AU682066B2 - Attachment element and process for its manufacture - Google Patents

Description

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Mounting element and method for the manufacture thereof The invention relates to a mounting element, in particular to a terminating or suspension element, for wire-like or rope-like bodies, in particular for ropes or cables of overhead transmission lines, including at least one attachment limb that comprises an attachment line which is formed in one winding direction in the shape of a helix or spiral and with which the wire-like or rope-like body can be gripped in a helical or spiral-like manner and be frictionally restricted against any relative displacement in its longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a mounting element including at least one attachment limb that comprises an attachment line which is formed in one winding direction in the shape of a helix or spiral.

Mounting elements of this type serve pre-eminently for the attachment of overhead transmission lines to overhead line masts or to buildings. For the purposes of assembly, the screw-like attachment limbs are twisted over a section of "the overhead line and, for example, a .mounting segment of the mounting element is fixed to the envisaged mounting point.

i Mounting elements of this type, such as are known for example from the DE-OS 1 590 666, the DE-PS 1 590 686, the DE-OS 21 12 237 or the DE-PS 29 15 698, are manufactured such that they comprise a plurality of metal wires which are plastically deformed in an appropriate device for the manufacture thereof, such as is known for example from the I DE-PS 1 510 128 or the US-PS 4, 015, 073. The metal wires preferably run parallel to one another in the attachment limb while they either run parallel to one another or are twisted together in the region of a mounting segment.

The disadvantage of these known mounting elements can be seen in that they have to be manufactured from relatively rigid metal wires in order to achieve a sufficiently forceful contact with the wire-like or rope-like body, which then makes it difficult to manipulate and assemble them, in particular when attaching them to a transmission line mast, and, on the other hand, leads, in many cases, to the mounting element having poor vibration damping properties so -q I~ PP~ I~PIIBaPB 2 that additional, special vibration damping elements have to be provided.

Consequently, the object of the invention is to provide a mounting element of the kind described hereinabove which can be easily manufactured, manipulated and assembled.

According, therefore, to a first broad aspect of th present invention there is provided a mounting element for\ wire-like or rope-like bodies, partioa f4/. ropes or cables of overhead transmission lines, including at least one attachment limb that comprises an attachment line which is formed in one winding direction in the shape of a helix or spiral and with which the wire-like or rope-like body can be gripped in a helical or spiral-like manner and can be frictionally restricted against any relative o 15 displacement in its longitudinal direction, wherein the attachment line comprises at least one fibre strand consisting of long fibres which are twisted together and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material.

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This mounting element in accordance with the invention has 20 the great advantage that a fibre reinforced matrix of synthetic material exhibits a high longitudinal rigidity on the one hand and a low transverse rigidity on the other hand which, in the first place, allows mounting elements that can be heavily loaded to be manufactured but, secondly, makes these mounting elements easily manipulable especially during the assembly process.

The mounting elements in accordance with the invention, which comprise fibre strands consisting of long fibres that are twisted and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material, are notable, in particular, for their high resistance to tensile stress while, at the same time, being highly flexible. Thereby, the high tensile forces can, on the one staWitkylkeeplspec77808.94 9.12 L re U ~s 2Ahand, be transferred, while, on the other hand, the flexibility has the advantage that the same mounting elements can be used for a greater tolerance range of wirelike or rope-like bodies.

Moreover, the resilience of the fibre strands consisting of long fibres, which are twisted together and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material, has the advantage that the mounting elements exhibit good damping properties so that vibrations of the wire-like or rope-like body can be effectively damped and thereby for example, the damping elements, which have been required up to now for mounting elements consisting of metal wires, are no longer necessary.

i: Finally, the mounting elements consisting of the fibre 15 strands in accordance with the invention have the advantage that fibre reinforced components of synthetic material "exhibit a high fatigue strength and hence a long lifetime.

So stIAtkytkep/spci77808 94 9.12 Furthermore, the manufacture of the fibre strand consisting of long fibres, which are twisted together and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material, allows these to be constructed such that the rigidity of the fibre strand decreases with increasing radial separation from the centre of the fibre strand, while at the same time however, with increasing separation from the centre of the fibre strand, the bending tensions increase less than for a metal wire for example, which is something that leads to the clamping effect of the fibre strand around the wire-like or rope-like body being greater than for metal wires.

It is particularly advantageous in a mounting element in accordance with the invention, when, in the sense of the direction of rotation, a twisting direction of the long fibres in the fibre strand runs opposite to that of the winding direction of the attachment line.

The advantage of this solution can be seen, in particular, in chat by virtue of this progression of the twisting direction, the fibre strand has the tendency to twist itself up under a tensile loading, that is to say, in a direction of rotation which is directed in the same direction as the winding direction of the attachment line so that the attachment line thereby has the tendency to lie still closer around the wire-like or rope-like body and, as a result of this, thlere finally ensues an enhanced coupling force of the mounting element in accordance with the invention.

In the simplest case, the attachment line could thereby be manufactured from a single fibre strand. However, it is still more advantageous if the attachment line is constructed from a plurality of adjacently located fibre strands.

In an Alternative, the fibre strands themselves may be independent, being located adjacent to one another and being fixed in interlocking manner against each other merely by virtue of the outer shape of the individual fibre strands, as is the case for the adjacently located wires in the state of the art.

