Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B5/00—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
  • D04C—BRAIDING OR MANUFACTURE OF LACE, INCLUDING BOBBIN-NET OR CARBONISED LACE; BRAIDING MACHINES; BRAID; LACE
  • D04C1/00—Braid or lace, e.g. pillow-lace; Processes for the manufacture thereof
  • D04C1/06—Braid or lace serving particular purposes
  • D04C1/12—Cords, lines, or tows
• • 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
  • D07B1/025—Ropes built-up from fibrous or filamentary material, e.g. of vegetable origin, of animal origin, regenerated cellulose, plastics comprising high modulus, or high tenacity, polymer filaments or fibres, e.g. liquid-crystal polymers
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B5/00—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form
  • D07B5/005—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form characterised by their outer shape or surface properties
  • D07B5/006—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form characterised by their outer shape or surface properties by the properties of an outer surface polymeric coating
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/10—Rope or cable structures
  • D07B2201/104—Rope or cable structures twisted
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/10—Rope or cable structures
  • D07B2201/1092—Parallel strands
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/10—Rope or cable structures
  • D07B2201/1096—Rope or cable structures braided
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2001—Wires or filaments
  • D07B2201/2002—Wires or filaments characterised by their cross-sectional shape
  • D07B2201/2003—Wires or filaments characterised by their cross-sectional shape flat
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
  • D07B2201/2087—Jackets or coverings being of the coated type
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
  • D07B2201/2088—Jackets or coverings having multiple layers
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
  • D07B2201/209—Jackets or coverings comprising braided structures
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2083—Jackets or coverings
  • D07B2201/2092—Jackets or coverings characterised by the materials used
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2095—Auxiliary components, e.g. electric conductors or light guides
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2201/00—Ropes or cables
  • D07B2201/20—Rope or cable components
  • D07B2201/2095—Auxiliary components, e.g. electric conductors or light guides
  • D07B2201/2096—Light guides
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2205/00—Rope or cable materials
  • D07B2205/20—Organic high polymers
  • D07B2205/201—Polyolefins
  • D07B2205/2014—High performance polyolefins, e.g. Dyneema or Spectra
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2401/00—Aspects related to the problem to be solved or advantage
  • D07B2401/20—Aspects related to the problem to be solved or advantage related to ropes or cables
  • D07B2401/205—Avoiding relative movement of components
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2501/00—Application field
  • D07B2501/20—Application field related to ropes or cables
  • D07B2501/2015—Construction industries
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2501/00—Application field
  • D07B2501/20—Application field related to ropes or cables
  • D07B2501/2038—Agriculture, forestry and fishery
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B2501/00—Application field
  • D07B2501/20—Application field related to ropes or cables
  • D07B2501/2061—Ship moorings
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D07—ROPES; CABLES OTHER THAN ELECTRIC
  • D07B—ROPES OR CABLES IN GENERAL
  • D07B5/00—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form
  • D07B5/12—Making ropes or cables from special materials or of particular form of low twist or low tension by processes comprising setting or straightening treatments

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates generally to the technical field of synthetic ropes and, more particularly, to a rope that preferably is made from synthetic polymeric material, that has a rather high breaking strength and that also has a rather light weight compared to steel wire rope and that is capable of being used with powered blocks, traction winches, powered winches, powered drums, drum winches, powered capstans and in general any powered turning element and/or rotating element capable of applying force to a rope (hereinafter aggregately known as "powered blocks").
• powered blocks any powered turning element and/or rotating element capable of applying force to a rope
• Such synthetic ropes include but are not limited to tow ropes, towing warps, trawl warps (also known as “trawl warps”), deep sea lowering and lifting ropes, powered block rigged mooring ropes, powered block rigged oil derrick anchoring ropes used with blocks and also with powered blocks, superwides and paravane lines used in seismic surveillance including but not limited to used with towed arrays, helicopter ropes, yachting ropes, rigging ropes for pleasure craft including but not limited to sail craft, running rigging, powered block rigged anchor ropes, drag lines, and any other type of rope and/or cable without exception (the term “rope” and the term “cable” being interchangeable for purposes of the present disclosure).
