Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
ApVANCED METHODS. AND DEsIGNS FOR BM:AWING
A STRANDED :TEMINATION ASSEMBLY
Patent Apptieatien of
Ricbagl V, Campbell
CROSS-REFERENCE$ TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This non-provisional patent applicatkin ehlros: the benefit of art orlior-
filpd provilsippoj
wpl ictkm. The Arwpovisipol application was asigd serial number 61191848:30,
listed:
the same imi.Ont0;
STATEMENT RF:X.VA R DINO FEDERALLY SPONSORED zRESEARC,H OR
DEVELOPMENT
NaAppliCable,
M WW1:M(14P A PPPNIMV
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DESCRIPTION
Title of the. Invention;. Advanced Methods and Designs for. BalanCing:.a
Stranded Terinination
Assembly
Technical Field,
This invention relates to The .field of 'tensile :Strength members such = as
'multi-stranded
synthetic cables. More specifically, the invention comprises ..devices and
methods for .balancing
the load cartiod. by a synthetic cable among its. akustiltient:stnands,.
2. Background At
A.. cable must generally be provided with one or more end connections in order
to be
u,sefift. The end ton nections. altew the: cable: to: parry and transmit a
tisetbi load, An end
connection may be a.Simple device ¨ such as a 1..$.te 'hook ¨ employed to
:connect thetable to an.
anchoring point. Larger synthetic ...cables typically.. include multiple
constituent strands it is
preferabletwartach an individual connective device to each strand,. Such
at...geuneCtive device is:
.referred tO in this disclosure as "strand terintriatiort,". 'Multiple
strand terminations are
ccitinecta together somehow to create a unified cable end. connection, The
.unified table end.
connection. is 'referred to in this:disclosure:as an "(Wend cable terminal- on
For small cables :444 :erkt-fitti $$$$$$ work. fairly well. For larger cables,
however,: more
complicated end-fittings are needed: in order .to produce acceptable. 'break
strength, .This is
.pattkuiarly true for large, multi-stranded cab.* made of synthetic filanients
having diameters
28 Of 20 ntni or thore). Fla 1 shows: a 4:41b.le 10 made from. advanced
=high-strength synthetic.
:filaments. Some terminology :used in the. .construction: of cables. will
benefit 'the: reader's
:understandin& though it is .important to Ow that: the terminology voles
within the indus,try.
For purposes of this patent. application, tho:Smallestindividnal component of
the tablets known
as a 'filament.' A:filament is often created by an :extrusion: process:
(though: others.. are used).
25. Many filaments are .goolt1.0 together to create a sweln.O. 12. The
filaments .are braided iand/or
tVAAtle ri"St's'51.1,Ssy.h e`y: ;:x1 eal02-6,t= ¨tsr.v...ai,6. =
g=II,2=NY
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typically braided and/or twisted opt* to form cable 10. In other exampica.:
the strands may be
30 purely parallel and encased in individual surrounding In Stilliother
examples the strands
maybe arranged in ii::cablelay". pattern that is. well known in the
fabrication of wire ropes.
Many different materials: are used: :for tbe filaments in a syinfictic= cable.
These :include
friNEEMAõ SPECTRA. . TECHNORA, TWARON,..KEVLAR:VECTRAN, PBQ carbon fiber,
nano-tubes, .and glass fiber (among many others) In general the individual
filaments: have a
35 thickness that is less than that of' human flak. The: filaments are wry
strong in tension, hut they
are not. very rigid. They also tend to have low .steaOe friction. These facts
make such synthetic
filaments cliftietth.whandledUritig:The process of addinga termination and th
fik nh to .organi?,e,.
The.proent. invention is. particularly applicable to terininations Made of
Such high-strength
...3yntbedo filamerit$, fbrreasonS:which will be exPlained in the descriptive
text to follow: While
.40. The invention could in theory be appliedloolder cable technologies -,-
such as:wire rope it likely
would ofir little advantage and the additional time and expense Of
inmienienting the invention
would .not: be worthwhile: Thus, the invention is net really applicable to
wire :rope and other
similar cables made of verystitif elements,:
The cable shown .in FK. I la:a..WOlirkne*d exemplary cp.rvitrWiDil made: by
braiding or
45 etberwisc. interrelating twelve strands together. Polyester ropes using
this construction are
known to have an external diameter up.to about 6 irt0e (see specification
.1V1111::-R-24750.). fiyvo=
lamer polystr ropes are miuk.by twariamg parallel sub-ropes in a :braided-, s
randjacket
When a cable has .non-parallel strands the:interrelationship between the
strands becomes
.quite complex. .The overall cable has a toAra; axis. Each individual strand
is on average.
