EP1103653A1 - Method and device for manufacturing a rope or rope element - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for producing a rope or a rope element out of individual elements, in particular, strands consisting of a combination of a load-carrying plastic fiber and a surrounding thermoplastic material involves cooling of such individual elements (from their near-plasticization temperature) to a hardening temperature before they leave the stranding machine. Also claimed is a stranding machine for implementation of the proposed method. It is characterized by the presence of a cooling unit located after the heating unit.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for producing a Rope or a rope element according to the preamble of Claim 1, a stranding device according to the preamble of Claim 4 and a rope or rope element according to Preamble of claim 3.

In addition to the long-known ropes, which are essentially from numerous helical strands Single wires made of steel have recently been winning Ropes made of plastics are becoming increasingly important as they are used with a tear strength similar to that of wire ropes can, but a much lower specific weight exhibit. The strands of such a rope are in essentially constructed so that high-strength synthetic Fibers, for example aramid fibers, with a Plastic material are at least partially covered, so that the individual fibers are not directly against each other can rub, reducing breaking strength and others Use properties can be increased significantly.

State of the art

A method of manufacturing a plastic rope according to the The preamble of claim 1 is from EP 0 375 896 A2 known. The rope made according to this publication consists of a combination of load-bearing plastic fibers and one surrounding the load-bearing plastic fibers thermoplastic. The individual elements of the The rope to be produced is warmed before stranding. Thus, there is an additional one from the cited document Stranding device according to the preamble of claim 4 and a rope according to the preamble of claim 3.

DE-AS 12 50 626 discloses a method for manufacturing of strands made of weldable or sealable plastic, at which a thermoplastic film material or plasticizable lacquer layer is heated. After all it is known from EP 0 672 781 A1, in a method for Making a plastic rope to protect the strands Embed individual fibers in a plastic material.

Here are individual elements, the strands, which as load-bearing component synthetic synthetic fibers have, helically looped, the fibers in one Plastic material are embedded to protect them. The problem with these strands is that, on the one hand, they during stranding, so when the individual strands in comparatively tight radii of curvature are forced can kink, so that the tensile strength of the rope and other performance characteristics, such as lifespan when running over Rope sheaves are no longer guaranteed.

On the other hand, the individual elements take off by stranding not necessarily the helical shape that they must have in the finished rope or rope element. Rather, they would if they came out after stranding would be released from the rope, its straight shape again accept. For the rope or rope element, this means that the individual elements have an internal stress, what for the rope or rope element causes it to have a rope twist having. Such a rope twist is undesirable because that This will twist the rope. As a result, you can a shorter lifespan and length differences in the Individual elements of the rope, for example between the outer and inner layers of the rope occur. This is a extremely undesirable condition. Also can assembly problems occur.

A certain part of the residual stresses in the conventionally produced synthetic fiber rope dismantled if the finished rope or rope element has a certain period (for example, a week to a month) is stored, whereby the plastic material used can crawl. Alternatively, the finished rope or Rope element in a heat treatment furnace be subjected. However, this leaves the problem exist that the individual elements at least during the Production of the rope and until at least a week after only incompletely take on the form that they are in Should accept the final product.

Thus, the quality and resilience can be one in this Rope produced only after the described Storage time or heat treatment can be assessed, and it there is no way to get into the manufacturing process to intervene at a time when the properties of the finished rope can still be changed in a way that takes into account the requirements.

Also with the rope according to DE 35 10 808 A1, in which the supporting fibers are surrounded by a plastic material, can ensure the required absence of voltage of the individual elements also only through the described, unsatisfactory Measures are achieved. This applies in particular to multi-stage manufacturing process in which according to Stranding individual strands an extrusion process takes place, through which the strands are encased in a plastic material and then the strands are tied into a rope be, which in turn by extrusion with is surrounded by a suitable material.

These shortcomings apply equally to the Rope according to WO 98/16681, in which individual strands pass through Wrappings are surrounded.

It is also known to embed strands well in the To reach the sheath of an inner part of a rope that the jacket material of the inner part is heated and therefore something is softened and that the strands in this state be beaten. However, this is by no means sufficient Heat from the sheath given off to the strands, that these in can be beaten reliably without kinks and in the finished rope the required shape without that Show occurrence of residual stresses.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object a method for Making a rope or rope element and a to create associated stranding device through which a rope or rope element consisting of individual elements from load-bearing Synthetic fibers and at least partially surrounding them thermoplastic that can be made without the storage required by the prior art or heat treatment can be used, and their properties and resilience controlled during manufacture can be.

This problem is solved on the one hand by a Method according to claim 1.

The method according to the invention is accordingly distinguished to manufacture a rope or rope element Individual elements made from a combination of load-bearing Plastic fibers and one of the load-bearing plastic fibers at least partially surrounding thermoplastic consist of the fact that the individual elements, in particular the strands, before or after the so-called press jaws, in any case, at least up to during the stranding the vicinity of the state of plasticization are warmed, so that the plastic material is at least almost plasticized becomes. In general, it should be noted that not according to the invention necessarily always stranded into a rope Need to become. Rather, it should be noted that mostly also the strands themselves made of several individual fibers, which in the Use of plastic fibers at least partially by one suitable plastic material are surrounded, are formed. To a certain extent, the individual fibers form the individual elements a strand created in this way, with other strands is tied together to the finished rope. Thus in In the following under "Strand" a single element of a Understand rope or a single strand, albeit is specifically about the strands of a rope.

This almost plastification or partial or complete Plasticizing, usually just the fibers surrounding plastic, and mostly not the fiber itself, concerns leads to the strands, or generally the Rope elements of a plastic rope described in the Are constructed in a way that are deformable to a certain extent. Therefore, the stranded wire can be stranded without the application of coercive forces in the strand leading to residual stresses lead into the shape that the strand in has the finished rope or rope element. In the following this will be close to or above the plastication point of the thermoplastic used Single element cooled in the form in which it is in the finished rope element or rope is present. This will make the shaped shape to some extent frozen without that Rope can twist freely.

As a result, the strand is largely free of residual stress in the Rope in front, so that this is largely low-twist or twist-free is. This means that a stranded wire or a general one Single element when it is released from the rope bandage would keep its helix shape. Furthermore, in the low-twist or twist-free rope according to the invention or rope element released the tie at the end of the rope and the individual strands or individual elements would not or only to a small extent the rope bandage leave or "jump up". In particular, lies through the Application of the low-swirl or the twist-free condition immediately after stranding before, so the rope or rope element continues immediately can be processed. Furthermore, is immediately too Start of production in contrast to the prior art a quality assessment possible, so that on the If necessary, correct the manufacturing process immediately can be intervened. According to the prior art the quality only after the necessary storage or Heat treatment can be assessed so that, if necessary a substantial committee is found to be unavoidable, and overall productivity is reduced. By the The inventive method can have the properties of generated rope or rope element, if necessary be influenced during manufacture, so with high Productivity can be worked. In particular, that finished rope element or rope in contrast to the state of the Technology always have an extremely low twist.

This also precludes the finished rope or rope element changes its geometry, and a reduced lifespan and a security risk for the ultimate users can be excluded.

In particular, the invention teaches to ensure of predictable properties of the finished rope or Rope element to heat the strands, which differs from that in the State of the art measure, the jacket of a underlying layer for better embedding of the on it heat strands, significantly differentiates and leads to significant advantages.