• High strength synthetic ropes formed mainly of super-fibers such as Dyneema® (formed of UHMWPE), PBO Zylon and others are important to use in substitution of steel wire rope in many applications and especially applications where human safety and life are at risk from operation of steel wire ropes.
• Such applications include but are not limited to applications utilizing powered blocks.
• the energy released from a wire rope breaking while subject to tension can be sufficient to cause a recoiling section of the wire rope to cut through steel plate and is known to sever limbs and to cause death of persons in and about the vicinity of the wire rope.
• wire ropes continue to be used in applications where their heavy weight in comparison to synthetic ropes causes back injuries of persons deploying the wire ropes and also where their failure when subject to load causes maiming and death of persons in the vicinity of the wire rope.
• a main problem impeding the adoption of high strength synthetic ropes in substitution of wire ropes for use in conjunction with powered blocks and other applications is that high strength synthetic ropes exhibit rather low surface friction and thus rather low traction in comparison to the surface friction and traction exhibited by wire ropes, especially when deployed with powered blocks, or in applications requiring various portions of the rope to grab itself, such as in logging operations.
• the low surface friction, especially with wet or greasy surfaces allows the high strength synthetic ropes to slide upon the gripping surface of powered blocks, and also to slide upon corresponding surfaces of subsequent layers of the synthetic rope.
• the tangles and backlashes are a great danger to the safety, life and limb of crewmen and equipment operators working in the vicinity of the high strength synthetic ropes, as the tangles and backlashes can cause moments of tremendous shock when the tangles and backlashes release and thereby cause a sudden cessation of tension followed by a sudden shock load of tension that, even when the high strength synthetic rope itself does not fail, has been known to cause failure of equipment with which is deployed the high strength synthetic rope, such as blocks and sheaves, resulting in a sudden redirection of the position of both such associated equipment as well as the high strength synthetic rope under high velocities and high tensions, with fatalities known to occur.
• a) include no cover around the strength member, where the strength member is mixed with strands including relatively low strength and high friction strands; b) include a cover around the strength member where portions of the strength member protrude from the cover so that such portions of the strength member can contact working surfaces and provide traction;
• c) include a final layer of strands that form a cover around the strength member where such final layer of strands have either the same or similar pitch as a majority of strands forming the remainder of the strength member, or a greater pitch as the majority of strands forming the strength member, and are designed and configured to share load bearing capability in proportion with all of or with the majority of strands forming the strength member.
• a relatively high friction substance may be attached directly to the strength member by coating the strength member with a relatively high friction substance, or by wrapping the strength member with fibers and/or strands (including yarns) formed of a relatively high friction substance, or by coating and/or wrapping strands that form the strength member with a relatively high friction substance and then forming the strength member with such strands so that the outside surface of such strength member is entirely or mainly covered by such relatively high friction substance (such as for example taught in US 7,735,308 and US 7,908,955).
• the known art for forming a high friction strength member rope and/or cable includes a construction for such rope and/or cable where the rope and/or cable exhibits a lateral deformation when subject to a certain tension and when deployed against a hard working surface of a traction winch and/or drum winch that is a lateral deformation of the cross sectional form of the rope and/or cable exhibited in such circumstances by known steel wire rope, it being the trend in the industry and the state of the art to preserve the ability of a high traction rope to exhibit such lateral deformation, it being the predominant belief held in the industry that such lateral deformation is important to maintaining and/or maximizing the ability of the rope and/or cable to exhibit a desired and needed traction.
• wire ropes continue to be deployed at a high rate even where loss to human life and limb are likely to occur, and do in fact occur in the event of failure of the loaded and/or tensed wire rope.
• PCT Published Patent Cooperation Treaty
• WO 2004/020732 A2 International Application Number PCT/IS2003/ 000025 discloses a cable having a thermoplastic core within a braided synthetic strength member.
• the cable is a heat stretched cable exhibiting ultra compactness and is useful for high tension powered block applications.
• a cable wherein the material of the thermoplastic core contacts both the synthetic strength member and a braided synthetic sheath formed about the outside of the strength member.
• this embodiment has failed to be commercially accepted for the reasons taught above, i.e. due to the fact that the strength of the cable is reduced by such construction.
• the heat stretching and compacting of the cable is accomplished either by simultaneously heating and stretching with tension the combination of the strength member, the thermoplastic core and a second sheath formed about the thermoplastic core and also contained within the strength member, the purpose of such second sheath being to prevent uncontrolled flow of molten phase of the thermoplastic core during processing of the rope, or by first applying the heat and subsequently applying the tension.
• This cable has found more commercial acceptance than any other synthetic rope for use with high tension powered blocks, and is the only viable synthetic rope in the known art for use with high tension powered blocks such as trawler winches for purposes such as trawl warps, and this cable and its taught manufacturing processes represent both the state of the art as well as the trend in the industry.
• PCT/IS2010/000012 publication WO 2011/027367
• a method and construction forming a high strength synthetic rope for powered blocks where such method and construction includes adhering an external braided sheath to a strength member by means of a highly elastic substance such as a bi-component polyurethane blend, and includes forming a layer of such substance about the external surface of the braided sheath.
• This teaching provides for a very low surface friction in wet and/or greasy conditions, especially marine conditions.
• None of the known art teaches a method or construction for a high traction synthetic strength member containing rope as taught in the present disclosure. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a high strength synthetic strength member containing rope for use with powered blocks that addresses the above stated long felt needs in the industry.
• the product includes a synthetic strength member, a first synthetic portion situated between a braided sheath and the strength member and adhering the braided sheath to outside surface of the strength member, a second synthetic portion situated external the braided sheath and adhered to the outside surface of the braided sheath, portions of material adhered to the second synthetic portion and protruding from the outside surface of the second synthetic portion and from the outside surface of the rope, the portions of material adhered to the second synthetic portion being formed of a material that: a) differs from a substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion situated external the braided sheath (i.e. the second synthetic portion); b) has a different hardness than the substance mainly forming the synthetic portion situated external the braided sheath (i.e. the second synthetic portion);
• c) has a higher friction when wet and/or in a greasy environment than does the substance mainly forming the synthetic portion situated external the braided sheath (i.e. the second synthetic portion);
• d) may have a different affinity to water, and may have a greater affinity to water and in some cases a lesser affinity to water than is the substance mainly forming the synthetic portion situated external the braided sheath (i.e. the second synthetic portion).
• Portions of leather such as portions of raw hide leather obtained by grinding dry raw hide, are presently preferred for use as the portions of material adhered to and protruding from the outside surface of the second synthetic portion, as are portions of rubber such as portions of rubber obtained by grinding tires.
• the elasticity of the first and second synthetic portions is in a range of elasticity of from twenty percent (20%) to five hundred fifty percent (550%) measured at any temperature within two (2) degrees C of zero (0) degrees C being preferred.
• an additional synthetic substance is situated within the interior of the strength member and the strength member is a hollow braided strength member that has been formed about this additional synthetic substance when such additional synthetic substance was a solid core of thermoplastic material, and subsequent to forming the strength member about such solid core of thermoplastic material, the combination of the thermoplastic core and the strength member were subjected to sufficient heat to permit flowing the thermoplastic core and were also subjected to sufficient tension to permanent permanently elongating the strength member as well as fibers forming the strength member, followed by cooling the combination of the strength member and thermoplastic core while they are under tension until the cooling is completed, followed by adhering the braided sheath to the strength member with the first synthetic portion, followed by applying the second synthetic portion to the outside surface of the braided sheath where either or both : a) The portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion are included within the second synthetic portion prior to applying it to the outside surface of the braided sheath; and/or
• the portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion are contacted to the second synthetic portion after situating the second synthetic portion about the outside surface of the braided sheath, such as may be accomplished by for example blowing, dropping or pressing onto the surface of the second synthetic portion such portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion.
• the preferred dimensions of the portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion is approximately one half (0.5) millimeters in a granular shape, and also one half (0.5) millimeters if a fiber or filamentous shape is used.
• a die or a roller die preferably is used to smooth the second synthetic portion including the portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion into a uniform shape about the outside surface of the braided sheath after either:
• the second synthetic portion may first be contacted to the external surface of the braid sheath, subsequently smoothed into a desired or uniform shape by use of a die, and the portions of material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion subsequently may be contacted to the second synthetic portion, to which they permanently adhere upon setting (including "drying") of the substance forming the second synthetic portion.
• the braided sheath is formed with a construction and configuration that prohibits strands forming the braided sheath to bear a proportional amount of load (including tension) in comparison to the majority of strands forming the strength member, such that strands forming the braided sheath bear a lesser amount of load in proportion to their breaking strength in comparison with most of the strands forming the strength member, and preferably in comparison with all of the strands forming the strength member, when the rope is loaded to at least ten percent (10%) of its maximal load bearing capability (i.e. its "breaking load").
• One construction for a sheath for the rope of the present disclosure that provides for this important requirement is a braided cover formed of strands of synthetic material where the strands forming the braided cover have a lesser pitch than do a majority of strands forming the strength member, and preferably have a lesser pitch than do all strands forming the strength member.
• This construction and configuration for a high traction synthetic rope provides for optimal friction and traction when used as the braided sheath for the rope of the present disclosure and is contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry for a construction and configuration of the external strand layer of a high traction rope.
• An advantage of the disclosed high traction synthetic rope for powered blocks is that it permits reduced side wall dimensions for drum winches, thus permitting reduced costs associated with machinery and superstructures and associated costs for floating mooring and/or anchor lines needed to anchor oil derricks, especially deep water oil derricks and other floating structures, and trawling vessels.
• Another advantage of the disclosed high traction synthetic rope for powered blocks is that it permits for much increased safety of persons in and about the vicinity of the rope during operation and use of the rope.
• Yet another advantage of the disclosed high traction synthetic rope for powered blocks is that it reduces downtime, and reduces operational costs, and reduces initial equipment acquisition costs as it does not require as strong side walls on drum winces, for example.
• Yet another advantage of the disclosed high traction synthetic rope for powered blocks is that due to its increased traction it requires less handling time to accomplish many tasks. Yet another advantage of the disclosed synthetic rope for powered blocks is that due to its increased traction it improves predictability of operational events and reduces operational risks.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a rope of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 2 is a view of a cross section of the rope of the present disclosure taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is an expanded detail view of a portion of the cross section of the rope of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2 that is indicated by reference character B.
• the expanded detailed view includes a braided sheath of the rope of the present disclosure, a portion of the strength member of the rope of the present disclosure where such portion of the strength member is proximal the braided sheath, as well as associated structures.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a portion of the high traction synthetic rope of the present invention that is identified by the general reference character 1.
• rope 1 includes second synthetic portion 21 having multiple portions of the material formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion, indicated by reference numeral 23, that are protruding from the outside surface of the second synthetic portion and thus protruding from the outside surface of the rope 1.
• FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate essential constructional components of one of the most preferred embodiments for use with high tension powered blocks of the rope for powered blocks and winches of the present disclosure that is identified by the general reference character 1.
• FIG. 2 depicts a preferably thermoplastic shaped supportive core 3 enclosing a lead core 2, the shaped supportive core 3 being enveloped within a flow shield sheath 5.
• Strength member 7 encloses the combination of the shaped supportive core 3, its enveloping flow shield sheath 5 and its lead core 2.
• Sheath 8 preferably is of a braided construction and is adhered to strength member 7 by elastic adhesive substance layer 9 (that forms the first synthetic portion), that preferably is formed of a settable adhesive substance.
• braided sheath 8 is formed of multiple coverbraid strands 10 by use of a braiding machine, the coverbraid strands 10 preferably are of a laid construction.
• elastic adhesive substance gap filling surface layer 13 fills in depressions on the surface of rope 1 formed in between adjacent coverbraid strands 10.
• Second synthetic portion 21 is formed about the outside surface of braided sheath 8, preferably using the same substance as used to form the first synthetic portion.
• the portions of material 23 formed of a substance that differs from the substance forming the second synthetic portion are affixed to the second synthetic portion, and are both contained within the second synthetic portion as well as protrude from without the outside surface of the second synthetic portion.
• the thickness of the second synthetic portion 21 is the minimal thickness required to adhere the portions of material to the outside surface of the braided sheath, and may be approximately half a millimeter to one millimeter, depending upon the dimensions of the portions of material, that may be from one quarter of a millimeter to one half of a millimeter, or even one millimeter or larger, as experimentally determined optimal.
• the coverage of the outside surface of the rope with the portions of material preferably is at least ten percent up to ninety percent, and more preferably is at least twenty percent, but may be more as experimentally determined optimal for a particular combination of materials forming the second synthetic portion and the portions of material 23.
• Lead core 2 is optional, and is preferred for trawl warp applications and in the case of certain other applications, but not necessarily in the case of anchor lines and deep water oil derrick mooring and/or anchoring lines or yachting lines, although in some cases it may be used in such applications.
• a core of conductors capable of transmitting electrical and/or light energy, data and power is useful.
• the conductors are initially slack when the strength member is formed around the thermoplastic core and subsequently become elongated during permanent elongation of the strength member, but not elongated an amount and/or distance sufficient to cause failure or breakage of the conductors.
• a synthetic rope exhibiting improved traction comprising a strength member formed mainly of fibers, a braided sheath formed mainly of fibers, a first synthetic portion adhering the braided sheath to the outside surface of the strength member, a second synthetic portion situated upon the outside surface of the braided sheath and adhering portions of material formed of a substance that differs from a substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion, where the portions of the material formed of a substance that differs from the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion exhibit differing characteristics in comparison with a substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion, the differing characteristics being selected from a group consisting of:
• the portions of material exhibit a greater friction when wet and measured on an iron surface in comparison with a friction exhibited by the second synthetic portion when wet and measured on an iron surface.
• the present disclosure provides several examples of methods of the present disclosure for forming a high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure:
• Example A The present disclosure teaches: A method for forming a synthetic rope (1) exhibiting improved traction, the method comprising steps of: firstly, forming a strength member (7);
• a braided sheath (8) about the combination of the strength member and the adhesive substance forming the first synthetic portion; fourthly, adhering to the outside surface of the braided sheath by means of a second adhesive substance forming a second synthetic portion (21) portions of material formed of a substance that differs from a substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion, the method including steps of selecting for the portions of the material formed of a substance that differs from the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion a substance exhibiting differing characteristics in comparison with a substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion, and selecting the differing characteristics from a group consisting of:
• Example set B The present disclosure also teaches modifying the above method by any or all of the following teachings:
• Example set C The present disclosure also teaches a method for forming a synthetic rope (1) exhibiting improved traction, the method comprising steps of:
• the method further including steps: of selecting for the substance forming the second synthetic portion a substance that when in its set phase forms an elastic substance thereby forming a second elastic substance; selecting for the third substance a substance that differs from the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion and that is capable of exhibiting during a set phase of the third substance a substance exhibiting a greater friction when wet and measured on an iron surface in comparison with a friction exhibited by a set phase of the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion when wet and measured on the iron surface; further selecting for the substance forming the second synthetic portion a substance that upon setting of a non-solid phase of the substance forming the second synthetic portion forms an elastic substance capable of serving as a connector that holds the portions of material (23) both to the substance forming the second synthetic portion as well as to the outside surface of the braided sheath; the method further including steps of setting