50 :running parallel ine.:cable'S:.Pentral aNis. However,
atanygivenpoint.alongthe cable's length.,
..no individual strand is parallel to the :cable's central axis,: When such a
cable is loaded, the
intlividual strands -move and shift: isbe. .tab.W -.ollool-.07.:togotber and
:svanoi-.40-$.ttod .friction
boonla:a significant component of the cable's perfonnauce When large amount of
tenSion is
;.:64 fie. . vies 6 ,.!]..61.t, . =14,. :16;
,
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It
iMportunt:tbrthe tweralf strength of most cables - the I.;',strand
configuration of FIG.
hetag:..tt good i that the load be
shared equally among the constituent strands.
For a.1.2..strand 'construction, the ideal restdt is: that each ran carries:
exactly 1112 of the total
60:
load.: Other cables may haven. deSiOxl:non7equal tension: distribotiOn, such
as cable having
some telatiWy= large strands and other relatively small strands. However, in
aU eases; it is
preferable to have e'targerdistribation of tension amongthe:constituent *ands
and to provide
sygeril that 1740Wthi.5 target distribution.
Higlstrength. synthetic filaments have way :little surface friction and
strands made of
65 theseftlaments also have very.littlesinface Mono% Thu.s. n r rossthk
k.,r one indMdoal:strand
to 'Vie y?.i.01 respect to neighboring strands. A strand that =$.1.i0 tends to
'44.Kii64gr itself and Shift
thloadit..w.a$ earryingto its .:neighbors. This:isObviously an undesirable
result.
Jn order to an overall cable:terininationto.:an end Oa multi-stranded
synthetic cable
each individual strand .=must he Out to length: and have a Strand termination
added (It .is .not:
1.0
essentiat:that:all 'wands in :the cable undergo this process hut in most
embodiments all strands
Will be involve4. '.r.he.entting and terminating: pros. se are inherently
:invertem. The .result
will generally. be that. some terminated: wands. will wind up Wog low than
desired while
Others will wind.up.being shorter then desired. If a tensile load is placed on
the cable witb'no.
accommodation for these manufactoring tolerances, the relatively short"
strands wiJ he loaded.
ilMtArid=*y will. czwy 00h1.104t.i than therelatiVely long strands..
One approach to reducing this problem IS:ta.make the applicationoca tensile:
load to each
.Aranttindiyiduaily adjustable, In order to achieve this al a tvnsion-
applyingapparattiS:tnay.be
.applied to each Strand termination individually. Looking again. at Ka I. the
reader will note.
how the. strands on.the.free. end enable 1.0 have. been =braided so: that they
.are individually
:$0 aecessible:
FIG. 2 Shti.M. section view .thretigli...a strand
terotination.30.thathas..been.added toile
0.51,1 ,rae' .5µ.51 5.1 .5.,44,a reA = y: =
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85 ;generally concern pot* :repninWon% but at4.0iap,ts.S..ed previously %N.
J00Øtiql applie.$-10 all
types : termination.
FIG, 2 Shows asectional. view through the conwonents used to .create .the
terminatiom.
The reader will note that 0.000. 18 includes n expanding Cavity. 20 that
..e=Apvid., as one
proceeds from thepottion Of the :anchor facing the length of cable (the
'proximal' end, which is.
)0 the bottom end: in
the .orientatiort.of the View): toward the portion of the teOtig.iin.tho
:oppinOte. direction (the "distar.' end, Which. is the top end in the
orientation Of :the: view), The.
expanding eaAty in this example is a linear taper between two straight
portions all joined by
filets, Differing. wall protiks may:boosed tocreate.e wi&
varioty.:ofexpandingcavities
The encl. portion. of .tra;4i 12 i potlod. into the. expel:1041g cavity Itt
arderto lock anchor
9$ l8 .to strand i2 The filaments of :the Strand are splayed :apart and
infused with tignitpotting:
compound (either before or Offer being placed within expanding .eavity.24 The
kwcpottibg
.eoppound. 11)4yhe aNeitbya .'i.arietN.!ot methods ; incl Luling (r)
"'painting' or Otherwise wetting
the filaments with .potting compound and. then :sliding the anchor into
position over the painted
filarnent.'õ: (2)= positioning the splayed flat-pots in the: .;-õayity. :and
too ooiog in OCE101!ig
1.09: comPoOld,: filaments 10.4:Separate mold: df.a.,34001
to wet the filaments, . and
(4) injecting pressurized potting compound into the :cavity_ However the
:poning.compettnd is
introduced, the splayed filaments remain within (why 20 while the potting
compound haideUS.