Another, especially advantageous embodiment envisages that, together, the fibre strands form a composite fibre cord II -I ~s whereby one composite fibre cord or a plurality may form an attachment line.

Up to now, there have been no detailed indications as regards the construction of the fibres of the fibre strand.

Thus, it would be conceivable for example, to manufacture the fibre strand from carbon fibres. However, as these are electrically conducting, it is envisaged, in advantageous manner, that the fibre strand comprise electrically nonconducting fibres. This has the great advantage that current carrying lines can be directly held by a mounting element of this type, or, that a qapacitive coupling to the fibres in the fibre strand, aM, Xthe partial discharges associated therewith, no longer appear in the case of current carrying wire-like or rope-like bodies.

Preferably thereby, the fibres may be glass fibres. It is alternatively conceivable that the fibres be aramide fibres or polyethylene fibres.

Likewise, no further indications as regards the matrix of synthetic material which surrounds the fibres have been given in connection with the earlier embodiments- Thus, one advantageous embodiment envisages that the matrix of synthetic material consist of a thermosetting plastic.

Another advantageous embodiment envisages that the matrix of synthetic material consist of a thermoplastic.

In connection with the earlier embodiments, it was merely envisaged that the fibres should be long fibres in order to ensure a sufficient tensile loading of the fibre strands. A further advantageous embodiment envisages that the fibres be continuous fibres.

As regards the mounting element, it was merely stipulated in connection with the embodiments that have been mentioned up to now that this should comprise one attachment line. Thus, for example, a mounting element would also be conceivable that merely comprises two attachment lines in order to connect together two wire-like or rope-like bodies. However, it is particularly expedient for the mounting of wire-like or rope-like bodies, if the attachment line in contact with the attachment limb is formed into a mounting segment whereby, for example, the mounting segment may be a loop.

i ~L~B d II Furthermore, it was merely stipulated up to now that the mounting element should have one attachment limb. However, it is especially advantageous, in particular in order to attain a high load carrying capacity, if this comprises two attachment limbs.

The two attachment limbs could thereby extend in different directions. An especially advantageous version of a mounting element in accordance with the invention envisages however that the attachment limbs grip the wire-like or rope-like body in the same region in intertwining manner so that the attachment limbs preferably intertwine with each other and hence result in an enhanced clamping effect.

In the context of the earlier embodiments, no detailed indications were given as regards the type and arrangement of the attachment limbs in the mounting element before its installation. Thus, one advantageous embodiment envisages that the attachment limbs be intertwined in helical or spiral-like manner before they are assembled, that is to say, they are arranged in the same relative position as they have later, after the assembly.

In this case, the attachment limbs have to be unwound from each other before they are assembled and then rewound around the wire-like or rope-like body.

Furthermore, the advantage of this solution is to be seen, in particular, in the amount of space required for the storage of mounting elements of this type since these, in contrast to the known mounting elements consisting of metal wires, do not have attachment limbs which are spaced apart from one another and thus that either have to be tied together or require a large amount of space.

In connection with the remarks in respect of the embodiments described up to now, one has merely gone into the construction of the fibre strand itself.

However, it is especially advantageous if the fibre strand is provided with a casing. A casing of this type has the great advantage that the basically delicate compound of long fibres and a matrix of synthetic material then experiences an additional protection.

Thereby, it is especially advantageous if the casing represents a protection against corrosion or a protection against the weather for the fibre strand whereby, in particular, the casing may also be constructed so as to be additionally UV absorbent in order to prevent any UV damage to the compound of long fibres and a matri.- if synLhetic material.

A further advantage of a casing can be seen in that, by virtue of the casing, the opportunity is created of avoiding any contamination of the fibre strands.

It is envisaged alternatively or as a complement to this, that the casing form an interleaving element for adjacently located fibre strands. This creates the opportunity for example, of preventing the individual fibre strands from sticking together when using a thermosetting plastic or of avoiding contamination of the moulds and auxiliary means.

As an alternative or in addition to the previously described embodiments of casings, a casing is envisaged in a further embodiment in that it is a carrier of a coating that increases the friction, which coating is arranged on an inner surface of A_ the attachment line in order to improve the friction between the wire-like or rope-like body and the attachment line oeA .\he At the same time, the casing may be formed in the most various of ways.

One advantageous embodiment of a casing envisages that it is a coating of the fibre strand.

A coating of this type can be produced for example in the framework of a single or multi-stage powder resin process or in the framework of an injection process using an appropriate material, for example, a synthetic material, in particular, a thermoplastic.

As an alternative to this, it is envisaged that the casing be formed by a film which surrounds the strand.

Thereby, the film may be fixed in the most various of ways.

For example, it is envisaged that the film be fixed to the fibre strand by a welding process. To this end for example, 1, '-il the film is placed around or wrapped around the fibre strand and is then welded to itself.

A further, advantageous form of the casing, which is suitable, in particular, as regards the manufacturing process, envisages that it surround a plurality of fibre strands.

In order to prevent all of the fibre strands from no longer being protected by the casing when the casing is damaged, it is preferably envisaged that the casing should completely enclose each fibre strand in a sealed manner vis a vis the other fibre strand so that each individual fibre strand is itself enclosed by the casing in a sealed manner. This can be done by either placing the foils around the fibre strands in an appropriate manner and welding them or by injection moulding a plurality of fibre strands such that the casing is likewise located between the fibre strands.

