Inspectable Synthetic Tensile Member Assembly
OwnerRichard V. Campbellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protected synthetic tensile member assembly including one or more fixed terminations used to transmit a tensile load from the tensile member to an external component. The tensile member includes access for inspection of its constituent fibers in at least one selected inspection region. The region is selected on the basis of the area of interest to the tensile member's use—such as the area of greatest stress concentration or the area of greatest abrasion. A removable cover is provided for the inspection region. A user may selectively remove this cover in order to gain access to the inspection region.
Claims20
A method for providing and inspecting a durable yet inspectable tensile member assembly including synthetic fibers as a tension-carrying element, comprising:
- (a) providing a tensile member, including,
- (i) a core of synthetic fibers, said core having an end,
- (ii) a termination on said end, said termination including an anchor with an anchor exit where said fibers exit said anchor,
- (iii) a jacket surrounding said core;
- (iv) an inspection region located proximate said anchor exit;
- (b) providing a first cover configured to cover a first portion of said inspection region;
- (c) providing a second cover configured to cover a second portion of said inspection region;
- (d) opening said first cover in order to permit inspection of said first portion of said inspection region;
- and
- (e) following said inspection of said first portion of said inspection region, closing said first cover.
A method for providing and inspecting a durable yet inspectable tensile member assembly including synthetic fibers as a tension-carrying element, comprising:
- (a) providing a tensile member having a core of synthetic fibers, said tensile member having an end;
- (b) providing a termination attached to said end of said tensile member, said termination including an anchor with an anchor exit where said core exits said anchor;
- (c) wherein said anchor includes an internal passage and a length of said fibers lie within said internal passage;
- with said fibers being locked into a solidified potting compound, with said anchor completely surrounding said length of said fibers;
- (d) providing a jacket surrounding said core;
- (e) providing an inspection region proximate said anchor exit;
- (f) providing a first cover configured to cover a first portion of said inspection region;
- (g) providing a second cover configured to cover a second portion of said inspection region;
- (h) opening said first cover in order to permit inspection of said first portion of said inspection region;
- and
- (i) following said inspection of said first portion of said inspection region, closing said first cover.
A method for providing and inspecting a durable yet inspectable tensile member assembly including synthetic fibers as a tension-carrying element, wherein said tensile member assembly includes a core of said synthetic fibers, a jacket surrounding said core, an end, a termination attached to said end, said termination including an anchor, an anchor exit where said core exits said anchor, and an inspection region proximate said anchor exit, comprising:
- (a) providing a first cover configured to cover a first portion of said inspection region;
- (b) providing a second cover configured to cover a second portion of said inspection region;
- (c) opening said first cover in order to permit inspection of said first portion of said inspection region;
- and
- (d) following said inspection of said first portion of said inspection region, closing said first cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.