Guy Clamp

What is a Guy Clamp?

Guy clamp is a type of parallel groove clamp mainly used on the communication line and transmission line, it is used in loop type guy dead-ends together with the stay wire and anchor rod to make the pole stable.

In case you decide to purchase one set, make sure that it comes in two pieces.

A guy braces consist of two grooves and are not complete without bolts and nuts.

Guy clamp

Guy clamps have straight parallel grooves meant to protect the conductors from damage.

Why You Need Guy Clamp？

The guy clamp has quite a lot of uses, especially in the line of communication.

The guy clamp is used only in loop-type connections with dead ends and not as strand splices or suspensions.

Cross section of guy clamp

The guy clamp can be used again in case the sides of the clamp and bolts are not damaged.

It is used in conjunction with an anchor rod and a stay wire to provide extra support and stability to the pole.

In a situation where a stay wire cuts across an anchor rod, a 3-bolt guy clamp comes in use.

It makes sure that the stay wire is in position and does not creep down.

The guy clamp has grooves that clad the stay wire in place to prevent them from unnecessary movements.

It also has bolts that fasten the two pieces of guy clamp as it holds the stay wire making the connection stronger.

There are certain types of guy clamps that have curved ends that provide extra protection to the stay wire.

In other applications, a three-bolt clamp is replaceable using a guy grip or a wire rope clip.

It is also a powerful piece as it can withstand great tensile force, greater than 1200 kg.

It will hold and manage the load well without any signs of damage.

½ inch two-bolt guy clamps are important in the formation of guy loops that are attached to anchor rods.

Main Parts of Guy Clamp

In most cases, a standard guy clamp has the following key parts and components:

Parts of a guy clamp

Bolts and nuts

A nut is a fastener with threads inside the hole and works in various connections over time.

They are always used together with a pin to hold the two sides of the guy clamp together.

They often stick together because their threads are held together by friction, compression, and slight stretching of the bolt.

Two metallic plates

The guy clamp has two metallic plates of the same size placed one on top of the other.

They can either have one, two, or three holes drilled through them depending on the type of guy clamp.

A bolt and a nut are used to hold the two pieces together.

Parallel grooves

The guy clamp has slots running parallel to each other where the stay wire passes.

The parallel grooves make sure that the stay wire is in place and does not allow them to be in contact.

They make sure that the connection is tight, strong, and durable.

Special shoulders

These unique features prevent the guy clamp from turning as you tighten the nuts to the bolts.

They hold the guy clamp in place so that the process of tightening can continue smoothly.

Pole Line Hardware to Use with Guy Clamp

Whenever you’re using a guy clamp, you may need any of the following:

Stay Wire

This is a special kind of rope used in conjunction with the guy clamp to help in anchoring the poles.

They are of different sizes, and you should be careful not to use a stay more significant than the guy clamp.

Stay wire

In a case where the stay wire and the guy clamp are of the required size, the connection will be active.

Anchor Rod

It is an integral part of this connection as it connects the stay wire to the guy clamp.

Anchor rod

It is the main component that will be joining the whole system to the ground.

It holds the stay wire in place thus making the entire system efficient.

Technical Specifications of Guy Clamps

Some of the main technical specifications of guy clamps include:

Technical specification of guy clamp

Material type

Guy clamps are usually made of carbon steel as it is the best metal that can resist applied pressure.

The material passes through many processes before actually being converted to a guy clamp.

Hot dip galvanization offers a protective coat to carbon steel making it corrosion resistant.

Dimension

Clamping length – is measured in millimeters and is usually the longest side of the guy clamp.

As a customer, you should know the right size of the clamp you are to purchase.

The length varies in accordance with the number of bolts on a guy clamp.

Clamping width – measured in millimeters, it is the shortest side of a guy clamp.

It is varying according to the size of the bolt used.

Bolt diameter – is measured in millimeters and chosen according to the size of the drilled hole.

It should be able to fit perfectly in the drilled hole.

Strand diameter – it varies according to the size of the guy clamp used.

The measurements are in millimeters.

You are advised to pick a stay with a diameter that will fit the guy clamp.

Tensile force strength

The overall tensile strength of guy clamps depends on the type of guy strand, the condition of the guy strand, and the guy clamp.

Other factors include guy clamp selection, number of loops around guy termination, and the angle of guy strand legs from guy clamp.

The torque of the guy clamp bolt and the condition of the guy clamp bolt is also an important factor.

Using more than one guy clamp in a looped dead end increases the overall strength.

The type of material used also increases the power of the guy clamp.

Finishing

Hot-dip galvanization is the final process in the manufacture of guy clamps giving it a smooth and excellent finish.