It is especially advantageous where a casing simultaneously surrounds a plurality of fibre strands, when this combines the fibre strands into a composite strand. In this case, each fibre strand does not have to be manipulated separately during the manufacture of the mounting element, but rather, one composite fibre cord can be manipulated as a whole.

Furthermore, it is envisaged that the attachment line should preferably consist of a composite cord so that the attachment line too can be more easily manipulated even when one is applying the spiral to the wire-like or rope-like body.

Thereby, it is particularly expedient if the casing holds the fibre strands at a predetermined distance from one another so that the region of the casing located between the fibre strands can serve the purpose of preventing creases from being formed when winding the attachment line in helical or spiral-like manner.

Up to now, there have been no detailed indications as regards the attachment line which forms the attachment limbs. Thus, one advantageous embodiment envisages that the attachment line carry a coating which increases the friction on its inner surface.

I- -e This coatin9 may be applied subsequently by either grinding the attachment line and applying a coating which increases the friction, a corundum layer for example, using an adhesive compound or a compound which is appropriate for the matrix of synthetic material.

However, it is also conceivable that the coating which increases the friction be held by the casing as already explained or that it be fixed to the fibre strands by means of the casing.

As an alternative to this, it is envisaged, in advantageous manner, that the attachment line exhibit an inner surface which is formed such as to increase the friction. To this end, the attachment line is preferably provided with an appropriate fluting on its inner surface.

The mounting element in accordance with the invention may e4.ei- be constructed so that it can be directly installed on the wire-like or rope-like body.

However, as an alternative to this, the mounting elements in accordance with the invention may be constructed such that they can be installed on the wire-like or rope-like body by means of a friction-increasing intermediate piece for example, in particular, a sheath which increases the friction.

A particularly expedient solution envisages that a a clamping wedge for receiving the wire-like or rope-like body can be gripped by the attachment line whereby the clamping wedge foitts the intermediate piece.

Preferably thereby, the clamping wedge is constructed such that it comprises two wedge-halves that can be fixed to one another.

Furthermore, in a method of the kind described hereinabove, the object of the invention is achieved in accordance with the invention, in that, for the manufacture of the attachment line, long fibres are embedded in a matrix of synthetic material and twisted together in one twisting direction and that, while the matrix of synthetic material is plastically deformable, the attachment line, which comprises at least one fibre strand, is formed in helical or spiral-like manner in the winding direction and, thereafter, s II the matrix of synthetic material is put into a state where it is no longer plastically deformable or has a rigid form.

Mounting elements manufactured according to a method of this type have the same advantages as already explained hereinabove in connection with the mounting elements themselves.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the sense of the direction of rotation of the twisting direction is opposite to that of the winding direction of the attachment line, from which results the still better clamping effect of the mounting elements in accordance with the invention.

It is advantageous, in particular for the manufacture of the mounting elements in accordance with the invention, if the attachment line is manufactured from a plurality of interconnected fibre strands since the manipulation of the individual fibre strands during the manufacture of the autachment line can thereby be dispensed with and hence the speed of production can be increased particularly during the winding of the attachment line.

As regards the manufacture of the attachment limb, it has proved to be particularly advantageous if this is wound onto a core in helical or spiral-like manner, whereby, in particular, the matrix of synthetic material associated with this is in a plastically deformable state.

For the reasons already mentioned in connection with the description of the mounting element, it has proved to be advantageous to provide the fibre strand with a casing.

Thereby, it is envisaged, in particular, that the fibre strand be provided with the casing in the plastically deformable state, especially the non-hardened state, of the matrix of synthetic material. In the case of a thermosetting plastic, this permits an immediate processing of the fibre strands without one having to take heed that the matrix of synthetic material has not hardened. However, the casing is especially advantageous in the case of a thermosetting plastic so that any adherence of the fibre strands can be prevented during the further processing of the attachment lines. This requires, in particular, that the fibre strands be provided with the casing before the helical or spirallike shaping of the attachment line, in particular, 9 immediately after the manufacture of the fibre strands themselves.

Thereby, the fibre strands may be established with a coating whereby the coating is applied, for example, as a layer of varnish or as a layer which is sprayed-on.

As an alternative to this, it is envisaged that the fibre strands be encased by a film whereby the foil is preferably welded.

In order to increase the friction between the attachment lines and the wire-like or rope-like body, it is envisaged that the attachment line be provided on its inner surface with a layer which increases the friction.

This friction-increasing layer is preferably applied to the fibre strands or to their casing either before the manufacture of the attachment line or after the manufacture of the attachment line.

As an alternative to this, it is envisaged that the attachment line be formed such that the friction on its inner surface is increased, that is to say, that it has a surface structure which increases the friction between it and the wire-like or rope-like body.

Preferably, this friction-increasing shaping of the inner surface is achieved by winding the attachment line onto a core carrying a negative mould which increases the friction.

The manufacture of the mounting element in accordance with the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of a terminating spiral where the fibre strands are wound about a core in the form of a flat cord, in particular, in the form of a flat cord forming a closed-sided belt whereby a negative mould for the loop is arranged on both sides of the core.

Furthermore, it is possible to use a dead-eye that is arranged on both sides of the core as a negative mould for the loop.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject matter of tiie following description as well as the sketched illustration of a few embodiments.

