Flexible tension member
AssigneeBridon PLC
InventorsJohn M. Walton, Yeung C. Tong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexible tension member includes a helical bundle of substantially identical elongate elements. Each element inside the bundle is in contact with six adjacent elements, and the lay length of the helical bundle is at least 30 times its diameter. Each element is a strand including wires extending helically around the axis of the strands and substantially all of the strands have a helical lay direction opposite to the helical lay direction of the bundle.
Claims19
A flexible tension member comprising a helical bundle comprising a plurality of substantially identical strands, said bundle comprising an outer layer having a plurality of strands, and an inner core having a plurality of strands, each of said strands in said inner core being in contact with six adjacent strands, said bundle having a lay length of at least 30 times a diameter of said bundle, each of said strands comprising wires extending helically around an axis thereof, substantially all of said strands having a helical lay direction opposite to the helical lay direction of said bundle.
A flexible tension member comprising a bundle arranged in a primary helix, said bundle comprising a plurality of substantially identical elongate strands, said bundle comprising an outer layer having a plurality of strands, and an inner core having a plurality of strands, each of said strands of said inner core being in contact with six adjacent strands, said strands comprising wires arranged in a secondary helix around a longitudinal axis of each of said strands, and said bundle having a lay length of at least 30 times its diameter;
- and
- wherein said strands have a helical lay direction opposite to the helical lay direction of said bundle, and wherein a torsional moment generated by said primary helix substantially balances a torsional moment generated by said secondary helices, when said flexible tension member is under tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.