Method and system for producing a rope

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, and an associated system (300), of producing a rope (100) from a continuous length of sub-rope material (200) stored in a sub-rope material storage (202).

Description

[0001] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING A ROPE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method, and an associated system for producing a rope, from a continuous length of sub-rope material stored in a sub-rope material storage. The rope may be used for supporting an offshore structure, such as a floating wind structure.

[0004] Background

[0005] Floating wind market requires one mooring line delivery per day. This is significantly different than oil and gas where there are much less mooring lines per pro ect An oil and gas project has few very long mooring lines, therefore the time required for making the rope terminations by splicing is of less relevance. However, since floating wind projects have many, short lines, many more end terminations have to be spliced requiring a different process Splicing of a rope is forming a joint between two ropes or two parts of the same rope by partly untwisting and then interweaving their strands or sub-ropes. Splices can be used to form a stopper at the end of a line, to form a loop or an eye (also known as an eye-splice) in a rope, or for joining two ropes together.

[0006] In the methods used today, after the sub-ropes are arranged in parallel (e.g. 10 x 800m), the sub-ropes on the ends need to be spliced on themselves to form a lift eye. This splice is not made one strand over itself, but rather it is a complex arrangement where one strand is spliced to multiple sub-ropes in a way to properly distribute the load. This process requires 2 very skilled people for 8 hours per splice.

[0007] Therefore, in an exemplary case where there is a need for 6 lines per week it will probably be necessary with 8 people dedicated for the work (4 on ah the time. 4 to cover for vacation, weekends, holidays and spare capacity) and it would take one day per line. It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a solution that solves, or at least reduce, at least one of the aforementioned problems or challenges.

[0008] In particular, it is an objective to provide a solution that reduces the time needed in production of mooring lines.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention is defined in the attached claims.

[0011] In general, the invention relates to a method of creating mooring line ropes terminations on both ends by an automated process that can complete the work in hours instead of the manual process existing today that requires days per end. It is known within the art that ropes may be made up of a plurality of sub-ropes. The subropes may typically comprise strand or strand material. The strand or strand material may be made up of yam and / or rope yam.

[0012] The present invention relates to a method of producing a rope from a continuous length of sub-rope material stored in a sub-rope material storage, comprising the steps of:

[0013] (a) attaching a first terminal end of the sub-rope material to an attachment point of a first drum;

[0014] (b) reeling a predetermined length of the sub-rope material from the sub-rope material storage and onto the first drum;

[0015] (c) attaching a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material, being between the first drum and the sub-rope material storage, to an attachment point of a second drum;

[0016] (d) reeling subsequent sub-rope material, a length equal to the predetermined length, from the sub-rope material storage and onto the second drum while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the first drum and reeling it onto the second drum;

[0017] (e) attaching a second point of the continuous length of sub-rope material, being between the second drum and the sub-rope material storage, to the attachment point of the first drum:

[0018] (f) reeling subsequent sub-rope material, a length equal to the predetermined length, from the sub-rope material storage and onto the first drum while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the second drum and reeling it onto the first drum;

[0019] (g) repeating steps (c) to (f) until a predetermined number of loop parts of looped sub¬ rope material extending between the attachment points of the first and second drums have been obtained;

[0020] (h) cutting the sub-rope material producing a second terminal end of the sub-rope material: and

[0021] (i) joining the firs t terminal end and the second terminal end to the sub-rope material The rope producing method can be used to make ropes of different lengths dependent on the demand in each project by increasing or decreasing the number of revolutions around the first drum

[0022] The predetermined length may be equal to the length of each of the loop parts.

[0023] Consequently, the length of each loop part will have a length equal to the predetermined length L and two consecutive loop parts will form a loop looping the first and second attachment points.

[0024] The rope may be used as a mooring line for supporting an offshore structure, such as a floating wind structure. The method may thus be a method of producing a mooring line for a floating wind structure.

[0025] The method results in a continuous rope with a predetermined number of loops. When the desired number of loops has been achieved, the first and second terminal ends can be joined requiring fewer splices compared to the prior art solutions which required splicing of all sub-ropes (i.e. splicing of each loop).

[0026] In step (i), when joining the first terminal end and the second terminal end, said ends are preferably arranged with a distance between them. Said distance can be equal to the predetermined length and the first terminal end may be at or close to the first drum whereas the second terminal may be at or close to the second drum. In order to achieve that said ends are at a distance from each other, the produced rope may be formed by an uneven number of loop parts.

[0027] A centre axis of the first drum may be parallel with a centre axis of the second drum. The first drum may have a rotating motor and the second drum may have a rotating motor. However, it may also be possible to operate the first and second drums manually. The first and second drurns may be denoted first and second reels

[0028] In other words, the sub-rope material is connected to the attachment point of first drum, and spooled on the first drum until the predetermined length of rope is achieved. Then, the first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material is looped around the attachment point of second drum. The drums now rotate in the opposite direction, spooling the sub-rope material to the second drum until the attachment point of first drum reaches the second drum. The second point of the continuous length of sub-rope material is now looped around the attachment point of the first drum, and the drums change rotation direction again, spooling the sub-rope material to the first drum, until the attachment point of second drum reaches the first drum. The process is repeated until the required number of sub-ropes are organized in parallel and looped around the attachment points. With the process completed, there is no need to splice all sub-ropes as the full rope is made from a continuous length of sub-rope material. Only the two ends of the sub-rope material need to be spliced, or terminated. This process would enable executing multiple mooring and anchor projects simultaneously, not being limited by cable manufacturing capacity.

[0029] According to a first aspect, step (i) may comprise splicing the first terminal end to form a first eye-splice. The step of splicing the first terminal end to form the first eye-splice is preferably performed before step (a). Step (a) may then comprise attaching the first eye-splice to the attachment point of the first drum. Consequently, the first eye-splice is formed before attaching the first terminal end to first drum.

[0030] Step (i) may comprise splicing the second terminal end to form a second eye-splice. Consequently, when experiencing tension forces, the loops can position themselves to be of same length such that equal tension forces are experienced by each loop. Then the risk of breaking the rope is reduced since the forces are evenly distributed.

[0031] According to another aspect, step (i) may comprise splicing the first terminal end and the second terminal end to each other. Consequently, when experiencing tension forces, the loops can position themselves to be of same length such that equal tension forces are experienced by each loop. Then the risk of breaking the rope is reduced since the forces are evenly distributed.

[0032] According to a further aspect, the method may comprise splicing the first terminal end and the second terminal end to at least one of the loop parts. In one aspect, the first terminal end and the second terminal end may be spliced to all of the loop parts.

[0033] Consequently, each terminal end may be spliced with all of the loop parts, thereby locking them to each other.

[0034] The attachment point of first drum may be a first sheave and the attachment point of second drum may be a second sheave.

[0035] Allowing the sub-rope material to be attached to sheaves eases the production of the rope since the sub-rope material moves with small friction on the sheaves. However, other means than sheaves can be used.

[0036] Other attachment points than sheave can include snap-hooks, spring hook, carabiner etc. 'The method may comprise operating a movable guiding device between the first drum and the second drum.

[0037] The guiding device eases reeling of the sub-rope material onto the respective first drum and second drum as well as well as the attaching to the attachment points of the first dram and the second drum. The guiding device may be in the form of a first guide reel and a second guide reel which are arranged parallel to each other. The first and second guide reels may be arranged on a mutual base. The first and second guide reels may be arranged at a distance from each other for allowing the continuous length of sub-rope material to pass between them.

[0038] The method may comprise moving the guiding device linearly. The linear movement may be performed by moving the base along a rail of the system. If the first and second drums are arranged with their respective centre axes extending vertically, it will be advantageous to arrange the guiding device to move horizontally between the drums.

[0039] It will also be possible to arrange the first and second drums such that their respective centre axes extend horizontally. Then it will be advantageous to arrange the guiding device to move vertically between the drums.

[0040] The attachment point of first drum may be at an end of a first line which is secured to the first drum and the attachment point of second drum may be at an end of a second line which is secured to the second drum.

[0041] The sub-rope material storage may be a storage drum and the method may comprise feeding the sub-rope material from the storage drum during production of the rope. The storage drum can be a passive drum which rotates upon tension in the sub-rope material when rotating the first drum and / or the second drum or it can be rotated by a dedicated motor.

[0042] After joining the first terminal end and the second terminal end to the sub-rope material, the method may comprise the step of:

[0043] (j) providing the looped sub-rope material with a protective cover.

[0044] The protective cover may surround all of the loops of the sub-rope material such that all of the sub-rope material is within the same common co ver. As such, the sub-rope material is protected and the loops have less risk of being tangled into each other. The protective cover may be of a plastic or rubber material, or any other material dependent on the demands in the specific project.

[0045] It is further described a system for producing a rope, the system comprising:

[0046] - a sub-rope material storage for storing a continuous length of sub-rope material;

[0047] - a first drum comprising an attachment point for a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material, the first drum being rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and being configured to store the sub-rope material reeled thereon;

[0048] - a second drum comprising an attachment point for a second point of the sub-rope material, the second drum being rotatable in the first direction and the second direction and being configured to store the continuous length of sub-rope material reeled thereon. The attachment point of first drum may be a first sheave and the attachment point of second drum may be a second sheave.

[0049] The first and second drum are configured to operate synchronously. In other words, the first and second drum are configured to rotate in the same direction. The system may comprise:

[0050] - a first line comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is secured to the first drum and the first sheave is arranged at the second end:

[0051] ~ a second line comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is secured to the second drum and the second sheave is arranged at the second end.

[0052] The system may comprise a guiding device which is movable between the first drum and the second drum.

[0053] The system may comprise a rail arrangement for moving the guiding device linearly. The sub-rope material storage may be a storage drum.

[0054] During production of the rope, the storage drum only rotate in one direction, i.e the feeding direction, i.e. a direction reeling out continuous length of sub-rope material. The system may comprise a motor for rotating the first drum and / or the second drum in the first direction and the second direction.

[0055] There may be one common motor for rotating the first and second drums. Alternatively, there may be two motors, e.g. one motor for rotating each of the first and second drum. The one or two motors may be connected to a transmission and / or gearbox assembly for rotating the first drum and / or the second drum The one or two motor(s) may be configured to provide a rotational force which is sufficient to rotate the first drum, the second drum and the storage dram.

[0056] The first drum may be arranged at a fixed distance from the second drum.

[0057] The first drum and the second drum may be of the same diameter.

[0058] The length can be controlled in various ways. For example, it can be controlled or measured by measuring the length of sub-rope material fed from the sub-rope material storage. Alternatively, or additionally, it may be controlled or measured by knowing the diameter of the first or second drum and multiplying by number of rotations of sub-rope material around the first or second drum.

[0059] Above-discussed preferred and / or optional features of each aspect of the invention / disclosure may be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects of the invention / disclosure

[0060] The claimed invention is specified in the independent claims of this application.

[0061] Advantageous adaptations and versions of the claimed invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0062] Description of the drawings Following drawings are appended to facilitate the understanding of the claimed invention:

[0063] Fig. 1 A is an example of a system for producing a rope from a continuous length of sub-rope material, where a first terminal end of the continuous length of sub-rope material is attached to an attachment point of a first drum of the system;

[0064] Fig. IB shows an example of attachments points of a first and second drum in the system of Fig. 1A, the attachment points being arranged at an end of a first and second line, respectively;

[0065] Fig 2 A shows looped sub-rope material comprising a predetermined number of loops of continuous length of sub-rope material extending between attachment points of the first and second drums, where the first terminal end has been spliced to form a first eye-splice, and the continuous length of sub-rope material has been cut producing a second terminal end of the sub-rope material;

[0066] Fig 2B shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2A after splicing of the second terminal end to form a second eye-splice, thereby producing a rope;

[0067] Fig. 2C shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2A after splicing the second terminal end to the looped sub-rope material, thereby producing a rope;

[0068] Fig. 2D shows looped sub-rope material comprising a predetermined number of loops of continuous length of sub-rope material extending between attachment points of the first and second drums, where the first terminal end and the second terminal end and have been cut;

[0069] Fig. 2E shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2D where the first terminal end and the second terminal end have been spliced to at least one of the loop parts;

[0070] Fig. 2F shows the rope produced in any of Figs. 2B, 2C or 2E covered with a protective cover;

[0071] Figs. 3 - 33 show, in sequence, a method of producing a rope from a continuous length of sub-rope material;

[0072] It should be understood, however, that the drawings are not intended to limit the claimed invention to the subject-matter depicted in the drawings.

[0073] In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used to indicate common parts, elements or features unless otherwise explicitly stated or implicitly understood by the context.

[0074] Detailed description In the following, one or more specific embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings However, it is specifically intended that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein but includes modified forms of the embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation¬ specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer’s specific goals, such as compliance with system and / or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation of the invention to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication and manufacture for the skilled person having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0075] It is clear that features described in relation to the system is equally valid for the method, and vice versa.

[0076] Fig. 1A is an example of a system 300 for producing a rope 100 from a continuous length of sub-rope material 200, where a first terminal end 204 of the continuous length of sub¬ rope material 200 is attached to an attachment point 312 of a first drum 310 of the system 300. The system 300 comprises a sub-rope material storage 202 storing a continuous length of sub-rope material 200. The illustrated sub-rope material storage 202 is in the form of a storage drum 202,

[0077] The system 300 further comprises a first drum 310 and a second drum 320. The first and second drums 310, 320 are arranged at a distance from each other and their respective centre axes CA1. CA2 are parallel. Both the first and the second drums 310,320 are rotatable in a first direction and a second direction.

[0078] The first drum 310 comprises an attachment point 312 for a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 and the first drum 310 is configured to store the sub-rope material 200 reeled thereon. In the process of producing the rope, the attachment point 312 of the first drum 310 is configured to attach to a first terminal end 204 of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200.

[0079] Similarly, the second drum 320 comprises an attachment point 322 for a second point of the sub-rope material 200 and the second drum 320 is configured to store the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 reeled thereon.

[0080] As illustrated (see also Fig. IB), the attachment point 312 of the first drum 310 is a first sheave 312 and the attachment point 322 of the second drum 320 is a second sheave 322. The first sheave 312 is arranged at an end, i.e. a second end 313”, of a first line 313. The other end of the first line 31, i.e. the first end, 313’. is secured to the first drum 310, Similarly, the second sheave 322 is arranged at an end, i.e. a second end 323’’, of a second line 323. The other end of the second line 323, i e. the first end, 323’, is secured to the second drum 320.

[0081] As shown, a length of the first line 313 and the second line 323 may be substantially equal to the distance between the first and second drums 310,320. This will ease the attaching of the first and second points (and any subsequent points) of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200.

[0082] The system 300 may have a guiding device 330 which is movable between the first drum 310 and the second drum 320. The guiding device 330 is arranged between the first and second drums 310,320 on one side thereof and the sub-rope material storage 202 on an opposite side thereof. The guiding device 330 may ease the reeling of continuous length of sub-rope material 200 onto the respective first and second drums 10,320. However, there may be situations where the guiding device 330 is superfluous. Then the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 is reeled directly onto the first or second drum 310,320 from the sub-rope material storage 202.

[0083] The illustrated guiding device 330 features a first guide reel 331’ and a second guide reel 331 ’’which are arranged parallel to each other The first and second guide reels 331’, 331” are arranged on a mutual base 332 at a distance from each other which allows the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 to pass between them. The base 332 is movable along a rail 333.

[0084] The system 300 may comprise a motor 314;324 for rotating the first drum 310 and / or the second drum 320 in the first direction and the second direction In the illustrated example in Fig. 1 A, there is a first motor 314 and a first transmission arrangement 315 for rotating the first drum 310, and a second motor and a second transmission arrangement 325 for rotating the second drum 320.

[0085] Although not shown, the sub-rope material storage 202, e.g. a storage drum 202, may also be connected to a. motor. However, if the first and second motors 14,324 provides a. rotational force which is sufficient to rotate its respective drum 10,320 and the sub-rope material storage 202, it may not be required with a dedicated motor for rotating the sub- rope material storage 202.

[0086] The illustrated first drum 310 and the second drum 320 are of the same diameter. This is not required but may ease the process of manufacturing the rope 100

[0087] Fig. IB shows an example of attachments points 312, 322 of a first and second drum 310, 320 in the system of Fig. 1 A. the attachment points 312. 322 being arranged at an end of a first and second line 313, 323, respectively. The attachment points 312, 322 are arranged at a second end 313”. 323” of the first and second lines 313, 323 whereas the first end 313’, 323’ of each of the first and second lines 313, 323 are secured to the first and second drum 310, 320. respectively. The first and second attachment points 312, 322 are in the form of sheaves. The sheaves ease connection to the points of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 during production of the rope 100.

[0088] Fig 2A shows looped sub-rope material 210 comprising a predetermined number of loops of continuous length of sub-rope material 200 extending between attachment points 312.

[0089] 322 of the first and second drums 310,320, where the first terminal end 204 has been spliced to form a first eye-splice 316, and the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 has been cut producing a second terminal end 206 of the sub-rope material 200.

[0090] Fig 2B shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2 A after splicing of the second terminal end 206 to form a second eye-splice 317. thereby forming a rope 100.

[0091] Fig. 2C shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2A after splicing the second terminal end 206 to the looped sub-rope material, thereby producing a rope. Consequently, both the first terminal end 204 and the second terminal end 206 have been spliced forming respective first and second eye-splices 316.317.

[0092] Fig. 2D shows looped sub-rope material comprising a predetermined number of loops of continuous length of sub-rope material extending between attachment points of the first and second drums 3, where the first terminal end 204 and the second terminal end 206 and have been cut.

[0093] Fig 2E shows the looped sub-rope material of Fig. 2D where the first terminal end 204 and the second terminal end 206 have been spliced to at least one of the loop parts.

[0094] Figs. 3 - 33 show, in sequence, a method of producing a rope 100 from a continuous length of sub-rope material 200. The method will be described by using the features of the system 300 described in relation to Fig. 1 A. The rope 100 produced by the method in Figs 3 - 33 will have a total of 3 loops (after splicing).

[0095] In Figs 3-33 the sub-rope material storage 202 has been omitted on purpose to better illustrate the other components of the system 300 in the different states of the method. The rotational direction in the different states of the method is illustrated by the arrows inside the first and second drums 310, 320.

[0096] Referring to Fig. 3, a first step (a ) of the method of producing a rope 100 from a continuous length of sub-rope material 200 stored in a sub-rope material storage 202 is shown, i.e. step (a) of attaching a first terminal end 204 of the sub-rope material 200 to an attachment point 312 of a first drum 310. The first terminal end 204 has been spliced to form a first eye-splice 316 that has been looped around the attachment point of the first drum 310.

[0097] Referring to Fig. 4. a second step (b) of the method is shown, i.e. (b) reeling a predetermined length L (see example of predetermined length L in Figs. 2A-2C) of the sub-rope material 200 from the sub-rope material storage 202 and onto the first drum 310. The first drum 310 has been reeled in the clockwise direction. The predetermined length L is equal to the length of each of the loop parts of the rope 100. The length of one loop part may be the distance between the attachment point of the first drum 312 and the attachment point of the second drum 322. Two consecutive loop parts will form a loop looping the first and second attachment points 312,322.

[0098] Referring to Fig. 5, the second drum 320 has been rotated in the clockwise direction such that the attachment point of second drum 322 is moved to a position between the first drum 310 and the guiding device 330. Fig. 5 illustrates a step (c) of attaching a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200. being between the first drum 310 and the sub-rope material storage 202, to the attachment point 322 of the second drum 320. Fig. 6 shows that the first and second drums 310,320 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction, moving the attachment point of second drum 322. and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200. towards the second drum 320.

[0099] Figs. 7-11 show that the first and second drums 310,320 have been rotated further in the counterclockwise direction moving the attachment point of second drum 322. and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200, closer to (Fig. 7) and onto (Figs. 8-11) the second drum 320 while simultaneously moving the attachment point of first drum 312. and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200. and the guiding device 330 towards the second drum 320. Figs. 7-11 thus show a step (d) of reeling subsequent sub-rope material 200, a length equal to the predetermined length L, from the sub-rope material storage 202 and onto the second drum 320 while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the first drum 310 and reeling it onto the second drum 320. Referring to Fig. 12. by further rotating the first and second drum 310,320 in the counterclockwise direction, the attachment point of first drum 312, and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200, is moved to a position between the second drum 320 and the guiding device 330. A (subsequent) continuous length of sub-rope material 200 can now be attached to the attachment point of first drum 312 Fig. 13 illustrates a step (e) of attaching a second point of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200, being between the second drum 320 and the sub-rope material storage 202, to the attachment point 312 of the first drum 310.

[0100] Referring to Figs 14-21 it is shown that the first and second drums 310,320 have been rotated in the clockwise direction moving the attachment point of first drum 312, and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200, closer to (Fig. 14) and onto (Figs.

[0101] 15-21) the first drum 310 while simultaneously moving the attachment point of second drum 322, and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200, and the guiding device 330 towards the first drum 310. Figs. 14-21 thus show a step (f) of reeling subsequent sub-rope material 200, a length equal to the predetermined length L, from the sub-rope material storage 202 and onto the first drum 310 while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the second drum 320 and reeling it onto the first drum 310. Fig. 22 illustrates the same as Fig. 5 with the difference that there is already attached one loop of continuous length of sub-rope material 200 to the attachment point of second drum 320. As discussed with reference to Fig. 5, the second drum 320 has been rotated in the clockwise direction such that the attachment point of second drum 322, and the attached continuous length of sub-rope material 200, is moved to a position between the first drum 310 and the guiding device 330 Fig. 22 thus also (similar to Fig. 5) illustrates step (c) of attaching a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200, being between the first drum 310 and the sub-rope material storage 202, to the attachment point 322 of the second drum 320. Steps (c) to (f) can be repeated until a predetermined number of loops of looped sub-rope material 210 extending between the attachment points 312, 322 of the first and second drums 310, 320 have been obtained. This is exemplified in Figs. 23-32. showing similar steps as Figs. 6-14 for producing loops of the rope.

[0102] Fig. 33 shows that when the desired number of loops have been made, the continuous length of sub-rope material 200 is cut, thereby producing a second terminal end 206 of the continuous length of sub-rope material 200. Fig. 33 thus illustrates a step (h) of cutting the sub-rope material 200 producing a second terminal end 206 of the sub-rope material 200. A step (i) of splicing the first terminal end 204 (see Fig. 3) and the second terminal end 206 to the looped sub-rope material 210 (see Figs. 2A and 2B) can now be performed.

[0103] Step (i) may comprise splicing of the first terminal end 204 and the second terminal end 206 to each other.

[0104] Alternatively, step (i) may comprise splicing the first terminal end 204 and the second terminal end 206 to different parts of the looped sub-rope material 210.

[0105] After finishing producing the rope 100, the method may comprise providing the looped sub-rope material 210 with a protective cover 220. The protective cover 220 surrounds all of the loops of the sub-rope material 200 such that all of the sub-rope material 200 is within the same common cover. As such, the sub-rope material 200 is protected and the loops have reduced risk of being tangled into each other.

