Rope structure with improved bending fatigue and abrasion resistance characteristics
AssigneeSamson Rope Technologies
InventorsChia-Te Chou, Danielle D. Stenvers, Jonathan D. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rope structure adapted to engage an external structure comprising a primary strength component and a coating. The primary strength component comprises a plurality of fibers. The coating comprises a lubricant portion and a binder portion that fixes the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers. The coating is applied to the primary strength component such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between adjacent fibers and reduces friction between fibers and the external structure.
Claims20
A rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising:
- a primary strength component comprising a plurality of fibers adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure;
- a coating comprising
- a lubricant portion, and
- a binder portion, where the binder portion is applied to the primary strength portion to form a matrix that at least partly surrounds at least some of the fibers to support the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers;
- whereby
- the matrix supports the lubricant portion such that the lubricant portion
- reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers, and
- reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.
A method of forming a rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of fibers;
- combining the plurality of fibers to form a primary strength component adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure;
- providing a coating material in liquid form comprising a lubricant portion and a binder portion;
- applying the coating material in liquid form to the primary strength component;
- allowing the coating material in liquid form to dry on the primary strength member such that the binder portion forms a matrix that at least partly surrounds at least some of the fibers to support lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.
A rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising:
- a primary strength component comprising a plurality of fibers adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure, where the plurality of fibers are combined to form plurality of yarns, the plurality of yarns are combined to form a plurality of strands, and the plurality of strands are combined to form the primary strength component;
- a coating comprising PTFE particles suspended within a matrix formed of binder material such that the binder fixes the PTFE particles relative to at least some of the fibers such that the PTFE particles reduce friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.