Elastomeric Coated Winch Line Eye Splice

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Solution Overview

Problem

Synthetic winch lines face issues such as susceptibility to chafing, heat damage, and failure due to inadequate attachment to winch drums, leading to reduced strength and operational delays.

Innovation Solution

A synthetic winch line with an elastomeric-coated eye splice and a winch line retainer strap with retention loops is used, providing enhanced abrasion resistance, heat protection, and secure attachment to the winch drum through a method involving multiple wraps and retention loops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metal thimble is used to reinforce the eye and prevent rope failure, then the eye strength and form maintenance are improved, but the fairlead is damaged through abrasions, gouges, and burs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeye strengthVSAvoidfairlead damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component - a fairlead protection device made of soft, abrasion-resistant material - that is positioned between the metal thimble and the fairlead. This intermediary absorbs the harmful impacts and prevents direct contact between the hard thimble and the fairlead surface, thereby maintaining eye strength while eliminating fairlead damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a flexible protective covering (fairlead protection device) that conforms to the fairlead surface. This flexible shell absorbs impacts and prevents the rigid metal thimble from causing mechanical damage to the fairlead, while still allowing the thimble to perform its reinforcing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Strength

If the winch line is allowed to cool between operations to prevent heat damage, then the rope strength is preserved, but operational delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverope strengthVSAvoidoperational delay

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heat generation function from the drum-brake system by introducing a separate water circulation cooling system. This allows continuous operation without requiring cooling periods, as the water cooling system actively removes heat in real-time rather than requiring passive cooling intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous water circulation cooling that operates throughout the winching process. This eliminates interruptions and maintains continuous operational capability while preventing heat buildup, thereby preserving rope strength without causing operational delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Weight of moving object

If synthetic rope is used instead of steel cable to reduce weight and increase tensile strength, then the strength-to-weight ratio is improved, but the rope becomes susceptible to chafing, heat damage, and UV degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewinch line weightVSAvoidenvironmental susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material structures - combining synthetic rope with protective coatings and fairlead protection devices made of different materials. This composite approach maintains the lightweight advantage of synthetic rope while adding protective layers that resist chafing, heat, and UV degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies protective measures in advance - coating the synthetic rope with protective materials and positioning fairlead protection devices before the rope encounters harmful conditions. This preemptive protection prevents chafing, heat damage, and UV degradation before they can compromise the rope

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Device complexity

If the winch line is attached at a single point to simplify the attachment mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the line can be pulled out under tension causing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment mechanism complexityVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the attachment mechanism into multiple components - a drum, a retainer with retention loops, and a wrapping system. This segmentation distributes the attachment function across multiple elements, preventing line pullout while maintaining reasonable complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10640920B2Winch line

Publication Date: 2020.05.05 BUBBA ROPE LLC

AI summary

A winch line includes a length of synthetic rope having a connector end and a terminal end. An eye is formed by a splice at the connector end of the synthetic rope. An elastomeric coating encapsulates the eye. An elastomer mass is formed over and encapsulates a base portion of the eye and a portion of the splice. The winch line has a number of intermediate sections of consistent length along the length of the synthetic rope extending between the elastomer mass and the terminal end. A number of demarcations reside on a surface of the synthetic rope indicating a boundary between the intermediate sections.