-p ILq ass In the drawing Fig. 1 shows an illustration of a first embodiment of a mounting element in accordance with the invention in the form of a terminating spiral including the position of the spiral limbs resulting from the manufacture thereof; Fig. 2 an illustration of t he terminating spiral in accordance with Fig. 1 including spiral limbs that are wound up and bent away from one another; Fig. 3 an exemplary illustration of one application of use of the terminating spiral in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 a sectional illustration of a fibre strand in accordance with the invention; Fig. 5 an illustration of the twist angle of individual long fibres of the fibre strand plotted against a radius thereof; Fig. 6 a curve of the modulus of elasticity of the fibre strand in accordance with the invention plotted against the radius thereof; Fig. 7 an illustration of the progression of the tension in a fibre strand in accordance with the invention (Fig. 7a) in comparison with the progression of the tension in a metal wire (Fig. 7b); Fig. 8 an illustration of the progression of the bending tensions versus the radius in a flbre strand in accordance with the invention in comparison with a metal strand; Fig. 9 a sectional illustration of a fibre strand in accordance with the invention in the unstressed state (larger diameter and drawn in full lines) and in the state of tensile stress (smaller diameter and drawn in dashed lines); Fig. 10 a schematic illustration of the curvature of a fibre strand in accordance with the invention in the attachment line, in the unstressed state (drawn in full lines) and in the state of tensile stress (drawn in dashed lines); Fig. 11 a sectional view along the lines 11 11 in Fig. Fig. "12 a schematic illustration of a device for manufacturing a fibre strand in accordance with the invention; Fig. 13 a sectional, schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a device for manufacturing an encased fibre strand; Fig. 14 a sectional illustration of a second embodiment of a device for manufacturing an encased fibre strand; Fig. 15 a cross-section through the encased fibre strand; Fig. 16 a sectional illustration of a third embodiment of a device for manufacturing an encased fibre strand; Fig. 17 a schematic illustration of a fourth embodiment of a device for manufacturing an encased fibre strand in accordance with the invention; Fig. 18 a cross-section through the composite fibre cord manufactured by the device in accordance with Fig. 17; Fig. 19 a partially schematic illustration of a fifth embodiment of a device for manufacturing an encased fibre strand; Fig. 20 a section along the lines 20 20 in Fig. 19 and Fig. 21 a cross-section through the composite fibre cord manufactured by the device in accordance with Fig. 19; Fig. 22 a sectional illustration of a sixth embodiment of a 3evice for manufacturing an encased fibre strand; Fig. 23 a section along the lines 23 23 in Fig. 22; Fig. 24 a cross-section through a posite fibre cord manufactured by the device in accora ce with Fig. 22; Fig. 25 a schematically illustrated embodiment of a winding device in accordance with the invention; Fig. 26 a top view of a construction of a winding device in accordance with the invention in accordance with Fig. I I Fig. 27 a side view of the winding device in accordance with Fig. 26 without a cord-band, in the direction of the arrow X, in the form of a sectionally enlarged illustration; Fig. 28 a schematic illustration of the winding device in accordance with the invention at the beginning of the winding process; Fig. 29 a schematic illustration corresponding to Fig. 28 during the winding process; Fig. 30 a schematic illustration of a device at the end of the winding process; Fig. 31 an illustration of the two terminating spirals obtained with the winding device in accordance with the invention; Fig. 32 a cross-section through a further embodiment of a terminating spiral in accordance with the invention; Fig. 33 a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a terminating spiral in accordance with the invention including a clamping wedge and Fig. 34 an unfolded illustration of the clamping wedge in accordance with Fig. 33.

An embodiment of a mounting element in accordance with the invention is a terminating spiral which is illustrated in Fig. 1 and referenced as a whole by 10 and which comprises a loop 12 on which two spiral limbs 14 and 16 serving as attachment limbs are formed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

For their part, the spiral limbs 14 and 16 are each formed by an attachment line 22 which is formed such as to rotate in one winding direction 18 in a helical or spiral-like manner about an axis 20, wherein each attachment line 22 comprises a plurality of fibre strands 24 as depicted by Fig. 2. The axes 20 of the attachment lines 22 of each spiral limb 14 and 16 thereby coincide.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a terminating spiral 10 of this type serves to retain a bearer-cable 26 of an overhead transmission line 28 or to directly hold the overhead

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transmission line 28 whereby the two spiral limbs 14 and 16 are wound on in a region 30 of the bearer-cable 26 such that they are located on the bearer-cable 26 around the periphery and, due to a tensile stress effective in the longitudinal direction 32 of the bearer-cable 26, they are drawn-up tightly and hold the bearer-cable 26 such that it cannot be displaced in the longitudinal direction 32. hereby for example, the loop 12 is hung on an anchor ;-that is firmly anchored, and preferably, it is also placed around a deadeye 34 which protects the loop 12 from abrasion.

Each of the fibre strands 24 comprises a plurality of long fibres 40 which are twisted together and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material 42 as depicted by Fig. 4. The long fibres 40 may however, also be continuous fibres.

Preferably, fibres which are not electrically conducting i.e. especially glass fibres or aramide fibres, are used as the long fibres As is illustrated in Fig. 5, the fibre strand 24, which is built up from twisted long fibres 40, exhibits a twisting angle j with respect to a longitudinal direction 44 of the fibre strand 24, which angle varies over the radius r thereof, whereby the twisting angle j increases linearly with the radius r from a centre of the fibre strand 24 at r 0 up to the radius rmax.

