with the locking pin of Fig. 25 along a diametral line. The shackle assembly 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a shackle 11 having two legs 12 and 13 with shackle pin passages 14 and 16 extending therethrough respectively. A shackle pin 17 is slidably mounted in the passages 14 and 16 for securing the shackle assembly to a cable or other rigging component. The shackle pin 17 is secured in the shackle pin passages by a locking pin 18 which is fitted into locking pin passage 15 provided in shackle leg 13 as will be described in more detail later. The shackle pin 17 has a generally cylindrical head 19 at one end having opposed flat side faces 21 and 22 which are arranged to engage with complementary flat faces 23 and 24 at the outer entry to shackle pin passage 14, and a semi-cylindrical slot 26 that resembles a keyway extending laterally across the shank 17 near the other end of the pin.

The locking pin or locking pin assembly 18 has an elongate shank 31 of constant generally "D" shaped cross section with a semi-cylindrical portion 32 contiguous with a rectangular portion 33 having three flat sides 34, 35 and 36 with a longitudinal axis 37. The shank has a cylindrical head 38 at one end coaxial with the longitudinal axis while the other end is free. A cylindrical recess 39 is formed centrally in the head 38 coaxial with the longitudinal axis 37 of the pin for receiving therein the spigot of a spigot washer as will be described later and a threaded bore 40 contiguous with the recess extends further into the head and is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 37 for receiving a bolt as will also be described later.

As can be more easily seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the locking pin includes a washer assembly 41 which is mounted to the outer face of the head 38 and is secured thereto by a hex flanged bolt 42 having a hex head 43, a flange 44 and a threaded shank 45 adapted to screw into threaded bore 46 in the pin head 41. The washer assembly includes a metal spigot washer 47 with a flat rubber washer 48 mounted on the spigot 49 and as can be seen in Fig. 6, the bolt flange 44 is adapted to engage the outer face of the spigot washer. Although Fig. 5 shows the locking pin mounted in a cup shaped insert 51, the insert is fitted into a complementary recess formed in the leg 13 and welded therein before the locking pin is fitted to the insert. That is to say, Figs. 5 and 6 show the insert removed from the shackle leg and the pin fitted thereto only for clarity. Suitably, the insert is generally frustoconical in form with a tapered side wall 52 and a bottom or inner wall 53 having a generally D shaped hole therethrough coaxial with the longitudinal axis 37 of the locking pin shank 31. Advantageously, an annular recess 56 is provided in the wall 52 of the insert of generally semi-circular cross section as can be seen in Figs. 8 and 10 for a purpose which will be described later.

A locking pin passage 61 extends through shackle leg 13 orthogonal to aligned shackle pin passages 14 and 16 and partly intersects the shackle pin passage 16 through its upper portion so that it can fully engage the slot 26 in the shackle pin 17. It will be appreciated that the flat sides 34 and 36 engage the opposed lateral faces defining the slot 26 while flat 35 engages the flat side 55 defining one side of hole 54 thereby providing an increased area of contact over a round pin and preventing rotation of the locking pin in the locking pin passage 61.

In use the locking pin 18 is inserted into the locking pin passage 61 through the D shaped hole 54 in the insert and through the slot 26 in the shackle pin to lock the shackle pin in the closed or engaged position as shown in Fig. 1 and once so positioned, the locking pin itself is locked into position by tightening the bolt 42 in the threaded bore 46 so as to force the spigot washer to squeeze the rubber washer 48 between the spigot washer and the upper face of the locking pin head 38 causing it to expand radially outwards. As can be seen in Figs. 8 and 10, radial expansion of the rubber washer causes it to engage in the annular recess 56 in the insert thereby securing the locking pin in the locking pin passage.

It will be appreciated that the locking pin 18 can be removed by simply unscrewing the bolt 42 and allowing the rubber to shrink radially or by removing the bolt 42 and the spigot washer 47 and then levering the rubber washer out of the insert whereupon the locking pin can be removed. In some cases, the pin can be driven against the rubber washer to remove it once the bolt 42 has been removed.

The locking pin assembly 118 illustrated in Fig. 19 is similar to the locking pin assembly 18 illustrated in Fig. 5 with the insert 52 assembled therewith for explanatory purposes only. In that respect, the insert is fitted to the shackle and welded therein and the locking pin is then also fitted to the shackle and locks to the insert. In view of the similarity of locking pin assembly 118 with locking pin assembly 18 and the fact that the shackle assembly is the same in all other respects, the same reference numbers are used herein to refer to corresponding components or features where possible except prefaced by a "1". Further, where corresponding components or features have been referenced with such corresponding numbers but are not specifically described such features can generally be assumed to have the same function .

As can be more easily seen in Figs. 21 to 24, the locking pin includes a washer assembly 141 which carries out the same function as washer assembly 41 but in a slightly different manner. In that respect, flexible and resilient flat washer 148 is mounted on the spigot 149 of spigot washer 147 prior to assembly and then it becomes largely mounted on the spigot portion 150 of the locking pin head 138. The arrangement allows for a greater length of thread to be provided in the head and shank 131 for the bolt 142 while at the same time providing further protection for the head of bolt 142 in the cup 147a formed by the insert 147. In that respect, it will be appreciated that the cup wall 147b of the spigot washer provides a significantly stronger washer for engaging with the outer face of the flexible washer whereby a greater force can be applied by bolt 142 without detrimental deformation. It will also be seen that the recess 156 is substantially rectangular in cross section rather than substantially semicircular as in the case of recess 56 thereby allowing the flexible and resilient washer 148 more space to retract to a lesser diameter when the force applied by bolt 142 is removed by removal of the bolt. Further, as can be seen more clearly in Fig. 24, when the washer 148 is crushed into the locking disposition it does not fill the recess 156 even if it is crushed sufficiently to engage the cylindrical face 156a thereby allowing limited movement of the locking pin in the axial direction if desired against the frictional forces of the flexible washer against the cylindrical face.

It will be appreciated that the above description is of an illustrative example only and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims .