US 9,677,221 B2 · Method and device for impregnating a rope with a liquid material

Abstract

Methods for impregnating a liquid material into a rope are provided whereby a liquid material is provided in a tank which defines the liquid level in the tank. An impregnation unit containing a chamber at least partially immersed in the liquid material includes a vacuum-device operatively connected to the vacuum-outlet of the chamber so as to lower the pressure in the chamber below atmospheric pressure. The rope may therefore be passed through the liquid material in the tank and then inside and outside the chamber via the rope-inlet and rope-outlet of the chamber, while maintaining the pressure inside the chamber below the atmospheric pressure to thereby force the liquid material to fill at least part of the interstices between the fibers of the rope by penetrating between the fibers.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for impregnating a liquid material into a rope comprising a plurality of fibers and interstices between the fibers, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a liquid material in a tank, wherein the liquid material defines a level of liquid in the tank;
(b) providing an impregnation unit containing a chamber at least partially immersed in the liquid material, the chamber comprising:
(i) a rope-inlet positioned below the level of liquid in the tank for tightly receiving the rope;
(ii) a rope-outlet for tightly discharging the rope;
and
(iii) a vacuum-outlet;
(c) providing a vacuum-device operatively connected to the vacuum-outlet for lowering pressure in the chamber below atmospheric pressure;
(d) passing the rope through the liquid material in the tank and then inside and outside the chamber by the rope-inlet and the rope-outlet, respectively, while maintaining the pressure inside the chamber below atmospheric pressure to force the liquid material to fill at least part of the interstices between the fibers of the rope by penetrating between the fibers.

5 more elements

An apparatus for impregnating a liquid material into a rope comprised of a plurality of fibers and interstices between the fibers, wherein the apparatus comprises:

(a) a tank comprising a liquid material which defines a level of liquid in the tank;
(b) an impregnation unit containing a chamber at least partially immersed in the liquid material, the chamber comprising:
(i) a rope-inlet positioned below the level of the liquid material in the tank for tightly receiving the rope;
(ii) a rope-outlet for tightly discharging said rope;
and
(iii) a vacuum-outlet;
and
(c) a vacuum device operatively connected to the vacuum outlet for lowering pressure in the chamber below atmospheric pressure, wherein
passing the rope through the liquid material in the tank and then inside and outside the chamber by the rope-inlet and the rope-outlet, respectively, while maintaining the pressure inside the chamber below atmospheric pressure forces the liquid material to fill at least part of the interstices between the fibers of the rope by penetrating between the fibers.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for impregnating a rope with a liquid material

Life of this patent

Method and device for impregnating a rope with a liquid material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18