Once it has hardened the result is :a inW-littileal.interlock.between the
filament-reinforced
(contained :in potted/v.0m 22).a.solid material and the cavity.: Tension
applied :t t.) the cable will
05 thereby be transtOtte$10..the strand;
The potting compOund used is typicay: a high-strength resin. How=ever,.. the
term:
"Vatting compound" as used in this description means any substance
.which.trarentions:..from
liquid to solid over time,
Potting is only one approach :known in the art. Other common examples include
''spike,,
3.3n 7", = 5" f7,} N=1 . = = = 't = =
ein.= = ia
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:itself typically referred to as a "spliced eye ,r The present invention is
applicable to any
method of:owing:a fet-Minaden on the end: or a synthetic filament tensile
blether. Although
115 prittod:examPles are shown in these descriptionathe:invention is not
limited to that approach, and
the reader should understand the term "Strand termination' to broadly
encompass all methods Of
iattaching a device to the end of a stand.
FIG. 2:shows additional components that are added to facilitate the gathering
of multiple
strands into a single. lpad4ransferring element, In the example
shoWn,i,mding:stud 24 has been
120 connected to :anchor 18 Oa threaded engagement 28. Leading Stud 24
includes male thread 26
over a significant length (The threads are shown schematically but am not
actually depicted for
purposes of visual clarity), 'This threaded stud aliows the eptnpleted:
assembly to be attached to
:Other -things to ultimately mate an overall cable termination.
The use of a threaded stud is a "high-endr! example. in other :instances the
anchor will
i 25 shut* be a cylinder with :as load-bearing flange facing downward it the
orientation :of MG., 2,
The Ottiwchon between the cylinder and another object could then be placing
the toad-bearing
flange against another surface.
RC, 3 shows the table atter ailiideritiCal (in th4eXample)::stranditermination
30 has been
added to :the end of each strand 12. The reader will Observe how a length of
each strand is
130 preferably unbraided from the cable structure so that a free length
exists proximate the
termination. This: allows each wand to be: manipulated so that it May be
attached to another
device. A separate device or devices is used to aggregate all the individual
strands and strand
terminations to a. unified klad-Aransferring assent bly: This unified
:assembly will he referred to as
an "overall cable termination' in order to distingtrish it from :the
:individual "strand terminations'"
05 applied to each strand. The design oldie strand terminations the overall
cable termination, and
the unit,ing: devices employed to create the: overall cable terinination can
take on :many and
various Aions. The present inwntion is applicable to all of these thrrns.
;: re.tr µ4,4:6Zes e<e;37,3. tes
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manufacturing tolerances will generally cause some wands to shift or Nip"
itlatiVe o ethers
thereby .altering the prOpertionalkad.sharing that was iintionda The present
invention loads . the.
table in a controlled and carefully deSigned:,man net,: muffing: in a
reduction hrini saligninen is and
more evenly 41%0:Wed load among the cable's constituent strands.
145 Throughout this disclosure, .cables. Will be used as an example Of
a tensile strength
member. However the invention .should ..not. be viewed as being: limited to
cables. The term
"tensik:. strength niertiber" or 'tensile, .momber" otleorna cables and Sub-
components. 'Of
cables ..such, as: Strands:. The invention also eneornpames::noncable
Structures intended to carry
loads intension.
1.50 Likewise,. the term: "anchor" should be viewed broadly to enompass
virtually anything
that can be :attached to a strand or cable The anchor would ordinarily include
some features
facilitating attachment such as a hook or threads,.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
155' The
present invention comprises devices and methods for loading a cable in .order
to
ovate a desired ths'3ihuion o e
toad: among the. cable& .CitiaStikuont :strands, ;Strand
.terrninatiOns are applied. to Many and possibly all of¨ the ..cables strands.
The ultimate goal Is
to connect the:straitd terminations. to :a: collector m.A.).rder o seate an
oyoalteabl# tertnhlotibn,
The relationship between each wand termination and the cbltector is allowdto
"floor using the.
160 inventive process while the cable is: tensioned and an appropriate
spatial relationship how eert
eaciv.strand.tensi oner. and the collector' is. determined. One. the
.appropriate relationship. is found,
it :is .contigured: to be repeatable Ouch as by inciOag the: strand
termination in .4ft:a or by
recording its poSition.lbriaterapplicatiOn to the same or similar .collector).
In a .preferred embodiment, a. strand tensioner is. providtst or .f.wh
165
termination. .Tension is applied to the cable thi7thigk the strand
teilaiOnerS, Tension may be
.571:4 'a:4;ntA ,x,' 0-xv4t = wrwa CI, {s). "
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
170 Fn. 1 is an tiovoioil. View, showing the braided Struenire Of an
exemplary 2.strand
cable.
fici, 2 is a sectional. sectional: view,. Aowiog.A te.37004tiOn etV,4;e4. On
the end of a '4140
FIG, 3. is :a. perspective view, .showing 12: terminations Attached to 1.2
'strands In an
175 exemplary cable.
perspective view, SitoWing. a Collector used to assernble the 12
tenninations:..of
1:10 $. is a sectional perspective view, ..showing en exemplary attachment
between a
termination and a collector,
180 .FIG: .6 is .a perspective: view; Showing all I 2 termiqgtio.m.
attached to. Oleo-Alec:tor.
