CA2984243A1 - Advanced methods and designs for balancing a stranded termination assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Devices and methods for loading a cable in order to create a desired distribution of the load among the cable's constituent strands. Strand terminations are applied to many - and possibly all of - the cable's strands. The ultimate goal is to connect the strand terminations to a collector in order to create an overall cable termination. The relationship between each strand termination and the collector is allowed to "float" using the inventive process while the cable is tensioned and an appropriate spatial relationship between: each strand tensioner and the collector is determined. One the appropriate relationship is found, it is configured to be repeatable (such as by locking the strand termination in place or by recording its position for later application to the same or similar collector).

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
ApVANCED METHODS. AND DEsIGNS FOR BM:AWING
A STRANDED :TEMINATION ASSEMBLY
Patent Apptieatien of Ricbagl V, Campbell CROSS-REFERENCE$ TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This non-provisional patent applicatkin ehlros: the benefit of art orlior-filpd provilsippoj wpl ictkm. The Arwpovisipol application was asigd serial number 61191848:30, listed:
the same imi.Ont0;
STATEMENT RF:X.VA R DINO FEDERALLY SPONSORED zRESEARC,H OR
DEVELOPMENT
NaAppliCable, M WW1:M(14P A PPPNIMV

DESCRIPTION
Title of the. Invention;. Advanced Methods and Designs for. BalanCing:.a Stranded Terinination Assembly Technical Field, This invention relates to The .field of 'tensile :Strength members such = as 'multi-stranded synthetic cables. More specifically, the invention comprises ..devices and methods for .balancing the load cartiod. by a synthetic cable among its. akustiltient:stnands,.

2. Background At A.. cable must generally be provided with one or more end connections in order to be u,sefift. The end ton nections. altew the: cable: to: parry and transmit a tisetbi load, An end connection may be a.Simple device ¨ such as a 1..$.te 'hook ¨ employed to :connect thetable to an.
anchoring point. Larger synthetic ...cables typically.. include multiple constituent strands it is preferabletwartach an individual connective device to each strand,. Such at...geuneCtive device is:
.referred tO in this disclosure as "strand terintriatiort,". 'Multiple strand terminations are ccitinecta together somehow to create a unified cable end. connection, The .unified table end.
connection. is 'referred to in this:disclosure:as an "(Wend cable terminal- on For small cables :444 :erkt-fitti $$$$$$ work. fairly well. For larger cables, however,: more complicated end-fittings are needed: in order .to produce acceptable. 'break strength, .This is .pattkuiarly true for large, multi-stranded cab.* made of synthetic filanients having diameters 28 Of 20 ntni or thore). Fla 1 shows: a 4:41b.le 10 made from. advanced =high-strength synthetic.
:filaments. Some terminology :used in the. .construction: of cables. will benefit 'the: reader's :understandin& though it is .important to Ow that: the terminology voles within the indus,try.
For purposes of this patent. application, tho:Smallestindividnal component of the tablets known as a 'filament.' A:filament is often created by an :extrusion: process:
(though: others.. are used).
25. Many filaments are .goolt1.0 together to create a sweln.O. 12. The filaments .are braided iand/or tVAAtle ri"St's'51.1,Ssy.h e`y: ;:x1 eal02-6,t= ¨tsr.v...ai,6. =
g=II,2=NY

typically braided and/or twisted opt* to form cable 10. In other exampica.:
the strands may be 30 purely parallel and encased in individual surrounding In Stilliother examples the strands maybe arranged in ii::cablelay". pattern that is. well known in the fabrication of wire ropes.
Many different materials: are used: :for tbe filaments in a syinfictic= cable.
These :include friNEEMAõ SPECTRA. . TECHNORA, TWARON,..KEVLAR:VECTRAN, PBQ carbon fiber, nano-tubes, .and glass fiber (among many others) In general the individual filaments: have a 35 thickness that is less than that of' human flak. The: filaments are wry strong in tension, hut they are not. very rigid. They also tend to have low .steaOe friction. These facts make such synthetic filaments cliftietth.whandledUritig:The process of addinga termination and th fik nh to .organi?,e,.
The.proent. invention is. particularly applicable to terininations Made of Such high-strength ...3yntbedo filamerit$, fbrreasonS:which will be exPlained in the descriptive text to follow: While .40. The invention could in theory be appliedloolder cable technologies -,-such as:wire rope it likely would ofir little advantage and the additional time and expense Of inmienienting the invention would .not: be worthwhile: Thus, the invention is net really applicable to wire :rope and other similar cables made of verystitif elements,:
The cable shown .in FK. I la:a..WOlirkne*d exemplary cp.rvitrWiDil made: by braiding or 45 etberwisc. interrelating twelve strands together. Polyester ropes using this construction are known to have an external diameter up.to about 6 irt0e (see specification .1V1111::-R-24750.). fiyvo=
lamer polystr ropes are miuk.by twariamg parallel sub-ropes in a :braided-, s randjacket When a cable has .non-parallel strands the:interrelationship between the strands becomes .quite complex. .The overall cable has a toAra; axis. Each individual strand is on average.
50 :running parallel ine.:cable'S:.Pentral aNis. However, atanygivenpoint.alongthe cable's length., ..no individual strand is parallel to the :cable's central axis,: When such a cable is loaded, the intlividual strands -move and shift: isbe. .tab.W -.ollool-.07.:togotber and :svanoi-.40-$.ttod .friction boonla:a significant component of the cable's perfonnauce When large amount of tenSion is ;.:64 fie. . vies 6 ,.!]..61.t, . =14,. :16;
,