• Example CI The method of claim 9 where the method includes further steps of introducing non-solid portions of material forming the third substance to the second synthetic portion during either non-solid or set phases of the second synthetic portion, followed by setting at least the non solid portions of material that were contacted to the surface of the second synthetic portion into the portions of material (23), thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• Example C2 The method of claim 9 where the method includes further steps of introducing non-solid portions of material that are capable of setting into the portions of material (23) into a non-set phase of the substance that sets to form the set phase of the second synthetic portion, where the non-solid phase of the portions of material that set to form the portions of material (23) are not solved into the non-set phase of the second synthetic portion, followed by steps of setting both the third substance and the substance forming the second synthetic substance thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as portions of material that are distinct from the set phase of the second synthetic portion and are the set phase of the portions of material (23), thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• Example C3 The method of claim 9 where the method includes further steps of selecting to introduce a set phase of the portions of material (23) into a non set phase of the second synthetic portion after forming the second synthetic portion about the outside surface of the braided sheath, thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• Example C4 The method of claim 9 where the method includes further steps of selecting to introduce a set phase of the portions of material (23) into a non set phase of the second synthetic portion so as to form a mixture including the set phase of the portions of material (23) and the non-set phase of the second synthetic portion prior to forming the second synthetic portion about the outside surface of the braided sheath, followed by selecting to form about the outside surface of the braided sheath the mixture of the set phase of the portions of material (23) and the non-set phase of the second synthetic portion, thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• Example C5 The method of claim 9 where the method includes further steps of selecting to introduce a set phase of the portions of material (23) into a set phase of the second synthetic portion after forming the second synthetic portion about the outside surface of the braided sheath and affixing the portions of material (23) to the second synthetic portion, thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit an outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• Example set D The present disclosure also teaches a method for forming a synthetic rope (1) exhibiting improved traction, the method comprising steps of:
• the method further including steps: of selecting for the non-solid substance a substance that when set forms an elastic substance; selecting for the non-liquid substance portions of material (23) formed of a substance that differs from a substance mainly forming the non-solid substance; further selecting for the non-solid substance an adhesive substance that upon setting of the non-solid substance forms the elastic substance forming the second synthetic portion while also affixing the portions of material (23) both to the elastic substance forming the second synthetic portion as well as to the outside surface of the braided sheath; the method further including steps of selecting for the portions of material (23) a material formed of a substance that exhibits a greater friction when wet and measured on an iron surface in comparison with friction exhibited by the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion when wet and measured on the iron surface, thereby providing for a synthetic strength member containing rope having light weight in comparison to
• the method further including steps: of selecting for the non-solid substance a substance that when set forms a second elastic substance; selecting for the third substance a substance that differs from the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion and that is capable of exhibiting during a set phase of the third substance a substance exhibiting a greater friction when wet and measured on an iron surface in comparison with friction exhibited by a set phase of the substance mainly forming the second synthetic portion when wet and measured on the iron surface; further selecting for the non-solid substance a substance that upon setting of the non-solid substance forms the elastic substance forming the second synthetic portion while also affixing the portions of material (23) both to the substance forming the second synthetic portion as well as to the outside surface of the braided sheath; the method further including steps of setting at least the substance forming the first synthetic portion the substance forming the second synthetic portion and selecting the
• the above methods for forming the high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure may includes steps of spraying or dropping or injecting or extruding non-solid portions of material onto the surface of the second synthetic portion during either the non-solid or the set phase of the second synthetic portion, where the non solid portions of material that were contacted to the surface of the second synthetic portion set into the portions of material (23); or introducing the non-solid portions of material that set into the portions of material (23) into a non-set phase of a substance that sets to form the set phase of the second synthetic portion, such as may be a liquid and/or semi-liquid blend of two or more substances capable of setting to form the set phase of the second synthetic portion, where the non-solid phase of the portions of material that set to form the portions of material (23) are do not homogenize into and with the non-set phase of the second synthetic portion, thereby permitting the final high traction synthetic rope of the present disclosure to exhibit and outside surface including both the set phase of the second synthetic portion as well as the set phase of the portions of material (23).
• the second synthetic portion also exhibits during its set phase the same characteristics mentioned supra as preferable for the set phase of the first synthetic portion.
• the elasticity of the set phase of both the first and second synthetic portions be in a range of elasticity of from twenty-nine percent (29%) to five hundred fifty percent (550%) measured at any temperature within five degrees C of negative five degrees C, while the tear strength of both the first and second synthetic portions exceeds the tear strength of silicon. Furthermore, it is preferable that a tear strength of the set phase of the portions of material (23) also exceeds the tear strength of silicone.