As is illustrated in Fig. 6, the modulus of elasticity Ex of a fibre strand 24 of this type behaves somewhat differently from this, starting from the centre of the fibre strand 24 up to the maximum radius rmax, the modulus decreases with increasing radius r, which is something that is connected with the fact that the fibres exhibit a greater twisting angle with increasing radius r and consequently the fibre strand thereby becomes more resilient in this region.

This leads, with increasing radius r in the fibre strand 24, as is illustrated in Fig. 7, to the tensions s decreasing with increasing radius r up to the radius rmax when there is a tensile stress, as is illustrated in Fig. 7a by the example of a fibre strand 24 consisting of glass fibres embedded in the matrix of synthetic material 42. This is significantly different from a strand consisting of metal as known from the state of the art, as is illustrated in Fig.

z 7b. In this, the distribution of the tensions s over the radius r is constant.

Due to the modulus of elasticity Ex altering with the radius r, there results a progression of the bending stresses b over the radius r in the fibre strand 24, as depicted by Fig. 6, which is substantially flatter compared to the progression of the bending stresses b for a metal strand, as is illustrated in Fig. 8.

From this, it follows that a twisted fibre strand 24 in accordance with the invention is pliable and, moreover, only a low tensile stiffness occurs on the outer surface thereof.

Together, these two factors increase the clamping effect of the attachment line 22 manufactured from a fibre strand 24 of this type.

Furthermore, a twisted fibre strand 24 in accordance with the invention also has the property, which is illustrated in Fig. 9, that the outer angle of twist jl alters when there is a tensile stress thereon, namely, to the effect that the angle of twist of the outer fibres j 2 in the tensile stressed fibre strand 24 (drawn in dashed lines) is smaller than the angle of twist of the outer 1 in the tensile stressed state (drawn in full It follows additionally from this that the fibre stir*>:- 24 twists through an angle V in the unstressed state since the fibres have a tendency to untwist in the tensile stressed state.

If one now constructs the helical or spiral-like attachment line 22 from fibre strands 24 of this type as is illustrated in Fig. 10, namely, in such a manner that the direction of winding 18 thereof runs in the opposite direction to a direction of twist 46 then the rotation V is effective in the direction of winding 18 when there is a tensile stress and this leads to the fibre strands 24 of the attachment line 22 fitting even more closely to the contour of the bearer-cable 26 as can be clearly perceived from Figs. and 11 (tensile stressed: drawn in dashed lines; unstressed: drawn in full lines).

A fibre strand 24 in accordance with the first embodiment is manufactured in the simplest case, as is illustrated in Fig.

12, such that the number of long fibres or continuous fibres required is wound off from the spools 50 of a spool carrier 52 and is simultaneously fed through an impregnating ~IIII r rr Ls~Prrsa device 54 in which each of the fibres is impregnated with the material of the synthetic material matrix 42.

These fibres, which are impregnated by the synthetic material matrix 42, are then supplied to a nozzle 56 which unites the individual fibres 40 with the matrix of synthetic material 42 into the fibre strand 24. The spool carrier 52 is rotated about an axis 58 in order to achieve the required twisting of the fibres 40 in the fibre strand 24.

The fibre strand 24 is then wound up by a strand drum 60 for example, as illustrated in Fig. 12, whereby the rotational speeds of the strand drum and the spool carrier 52 determine the angle of twist.

The fibre strands 24 manufactured in this manner can now be processed so as to form the attachment line 22 by helically winding a plurality of adjacently located fibre strands, whereby the matrix of synthetic material must either not yet be hardened-off or it has to be placed in a plastically deformable state for the purpose of winding the attachment line 22.

A device in accordance with the invention for manufacturing an attachment line 22 in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail hereinafter.

The fibre strand 24 may, for its part, also be constructed as an encased fibre strand 124. One possibility for this is that the fibre strand 24 is not wound up by the strand drum after its passage through the nozzle 56, but rather, as illustrated in Fig. 13, that it initially passes through a coating station 62 in which the fibre strand 24 is coated with a powder resin whereby the powder resin is either dusted onto the fibre strand 24 in the coating station 62 or is applied using the fluidised bed process. After the coating station 62, a fibre strand 24, which is provided with a powder resin layer 126 in this manner, is then passed onto a fusing station 64 in which the powder resin layer 126 is fused and a uniform varnish layer 128 which surrounds the fibre strand 24 is thereby formed.

Following this, the coated fibre strand 124, which comprises the varnish layer 128 and also the fibre strand 24, is wound up by the strand drum I I 1 A second way of manufacturing an encased fibre strand 224 is illustrated in Fig. 14. In this, the fibre strand 24 coming out of the nozzle 56 is coated with a film tape of synthetic material 228, a polyester shrink film for example. This film tape of synthetic material 228 is fed into a film welding device 66. In the film welding device 66, the film tape of synthetic material 228 is wrapped around the fibre strand 24 and, on one face thereof for example, it is fused as closely as possible to the fibre strand 24 by means of a welding seam 230, as illustrated in Fig. 15. Following this, the fibre strand 224, which is encased in this manner by the film tape 228, is wound onto the strand drum As an alternative to the second embodiment of an encased fibre strand 224 illustrated in Fig. 14, following the nozzle 56 in a third embodiment of an encased fibre strand 324, the film tape of synthetic material 228 is wound continuously around the fibre strand 24 in helical fashion whereby, in the winding device 68 for example, the film tape of synthetic material 228 is wound onto a spool 70 which itself rotates about the longitudinal axis 44 of the fibre strand. Thereby, the film tape of synthetic material 228 is preferably wound in overlapping manner around the fibre strand 24 and then welded, in particular, by means of a subsequent heating process.