3 It iMportunt:tbrthe tweralf strength of most cables - the I.;',strand configuration of FIG.
hetag:..tt good i that the load be shared equally among the constituent strands.
For a.1.2..strand 'construction, the ideal restdt is: that each ran carries:
exactly 1112 of the total 60:
load.: Other cables may haven. deSiOxl:non7equal tension: distribotiOn, such as cable having some telatiWy= large strands and other relatively small strands. However, in aU eases; it is preferable to have e'targerdistribation of tension amongthe:constituent *ands and to provide sygeril that 1740Wthi.5 target distribution.
Higlstrength. synthetic filaments have way :little surface friction and strands made of 65 theseftlaments also have very.littlesinface Mono% Thu.s. n r rossthk k.,r one indMdoal:strand to 'Vie y?.i.01 respect to neighboring strands. A strand that =$.1.i0 tends to '44.Kii64gr itself and Shift thloadit..w.a$ earryingto its .:neighbors. This:isObviously an undesirable result.
Jn order to an overall cable:terininationto.:an end Oa multi-stranded synthetic cable each individual strand .=must he Out to length: and have a Strand termination added (It .is .not:
1.0 essentiat:that:all 'wands in :the cable undergo this process hut in most embodiments all strands Will be involve4. '.r.he.entting and terminating: pros. se are inherently :invertem. The .result will generally. be that. some terminated: wands. will wind up Wog low than desired while Others will wind.up.being shorter then desired. If a tensile load is placed on the cable witb'no.
accommodation for these manufactoring tolerances, the relatively short"
strands wiJ he loaded.
ilMtArid=*y will. czwy 00h1.104t.i than therelatiVely long strands..
One approach to reducing this problem IS:ta.make the applicationoca tensile:
load to each .Aranttindiyiduaily adjustable, In order to achieve this al a tvnsion-applyingapparattiS:tnay.be .applied to each Strand termination individually. Looking again. at Ka I. the reader will note.
how the. strands on.the.free. end enable 1.0 have. been =braided so: that they .are individually :$0 aecessible:
FIG. 2 Shti.M. section view .thretigli...a strand terotination.30.thathas..been.added toile 0.51,1 ,rae' .5µ.51 5.1 .5.,44,a reA = y: =

85 ;generally concern pot* :repninWon% but at4.0iap,ts.S..ed previously %N.
J00Øtiql applie.$-10 all types : termination.
FIG, 2 Shows asectional. view through the conwonents used to .create .the terminatiom.
The reader will note that 0.000. 18 includes n expanding Cavity. 20 that ..e=Apvid., as one proceeds from thepottion Of the :anchor facing the length of cable (the 'proximal' end, which is.
)0 the bottom end: in the .orientatiort.of the View): toward the portion of the teOtig.iin.tho :oppinOte. direction (the "distar.' end, Which. is the top end in the orientation Of :the: view), The.
expanding eaAty in this example is a linear taper between two straight portions all joined by filets, Differing. wall protiks may:boosed tocreate.e wi&
varioty.:ofexpandingcavities The encl. portion. of .tra;4i 12 i potlod. into the. expel:1041g cavity Itt arderto lock anchor 9$ l8 .to strand i2 The filaments of :the Strand are splayed :apart and infused with tignitpotting:
compound (either before or Offer being placed within expanding .eavity.24 The kwcpottibg .eoppound. 11)4yhe aNeitbya .'i.arietN.!ot methods ; incl Luling (r) "'painting' or Otherwise wetting the filaments with .potting compound and. then :sliding the anchor into position over the painted filarnent.'õ: (2)= positioning the splayed flat-pots in the: .;-õayity. :and too ooiog in OCE101!ig 1.09: comPoOld,: filaments 10.4:Separate mold: df.a.,34001 to wet the filaments, . and

(4) injecting pressurized potting compound into the :cavity_ However the :poning.compettnd is introduced, the splayed filaments remain within (why 20 while the potting compound haideUS.
Once it has hardened the result is :a inW-littileal.interlock.between the filament-reinforced (contained :in potted/v.0m 22).a.solid material and the cavity.: Tension applied :t t.) the cable will 05 thereby be transtOtte$10..the strand;
The potting compOund used is typicay: a high-strength resin. How=ever,.. the term:
"Vatting compound" as used in this description means any substance .which.trarentions:..from liquid to solid over time, Potting is only one approach :known in the art. Other common examples include ''spike,, 3.3n 7", = 5" f7,} N=1 . = = = 't = =
ein.= = ia :itself typically referred to as a "spliced eye ,r The present invention is applicable to any method of:owing:a fet-Minaden on the end: or a synthetic filament tensile blether. Although 115 prittod:examPles are shown in these descriptionathe:invention is not limited to that approach, and the reader should understand the term "Strand termination' to broadly encompass all methods Of iattaching a device to the end of a stand.
FIG. 2:shows additional components that are added to facilitate the gathering of multiple strands into a single. lpad4ransferring element, In the example shoWn,i,mding:stud 24 has been 120 connected to :anchor 18 Oa threaded engagement 28. Leading Stud 24 includes male thread 26 over a significant length (The threads are shown schematically but am not actually depicted for purposes of visual clarity), 'This threaded stud aliows the eptnpleted:
assembly to be attached to :Other -things to ultimately mate an overall cable termination.
The use of a threaded stud is a "high-endr! example. in other :instances the anchor will i 25 shut* be a cylinder with :as load-bearing flange facing downward it the orientation :of MG., 2, The Ottiwchon between the cylinder and another object could then be placing the toad-bearing flange against another surface.
RC, 3 shows the table atter ailiideritiCal (in th4eXample)::stranditermination 30 has been added to :the end of each strand 12. The reader will Observe how a length of each strand is 130 preferably unbraided from the cable structure so that a free length exists proximate the termination. This: allows each wand to be: manipulated so that it May be attached to another device. A separate device or devices is used to aggregate all the individual strands and strand terminations to a. unified klad-Aransferring assent bly: This unified :assembly will he referred to as an "overall cable termination' in order to distingtrish it from :the :individual "strand terminations'"
05 applied to each strand. The design oldie strand terminations the overall cable termination, and the unit,ing: devices employed to create the: overall cable terinination can take on :many and various Aions. The present inwntion is applicable to all of these thrrns.
;: re.tr µ4,4:6Zes e<e;37,3. tes manufacturing tolerances will generally cause some wands to shift or Nip"
itlatiVe o ethers thereby .altering the prOpertionalkad.sharing that was iintionda The present invention loads . the.
table in a controlled and carefully deSigned:,man net,: muffing: in a reduction hrini saligninen is and more evenly 41%0:Wed load among the cable's constituent strands.
145 Throughout this disclosure, .cables. Will be used as an example Of a tensile strength member. However the invention .should ..not. be viewed as being: limited to cables. The term "tensik:. strength niertiber" or 'tensile, .momber" otleorna cables and Sub-components. 'Of cables ..such, as: Strands:. The invention also eneornpames::noncable Structures intended to carry loads intension.
1.50 Likewise,. the term: "anchor" should be viewed broadly to enompass virtually anything that can be :attached to a strand or cable The anchor would ordinarily include some features facilitating attachment such as a hook or threads,.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
155' The present invention comprises devices and methods for loading a cable in .order to ovate a desired ths'3ihuion o e toad: among the. cable& .CitiaStikuont :strands, ;Strand .terrninatiOns are applied. to Many and possibly all of¨ the ..cables strands.
The ultimate goal Is to connect the:straitd terminations. to :a: collector m.A.).rder o seate an oyoalteabl# tertnhlotibn, The relationship between each wand termination and the cbltector is allowdto "floor using the.
160 inventive process while the cable is: tensioned and an appropriate spatial relationship how eert eaciv.strand.tensi oner. and the collector' is. determined. One. the .appropriate relationship. is found, it :is .contigured: to be repeatable Ouch as by inciOag the: strand termination in .4ft:a or by recording its poSition.lbriaterapplicatiOn to the same or similar .collector).
In a .preferred embodiment, a. strand tensioner is. providtst or .f.wh termination. .Tension is applied to the cable thi7thigk the strand teilaiOnerS, Tension may be .571:4 'a:4;ntA ,x,' 0-xv4t = wrwa CI, {s). "