• the methods of the present disclosure may further include steps of selecting a treatment being selected from group consisting of: plasma treatment; electrical arching; sputtering; and corona treatment, to facilitate affixing to one another a set phase of any of the synthetic substances included in the rope or for affixing any of the items included in the rope to any other item forming the rope, such as for affixing the portions of material (23) to the second synthetic portion and most preferably to a set phase of the second synthetic portion.
• a treatment being selected from group consisting of: plasma treatment; electrical arching; sputtering; and corona treatment
• one is a rope of the present disclosure for use in applications where the rope of the present disclosure is subject to storage under high compressive pressure, such as when used with high tension winches and drums, such as when used as a trawler's warp; another is where the rope of the present disclosure is not subject to storage under high compressive pressure, such as is common in many yachting applications, the main difference between the two preferred embodiments being the selected construction and characteristics of the strength member and what it contains within itself:
• the strength member may be parallel laid, laid (including twisted) or braided.
• a braided strength member having several strands formed of twisted (laid) fibers is the preferred embodiment.
• a braided strength member is selected that has a thermoplastic core shaped so as to support the natural interior shape of the braided strength member under tension approaching breaking strength of the strength member.
• a braided strength member where the fibers forming the strength member have been creeped after the fibers have been braided into the strength member, rather than prior to braiding the fibers into the strength member, and where the resultant strength member is unable to elongate greater than 5% before reaching break point when measured at a original tension of 1000 kg, and preferably so that the resultant strength member is unable to elongate greater than 4% before reaching break point when measured at a original tension of 1000 kg, and yet more preferably is unable to elongate more than 3.6% before reaching break point when measured at a original tension of 1000 kg.
• the following step are employed :
• Fibers are selected that are able to be creeped as taught above and herein.
• thermoplastic linear element that mainly is formed with a thermoplastic that shall be capable of exhibiting a flowable state (i.e. that shall be in a liquid state but more preferably that shall be semi-liquid, i.e. in a molten phase) when such thermoplastic is at a temperature that is a temperature that is more than eight degrees C lesser than a temperature at which the selected fibers experience a phase change, and more preferably at least ten degrees lesser, yet more preferably at least fifteen degrees lesser than and yet even more preferably at least nineteen degrees lesser than such temperature at which the selected fibers experience a phase change, which is contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, surprisingly resulting in an unexpected increase in strength of the final formed rope.
• a flowable state i.e. that shall be in a liquid state but more preferably that shall be semi-liquid, i.e. in a molten phase
• thermoplastic linear element is preferably a rod formed of thermoplastic (the term "formed of thermoplastic” is understood to include being formed of a sufficient quotient of thermoplastic so as to permit the linear element to experience the semi-liquid, i.e. molten phase during the circumstances taught supra and herein, even though other substances might be included with the thermoplastic, or even lead or other metal or heavy plastic might be included in linear arrangement within the center of the thermoplastic linear element that preferably is a rod, so as to increase weight in water of the final product rope of the present disclosure).
• a flow-shield sheath is formed around the thermoplastic rod. Any construction for a sheath that mainly stops liquid and semi-liquid phases of the thermoplastic core from existing the walls of the flow sheath also are useful in forming the flow-shield sheath.
• a tightly woven braided flow-shield sheath is braided around the thermoplastic rod. Fibers are selected to form the flow-shield sheath that are not made either liquid or semi-liquid at a temperature selected to either or both creep the fibers or change the phase of either the fibers or the thermoplastic rod, but rather that have a much higher softening point. Polyester is suitable.
• the selected fibers are braided around the linear element formed of a thermoplastic and its flow-shield sheath, such as a thermoplastic rod surrounded by a flow-shield sheath, so as to form a braided strength member including a thermoplastic core surrounded by a flow-shield sheath.
• thermoplastic is selected to form the thermoplastic core that shall preferably become semi-liquid, i.e. molten, at the temperature used to permanently elongate the fibers and braided strength member formed of the fibers.