[0106] As an example, by using the described system and method, a rope 100 made of one long continuous length of sub-rope material 200 will be formed, for instance 8km. This continuous length of sub-rope material 200 will be run through the system 300 back and forward around the attachment points 312. 322 of the first and second drum 310, 320 so to create a rope 100 with e.g. 10 parallel sub-ropes, this process should take 1 hour. To finish the rope 100. the first and second terminal ends 204, 206 may be connected to each other such that only one sub-rope splice is needed, a process that would take about 30 min. As such, the required time for preparing a rope 100, used as e.g, a mooring line, is significantly reduced compared to solutions used today. In the preceding description, various aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the illustrative embodiment. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and configurations were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the system and its workings. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiments, which are apparent to person skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject-matter pertains, are deemed to lie within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of producing a rope (100) from a continuous length of sub-rope material (200) stored in a sub-rope material storage (202), comprising the steps of:(a) attaching a first terminal end (204) of the sub-rope material (200) to an attachment point (312) of a first drum (310);(b) reeling a predetermined length (L) of the sub-rope material (200) from the sub¬ rope material storage (202) and onto the first drum (310);(c) attaching a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material (200), being between the first drum (310) and the sub-rope material storage (202), to an attachment point (322) of a second drum (320):(d) reeling subsequent sub-rope material (200), a length equal to the predetermined length fL). from the sub-rope material storage (202) and onto the second drum (320) while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the first drum (310) and reeling it onto the second drum (320);(e) attaching a second point of the continuous length of sub-rope material (200), being between the second drum (320) and the sub-rope material storage (202), to the attachment point (312) of the first drum (310);(f) reeling subsequent sub-rope material (200), a length equal to the predetermined length (L), from the sub-rope material storage (202) and onto the first drum (310) while simultaneously unreeling the sub-rope material from the second drum (320) and reeling it onto the first drum (310),(g) repeating steps (c) to (f) until a predetermined number of loop parts of looped sub¬rope material (210) extending between the atachment points (312, 322) of the first and second drums (310, 320) have been obtained;(h) cutting the sub-rope material (200) producing a second terminal end <206) of the sub-rope material (200); and(i) joining the first terminal end (204) and the second terminal end (206) to the subrope material (210).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (i) comprises splicing the first terminal end (204) to form a first eye-splice (316),3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of splicing the first terminal end (204) to form the first eye-splice (316) is performed before step (a)4. The method according to claim 3, wherein step (a) comprises attaching the first eve-splice to the attachment point (312) of the first drum (310),5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein step (i) comprises splicing the second terminal end (.206) to form a second eye-splice (317).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (i) comprises splicing the first terminal end (204) and the second terminal end (206) to each other.

7. The method according to claim L wherein the method comprises splicing the first terminal end (204) and the second terminal end (206) to at least one of the loop parts.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first terminal end (204) and the second terminal end (206) are spliced to all of the loop parts.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment point (312) of the first drum (310) is a first sheave (312) and the attachment point (322) of the second drum (320) is a second sheave (322).

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises operating a movable guiding device (330) between the first drum (310) and the second drum (320).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises moving the guiding device (330) linearly.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment point (312) of the first drum (310) is at an end of a first line (313) which is secured to the first drum (310) and the attachment point (322) of the second drum (320) is at an end of a second line (323) which is secured to the second drum (320).

1. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sub-rope material storage (202) is a storage drum (202) and wherein the method comprises feeding the sub-rope material (200) from the storage drum (202) during production of the rope (100).

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising, after joining the first terminal end (204) and the second terminal end (206) to the sub¬ rope material (210), a step of:(j) providing the looped sub-rope material (210) with a protective cover (220) 15. A system (300) for producing a rope (100), the system (300) comprising:■■ a sub-rope material storage (202) for storing a continuous length of sub-rope material (200);- a first drum (310) comprising an attachment point (312) for a first point of the continuous length of sub-rope material (200), the first drum (310) being rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and being configured to store the subrope material (200) reeled thereon;■■ a second drum (320) comprising an attachment point (322) for a second point of the sub-rope material (200), the second drum (320) being rotatable in the first direction and the second direction and being configured to store the continuous length of sub-rope material (200) reeled thereon.

16. The system (300) according to claim 15, wherein the attachment point (312) of the first drum (310) is a first sheave (312) and the attachment point (322) of the second drum (320) is a second sheave (322).17 The system (300) according to claim 16, wherein the system (300) comprises:- a first line (313) comprising a first end (313’) and a second end ( 313 ” ) wherein the first end (313 ') is secured to the first drum (310) and the first sheave (312) is arranged at the second end (313”);■■ a second line (323) comprising a first end (323’) and a second end (323”), wherein the first end (323’) is secured to the second drum (320) and the second sheave (322) is arranged at the second end (323”)18. The system (300) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the system (300) comprises a guiding device (330) which is movable between the first drum (310) and the second drum (320).

19. The system (300) according to claim 18, wherein the system (300) comprises a rail arrangement for moving the guiding device (330) linearly.

20. The system (300) according to any one of claims 15-19. wherein the sub-rope material storage (202) is a storage drum (202).21 The system (300) according to any one of claims 15-20, wherein the system (300) comprises a motor (314;324) for rotating the first drum (310) and / or the second drum (320) in the first direction and the second direction.

22. The system (300) according to any one of claims 15-21, wherein the first drum (310) is arranged at a fixed distance from the second drum (320).

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