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
170 Fn. 1 is an tiovoioil. View, showing the braided Struenire Of an exemplary 2.strand cable.
fici, 2 is a sectional. sectional: view,. Aowiog.A te.37004tiOn etV,4;e4. On the end of a '4140 FIG, 3. is :a. perspective view, .showing 12: terminations Attached to 1.2 'strands In an 175 exemplary cable.
perspective view, SitoWing. a Collector used to assernble the 12 tenninations:..of 1:10 $. is a sectional perspective view, ..showing en exemplary attachment between a termination and a collector, 180 .FIG: .6 is .a perspective: view; Showing all I 2 termiqgtio.m.
attached to. Oleo-Alec:tor.
Figõ.7:isaperspectivevi...o.w, showing a pailic01011r type of strand teriaion0, /7.10 8 is a.. Side. elevation view, showing an assembly used to apply loads 'wait the :strands ina cable assembly: in a.,controlled fashion.
.9 is a. plot of strand spapplied tension over: tittle 185 FIG. I.0 is:a plot Of strand displacement and applied tension over time.
PIG.. ii is: a: plant' strand displacement and applied tension oyertline.
12 is: a. plOt of strand displacernent 6*.,4..6 me for rooltiNe:atralid$:4.
FIG, 12 is. a side ::.elevation: vie.w, :showing an msembly wed to apply lead's the strands in.a.t*Fle assembly in a controlled fashion,:
190. FIG. 14 is .4,0c:tailed perspective view,. showing o..ivtationrlioniting,lature..
fIG., 15 is: a. detailed perspectiVe view, showing an alternate embodiment .for a wood tensioner,.
oq, 16. 4. detailed perspective view, Showing: an alternate embodiment :for a strand 'S'6,1=1=2 ;10iriAr REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
209 10 cable 12 strand 18 anchor 20 cavity 22 potted region 205 24 loading stud 26 male thread 28 thrftded engagemeni 30 termination 34 collector 210 36 loading flange 38 receiver 40 nut 42 washer 44 hemi bearing 215 46 opening 48 coupler 50 strand tensioner 52 cylinder 54 mount 220 56 rod 58 fixture 225 66 pace frame 68 cORector brace 70 priirtary load fixture.
72 hydraulic cylinder 74 attaOhtnent 230. 76 boss 78. hole.
80 lOelt..t.yite 82 cross hole 84 castellatednut 215: 86 notch 88. Strand tensioner .telescoping clevis load cell 240 96 1.0riog:
..PfiS.C.RIPTION Of EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 4 shwa an exemplary device used to gather all the strands into a unified whole and 245 thereby create ad.overail. cable tertnidtdio:n. Collector..4'w4 includes:tweie receivers 3S eaoh Of which : ...eonfigured. to: connect to:a.single strand termination ad ether enibodinients. a receiver may be eonigred to connect to multiple strand terminations). collector 34 typically includes .serne type of load-transferring feature ..designed to transfer a load from the..eollectOr to some eMern.01. OeMeilt: Loading flange 36 is .a. Simple example of a ioad,ttansferting..:featum The .leoNS:a=vo3 c, = 41, KG, 5: shows an exemnleq.i. :connection between a termination on a strand and AN
01100t0t,: LØ04iing.004.24 iI::passed.tnroughopening.46 and.throngh reeeiver.38.incolleetor 34õ
Receiver 18 :includes a hernispimical concave port on sized to .accept. head .hearing 44 fterni 25 hearing :44: and receiver ::).tit Awn a hall-And,s040.t connection.
that. alloys the temtination. to rotate With respect to collector 34, This is a sophisticated type ..of connection that won't be 'mended in :many embodiments. Many .embodiments. will simply use a .washer bearing against a flat surface on collector 4õ $hil other embodiments wont wii.a.threadedstod and will instead simply mute two surfacestUgetherto make the connection, 260 Nut 40 can be selectively tightened on loading stud .24 (the threads : are not. shown in the.
view).in.prdertq-ntgs washer 42 against ht.trii bc:arfmg 44: and bean' besting .44 against receiver 38. To apply .the. inventive method, .collector 34 is ordinarily placed in a loading :fixture that.
bolds it in posftion. Tho fir end of the cable to which thestmnd.beong i.Oikewise.held in place (such by: 'MO itig ft around geapstan pr ome::otbe neans,.$0c11..0:appfying.
an Overall .cable.
265 termination to the. far end). A .substantial :tensile load is then applied to the cable as a.whole Those .:skilled in the wtr s then appredAte that :by: lightenistg or ipoxeriirout 40 -a user can fine tole the tension on. the partiedlar. Strand to which load* stud 24 is .attached .(as well as its position with respect toc Wee:tor MI, The: ball-and-soda connection in this embodiment allows the strand termination ti)Aligrt itself with the strand during thisprocess.

ifIG, 6 shows an aSSembi,y of collector '34 and all twelve strands. The reader will Observe :that twelve loading studs 24 are in position anda.nnt.. 40 is connected to each stud (The loading.
studs 24 shown in. FIG,..6.are longer than depicted in Fla S in order- to give an .adOltional. range of adjustment. Also the threadson the exterior xunfate... of :the. loading i Studs are again omitted for purposes olvisudi charity). This view illustrates the advantage of including ball-,and-socket.
2.7.5 connection in some of the. prnboditiii,I4: As each strand emerges from the i,:-.01c%=.. braided Construction it assumes a patti010 angle With respect to the. collector. Some diverge more than .Pka *1.SL, C>=nr A