• the flow shield-sheath mainly or entirely stops the phase changed thermoplastic core from exiting the flow-shield sheath.
• thermoplastic core is unable to exit the flow-shield sheath even when the thermoplastic core is either liquid or semi-liquid, i.e. molten, despite enormous constrictive and compressive forces applied to the phase changed thermoplastic core as a result of the high tensions applied to the strength member, such high tensions able to permanently elongate the strength member under the conditions taught supra and herein.
• a preferred tension to be used in the disclosed processes for forming the disclosed rope is about eight percent (8%) to about seventy percent (70%) of the break strength of the strength member when such break strength is measured at room temperature, with about three percent (3%) to about thirty-seven percent (37%) being preferred, and with less than fifty-five percent (55%) being most preferred.
• temperatures that are about room temperature are selected and the preferred tension to be used in the disclosed processes for forming the disclosed rope is about sixty to seventy percent (60% to 70%) of the break strength of the strength member when such break strength is measured at room temperature.
• the tension applied to the strength member preferably is a static tension and/or a generally static tension and/or a very slowly fluctuating tension.
• a predetermined tension including approximately a predetermined tension
• the strength member, its fibers, and its thermoplastic core are heated to a predetermined temperature and/or to approximately a predetermined temperature as taught above and herein, and, contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, a temperature that does not approach the phase change temperature of fibers and/or fiber type mainly forming the strength member, i.e.
• phase change temperature are not within eight degrees C of such phase change temperature, and more preferably at least ten degrees lesser, yet more preferably at least fifteen degrees lesser than and yet even more preferably at least nineteen degrees lesser than such temperature at which the selected fibers experience a phase change, which is contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, surprisingly resulting in an unexpected increase in strength of the final formed rope.
• the fibers and thus by extension the braided strength member have been elongated to a predetermined amount so as to permit a strength member having the properties described above and herein, and especially having an elongation to break point within the range of values as taught above and herein, and also the thermoplastic core has been elongated
• the elongated fibers, the now elongated strength member formed of the elongated fibers and its elongated thermoplastic core are cooled while sufficient tension is maintained and applied to the strength member and thus by extension to its fibers and to its thermoplastic core during the cooling process so that all such components are cooled to their respective solid states while under a tension that results in the cooled fibers as well as the cooled strength member having been both :
• This cooling also is best accomplished and undertaken using capstans turning at varying speeds so as to maintain a tension on the elongated strength member and its components during the entire cooling process and period that precludes their shortening, so that the final cooled strength member has the values of elongation to break point as taught above and herein for a most preferred embodiment of the instant disclosure, and also the other properties taught as above and herein, as also is accomplishable in an endless flow production method.
• thermoplastic rod with its flow-shield sheath may be omitted, and the subsequent steps are carried out the same as taught above and herein except that the thermoplastic rod and its flow-shield sheath are not present nor need their properties be considered.
• the present disclosure also teaches: A process for forming a high strength, compact strength member mainly of synthetic fibers and having a lighter weight than a traditional steel wire strength member, the process comprising steps of:
• thermoplastic linear element that mainly is formed with a thermoplastic capable of exhibiting a flowable phase when such thermoplastic is at a temperature that is a temperature that is more than eight degrees C below a temperature at which the selected fibers experience a phase change (and more preferably at least ten degrees lesser, yet more preferably at least fifteen degrees lesser than and yet even more preferably at least nineteen degrees lesser than such temperature at which the selected fibers experience a phase change, which is contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, surprisingly resulting in an unexpected increase in strength of the final formed rope);

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
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• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Ropes Or Cables (AREA)

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• 2012
  • 2012-11-16 US US14/358,714 patent/US20140311323A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-11-16 WO PCT/IS2012/050014 patent/WO2013072941A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-11-16 EP EP12799322.8A patent/EP2780502A2/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2014
  • 2014-04-15 NO NO20140496A patent/NO20140496A1/no not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2014-06-09 ZA ZA2014/04234A patent/ZA201404234B/en unknown

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