A fourth embodiment of an encased fibre strand 424 is manufactured, as illustrated in Fig. 17, in that the fibre strand 24, which comes from the nozzle 56, is fed through an injection mould 72 to which molten synthetic material, polyethylene for example, is supplied by means of an extruder 74. It is not just one individual fibre strand 24 that is now injection moulded in this injection mould 72, but rather, a plurality of adjacently located fibre strands 24 are injection moulded at the same time whereby each fibre strand 24 is surrounded by a coating 428 and the individual coatings 428 are, in turn, connected by webs 430 so that the encased fibre strands 424 form a composite fibre cord 432, as illustrated in Fig. 18, in which a plurality of encased fibre strands 424 are connected to each other at defined distances by means of the webs 430 between the individual coatings 428.

In a fifth embodiment of an encased fibre strand 524 illustrated in Fig. 19, a plurality of fibre strands 24 are likewise supplied to a welding station 76 after their ~~~PllrsspPss IPPbl~lB~BP-%BISI passage through the nozzle 56 provided for them, to which station moreover, an upper film tape of synthetic material 528a and a lower film tape of synt'ecic material 528b are also supplied, as illustrated in Fig. In the welding station 76, the two film tapes of synthetic material 528a and 528b are then provided with welding seams 526 as closely as possible to the fibre strands 24 on each side of the fibre strans 24 so that each of the fibre strands 24 is fused between the upper film tape of synthetic material 528a and the lower film tape of synthetic material 528b. Once again, the two regions of the film tapes of synthetic material 528a and 528b located between the individual fibre strands 24 thereby form webs which keep the individual fibre strands 24 at a defined distance from one another. The fibre strands 24 likewise form a composite fibre cord 532 due to their erncasement by the film tapes of synthetic material 528a and 528b which are welded together.

In a sixth embodiment of an encased fibre strand 624 in accordance with the invention, a plurality of fibre strands 24 are supplied to a packaging station 78 after passage through the nozzle 56 provided for them, whereby the fibre strands 24 are supplied alternately to the packaging station 78 in two planes 80 and 82. Furthermore, an interleaving film 626 as well as an upper film tape of synthetic material 628a and a lower film tape of synthetic material 628b are also supplied to the packaging station 78. In the packaging station 78, the interleaving film 626 is placed between successive fibre strands 24 in the manner of a corrugation by bringing the two planes 80 and 82 together and, in addition to this, the upper film tape of synthetic material 628a and the lower film tape of synthetic material 628b are also placed respectively above and below the adjacently located fibre strands 24. Furthermore, the film tapes of synthetic material 628a and 628b are welded to each other and to the interleaving film 626 so that a composite fibre cord 632 having substantially adjacently located fibre strands 24, which are merely held separated from each other by the interleaving film 626, is likewise formed.

Of course, .n this composite fibre cord too, each fibre strand 24 is packed-in, and each is individually surrounded by, the totality of the film tapes of synthetic material 628a, b and the interleaving film 626, as illustrated in Fig. 24.

IP -r IR The manufacture of the terminating spiral 10 is effected in a winding device which, as a whole, is referenced 140, as is schematically illustrated in Fig. 25. This winding device comprises two loop elements 142 and 144, which are arranged at a distance from one another and have respective bearing surfaces 146 and 148 that are in the form of circular segments and serve as supports for the fibre strands 24, whereby the bearing surfaces 146 and 148 determine the subsequent shape of the loop 12.

Furthermore, the winding device comprises a central rod 150 which extends between the loop elements 142 and 144 and forms a winding core.

Furthermore, two guide shoes 152 and 154 or 156 and 158, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction 160 of the central rod at respectively the same distance from the corresponding loop element 142 or 144 and at the same radial distance from the central rod 150, are also associated with each loop element 142 or 144. In order to manufacture two terminating spirals 10, a flat cord 162, which comprises a plurality of adjacently located.fibre strands 24 in a plane 164 including the flat cord or a plurality of adjacently located encased fibre strands 124, 224, 324 in the plane 164 of the flat cord or a composite fibre cord 432, 532, or 632 or a plurality thereof, is now placed around the loop elements 142 and 144 as well as all of the guide shoes 152 to 158. In the case of a composite fibre cord 432, 532, or 632, the individual fibre strands 24 are likewise located in the plane 164 of the flat cord.

The flat cord 162 preferably extends around the loop elements 142 and 144 as well as the guide shoes 152 to 158 as a continuous closed-sided belt.

As illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27, the construction of the winding device 140 is executed such that each of the loop elements 142 and 144 rests on a loop element carrier 170 and 172 respectively which, for its part, is guided on a slideway 174 and 176 respectively such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction 160 of the central rod 150. Each of the slideways 174 or 176 is mounted on respective rotatable pedestal bodies 178 and 180 or 182 and 184 which are arranged on each side of the loop element carriers 170 and 172 respectively and which can be rotated about the longitudinal direction 160 of the central rod 150 which acts as an axis of rotation, whereby the rotatable pedestal bodies 180 arid 184 are rotatably mounted on the central rod 150. The rotatable pedestal bodies 178 and 182 on the other hand are respectively driven in opposite directions of rotation, but preferably at the same rotational speed, by a respective motor shaft 186 and 188 of a motor that is not illustrated in the drawing.