Hot dip galvanization involves dipping the carbon steel into zinc so that it can be coated and have the ability to resist corrosion.

It also provides the guy clamp an extra layer of coating making it stronger and more durable.

Weight

The weight of the guy clamp is also dependent on the size of the device and the material used in making it.

Bigger guy clamps tend to be heavier as compared to the small ones.

Carbon steel is quite light compared to other forms of iron used in making guy clamps.

Design of guy clamp

Guy clamps with curved ends are for use in the same form as the other guy clamps.

It has the curved ends to help in holding the clamp in place as the bolt is made tight.

 One bolt guy clamp

It is the smallest size of guy clamps available on the market.

It consists of two metal plates placed on top of one another.

One bolt guy clamp

Apart from that, it has one bolt and nut used in tightening the guy clamp as soon as the stay is passed through.

 Two bolt guy clamps

These are more significant than the one bolt guy clamp but smaller than the three-bolt guy clamp.

Two bolt guy clamp

It also consists of two metal plates made of carbon steel placed on top of each other.

It has two holes with two bolts and nuts which help in holding the device together.

 Three bolt guy clamps

These are the fourth type of guy clamps and the biggest among them.

It has the same characteristics as the other guy clamps only that it has three bolts and nuts.

 Three bolt guy clamp

The pin and ball at the center are meant to provide extra strength to the guy clamp as soon as it is in place.

Installing Guy Clamp Step-by-step Guide

To achieve the greatest holding strength, use a guy clamp and a guy strand of the same size.

Make sure the guy strands are in the grooves of the guy clamp.

Be careful not to strip the bolts which are tightened with enough force to make them hold properly.

The materials required for the installation of a guy clamp include: guy clamp, stay wire and anchor rods.

Other materials such as pliers can also be in place to help in the tightening of the bolts.

Make sure that the guy clamp is complete with the bolts and nuts.

Loosen the bolts on the guy to give enough space in which a stay wire can easily pass through.

The stay wire and the guy clamp should be of reasonable sizes to ensure that they fit well.

Fitting components will provide reliable connections and maximum strength to the device.

Insert the stay wire through the space available in the guy clamp making the necessary loops.

Repeat the process in all the other guy clamps.

Using the pliers, tighten the bolts and ensure that the stay wire is in place as you fasten the bolts.

Repeat the process of compressing the pins to the other clamps.

Attach the stay wire to the anchor rod in the most appropriate way.

The process of installing the guy clamp is quite simple, but the guidance from a professional will ensure complete installations.

Normally, the installation process can also be hazardous, so caution has to be taken to avoid harm or damage to the products.

The assistance of a professional will help you have the best and safest installation.

Guy Clamp Manufacturing Process

The manufacture of guy clamps goes through many industrial processes.

It begins with hot rolling, pressing holes, and finally hot-dip galvanization.

Guy clamp

Hot Rolling

This is the process where metal bars are passed through different roles and cut to the desired uniform size.

Different metals have different temperature tolerance.

The temperature of the metal is expected to be above its temperature of re-crystallization to make the process successful.

Hot rolling is known as the process that will ensure the manufacture of many guy clamps.

In this case, carbon steel is rolled, cut, and passed through the heat to the required size.

Pressing Holes

Holes can either be drilled or punched into the metal with special consideration to the size of the bolt.

Drilling is done using specially shaped bits making sure that the holes are of the required size.

Punching, on the other hand, is the most cost-effective mode of making holes in a sheet of metal.

Either punching or drilling makes the holes in the guy clamp.

Punching the holes is much faster and saves on a lot of costs.

Drilling the holes requires a look at the size of the bolt and type of guy clamp in advance.

Hot Dip Galvanization

This is the final process of making guy clamps that gives it the ability to resist corrosion.

It also makes it have the final smooth and polished finish.

It involves dipping the guy clamp in liquid zinc at varying temperatures to give it a lasting coat.

The processes explained above are quite complex and require the expertise of people with experience.

It is also a hazardous process, especially when dealing with metal that has been molten at very high temperatures.

The machines involved in making the guy clamps are too expensive and require a high level of maintenance.

These are some of the reasons why manufacturing is left out for particular industries that can afford them.

You will be required to put on protective clothing and boots when dealing with this kind of material.

Conclusion

Guy clamps are essential parts of pole line hardware as it boosts the stability of the poles.

It is available in many designs and sizes giving the customer a range to choose from.

Apart from that, the customer has the liberty to customize his guy clamp according to his specifications.

At Quan Pham Industry, we design and manufacture high-quality guy clamps.

Talk to us today, and we’ll make you both standard and custom guy clamps.

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