Torque Balanced Hybrid Rope Composite Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-strength ropes used in applications like deep sea moorings and tower cranes face issues due to excessive self-weight and lack of torque-balancing, leading to potential failures and accidents, as traditional wire ropes are heavy and synthetic fiber ropes lack durability and abrasion resistance when spooled on drums.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid rope constructed with a fiber center surrounded by a protective jacket and high-strength steel wires, providing a balanced torque resistance and reduced weight, using high-strength synthetic fibers and steel wires with a braided or woven design to enhance durability and abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional wire rope is used, then tensile strength and durability are improved, but weight increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining steel wires and synthetic fibers in a hybrid rope structure. The steel wires provide tensile strength and abrasion resistance, while the synthetic fibers reduce weight and provide torque balancing. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high strength-to-weight ratio that neither material could achieve alone.
2Weight of moving object
If synthetic fiber rope is used, then weight is reduced and strength-to-weight ratio is improved, but abrasion resistance and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid rope combines synthetic fibers with steel wires to create a composite structure where each material compensates for the other's weaknesses. The steel wires provide the abrasion resistance and durability needed for running rope applications, while the synthetic fibers maintain the weight advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rope is segmented into distinct functional layers: an inner core of synthetic fibers for weight reduction and torque balancing, and an outer layer of steel wires for abrasion resistance and durability. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
3Strength
If wire rope is used, then tensile strength is maintained, but self-weight becomes excessive and hinders functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of steel wires and synthetic fibers creates a rope with optimized strength-to-weight ratio. The synthetic fibers contribute to torque balancing and reduce overall weight, improving ease of operation in applications like aerial lifting and hoisting where excessive weight hinders performance.
4Weight of moving object
If synthetic fiber rope is used, then weight is reduced, but torque-balancing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid construction combines materials with complementary properties: synthetic fibers provide torque-balancing characteristics while steel wires provide structural integrity. The interaction between these materials creates a rope that achieves both weight reduction and torque-balancing capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A hybrid rope constructed of a plurality of strands, wherein each strand is constructed of a fiber center, a jacket surrounding the fiber center, and a plurality of wires surrounding the jacket. The fiber center can be constructed of one or more high-strength synthetic fibers or yarns. The jacket can be constructed of polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane, high- density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, nylon or other similar materials. The jacket can have a braided or woven design and adds a protective layer between the fiber center and the wires. The wires can be constructed of high-strength steel wires, galvanized steel or stainless steel. The fibers or yarns that make of the fiber center are twisted to lay right and then covered with the jacket. The wires then surround the jacket and are twisted to lay to the left. This creates a torque-balanced condition of the hybrid rope.