The loop element carriers 170 and 172 are freely displaceable on the slideways 174 and 176 whereby the respective loop element carriers 170 and 172 are oppositely pressurised vis a vis the central rod 150 by means of a compression spring 190 in a direction away from the central rod 150.

For their part, the guide shoes 152 and 154 or 156 and 158 are mounted on guide shoe carriers 192 and 194 which extend radially relative to the central rod 150 and on which the giidc shoes 152 are mounted so as to be displaceable in a radial direction relative to the central rod 150 whereby the speed of displacement of the guide shoes 152 and 154 or 156 and 158 in the radial direction can be predetermined, that is to say, wiLh a defined ratio relative to the rotational spee'd of the motor shafts 186 and 188 in order to thereby define a lead angle a of the fibre strands 24 with respect to the longitudinal direction 160 of the central rod 150, and thus too, with respect to the axis If, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 28, one now rotates the loop elements 142 and 144 respectively with the corresponding guide shoes 152 and 154 or 156 and 158, with a defined relationship between the radial speed of displacement of the guide shoes 152, 154, 156, 158 and the motor shafts 186 and 188, then the flat cord 162 will be wound around the central rod 150, namely, such that the fibre strands 24 run with the lead angle a relative to the longitudinal direction 160 of the central rod 150. The guide shoes 152 and 154 or 156 and 158 thereby travel radially inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 29. This occurs until such time as there are two terminating spirals 10 whose spiral limbs 14 and 16 are formed by the flat cord 162 which is helically wound around the central rod 150 and which extend on each side of a central plane 196, as illustrated in Fig.

After the matrix of synthetic material 42 of the fibre strands 24 has hardened-off, there then occurs a removal of the central rod 150 and thereafter a splitting in half at the plane of symmetry 196 so that two terminating spirals axe created, as illustrated in Fig. 31.

In a further embodiment of a terminating spiral 10' in accordance with the invention as illustrated in Fig. 32, layer 202, which increases the friction and which may contain corundum for example, is provided on an inner surface 200 of the fibre strands 24. In the simplest case, this layer 202, which increases the friction, may be applied after the manufacture of the terminating spiral 10 using an anpropriate adhesive.

Alternatively to this, it is conceivable to apply this layer 202, which increases the friction, on the inner surface of the flat cord 162 before the winding of the terminating spirals 10, for example, to embody it in the casings 28, 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 628 of the fibre strands 24.

A further embodiment 10'' of a terminating spiral in accordance with the invention, which is illustrated in Fig.

33, is not provided for directly gripping around a wire-like or cord-like body, for example, a bearer-cable 26, but rather, provides for the additional use of a clamping wedge 210 which has a conical outer surface 212 that is gripped by the attachment lines 22 of the spiral limbs 14 and 16 which are helically wound in the form of a cylinder or cone.

Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 34, the clamping wedge comprises two half-shells 214 and 216 which together form an inner channel 218 into which the bearer-cable 26 can be ~e*e4- rIwherein, the inner channel 218 is likewise preferably provided with a lEyer 202 which increases the friction, or, with an outer surface which increases the friction, a set of indentations for example. In particular, these allow matching to cables oL lifferent diameter.

The two half-shells 214 and 216 of the clamping wedge 210 are preferably connected together by a film hinge 220 on the one hand and by a snap fastener formed by two elements 222a and 222b on the other hand whereby the half-shells 214 can be placed around the bearer-cable 26 and can be fixed on the bearer-cable by the snap fastener 222a, h and thus form the 22 clamping wedge having the conical outer cover surface 212 around which the spiral limbs 14 and 16 can then be placed.

Claims (43)

1. A mounting element for assembly to wire-like or rope-like bodies, such as ropes or cables of overhead transmission lines, including at least one attachment limb that comprises an attachment line which is formed in one winding direction in the shape of a helix or spiral and with which the wire-like or rope-like body can be gripped in a helical or spiral-like manner and can be frictionally restricted against any relative displacement in its longitudinal direction, wherein the attachment line comprises at least one fibre strand consisting of long fibres which are twisted together and embedded in a matrix of synthetic material. e

2. A mounting element as claimed in claim 1, wherein o in the sense of the direction of rotation, a twisting direction of the long fibres in the fibre strand runs opposite to that of the winding direction of the attachment line.

3. A mounting clement as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment line is formed from a flat cord consisting of a plurality of adjacently located fibre 25 strands.

4. A mounting element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fibre strands in the flat cord are independently located adjacent to each other. A mounting element as claimed in claim 3, wherein together, the fibre strands form a composite fibre cord.

6. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibre strand comprises electrically non-conducting long fibres. \\HELOI\homR,\Vicky\Keep\.opCi\77808.94.doc 4107197 P 111i411 24

7. A mounting element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fibre strand is manufactured from glass fibres.

8. A mounting element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fibre strand is manufactured from Aramide fibres or polyethylene fibres.

9. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the matrix of synthetic material is a thermosetting plastic A mounting element as claimed in any one of- claims 1 to 8, wherein the matrix of synthetic material is constituted by a thermoplastic. :11. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the *e preceding claims, wherein the long fibres are continuous :fibres. S 15 12. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment line is formed into a mounting segment in contact with the attachment limb. e

13. A mounting element as claimed in claim 12, 20 wherein the mounting element comprises two attachment limbs.

14. A mounting element as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two attachment limbs grip the wire-like or rope-like body in the same regioA in intertwining manner.

15. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the mounting segment is a loop formed by the attachment line. staftlkylkeo(pspeci778084 94 12 II BPPBgl 25

16. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the two attachment limbs are intertwined in helical or spiral-like manner before they are assembled.

17. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each fibre strand is provided with a casing.

18. A mounting element as ccimed in claim 17, wherein the casing forms a protection against corrosion for the fibre strand.

19. A mounting element as claimed in either claims 17 or 18, wherein the casing forms an interleaving element for :e adjacently located fibre strands.

20. A mounting element as claimed in any one of 15 claims 17 to 19, wherein the casing is carrier of a coating which increases the friction.

21. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the casing is a coating of the e fibre strand.

22. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the casing is formed by a film surrounding the fibre strand.

23. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the casing surrounds a plurality of fibre strands.

24. A mounting element as claimed in claim 23, wherein the casing completely encloses each fibre strand in sealed manner relative to the other fibre strand. staffikylkeops5peci77808.94 9 12 I 26 A mounting element as claimed in either claims 23 or 24, wherein the casing combines a plurality of fibre strands into a composite cord.

26. A mounting element as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 23. wherein the casing holds the fibre strands at a predetermined distance from one another.

27. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment line carries a coating which increases the friction on its inner surface.

28. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment line has an inner 15 surface which is formed such as to increase the friction.

29. A mounting element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a clamping wedge for receiving the wire-like or rope-like body can be gripped by the attachment line.

30. A mounting element as claimed in claim 29, wherein the clamping wedge comprises two wedge-halves.

31.. A method of manufacturing a mounting element for assembly to wire-like or rope-like bodies, such as ropes or cables of overhead transmission lines, including at least one attachment limb that comprises an attachment line which is formed in one winding direction in the shape of a helix or spiral, whereby for the manufacture of the attachment line, long fibres are embedded in an unhardened matrix of synthetic material and twisted in one twisting direction into a fibre strand and that, while the matrix of synthetic material is plastically deformable, the attachment line is formed in helical or spiral-like manner in the winding direction and, thereafter, the matrix of synthetic material is put into a state where it is no longer plastically deformable or has a rigid form. \\HELEO I \homes\Vicy\Keep\Opeo i \77 808.94.dc 4107/97 27

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the sense of the direction of rotation of the cwisting direction of the long fibres is opposite to that of the winding direction.

33. A method as claimed in either claim 31 or 32, wherein the attachment line is manufactured from a flat cord comprising a plurality of fibre stands.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the flat cord is manufactured from fibre strands which are independently located adjacent to one another. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the attachment line is manufactured from fibre strands which *are connected to each other. 6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 15 35, wherein a mounting segment is formed from the attachment line in contract with the attachment limb.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein a loop is formed as the mounting segment.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 20 37, wherein two attachment limbs are formed from the attachment line.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the two attachment limbs are formed with their helical or spiral- like region being intertwined.

40. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 39, wherein the helical or spiral-like attachment limb is manufactured by winding the fibre strands onto a core. staff,'isitepo spci/77808.94 9 12 mrv~ IIBII)ID*L~ L~sl~fll 28

41. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to wherein each fibre stand is provided with a casing.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the fibre strand is provided with the casing in the non- hardened state of the matrix of synthetic material.

43. A method as claimed in either claim 41 or 42, wherein the fibre stand is provided with the casing before the helical or spiral-like shaping of the attachment line.

44. A method as claimed in any one of claims 41 to 43, wherein the fibre strand is encased by a coating.. A method as claimed in any one of claims 41 to 43, wherein the fibre strand is encased by a film. 6. A method as claimed in claim 45, wherein the film is welded.

47. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 46, wherein the attachment line is provided on its inner surface with a layer which increases the friction.

48. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the •layer which increases the friction is applied to the casing 20 before the attachment line is formed in helical or spiral- like manner.

49. A method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 48, wherein the attachment line is formed so that the friction on its inner surface is increased.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the attachment line is wound on a core carrying a negative mould which increases the friction. staff/ikylkeoplspeci77808.94 9.12 29

51. A mounting element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 11 or 12 to 15 or 16 or 17 and 18 or 19 to 21 or 22 to 24 or 25 to 27 or 28 to 30 or 31 or 32 or 33 and 34.

52. A method of manufacturing a mounting element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 11 or 12 to 15 or 16 or 17 and 18 or 19 to 21 or 22 to 24 or 25 to 27 or 28 to 30 or 31 or 32 or 33 and 34. DATED THIS 9TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1996 DEUTSCHE FORSCHUNGSANSTALT FUR LUFT- UN~D RA1JHFAHRT E. V. and KhRL PFISTERER ELEKTROTECHNISCHE SPEZIALARTIKEL GMBH CO. KG By Its Patent Attorneys: 15 GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia V 0 00 *0 0 000 000: 00* 00 stallhkyikeooppcV77W8f 94 9.12