EP0049196B1 - Corde synthétique pour raquette de tennis - Google Patents

Corde synthétique pour raquette de tennis Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0049196B1
EP0049196B1 EP81401480A EP81401480A EP0049196B1 EP 0049196 B1 EP0049196 B1 EP 0049196B1 EP 81401480 A EP81401480 A EP 81401480A EP 81401480 A EP81401480 A EP 81401480A EP 0049196 B1 EP0049196 B1 EP 0049196B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibers
cord
elastomer
binder
threads
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP81401480A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0049196A1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-Claude V. F. E. Cousin
Jacques André Robin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cousin Freres SA
Original Assignee
Cousin Freres SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cousin Freres SA filed Critical Cousin Freres SA
Priority to AT81401480T priority Critical patent/ATE15083T1/de
Publication of EP0049196A1 publication Critical patent/EP0049196A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0049196B1 publication Critical patent/EP0049196B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B1/00—Constructional features of ropes or cables
    • D07B1/16—Ropes or cables with an enveloping sheathing or inlays of rubber or plastics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B51/00—Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings
    • A63B51/02—Strings; String substitutes; Products applied on strings, e.g. for protection against humidity or wear
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02G—CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00—Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/44—Yarns or threads characterised by the purpose for which they are designed
    • D02G3/444—Yarns or threads for use in sports applications
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B1/00—Constructional features of ropes or cables
    • D07B1/02—Ropes built-up from fibrous or filamentary material, e.g. of vegetable origin, of animal origin, regenerated cellulose, plastics
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
    • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
    • D07B2207/00—Rope or cable making machines
    • D07B2207/40—Machine components
    • D07B2207/404—Heat treating devices; Corresponding methods
    • D07B2207/4059—Heat treating devices; Corresponding methods to soften the filler material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a synthetic rope intended in particular, but not exclusively, for the production of tennis racket strings and its manufacturing methods.
  • the casings are only a by-product of the breeding of animals for slaughter.
  • the economic conditions of breeding lead to the slaughter of young animals often fed with synthetic feeds which, if they are of nutritional interest, do not develop a resistance of the intestines comparable to that developed by a natural food.
  • This results in a degradation of the average characteristics of the casings which can only be remedied by a strengthening of the selection, which further increases the cost of said strings and limits the production of quality.
  • the characteristics of the casing ropes very closely depend on the storage conditions and the hygrometric conditions during use.
  • ropes have already been proposed which consist of a monofilament extruded from thermoplastic material and, for example, from polyamide, modified polyvinyl, polyurethane or thermoplastic polyester.
  • thermoplastic material for example, from polyamide, modified polyvinyl, polyurethane or thermoplastic polyester.
  • the breaking load of a monofilament is of the order of 50 to 60 kg. Since the strings are stretched over the frame with a variable tension, but which is commonly around 20 kg, the slightest shock causes deformation.
  • Ropes have also been proposed consisting of bundles of multifilaments, each bundle being surrounded by a thermoplastic sheath, possibly reinforced with fibers.
  • a tennis cord is obtained by surrounding a core of parallel thermoplastic multifilaments, for example nylon, with a thermoplastic braid, then passing the assembly through a heating die after impregnation in a bath with a nylon solution.
  • a tennis string of another design is known from FR-A-2 393 102.
  • the structure of the string is no longer linear, that is to say that it no longer has any core of parallel, mono or multifilament yarns.
  • a bundle of multifilaments is formed, parallel to each other and is impregnated with a thermosetting adhesive, having after curing an appropriate elasticity. Then, the adhesive is pre-polymerized to a selected degree of partial prepolymerization and the bundle is then twisted, avoiding the dewatering of the impregnated multifilaments by virtue of the partial polymerization, the total polymerization being obtained subsequently.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of known synthetic ropes and to allow the continuous production of a new rope, the characteristics of which can be compared to those of natural gut ropes.
  • the synthetic string for tennis rackets comprising fibers of a first material and a binder of a second material joining said fibers, the fibers constituting an assembly of turns inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the rope is characterized in that the fibers have a breaking elongation between 10 and 25%, the binder being constituted by a thermoplastic material whose melting point is lower than the melting point of the fibers and whose elongation at break is greater than 200%, the binder having a Shore D hardness at least equal to 55.
  • the elongation at break of the binder is greater than 200%.
  • the values indicated correspond respectively to a polyamide of the nylon type and to a polyurethane elastomer.
  • the rope according to the invention is formed of turns joined by a binder.
  • the turns undergo a relative lateral displacement which tends to move them away from each other.
  • This relative displacement is limited on the one hand, by the resistance to elongation of the fibers constituting the turns and, on the other hand by the reaction of the binder both inside the turns and between them.
  • the elongation of the binder is limited to approximately 10% of its elongation at break which is greater than 200%.
  • a cord according to the invention can be obtained by various methods which will be described below, all using a milling, wiring, braiding, stranding, wrapping or twisting carried out while the binder is in a plastic state. It is known that the operations mentioned above make it possible to apply wires against each other and help to give the rope a substantially circular section.
  • a cord 12 is in the form of an assembly of turns 10 adhering to one another, not only because of the treatment undergone, but also thanks to the presence of the binder 2.
  • the bonding product 2 which makes it possible to obtain the elastic return of the rope after an impact.
  • the disappearance of the permanent deformation results from the fact that the elongation of the wires constituting the turns limits the elongation of the binder, the elongation-rupture of which is at least 200%.
  • the binder 2 and the wires or strands 1 work in an area which preserves all their elastic properties.
  • the binder 2 is chosen from the range of thermoplastic products whose melting or softening point is lower than that of the material of the threads. As will be described later, it is possible to use a thermoplastic binder which becomes thermosetting above a certain temperature.
  • a step in a first manufacturing process is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.
  • a multifilament yarn 1, for example made of polyamide, is unwound from a spool 3 and passes through a tank 4 inside which is an elastomer in solution. It is known that thermoplastic products are generally soluble whereas it is not the same for thermosets after polymerization, even partial.
  • the wire 1 is thus coated with an elastomer solution and calibrated at the outlet of the tank 4 by a not shown die which aims to remove the excess solution. Then, the coated wire 11 passes through a heating chamber 5 inside which the solvents evaporate and there remains only on the surface of the wire a coating which, by fusion will give the rope a structure homogeneous thereafter.