It should also be noted that it turned out to be the main one Synthetic fibers one by the inventive method manufactured rope or rope element, especially aramid fibers suitable, among other things known under the brand name Kevlar are. As a thermoplastic that supports the load Synthetic fibers at least partially surround the abrasion to reduce between these and thus the total Tensile strength and also the required To ensure friction coefficients to pulleys etc., polyurethane is particularly suitable. However, there are also Polyethylene, polypropylene, fluoroplastic, thermoplastic polyester, thermoplastic rubbery Polyester, ethylene copolymers, polyamide, vinyl polymers and Copolymers conceivable. Pretreatment of the load-bearing Synthetic fibers through the thermoplastic can be in it consist of the load-bearing synthetic fibers in the plastic are embedded. Alternatively, the wrapping is the load-bearing one Fibers or individual strands through the thermoplastic Plastic possible by means of an extrusion process. For the Implementation of the invention is only critical that Rope or rope element is produced from individual elements, which have a share of thermoplastic, according to the state of the art only through longer storage or heat treatment brought into a low-stress state can be. Through the invention, the manufacture of a largely tension-free rope made of synthetic fibers.

The method according to the invention and the associated device are therefore particularly suitable for those synthetic fiber ropes thought and suitable, which in DE 35 10 808 A1, the EP 0 252 830 A1, WO 98/16681, EP 0 672 781 A1 and EP 0 731 209 B1 are described, the disclosure of which in With regard to the other procedural steps and associated Device measures hereby fully the subject of the present application.

Preferred developments of the method according to the invention are described in the further claims.

An additional advantage can be realized if the Heating the strand not only during the latest Stranding takes place, but before the stranding. As a result, the strand is also at the time which they are special because of the helical rope rope narrow radii of curvature is deformed, at least in one partially plasticized and easily deformable condition, see above that kinks in the strands with the resulting Reduction of the tensile strength of the finished rope or Rope elements in contrast to stranding according to the state of the Technology can be avoided.

For the swirl of the rope or rope element produced particularly good results can be expected if the at least almost plasticized strands before completing the Stranding, so to speak within the Stranding machine, below the solidification temperature were cooled. As a result, the stranded wire never has the opportunity to twist freely, but will rather held in the form that they are in the ultimately accepts rope or rope element so that the tension-free condition of the strand with particularly large Security is guaranteed.

The invention, by the above Process manufactured rope is characterized in that his strands at least close to the Plasticization state are heated so that this in the finished rope is free of kinks and the required Have shape. One by the method according to the invention The rope produced can thus be recognized in particular by that also strands that are struck with tight radii of curvature have no kinks, and the strands immediately that shape after leaving the cable machine have in the finished rope to ensure a extensive swirl is required.

The above-described task is solved by other by the rope described in claim 3 or Rope element with the properties explained above and the stranding device described in claim 4.

Accordingly, this has a heating device according to the invention on at least part of the strands used or Individual elements work. As stated above, thereby the one for wrapping or embedding the load-bearing Plastic fibers used plastic at least almost be plasticized so that the single strand into a shape can be brought in which they are in a low tension condition the rope or rope element generated.

Basically, the required rapid cooling of the also warmed strands to a lower temperature achieved that the strands tied to the rope in Come into contact with cold machine parts so that the Cooling down. However, it is preferred that in the stranding device according to the invention a cooling device is provided which on the rope or rope element processed strands acts and in the direction of processing the heating device is arranged.

Preferred developments of the invention Stranding device are in the further claims described.

With regard to the design of the heating device are suitable particularly good warm air supply.

Alternatively, a heating device is conceivable that such is designed so that it attaches to the strands to be processed Emits radiant heat.

Finally, the heating device can also be implemented in this way that it has an open flame, which on the Strands act in such a way that they at least partially be plasticized.

This cooling device can be used, for example, as a cooling air blower or be provided as a device that the generated rope supplies a coolant, especially water, so that the strands are solidified in the shape they take in the rope become.

Due to the fact that by means of the invention Stranding device at least partially heat plasticized Braids have to be processed for this mentioned press jaws preferred a special material. Particularly suitable are steel, Teflon coated steel, Ceramics and suitable plastics. In particular, will Use polyamide as press jaw material.

