The prior art anticipates the above type of wedge, which is provided with two perforated lugs in such a manner that two wedges set on the opposite sides of a wire can be secured to each other by means of screws insertable through holes included in the lugs of the opposite wedges and by means of nuts attachable thereto. Due to a multitude of loose parts, the assembly of such wedges in site conditions is inconvenient and tedious.

In order to eliminate the drawbacks present in the prior known solution, an arrangement in a wedge of the invention for a stay clamp is such and a wedge of the invention is characterized in that the wedge includes a threaded hole spaced from the median of the wedge and fitted with a screw, and a hook-shaped lug set on the opposite side of the median of the wedge for coupling with the screw of a second wedge.

The screw and a possibly required washer may be previously threaded in position on the wedge, such that the assembly of wedges can be performed simply by turning the wedges to a parallel position around a wire in such a manner that the hook-shaped lug of each wedge couples with the screw

of the opposite wedge. Thereafter, it is sufficient that both screws be tightened to a required tightness.

Preferred evolutions of the invention are set forth in the non-independent claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows schematically wedges of the invention in typical applications thereof.

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail in the direction of an arrow A in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a terminal clamp shown in a circle B in fig. 1.

Figs. 4A-C illustrate the wedges of the invention shown in fig. 2, fitted in a wedge housing and shown from various sides.

Fig. 5 shows a section along a line V-V in fig. 4B.

Fig. 6 shows a section along a line VI-VI in fig. 4B.

Fig. 7 shows a wedge of the invention - without a screw - viewed from the side of a wire slot.

Fig. 8 shows a wedge of the invention - without a screw - viewed from the side of the outer wedge surface.

Fig. 9 shows schematically a starting step in the process of mounting wedges of the invention on a wire.

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of wedges of the invention secured to a wire.

Fig. 1 shows schematically two exemplary embodiments for typical applications of a wedge of the invention. The stay clamp is generally designated with reference numeral 1.

The upper stay clamp 1 of fig. 1 is shown in fig. 2 as an enlarged view depicted in the direction of an arrow A and, respectively, the lower stay clamp 1 of fig. 1 is shown in fig. 3 as an enlarged view.

The stay clamp 1 includes a wedge housing indicated with reference numeral 2 and two wedges indicated with reference numeral 3. The stay clamp 1 is intended for use in connection with a wire or the like, especially a multi- strand metal wire 4, for clamping the wire in a wedge housing 2 by means of two wedges 3 extending lengthwise of the wire 4. The wedges 3 are connected to each other by means of screw couplings, said screw couping being adapted to press the wedges 3 towards each other and against the wire 4 set therebetween by means of two screws 10 extending on the opposite sides of the wire.

Furthermore, the wedge housing 2 includes elements 5, 6 for fastening the stay clamp 1 to a desired object. In the example of fig. 2, the element for fastening the stay clamp 1 comprises a slot 5, as best shown in fig. 4B.

Respectively, in the example of fig. 3, the element for securing the stay clamp 1 comprises two perforated lugs 6, included in the wedge housing 2 and by means of which the wedge housing is secured to a U-bolt 14 constituting the terminal clamp.

The tapered wedge 3 of the invention is provided with a straight wire slot 15 extending along its median.

The wedge 3 includes a threaded hole 11 spaced apart from the median of the wedge, as best shown in figs. 7 and 8.

The hole 11 is fitted with a screw 10, having its head towards the wire slot 15 (see e.g. fig. 4A). The opposite side of the median of the wedge 3 is provided with a hook- shaped lug 12 for coupling with the screw 10 of the second wedge 3.

Thus, one 13 of the lugs of the wedge 3 is provided with a threaded hole 11 and the other 12 is given a hook shape, whereby the hook-shaped lug 12 couples with the screw 10 of the opposite wedge 3 as the wedges 3, which are arranged lengthwise of the wire 4 and on the opposite sides thereof, are turned, as shown by arrows 16 in fig.

9, to a parallel position around the wire 4. The wedges 9 and the wire 4 set therebetween in the wire slot 15 are hence clamped relative to each other by tightening the screws 10 to a required tightness.

The assembly of wedges carried out in site conditions is facilitated and expedited when using wedges of the invention, since the number of loose parts is minimized.

The screw and a possibly required washer may be previously threaded in position on the wedge, such that the assembly of wedges can be performed simply by turning the wedges to a parallel position around a wire in such a manner that the hook-shaped lug of each wedge couples with the screw of the opposite wedge. Thereafter, it is sufficient that both screws be tightened to a required tightness.

The thinner end of the wedges 3 is designed to include a flexible tongue 17 (fig. 4A). After fitting the wedges 3 in position in the wedge housing 2, the tongue 17 is bent outwards and, thus, the wedge 3 cannot slip out of the wedge housing 2 as a result of a possible reduction in loading.