  • the multifilaments are also impregnated.
  • the enclosure 5 is brought to a temperature of approximately 100 ° C. which ensures a rate of evaporation of the solvents compatible with the speed of threading of the wire without causing the melting of any of the components.
  • the wire 11 is dry and can be wound on a take-up reel 6.
  • the wire 11 can also be directly routed, as soon as it leaves tunnel 5 on a torsion machine where the second phase of the process is carried out . Any other coating process could be used at this stage and in particular pultrusion or extrusion which, however, given the thin coating thickness and the fineness of the wire 1, seem difficult to implement given the characteristics of machines which are currently on the market.
  • the next phase of this first process is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. It consists in the molding of a plurality of coated wires 11.
  • the molding is an operation practiced for a very long time. It can be carried out on a turntable 7 on which pins are arranged. These pins can be animated relative movements with respect to each other, be animated by a proper movement of rotation in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the plate or have no own movement.
  • Said pins carry coils 6 of coated wire during the first step of the process.
  • the wires 11 unwound from the coils 6 converge in a ring 9.
  • a heating tunnel 8 whose purpose is to cause the softening or at least partial melting of the binder 2 which spreads thus between the turns during their formation.
  • the coating consists of a thermoplastic elastomer of the polyurethane type and the strands are made of polyamide
  • the temperature may be greater than 120 ° C. and must be adjusted so as to cause the melting of the binder and not that of the strands.
  • the wires and the binder cool beyond the ring 9 and the finished cord 12 can be wound on a take-up reel. Before use, the rope is subjected to thermofixing as will be described later. It will be noted that the wires are stranded while the binder is more or less melted.
  • the first two phases of the process which has just been described can be carried out on suitable equipment allowing continuity of manufacture which, moreover, results in a saving of the energy consumed. Indeed, at the exit of the tunnel 5, the coated wire is already hot and consequently a lower number of calories is necessary to raise the cord to the melting point of the binder 2.
  • the same applies with regard to the third phase of this first process which consists of a heat setting which can be carried out immediately after formation of the cord in the ring 9, while the cord is still hot.
  • the twist rate during molding is preferably between 100 and 200 turns per meter of length after molding. It is obvious that the rate of twist conditions the angle of the turns and accentuates the difference with synthetics with linear structure. In practice, we choose the maximum torsion rate compatible with the surface quality of the rope.
  • a second method consists in coating, by passing through a tank containing an elastomer in solution, a set of parallel wires kept spaced apart during the impregnation. We then obtain a strip of wires embedded in and joined by the binder. This strip is then hot-twisted and a cord 12 is obtained such as that which is shown in FIG. 4.
  • the parallel wires can also be assembled in "daisy", that is to say around a central wire.
  • FIG. 5 A third method is shown in FIG. 5 on which there is a turntable 7 on which are mounted coils 6 of uncoated wire 1.
  • a turntable 7 On which are mounted coils 6 of uncoated wire 1.
  • an orifice 15 allowing the passage of a fine wire 14 (2 / 10th of mm) unwound from a coil 13.
  • the wires 1 are grouped in a ring 9.
  • the wire 14 is previously coated with an excess of thermoplastic elastomer in the dissolved state.
  • the threads 1 wring out the thread 14 so that the elastomer spreads inside and between the turns in formation.
  • a heating tunnel 16 disposed above the ring 9 causes on the one hand the evaporation of the solvents and, on the other hand the at least partial melting of the thermoplastic elastomer. After drying and cooling the rope 12 obtained can be wound on a reel.
  • the material of the central wire is chosen so that the elongation of the latter is at least equal to that of the completed cord so that it participates in the response of the cord when it is stressed in tension , but without showing any permanent deformation.
  • the temperature of the components inside the tunnel 16 is order of 14CTC.
  • a fourth method is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6.
  • This process again uses a turntable 7, intended to ensure the formation of turns by molding.
  • wires 1, not coated with elastomer are wound on coils 6 carried by pins.
  • Other coils 17 do not carry polyamide thread, for example, but a textile thread 18 made of hot-melt elastomer such as hot-melt polyurethane.
  • All the wires 1 and 17 are joined by a ring 9 which forms the turns, the ring 9 being followed, in the direction of progression of the rope by a heating tunnel 16 which, as previously causes the elastomer to melt. distributes in and around the turns of fibers.
  • the polyurethane threads are used after melting of the binder. Unlike previous processes, the binder is not applied in solution on the fibers.
  • the strings obtained according to one of the above methods appear, when used directly, to have response curves greater than those of the known synthetic strings mentioned above, but do not reach the quality of the best natural casings.
  • the strings obtained are subjected in the terminal phase to a thermofixing, operation which consists in heating the strings while they are under tension. It makes it possible to reduce the elongations by sometimes increasing the resistance, to regularize the structure and to avoid twists.
  • the applied voltage is between 3 and 10 kg, the temperature being above 140 "C and the duration of one to two minutes. This phase has not been shown on the drawings.
  • the strings obtained according to the invention have been found to have qualities at least equivalent to those of natural casings, both with regard to the "feeling" or impression of the player, and the speed of return after impact. In addition, their lifespan, under identical working conditions, is approximately ten times that of casings.
  • a 6-6 multifilament polyamide yarn titrating 940 decitex is used.
  • the thread drawn by a take-up reel passes through an impregnation bath filled with a solution of thermoplastic polyether in a mixture of cyclohexanone and tetrahydrofuran.
  • the dry extract equal to 15% determines the final weight ratio of the wire and the binder.
  • the solvents are evaporated in an oven brought to 150 ° C.
  • the passage time required for evaporation is 4 minutes.
  • the impregnated and dry wire is stored on the take-up spool.
  • the polyamide yarn has a tensile strength of approximately 7 kg and an elongation at break of 22% the polyether has a Shore D hardness greater than 55 and an elongation at break greater than 300%.
  • the rope obtained has a tensile strength of 70 kg and an elongation at break of 25%. It offers no possibility of untwisting and has a homogeneous and transparent appearance.
  • the traction curves show an almost absolute similarity with those of the usual natural casings.
  • the binder is chosen from bodies having a Shore D hardness at least equal to 55.
  • strings according to the invention can be used in any other ball sport than tennis and in particular for squash or badmonton, whenever it is desirable to have a permanent elastic return.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
  • Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
EP81401480A 1980-09-26 1981-09-24 Corde synthétique pour raquette de tennis Expired EP0049196B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT81401480T ATE15083T1 (de) 1980-09-26 1981-09-24 Saiten aus kunststoffen fuer tennisschlaeger.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8020663A FR2491098B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1980-09-26 1980-09-26
FR8020663 1980-09-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0049196A1 EP0049196A1 (fr) 1982-04-07
EP0049196B1 true EP0049196B1 (fr) 1985-08-21