280 The bell-and-socket.connection should pmperb,,t be viewed as .one otarople.amoog'many poollile eonneetion typo. Thotra(ler is refeitetitO commonly-owned U.S. Patent for additional examples ..regattling .the application of an attachment to a sub-component of a larger cable.
Theterin.."Conei*e:in thi$:ontoxt:shOold be viewed broadly as anything that is used to 285 collect a:tensile.load from two or more strand it may. bea..unitied piece as Shown but may-elso'bo n aggpiOly-pf. multiple. pieces; :fzurther: a."st.and4o"
olio:tor ritta!;.' he used to Fe-load %he:cable and adjust each:: of the W.4ild terininatiOns: (as described subsequently y and the stand terminations may ultimately be connected tow). entirely different colledon It is not common for user to take an assembly r for a large cable.snch.as:shovn in Fla 290.: and 0140:it.....000.woce withootHpileadiogIbe assembly and testing it ft is important to .pre, load the assembly: to settle the Stninds and other components into a stable configuration .before the cable is 'placed into :service, in this context it is...detirable. to bow 'a =.particular .cables.
1.tittNimum Working lead.in:the .seryJi:4 etwirOnmeat It is. destined to enter. The pre-load process :might :apply a tension to The cable that isequal to1.00%.or.even as madras 150% of 29:5 maximum .workiog load, While most large Cables. are pni...qoaded as a wholeõ the ptesent invention .seeks to pre, load the cable.at:the strand level and manipulate the.stranellOrmiNtiop to collector connections:
in order to create a desired apportionment :Of the overall load: aniona. the .constituent wo.T.14, Without careful preloading. alarge.Cable.asseMbly will very likely .bave an uneven distribution Of .300 lead to eachindividnal .strand, The ms process.:aiwOonq,redneesthis phenomenon, One cold tho configuration Of 110:;: 6 to mgresSively tighten all twelve nuts: and:
thereby place an initial load .on the. cable.. Such ...a. process would be unlikely to produce an optimal result., however. The .present invention. obtains .advantages by individually .applying terisinn.:to the stands in a large.inniti-stranded cvmee_lecnel tA:sa 12:
he heid.::statiorty, such as by winding it around a capstan or providing a second CO1100tOr. On the.
far end.

:Collector 34 is held within. fixture. 58. .during the tensioning process, .$ignificantly however,. is .1101: :.v.onttly used: to apply anylensiim. to the cable:strands. dt.461010:ort-iicwii.og:
process. . During the process, each individual Strand termination -is allowed to float With roped.
to collector .34. Tension to theca:Weis actually applied directly through the strand terminations themselves (as will be described subsequently). As tebsion is applied, the inventive components operate to apportion the .overall lbad..among the individual .strands in a predetermined arrarigement(usnally. this v W he an equal load applied to e.ech strand hut there are exceptions), Once the desired. pre..4eati is applied.: and the strand terininations are adjusted to achieve ..the desired load . apportionment,. then :the relationship between each strand termination and the collet:Am ts established by locking the *and .termintition. to the collector tu ihodosirod 320: position or by recording the de sired. position :$0 :that it. can law be reestablished).
In the embodiment of FIG. 1.3; collector 34., :fixture A. space: frames :
fixture Wand all the cormeaed component* move in. unison: This: entire:::asenibly: may :Slide lattee frame or otherwise be .stsbiti*.i.
in this .exemplary .apparatus one or more hydraulic cylinders. 72, connect primary load .325. fixture 70 .to:aaachment 7.4 .on the: ............... movinr assembly,.
The right 'side of the one cylinders 72 the wiotitittiOof tim:Oeyto.is. -1.1)40 subStonial: and:stationary anchor point.
When the one or more hydraulic cylinders 72 are: activated, the moving asseinhly (along with:
collector 34). is. urged to the...r.ighdo.the view, This act on applies.
tetujon to eabie. if) .(siNe the far end of the cable 310 The frame structures: shown are preferably very stout so that tt Urge tensile load may be applied.. For sontc:. cables it may he desirable to. provide e tensile load of I million .pounds or more;
4, ..N1AN, ;Vtl, .44 uN RV), =

the desipiled: length. Returning to FlQ. the reader wilt ................
recall that each individual.strand.:must be .cut to length 044 have. a strand termination added to its free end. The marinfactiaing tolerances of both:the cutting operation and the termination operator can only go so far.. ..Some of the strands v ind t.T. being :Shorter ............................... than .designed and odigrs. will 04d. u being :kpoger:tho 340: designed, Of: =CouNey when the cable is hiitiolly placed under tension,.
the .shorter .strands will carry most of the toad and thelongerstrands. may in fact carry very little.
For this reason, it is ttoirttNe:40::he able to .adkot the pWtion. of each of the: toaud.
tortioalleft with respect to the.
eolleetOr.
Looking now at FIG. 6, the:leader will recall that them:tic:IA connections between each 345:: strand termination and the col lector include an adjustment ffe,axtire The oeijosoneofotore.ht the embodiment of FIG; 6 is the nut 40 placed on each loading stud 24::
These:nuts:can.be tightened manually: to provide the desired adjustment There are many other .ways to adjust the voiAl.
folatteaship.betweoia.,strott&teottiootiou..tiod the colleeter.: =Rowes,er the adjustment j*:.irtade4t:
is desirable to the process of apportioning the load among various .strands.
350' Returning: now .to F G I the reader .observe that: :each loading stud ongacb joiNidhat $troh0 is attached to a.strand tens:jotter 50; All the strand tenSionerS are attached to fixture 44. Thus, when the moving :assembly is moved to the right under the foree: imparted by the one or diore hydraulic cylinders 72, it is the. strand tensioners (50) On this pilciar embodiment) that apply the: tension to the Cable. The loading stud each Strand =pasSes.
355 through the collector but should not transfer any significant %roes:to-the collector. Instead,. the.
leading stud is attached :to its:tosptive$4-4,11d.tengiortgr::.*
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary strand tergdonor 50. Thk.particolo.strand.tensioner ihdades.
a hydratilic cylinder 52 an:
extendinviretractingrott 56: Coupler 48: is provided on the free .gnd. of the rod, The Coupler in this oxArbpio.: irto4dgs-a female threaded hole configured to.
MO. .011gage an indWid01 iottding. qua :24. The. Coupler IS threaded over :the loading stud .and ;*.;,f ; tls..rc Nswee41 8.

include any device able to transmit tension from a strand tensioner to tt.
strand termination, and.
may includ.e hook's., ..kkacktts,...thd inanY other typeS...df deviceS.
365 The tOtation limiting device prevents rotation between .coupler- 48: and loading stud 24' once the coupler is firmly attached to the loading stud. It is also prefirahk to ihnit rotation' .between tOO. 56 And Cylinder 52; A:keyway may be used to rotatienally lock the rod ad cylinder together, Mount 54 is provided to attach strand tensioner.50..to an.extemal :frame, One or more .pivots may be: provided on mount 54 so that the angle. . of strand tensioner SQ. may be made.