The press jaws can be used to heat the strands as well also help cool them down by installing them appropriate heating or cooling devices.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

beispielhaft einen Querschnitt durch ein mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren hergestelltes Seil; und

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer kurz nach dem Verseilen aus einem nach dem beschriebenen Verfahren hergestellten Seil herausgelösten Litze.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an embodiment shown as an example in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

an example of a cross section through a rope produced with the method according to the invention; and

Fig. 2

a side view of a strand loosened shortly after stranding from a rope produced by the method described.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment the invention

Fig. 1 shows a rope bandage 10, in the individual elements or strands 12 are wrapped around an inner member 14. Here, there are narrow radii of curvature that lead to kinks in can lead the strands 12. The invention is the in or 12 existing thermoplastic around these strands Plastic almost or partially or completely plasticized, see above that it is in the required shape without the risk of kinking can be brought, and after cooling none Exerts constraining forces on the rope or rope element.

This applies in the same way to the stranding of the outer Strands 16 and 18 around the inner part made of strands 12 and the innermost element 14. Here, too outer strands 16 and 18 bent around tight radii of curvature are, here also the inventive method can largely prevent the formation of rope twist. Thus the rope quality can be assessed immediately and the rope or the rope element can be processed immediately.

It should be noted here that the one shown in FIG. 1 Of course to understand rope construction purely by way of example is. In particular, the radii of curvature during stranding are for the strands 12 are comparatively small, so this is the problem of kinks occurs, which is solved by the invention. At the same time, the influence of the internal stress on the Twist behavior of the rope the greater the further you go Rope structure escapes. Accordingly, it is for the strands lying further out with regard to the Twist behavior of the rope advantageous, this according to the invention warm up before or during stranding.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view spatial helix or helix, which takes a strand that shortly after stranding from a according to the invention Process produced rope is detached. Like in the schematic drawing can be seen, the strand the form that is necessary for it to be without There is residual stress in the finished rope, so that this is largely free of twists. It should also be noted that the Plastic of the stranded wire only needs to be heated to this extent that it will creep sufficiently so that the stranded wire can be the comparatively high speed of the Stranding process can take the required form. How As mentioned above, this creep is according to the prior art only with subsequent tempering or longer storage possible.

Claims (10)

Method for producing a rope or a rope element from individual elements, in particular strands (12, 16, 18), which consist of a combination of load-bearing synthetic fibers and a thermoplastic synthetic material which at least partially surrounds the load-bearing synthetic fibers, the individual elements (12, 16, 18) before or are at least heated to near the plasticization state during stranding,
characterized in that
the individual elements (12, 16, 18) are subsequently cooled to a setting temperature of the plastic until they leave the stranding machine. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the strands are cooled to the hardening temperature before the stranding is completed. Rope or rope element produced by the rope tying of individual elements, in particular strands (12, 16, 18), which consist of a combination of load-bearing synthetic fibers and a thermoplastic plastic at least partially surrounding the load-bearing synthetic fibers, the individual elements (12, 16, 18) before or are warmed at least close to the state of plasticization during stranding,
characterized in that
the individual elements (12, 16, 18) are subsequently cooled to a setting temperature of the plastic until they leave the stranding machine, so that the individual elements (12, 16, 18) are largely free of residual stress in the rope or rope element. Stranding device for producing a rope or rope element from individual elements, in particular strands (12, 16, 18), which consist of a combination of load-bearing synthetic fibers and a thermoplastic synthetic material that at least partially surrounds the load-bearing synthetic fibers, with a heating device which is applied to the individual elements (12, 16 , 18) acts,
characterized in that
a cooling device is also provided, which is arranged in the machining direction after the heating device. Stranding device according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the heating device is designed for the delivery of warm air. Stranding device according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the heating device is designed to emit radiant heat. Stranding device according to one of claims 4 to 6,
characterized in that
the heater has an open flame. Stranding device according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the cooling device is designed as a cooling air blower or for delivering a cooling liquid. Stranding device according to one of claims 4 to 8,
characterized in that
Press jaws of the same at least partially consist of steel, Teflon-coated steel, ceramic, or plastic, in particular polyamide. Stranding device according to claim 9,
characterized in that
the press jaws have a heating or cooling device.

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