Textile Rope Thermal Fixation via Electromagnetic Induction

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-strength textile ropes face issues with uneven heating during thermal fixation, leading to inhomogeneous force distribution and reduced mechanical properties, especially in larger diameters, due to low thermal conductivity of fibers, which limits the effective thermal fixation to ropes up to 20mm in diameter and results in longer, uneconomical processing times.

Innovation Solution

The use of electromagnetic waves and/or a magnetic alternating field to directly heat the fiber rope, ensuring uniform thermal fixation from the inside out, allowing for heating to 120 °C to 230 °C without external shielding, and incorporating a monolithic mantle that does not obstruct electromagnetic waves or magnetic fields for efficient energy transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional thermal fixation is used with external heating, then the process is simple to implement, but heating is uneven in larger diameter ropes leading to inhomogeneous force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of thermal fixationVSAvoidcomplexity of heating system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An electrically conductive intermediate substance is introduced into the fiber rope to serve as a heat generator. This intermediary converts electromagnetic energy directly into heat within the rope structure, enabling uniform internal heating without the need for complex external heating systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between heating uniformity and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conventional mechanical/thermal external heating system is replaced by an electromagnetic field-based heating system. The electrically conductive substance responds to electromagnetic waves or alternating magnetic fields to generate heat internally, substituting the need for external thermal contact and achieving more uniform heating distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If thermal fixation is applied to ropes with diameter greater than 20mm, then larger ropes can be processed, but processing time increases significantly reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediameter of fiber ropeVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Electromagnetic waves or alternating magnetic fields are used to induce rapid oscillating currents in the electrically conductive substance within the fiber rope. This generates intense internal heating that penetrates the entire rope cross-section simultaneously, enabling thermal fixation of large diameter ropes without proportionally increasing processing time, thus maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The electrically conductive substance undergoes rapid heating through electromagnetic induction, causing a phase transition in the thermal state of the fiber rope. This enables the entire rope volume to reach the required thermal fixation temperature simultaneously, regardless of diameter, thereby maintaining constant processing time and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

3Manufacturing precision

If electrically conductive substance is added to the fiber rope, then uniform internal heating is achieved, but the rope construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of heatingVSAvoidcomplexity of rope construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrically conductive substance is introduced only in specific local regions where it provides the most benefit for heat generation, rather than uniformly throughout the entire rope. This localized approach achieves effective internal heating while minimizing the impact on overall rope construction complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The fiber rope is constructed as a composite material system combining non-conductive fibers with electrically conductive substances. This composite structure leverages the complementary properties of both materials: the structural integrity of the fibers and the heating capability of the conductive substance, achieving uniform heating without significantly complicating the construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables uniform heating of the fiber rope, enhancing the mechanical properties by aligning molecular chains optimally with the force flow, increasing strength and reducing elasticity, and allowing for the production of textile tensile equipment suitable for large diameters with improved economic viability.

Implementation Method 1

The fiber rope contains at least one substance or object that can be activated by electromagnetic waves and/or in an alternating magnetic field and can be heated, or is heated, by electromagnetic waves and/or in an alternating magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic heating: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

By coupling to a Helmholtz coil pair, inductive heating can be achieved, thus shortening the duration of the vulcanization process through inductive preheating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 3

The monolithic sheathing is designed in such a way that it does not shield electromagnetic waves and/or the alternating magnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3597820B1Textile traction and / or support means and method for producing textile traction and / or support means
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 TROWIS GMBH
  • EP3597820B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3597820B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a textile traction and/or support element for use in rope drives, comprising a fiber rope (1), wherein the textile traction and/or support element has at least one material and/or object (2) that can be activated by electromagnetic waves and/or an alternating magnetic field, wherein fibers and/or fiber strands are connected to the at least one material and/or object (2) that can be activated by electromagnetic waves and/or in an alternating magnetic field to form the fiber rope (1), and wherein the fiber rope (1) has been thermally fixed by applying electromagnetic waves and/or the alternating magnetic field to heat the fiber rope (1) and the material and/or object (2) to 120°C to 230°C.