adjustable: Appropriate hydraulic connections are provided So that hydraulic pressure may. he .used to extend and re tractrod 56.¨ifdes i red:
In ::a preferred embodiment, strand 50 could be viewed as.::"passive"'deviees:. In this embodiment, the hydraulic lines leading :front each Strand. tensioner 50 are fed into a common., pressurized reservoir. The reservoir can be contained within pressure'controlleriserisof 375 60 (see 'Fla.. 1.3y geturning'to ficiõ the hydra:0C c it n103 tarn0.ch ''Strand,tertsiorier'50 are double-acting ollhde,...78: for this example.. The piston .Within .eaCh.
of 'these dotibleacting cYlinders ispreferab/y.:placed near then0:6901* of its:tange of travel .:(Inidway .between the two fijotrawd fluid ports).
One mule; ="phor the cylinders in different ways, Those skilled in the art will know 380 thatdoubleacting.hydraulte cylinders type 11y have two:
hydrattlie.ports -- one on each extreme Of the pistore$ range of travel, The pot that i&.Osed..for the: -tomer woo .(causing the rod to retract into the cylinder is generally located. near :the rod end.:afthe.hydraulic .cylinder. All the hydraulic lines leading from the :retract ports in this example are connected to .a edoththo, presm.i#,,d hydraditl,õ

Rdtoroidg. to = FIG.:. 13, when the one or more hydraulic cylinders: 72 are :pressurized to begin moving the. fixture :.:64 .ano. the. strandtensiOners 50: to the Oh:
the orientation of.F1Q, 1.4 the tenSion on the Cable tends.. to pull the rods out of ihe..ttydrithlic, eyiindem.in the. Strand.
Tkk mexiiesrs r.x.1 eS tlx:x =

IS

pressurized. hydra* .reservoir.. As ja result, the same pressure winds no Wog :applied to each retract port,.
The result is that the tension being applied to each individual strand must be equalized and* motion of the:Nds the strahd tensioners.

5:0.etIsIOs ,e0Ilioutt13:0 need..fOr any sophisticated. active contra A simple operational example will .make this .point 395 clear One of the strands in the. .assembly will draw taut first and this fact will cause the rod in the.strandtensioncr: attached, to that particular strand to start :Moving out.
of Its cylinder. This wIll displace bydraulic fluid withiiithat strand tensionet and cause that hydraulic fluid to be expelled out the retract port on the par& ular strandlensionm The common .reqtrµvir v pressurized,. so expelling fluid from one.:eylioder..Causes the:sattle. volume of fluid to be discharged into the Other 400 y:finders: As a result, the rods in the other strand tensioners 50 actually retract a. small distance tivitattached. strands d raw-taut::
Simi* ¨4,100.09.T.I" disploOmm% take place among all tWelve strand;
teliiitiners 50.
Some rods. will .extend outward through a .small displacement stroke, .other rods, will retract through a;:5tntin dispiseeinent stroke., and likely still. others will not move much .at all, This is 405 why it is a. good Jdea.10:.%4rt .the process ,: with the pistons in hydraulic Cylinders within the strand tensioners: near tbe middle of their range of travel, rather than at an: .extreme. . The result is that by tooting fixture 64 through a. small splaopeut .strandlensioners 50 wind up with an equal amount of internal oN5mv. Iht...bydrautioylincl and all 0*. tonite004.
strands 'wind up with the .saine amount of .tensionõ
410. Rotortiing.no to .displacetnent sensor 04 taps.*,,. provided to ilvaitorth6 WOO
oftbeTokt.duriog the. tensioning The ten actually being applied can be monitored by monitoring the hydraulic pressure ..applied to cylinder,.
Returning now to. some ociproa:try:
.6pop.tiget, .components : will be:
described. This: example is:.apnlyinglenSion to 121.11(1. c0)10. fix cable. provide Pe>., :stre.N.A , :=; 4'CA
,74

6 strand tertsioner to be adjusted as desired, though some embodiments may include fixed positions. The result in this example is a radial pattern of diverging strand tensk,ners. Several 420 space frames 66 are positioned to keep fixtures 58 and 64 in position so that the substantial tensile forces applied to the strands do not distort the assembly.
In some embodiments the strand tensionem may be remotely located, with the connection to the strand terminations being made with cables passing over pulleys. Other embodiments might use levers or other remote-mounting mechanisms. Thus, the construction shown is 425 ppri< viewed as exemplary, Pressure controller/sensor 60 provides hydraulic pressure to each of the twelve strand tensionem In many instances the same pressure will be fed to all tensioners, since this will ultimately produce a uniform tension among the strands. If a common pressure is desired, the prior example of simply plumbing all the retract ports on all the cylinders within strand 430 tension= 50 to a common, pressurized reservoir may be 140d.
However, in other instances it will he desirable to vary the pressure applied to each tensioner, Thus, pressure controller 60 may be configured to independently apply mssure to each cylinder and to monitor and maintain a selected pressure for each cylinder. This may he desirable for cable lay constructions, where a higher tension may be applied to the inner strands than the outer strands, 435 Process controller 62 preferably receives infbrmation regarding the translation of each cable strand (via an input such as displacement sensor 64) and the t<E3S10E) applied to each strand, Strand tension may be derived from the pressure applied to each strand tensioner or via some other source such as a load cell or strain gage placed on the strand terminal ion or on the strand tens loner, 440 In a representative pre-load operation, pressure would be applied to one or more hydraulic. cylinders 72 to pull the slack out of the cable and apply increasing tension, Hydraulic pressure will then be created within the strand tensionms 50 as the load is transferred from -3:es A IA a 5:.>=.-w5l.e.4 sert'" ear tt,,,Zeaz,Kr, VW.V.C23,C. 0,21.4112.1ko loading studs : 24 to he pined further through collector 34 than others :(Since "the longer strands.
wiltstill have more slack needing be pulled Out. in this exaniple), .Once :a unitOrm tension in all strands.has:been.achievedand:
the.desired.total tension has.
been achieved, the: relatiye position betwee etioh. strand termination od:..tbe collector should be:
4.50 locked in place : so: that the strands don't :shift significantly When the pre4ond...is removed. Any suitable locking mechanism .can be used For the cum* of FIG:. 6, one would simply apply a nnifortn:intiontit .010r:one:to .each of the nuts 40 while.* 000 tens:loners 50 maintain tension on the strands.
More generally, the :invention seeks to preserve the proper spatial relationship between 455. ..etteb $trand ton-Ai/lain:6 and the 'collector, w that the proper tvlutionsrhip co be recreated .when the cable is put into use. One.way.to preserve this::rOationship is.
mechanically locking the tumid:
terminations in the position determined to he correct during the preloadinwprocess, There are certainly other ways, however. One codid, for oompici now-04 .moolite and record the .$0.4141 relationship hetWeen. each Strand termination and. the .collector without :mechanically 460 locking: the strand terminations: in position. Later,õ the :correct spatial relationship would he.
'recreated by adjusting: each strand termination untii. it. 'repeated .the p.wiooly taken measurements. This could be done with the same cOileeter used in the pre,:loati process. ..tt could .also be done with another substitute telleeter. For :,,:xaroplo.,. the .collector used in the preload process might boa modular assembly intended only for the IA in:of oaorige measurements and 465 not for field we: It :might be equipped with expensive position sensors that one would not wish to install in the. field.
As .F010 nrevionsly.:,:obles:.nsing.:syinhetie Watnent.s:Itnd to have relatiVely..linIeStirface friction. Thus, if one does not load: a stranded termination carefully it is possible for one strand to siip relative to the others in a. direction that: is :roughly :parallel to the cable:s:terlot aL.N.iS
470 "lOgitiOinai 0.00. iuch a slip Occ.Ors it is difficult to detect and in many itiStatuy$
irrme,c*.msE. = esk, ;.2Viz"cistte,1!;..,` 5,1 ,MF65,,,e4 .
zr1;a'cl;6* .er4,7,2,.., ;Ass slip near one of the cable's.terminate.d ends can be a significant: prOblem.
The:siip. produces ...A.
475 looalized disturbance in the This will peady always eauSe.a weakness at the point of the slip and amoverall.reduction in the cable's breaking strength:
Even if one .balances the strand tenons at the et-Id:S:010V aole dftrsuch astip,.. theiinternal.
disturbance in the: cables Stniott.trt will compromise its Oder/n.000. P&itas. more .significantly. .the compromise in pertb.mianeernay not be detectable without actually testing the cable to the breaking point.
480: So long as the strand.s .are initiallyloaded hi a controlled 03040, .holdiog the tension on the ind.Wirinai soltd$ reasonably. evert the region..Where:the strands transition from the free cable Structure to the collector should stay reasonably balanced. The goal is primarily..the prevention of a slip, The approach is: to carefully control and regulate the tension applied to each individual strand So that no significant imbalance occurs.. In the absence,: of an imbalance &Slip is :unlikely.
485 UI anopemloop..enibodiment of the inventive process, one COO apply astepped'increase in tension. . For example, one. May apply a tensile load of I of the anticipated ultimate 'break strength, check for the tc*540.4 of The strands, move up. to a 5% load, reelicekõ.then:move up to ,a 1:0%..load, and ...so on. Automated: strand :adjustment can allow for.
continuous tension to be maintained on the 'OW.:

.Consistency and repeatability are very. ii-npoittant :in the cable:: industry particularly .where the-cables.carry large loads.. The present invention seeks *pre4oad:the cable and adjust.
each :strand. termination to :the appropriate spatial relationship = with the collector WithOtit.
producing a longitudinal slip. In .a...losed-loOp embodiment, strand. tension :and/or position can be monitored and fed to a. proem controller diat.autoniatically adjusts the tension .41)00 to:
495 .each strand.- The loading process is preferably modified in real:
time in the event that unwanted 'atipvitge:is detected.
The reader should understand that some minimal slippage is inherent in the preloading 'proc4i4ss can likely never be..eliniiiiiited altogether. But, it is possible by using the present irSVP.nti"n= trr, Att=re..,SA:ser cAiyuz Sx, It is .generally important to control the rotation of the strand during Joading. Since the strand .itself almost always has -some type.. of tviated eonatruction(tich as:braided :or wound) taatiob. isbighly related to tension. Thus it Is preferable..to.apply tension to :a .strand without 505: allowing it to rotate Further, once the tensioning process. is complete, it is preferable to limit rotation between the grand and. the: collector, Otherwise the may "unwind"
In an exemplary implementation of the closed-loop embodiment, a strand tensioner 50 (as: deseriNd previously) s pro idett for each strand 'in anle F IC 11 illustrates one possible fiktoring arrangement, The Nader 1=01:1 Alai) that collector 34. is .simply held implacedtitingthe 510 tensioning process. The strands pass through the:cam:ter:hut should not transfer any significant forces to the collector :as. the strandlensioners. go to. work: Process controller 152 preferably.
receives information regarding the owls:14m of each cable Strand (via an input such .as displacement sensor 64) and the tension applied to each strand,. .Strand tenSion. may be derived.
from .the: pPet,4ore'app14:to'each:hydNolk cyiinderor via some other source -sueb as a ldad 515 WI Or strain gage placed On the %hula. termination .of on the .04,444 tensidrien In the close&loop embodiments, process controller 62: idetillY includes a processor mbuiriga OM:Mtprogram. This:.*ip).a:prostribo0 ''ramp up' strand tori.061õ However, 010 process need :not be a fixed One but :is more preferably an adaptive -process that .changes according to the sensor values. FIG. /2:
illustrate several examples of operation for the 520 devio,.:.of KO, & The reader should hear in mind, however, that the .oproorgibus.
are virtually limitless and so the examples provided be viewed as liMiting.
F1CL 9 shows an example Where tension is steadily raised. on all strands at the same time.
(though only a single strand is plotted). The upper plot Shows the linear displacement of the termination affixed to ":Strand I The lower plot shows the tension applied to the same "Strand.
525 1.,".
The first port.of.the opryo 414.0proorits..010initial rrnoval of S144, Once tis ebiz;.k. ref.' 530 tension applied actnally falls.tPoint..A on the lower. The decrease. in ;tension results from the:fag that the Strand-to-strand friction has hansitioned..frern a Static.incidetba.dynarniettiode.
The substantial slip continues :until Point K. when Strand I stops. Slipping withlespect to its :neighbors and res.:mites:elastic: elongation,. Atthis. point the tension in .Strit114 laJo room:SW:a linear relationship (Point W.. in the lower .plot). f1Ø,. 9 tepto.sait$.0:"ope..i Tor .scenario Where .535 tension: is ramped up at a. fixed rate and noslipdetection. is included, Hower it may be possible to detect .and: prevent $ignifiont.jonOtodittai:00:.tiOng the information available in FIG., 9., The slope of the displacement curve.
(dyld.0 should :remain fairly. 'constant in the :absence .of aSittlificantsl.ip, monitoring the:rate Ofchangeo this Slope ylaxithe. cciritOl system can dotect *sudden slope inecoSe ----Whichstroni4VstiggeStS the 54.0 onset of ap. si FRi .1Ø illustrates this scenarir..).. At Point. A in. the. upper plot .process. Oqtrolipt 62 detects fhe Onset...o.f.4 entatl da rta, rig slip The t:Oritrollenininiediately nxicees the applied tension. on Strand I. (See lower Plot) so that a smooth displacement: is.
maintained,: 'Tension continues. to be ramped op on the other strands within the cable.
1711.0:inotostwtobsion on the 545: other W4114 will tend to te.7c10,nolf :the previously slipping Strand I
(recall the .complex braided structure shown. in FIG, 1).:
Once. the determines that the is under control Ouch as by monitoring the rate Of change of the displacement plot slope, among other methods) tension on Strand I is:
ramped' :back.: up. (shown -as 'Points. B and. IV), A normal increase is then continued wafts .55.0 another sup is 4t...eqe0::
In some instanot..s.. Op may occur so quickly that the tensioning apparatus cannot respond rapidly enough In those cases the best approach wilt be to regulate the to.Mon:npptiod.
.tty.tocb strgnO=j'o.:$1.4$ a fasniOn as to. prevent. the slip to bqin with II
the Oispteittinont..senso :Mot detect a slip. this information May still be useful because it informs The .operator that the t"ee = =

