What is it?

[egilson1]

I was doing an inspection the other day and found an interesting clamp that I had never seen before. It was being used like a "knuckle Buster" on an operating line as a stop. I have no idea what it's intended use was and was curious if anyone here might know.

You turn the grey knob and the jaw opens or closes.

 

[derekleffew]

Was going to say it resembled, but was probably not related to, a Trico clamp. Used to tie-in to hot power. While looking, found this:

TRICO KLIPLOK 2 CABLE CLAMP *NEW NO BOX* – MRO Global Solutions

Item ConditionNSNPCondition NotesNSFP - New Surplus in OEM Box or PackagingNSNP - New Surplus, NO OEM Box or Packaging

www.mroglobalsolutions.com

Looks the same.

Sorry if I spoiled any fun.

 

[egilson1]

That's awesome. no fun spoiled at all.

 

[FMEng]

I got curious and went searching. There are many references to them on the web, with no mention of the intended use, but they are referred to as "fuse clamps.". I finally found this:

 

[IMLICHTMAN]

Only because I live for this pedantic stuff... The picture is indeed of a KLIPLOK clamp formerly used on fuseholders that had lost their tension and would run hot (or worse). An actual Knuckle Buster is/was a malleable fitting that is installed on the hauling line of a counterweight set as an 'in' trim stop when it hit the top of the lock jaws. Its proximity there to the flyman's knuckles and the set locking lever has more than a little to do with its slang name. Still looking for picture of the actual device.

 

[IMLICHTMAN]

Alright... Mutual Hardware to the rescue again (note to moderators please delete the sharable image from Mutual's Website if it violates any forum usage policy)

 

[IMLICHTMAN]

Re-reading the original post: Not intimating any lack of knowledge of what an actual knuckle buster is.

 

[egilson1]

Re-reading the original post: Not intimating any lack of knowledge of what an actual knuckle buster is.

That’s quite alright, I’m sure more than a few readers might not have known what the reference to the knuckle buster was.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

I’ve seen about three knuckle busters in actual use.

 

[Ancient Engineer]

My knuckles hath been busted many times... Anyways, these also found use where the fuse was (intentionally or not) inserted "hot" and the ensuing meltage left one ear of the original mount in place and the other as vapor.

I worked in a venue where this happened and the ME pulled one of those out of his ditty bag and clamped it on (once the power was secured...). Show went on, new fuse holder the next day.