Family

ID=9246307

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81401480A Expired EP0049196B1 (fr) 1980-09-26 1981-09-24 Corde synthétique pour raquette de tennis

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0049196B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS57128174A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) ATE15083T1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU7561881A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3171925D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES8304231A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2491098B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IN (1) IN154611B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2601393B1 (fr) * 1986-07-09 1989-11-03 Cousin Freres Sa Cable aramide de manutention.
GB9206623D0 (en) * 1992-03-26 1992-05-06 Don & Low Holdings Ltd Improvements in or relating to a thermoplastic composite material
FR2770140B1 (fr) 1997-10-23 2002-09-27 Cousin Biotech Corde synthetique composite pour raquette de tennis
FR2808697B1 (fr) 2000-05-09 2002-10-11 Cousin Biotech Corde synthetique composite pour raquette de tennis
FR2850030B1 (fr) 2003-01-16 2007-03-23 Cousin Composites Corde synthetique pour raquette et son procede de fabrication

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2842934A (en) * 1954-07-29 1958-07-15 Owens Robert Stuart Stabilized multi-ply yarns
DE1444115A1 (de) * 1962-05-15 1968-10-24 Karl Plate Gmbh Dr Faeden fuer Papiermaschinensiebe und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung
US3920658A (en) * 1972-01-20 1975-11-18 Martin James Benson Coated tennis string and process for coating
FR2393102A2 (fr) * 1977-05-31 1978-12-29 Robin Jacques Cordes en fibres synthetiques et leur procede de fabrication
DE2651659A1 (de) * 1976-11-12 1978-05-18 Ruediger Lothar Von Di Reppert Verfahren zur herstellung beschichteter tennissaiten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES505733A0 (es) 1983-03-01
JPS57128174A (en) 1982-08-09
ES8304231A1 (es) 1983-03-01
DE3171925D1 (en) 1985-09-26
EP0049196A1 (fr) 1982-04-07
ATE15083T1 (de) 1985-09-15
FR2491098A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1982-04-02
AU7561881A (en) 1982-04-01
IN154611B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1984-11-17
FR2491098B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1983-05-27

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