Of course, there are many lenslowincroasing profiles that are.non4inear. In :some. cable OftW400.0S. it IS..Ø.dvalitqgoetS. to Ow. :the apptioninti of to:skin. Fla 1'1 shows a plot depleting this type Of "ramp 1.1:p:' Again,: the: plet shows. only one strand in a .11,strand cable, but .560 the plots .for the other eleven strands would be similar the .absence. of :a _Sleek is removed and telisiOn is ramped ...up.
Point A. lotion is tben stepped down to a low level and low,tension interval: (from Point kW:PO:int .13) is maintained so that the cable structure . can At Point B tension is:agairt.appliedAw. increased. . Another "rear interval commences at 565 Point C. and .continues to. Point D. This process continues. until &desired: amount of pre-load has been applied to the cable.:
FIG. ilshows a co ribined. plot Of displacement versus ..tine for alitikelve strands in :a 12.
strand braidedeable. The process controller typically measures and compares the Naves: for the cable: strands as the: tensiOning:process.proceeds., .406tho effective slip detection it ethod is 570 to 's.e.ari.7 for one strand paSsingtein far Outside the average the strands. bitheplot of 12: one strand (Strand .3) has experienced a substantial longitudinal slip and its displacement has suddenly progressed rspi di y beyond that of the Ow strand*, When thi.
condition is detected the controller can .reduce the tension on Strand 3 and :Allow the cable to stabilize as the tension on the other strands is increased.
575 FIG.
8 shows a simplified :alternate tensioning . fixture. In this ernbodiment fixture 58 :And thcture 64 are stationarr Tension : j$...applied...10..the far .end of the Cable using another or sonic other means such as by rotating a capstan around which the table is wound. As described for the embodiment of f 10.13, the tension On the individual strailds..
is:.:Ngt.44thel..w).4 adjusted.
using the individual strand tensioners 50, It may be regulated via connecting them to a common,.
580' pressurized reservoir,.. or Ala an active coptrol. approach,.
Of course, 'other .antotnated tensioners could be substituted fb.r:. the hydraulic cylinder pin 7 Rini:. c. ,ftswfi fkits, sw: qi-eartd...foym.

22.
585 his. preferable to secure loading stud 24 so:that:ft/does. not :turn with the nut. &pair- of.
opposing flats.. 9.; are .:providt0 on loachng stt4 24:: Tej.escoping:. clOis.
90 :is: part of strod:
tetisidoer 8. =Fbis component inchides a eleviis .notch sized to woo the two flat on the.
loading stud.. FIG. 16 shows telescoping elevis..90 In an activated state. It engages the two flats and prevents the OtAtiO6 of load mg stud.. 24, In confignmlohs. :die oar dtie flhm 590 wand Iensionor 8 rotates nut 44 and thereby increases. or decreases the tension on the strand to.
which loading stud 24 .is attached:. The control 0T:strand. tensioner 88.E may he manualõ On the:
other 404, strand 10060.$8 tnay he substituted for atrand tensioner. 50 in the .ettbExtintent. Of EJO. 3 In that case, strand: tenSioner 88 could be:.controtted by process:controller61 FIG, 17 ilhottates.. a .. substitute .,5ensing method that . could be:. used .for virtually an 595 embodTmenL In.0$ ..version, the conventional washer between 4440-and c.;011ecor 34.bas:beeft roplaced..by.load cell 94.. This load t'll is provided -with wiring 96 to.
connect it a =mote.
sensor trxoa4pr or possibly the process...m*0.1ot itself 'Using thisload ceit.tho te.nsiort on.each.
strand thay be monitored, The red connection could he replaced by 4. wireless One haying an.
internal. battery :with enough energy to last through the preloading process:
It :could evert be 600. roaderectiargeable. in or c. (.I be Wild for load monitoring the leld .Those. skilled in the...art Witt. appteoiate That .n.nttly other deviCes..and .raethOds Ovid be used in place oftheentbodiments described. For example:
The disnigttempt.vmtior.ott the hydrat*:cyhnder.txPA-1 he. replaced by .an.
optical. system that uses light to rnotswe the: displacement of 040160h*
stud;
605 2, The pressure sensors in the hydraulic system could be replaced with direct load sensors such as load cells or main gages;
3. Tbe.threaded connection between the:atrand.tenatonerand the:Ioadiog..StOd could be replaced with.adiffenenttype of connection; and 4. Pulsed hydraulic force could he applied. to the tensioning process rather that) (i6=es.:,1 1i "iikts:m 1.iN

