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EP-4045883-B1 - INTELLIGENT FIBER ROPE MODULE

EP4045883B1EP 4045883 B1EP4045883 B1EP 4045883B1EP-4045883-B1

Inventors

  • CAMPBELL, RICHARD V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200107

Claims (6)

  1. An intelligent module (132) for attachment to a fiber strength member (10), comprising: a collar (384) configured to be mounted on an exterior of the fiber strength member (10), said collar (384) including a passage accommodating said fiber strength member (10) passing longitudinally therethrough; said collar (384) further configured with a hole (394) passing transversely through said collar (384); characterized by a hollow transverse tube (376) having one or more strain gauges (404) provided thereon, said hollow transverse tube (376) configured to be inserted into the hole (394) of the collar (384) and transversely through strands (12) of the fiber strength member (10), said hollow transverse tube (376) being held in position by said collar (384); an orientation cap (378) including electrical contacts (380) coupled to an end of the hollow transverse tube (376) configured to lock the hollow traverse tube (376) in place; said electrical contacts (380) being electrically connected to the one more strain gauges (404); an instrument package (88, 90) coupled to the electrical contacts (380) and configured to monitor a strain, measured by the strain gauges (404), placed on the hollow transverse tube (376) by the fiber strength member (10).
  2. The intelligent module (132) as recited in claim 1, wherein the collar (384) is split so that it can be added to the fiber strength member (10) in multiple pieces.
  3. The intelligent module (132) as recited in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a detachable piercer (382) configured to attach to the hollow transverse tube (376) and thereby aid the hollow transverse tube's lateral passage (376) through the fiber strength member (10).
  4. The intelligent module (132) as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument package (88) includes a processor (102) and a memory (104) configured to store strain information measured by the instrument package.
  5. The intelligent module (132) as recited in claim 4, wherein the instrument package includes a radio transmitter for transmitting information to an external device.
  6. The intelligent module (132) as recited in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the instrument package (88) includes an externally visible indicator panel (274) for indicating a status of the fiber strength member (10).

Description

1. Technical Field. This invention relates to the field of tensile strength members. More specifically, the invention comprises an intelligent cable module that can be placed in any desired position along a tensile strength member such as a rope or cable. The module preferably includes an instrument package useful for things such as position monitoring and load monitoring, as well as other components that are connected to the instrument package. 2. Background Art. In this disclosure the over-arching term "tensile strength member" is intended to encompass anything that carries a load primarily in tension. The term "tensile fiber strength member" is intended to encompass any assembly of multiple fibers that is intended to carry a load primarily in tension. A rope and a cable are both examples of tensile fiber strength members. In fact, the terms "rope" and "cable" are used interchangeably in this disclosure. Both are examples of a "tensile fiber strength member." Both are components that readily transmit tensile forces but not compressive forces. Tensile fiber strength members must generally be connected to other components in order to be useful. A flexible cable provides a good example. Most cables include some type of end-fitting configured to transmit a load. For example, a cable used in a hoist generally includes a lifting hook on its free end. This lifting hook may be rigged to a load. The assembly of an end-fitting and the portion of the cable to which it is attached is commonly called a "termination." A termination is a useful point for the addition of the inventive intelligent cable module, though such a module can be added at other points as well. The present invention has application to many fields where tensile fiber strength members are used. A non-exhaustive listing of applicable fields includes offshore lifting, ship mooring, drag line cranes (in both fixed and moveable rigging), power shovels (in both fixed and moveable rigging), civil structure tendons (suspension bridges and the like), and floating structure moorings (such as offshore oil rigs) Most high-strength cables are presently made of steel. The cable is a wound or braided assembly of individual steel wires. An end fitting (such as a lifting hook) is often attached to the steel cable by placing a length of the cable within a cavity running through a portion of the end fitting. The wires within the end fitting are splayed apart and a potting compound is then used to lock the wires within the fitting. The term "potting compound" means any substance which transitions from a liquid to a solid over time. Examples include molten lead, thermoplastics, and UV-cured or thermoset resins (such as two-part polyesters or epoxies). Other examples include plasters, ceramics, and cements. The term "solid" is by no means limited to an ordered crystalline structure such as found in most metals. In the context of this invention, the term "solid" means a state in which the material does not flow significantly under the influence of gravity. Thus, a soft but stable wax is yet another example of such a solid. Molten lead was traditionally used as a potting compound for steel cables. Once the individual wires were splayed within the expanding cavity of an end-fitting, molten lead was poured into the cavity. The lead then solidified and locked a portion of the cable in the cavity. In more recent years lead has been replaced by high-strength epoxies. Modern cables may still be made of steel, but high-strength synthetic filaments are becoming more common. The term "filament" generally refers to a component having a very small diameter. The term "fiber" is sometimes used to a component having a larger diameter. In this disclosure, however, the term "filament" and "fiber" are used synonymously. Both are tensile elements used in the construction of a larger "tensile fiber strength member." Filaments used in modern tensile fiber strength members include DYNEEMA (ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene), SPECTRA (ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene), TECHNORA (processed terephhthaloyl chloride), TWARON (para-aramid), KEVLAR (para-aramid), VECTRAN (liquid crystal polymer), PBO (polybenzobisoxazole), carbon fiber, and glass fiber (among many others). Modem cables may also be made of older, lower-strength synthetic materials such as NYLON. In the case of high-strength synthetics, the individual filaments have a thickness that is less than that of human hair. The filaments are very strong in tension, but they are not very rigid. They also tend to have low surface friction. These facts make such synthetic filaments difficult to handle during the process of adding a termination and difficult to organize. Hybrid cable designs are also emerging in which traditional materials (such as steel wires) are combined with high-strength synthetic materials. These present additional challenges, since the metal portions may be quite stiff while the synthetic portions will not be