Method for heat stretching synthetic fiber rope
AssigneePuget Sound Rope Corporation
InventorRichard J. Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for heat stretching a synthetic fiber rope. The rope is attached to tensioning members and suspended in a liquid medium so that this extends in a generally horizontal direction. The liquid medium has a specific gravity which is approximately equal to that of the rope at the desired stretching temperature, so that the rope is buoyed by this in order to relieve the weight of the segment from the tensioning members. The liquid medium is then heated so that the rope is uniformly heated to the stretching temperature, and tension is applied between the tensioning members so as to stretch the segment of rope to a predetermined increase in length.
Claims14
A method for heat stretching a synthetic fiber rope, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching tensioning members to first and second ends of a segment of said rope;
- suspending said segment in a liquid medium having a specific gravity selected to be approximately equal to that of said rope at a predetermined stretching temperature, so that said segment is rendered substantially neutrally buoyant by said medium so as to minimize loading on said attached ends of said segment caused by weight or flotation of said segment;
- heating said liquid medium so that said segment of rope which is suspended therein is uniformly heated to said stretching temperature;
- and
- applying tension between said tensioning members so as to stretch said heated segment of rope to a predetermined increase in length of said segment.
A method for heat stretching a synthetic fiber rope, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching tensioning members to first and second ends of a segment of said rope;
- positioning said segment of roe in a vessel so that said segment extends generally horizontally therein, and at least partially filling said vessel with a liquid medium, said liquid medium having a specific gravity approximately equal to that of said rope at a predetermined stretching temperature so that said segment is buoyed by said medium so as to relieve the weight of said segment from said tensioning members at said ends thereof;
- heating said liquid medium in said vessel while maintaining a pressure in said vessel so as to prevent boiling of said liquid medium, until said liquid medium is heated to a temperature at least equal to said stretching temperature;
- reducing said pressure in said vessel to a pressure at which said liquid medium will boil at said stretching temperature, so that said liquid medium is stabilized at said stretching temperature uniformly throughout said vessel and said segment of rope which is buoyed therein is uniformly heated to said stretching temperature;
- and
- applying tension between said tensioning members so as to stretch said heated segment of rope to a predetermined increase in length of said segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.