23:
is not usefnilelocked into the fixture of 'HQ 8.. One way to transition to the completed.
.product is to bold the final tension within the .fbcture: of FRI. 13 and .advance nuts 40 to a:
615 I/endued position with .:a specified amount Of torque. Once :
e.suitable balance is Ø.efiioied, the.
geometric relationship between the. strand terminations and the collector is preferably secured so.
that the "relaxation' : of the cable won't allow disorganization to resume, .There ure moy, oariy.
ways soe'ure this geometric relationship, FIQ. 14 depicts anothee way this .could be dem.
Castellated out .84 is used in the place of a conventional not.
The.castellated..nut is lightened 620 against collector .34 *secure. loading stud 24 in place. Two proximate 16 with ossOciOted.
bOles78 are ptovided on. collector 34. Once the castellated nut is in position, lock Wire. 811 is passed around one bbss, through a suitable cross hole::82 in loading stud 24.
(and through two of the .notches 86 on the eastellated nut) and around ti* other :1)4s, .t)sing sneli a deviOe The: rotation of the loading stud i limited and the rotation of the.oastellato.naf$.
625: The .strand tensioners.arethetureleasedand the cable can be, removed from the fixture and prepared for use. The nuts may he soured in position using other device such as a .cdttar.key., tack *Oding,:Or:any other suitable method. If desired, the protruding length of loading stud 24 can beremovettat that lime.
The tightening of the nuts . may be done by automated 040100y, oin(* it is .generaily 630 undesirable fora human operator to come near the assembly while the strand tensioners are maintaining tension: The ..amount of' Three applied is such that a component failure could produce a dangerous condition.
Retuning to PIO,: 7, those ski:Red:in:the art will realize that other .components could he used, in: the place of the threaded:ertgAgemenf. between out. 4.0 . and loading ..3tod 24 Once the .finet tension is applied a::shim of sthtable thickness :04d be pi4ed bei,*eott.A
pornon Oftlieloading stud and the collector. It is Also:desirable in some circumstances to clamp the collector .from the:
underside: (in the perspective of FIG, 5). A. separate, shim or fasterner can he used for :thi$.
rotnns;e Ciamnftsg, -Awn hath mirtimi2, the 31-sAtiri:n tOrrsthvAgesvs N.L.;=;th .Z`PLZINNt,i The invention thus described is applicable to .any large synthetic cable. It is perhaps most.
usecalbr construction where the constituent strands ink:rot:in 0:$.4014100,M
way: This include tables haying a braided construction, or table .lay construction. it also includes .cables made using simple helical twists, as: well as .other. constructions. Such .cables Are said to have an interwoven structure. However, the load-balancing aspects of the invention are pow tiafly useful for all synthetic cables, including those with a purely parallel' construction Wilt with parallel strands encased in it: wound external jacket.
The invention is also applicable to virtually any defined tensioning plan: The example Of FtGs. 10:a1.10 I 1. are only two Among the. virtually endless pOsSibilities..
Many of the inventive embodiments Monitor the amount: of :tension being applied inthe:cable.through indirect means, An example of this: is: psi pg the pressure. tpphed to the hyekauiiv ixio ill the example. .of Fn.
8. One rnay easily caleulate.theapplied :tension .by knowing.the..pressure On the other hand,.
one may simply use pressure as a .good proxy for applied tension and base. the controlling algorithms directly on pressure., Process controller 62 Ima:f0Ably includes a proceSSor running 455 software that can accommodate these and other variations.
.Once the desired strand: loading. plan has. been .achieved in #10-40.0'0,.
t4e.:4pprppriate.:
.spatial relationShip between each of :the strand terrninations:: .and the Collector has been.
established. The term "spatial relationship" will be understood to mean the relative position of a strand termination with respect to the eellector. In some. instances this :may be a sit* OitOar.

:dimension, ..1.,,00kirtgatthe.:exatople of FtO. 6. if one omits a Wil-andr.SOcket :connection .and .sitnk; passeS the loading.stUds 24 through hales in the collector 34õ, then adjusting the nuts :40 will adjuSt one 'linear. dimension:. In othev. examples, however, there:: may be more than one degree f freedom involved,:
:Many other variations are possible. including;
665 1, The.
'strand: tensioner" could .assuint many: forms other .than -those examples 3. The collector could be an assembly of multiple nieces that are not joined until the 670 cable is put into use; and 4. The tension monitoring for each strand could be via a wireless transmission from a load cell mounted in each receiver.
Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not he construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred 675 embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise many other embodiments that carry out the present invention. Thus, the language used in the claims shall define the invention rather tiari Ow specific embodiments provided.

Claims (18)

27Having described my invention, I claim:
1. Claim 1. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use, said synthetic cable having multiple strands with a strand termination affixed to an end of each of said multiple strands, comprising:
   a. providing a collector having a plurality of receivers, each of said receivers being configured to accept a said strand termination;
   b. providing a loading fixture;
   c. connecting said collector to said loading fixture;
   d. using said loading fixture to apply a predefined tensioning plan to said strand terminations, said tensioning plan being configured to apply an overall tension to said cable and a specific strand tension to each individual strand;
   e. while said predefined tensioning plan is being applied, determining a spatial relationship between each of said strand terminations and said collector; and f. preserving said spatial relationships determined for each of said strand terminations.
2. Claim 2. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of preserving said spatial relationships comprises mechanically locking said strand terminations in said determined spatial relationships.
3. Claim 3. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of preserving said spatial relationships comprises measuring and recording said spatial relationships.
4. Claim 4. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 1, further comprising providing a second collector and using said preserved spatial relationships to connect said strand terminations to said second collector.
5. Claim 5. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 1, wherein said loading fixture comprises:
   a. a plurality of strand tensioners; and b. wherein each of said strand tensioners is connected to one of said strand terminations.
6. Claim 6. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said strand tensioners comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
7. Claim 7. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 6, wherein all of said hydraulic cylinders are connected to a single, pressurized reservoir.
8. Claim 8. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said strand terminations includes a threaded loading stud with a nut threaded onto said loading stud, said nut being configured to bear against said collector.
9. Claim 9. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said strand tensioners comprises an electric drive configured to engage and rotate one of said nuts.
10. Claim 10. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said hydraulic cylinders is a double-acting cylinder.
11. Claim 11. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use, said synthetic cable having multiple strands with a strand termination affixed to an end of each of said multiple strands, comprising:
    a. providing a collector having a plurality of receivers, each of said receivers being configured to accept a said strand termination;
    b. providing a loading fixture;
    c. connecting said collector to said loading fixture;
    d. using said loading fixture to apply a predefined tensioning plan to said strand terminations, said tensioning plan being configured to apply an overall tension to said cable and a specific strand tension to each individual strand;
    e. while said predefined tensioning plan is being applied, mechanically connecting each of said strand terminations to said collector in order to preserve a spatial relationship then existing between each of said strand terminations and said collector.
12. Claim 12. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 11, wherein said strand tensioning plan comprises evenly dividing said overall tension among all of said strands.
13. Claim 13. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 11, wherein said loading fixture comprises:
    a. a plurality of strand tensioners; and b. wherein each of said strand tensioners is connected to one of said strand terminations.
14. Claim 14. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said strand tensioners comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
15. Claim 15. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 14, wherein all of said hydraulic cylinders are connected to a single, pressurized reservoir.
16. Claim 16. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said strand terminations includes a threaded loading stud with a nut threaded onto said loading stud, said nut being configured to bear against said collector.
17. Claim 17. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said strand tensioners comprises an electric drive configured to engage and rotate one of said nuts.
18. Claim 18. A method for preparing a synthetic cable for use as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said hydraulic cylinders is a double-acting cylinder.