Figõ.7:isaperspectivevi...o.w, showing a pailic01011r type of strand
teriaion0,
/7.10 8 is a.. Side. elevation view, showing an assembly used to apply loads
'wait the
:strands ina cable assembly: in a.,controlled fashion.
.9 is a. plot of strand spapplied tension over: tittle
185 FIG. I.0 is:a plot Of strand displacement and applied tension over
time.
PIG.. ii is: a: plant' strand displacement and applied tension oyertline.
12 is: a. plOt of strand displacernent 6*.,4..6 me for rooltiNe:atralid$:4.
FIG, 12 is. a side ::.elevation: vie.w, :showing an msembly wed to apply
lead's the
strands in.a.t*Fle assembly in a controlled fashion,:
190. FIG. 14 is .4,0c:tailed perspective view,. showing
o..ivtationrlioniting,lature..
fIG., 15 is: a. detailed perspectiVe view, showing an alternate embodiment
.for a wood
tensioner,.
oq, 16. 4. detailed perspective view, Showing: an alternate embodiment :for a
strand
'S'6,1=1=2 ;10iriAr
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REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
209 10 cable
12 strand
18 anchor
20 cavity
22 potted region
205 24 loading stud
26 male thread
28 thrftded engagemeni
30 termination
34 collector
210 36 loading flange
38 receiver
40 nut
42 washer
44 hemi bearing
215 46 opening
48 coupler
50 strand tensioner
52 cylinder
54 mount
220 56 rod
58 fixture
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225 66 pace frame
68 cORector brace
70 priirtary load fixture.
72 hydraulic cylinder
74 attaOhtnent
230. 76 boss
78. hole.
80 lOelt..t.yite
82 cross hole
84 castellatednut
215: 86 notch
88. Strand tensioner
.telescoping clevis
92
load cell
240 96 1.0riog:
..PfiS.C.RIPTION Of EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 4 shwa an exemplary device used to gather all the strands into a unified
whole and
245 thereby create ad.overail. cable tertnidtdio:n. Collector..4'w4
includes:tweie receivers 3S eaoh Of
which : ...eonfigured. to: connect to:a.single strand termination ad ether
enibodinients. a receiver
may be eonigred to connect to multiple strand terminations). collector 34
typically includes
.serne type of load-transferring feature ..designed to transfer a load from
the..eollectOr to some
eMern.01. OeMeilt: Loading flange 36 is .a. Simple example of a
ioad,ttansferting..:featum The
.leoNS:a=vo3 c, = 41,
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KG, 5: shows an exemnleq.i. :connection between a termination on a strand and
AN
01100t0t,: LØ04iing.004.24 iI::passed.tnroughopening.46 and.throngh
reeeiver.38.incolleetor 34õ
Receiver 18 :includes a hernispimical concave port on sized to .accept. head
.hearing 44 fterni
25 hearing :44: and receiver ::).tit Awn a hall-And,s040.t connection.
that. alloys the temtination. to
rotate With respect to collector 34, This is a sophisticated type ..of
connection that won't be
'mended in :many embodiments. Many .embodiments. will simply use a .washer
bearing against a
flat surface on collector 4õ $hil other embodiments wont wii.a.threadedstod
and will instead
simply mute two surfacestUgetherto make the connection,
260 Nut 40 can be selectively tightened on loading stud .24 (the
threads : are not. shown in the.
view).in.prdertq-ntgs washer 42 against ht.trii bc:arfmg 44: and bean' besting
.44 against receiver
38. To apply .the. inventive method, .collector 34 is ordinarily placed in a
loading :fixture that.
bolds it in posftion. Tho fir end of the cable to which thestmnd.beong
i.Oikewise.held in place
(such by: 'MO itig ft around geapstan pr ome::otbe neans,.$0c11..0:appfying.
an Overall .cable.
265 termination to the. far end). A .substantial :tensile load is then
applied to the cable as a.whole
Those .:skilled in the wtr s then appredAte that :by: lightenistg or
ipoxeriirout 40 -a user can fine
tole the tension on. the partiedlar. Strand to which load* stud 24 is
.attached .(as well as its
position with respect toc Wee:tor MI, The: ball-and-soda connection in this
embodiment allows
the strand termination ti)Aligrt itself with the strand during thisprocess.
279
ifIG, 6 shows an aSSembi,y of collector '34 and all twelve strands. The reader
will Observe
:that twelve loading studs 24 are in position anda.nnt.. 40 is connected to
each stud (The loading.
studs 24 shown in. FIG,..6.are longer than depicted in Fla S in order- to give
an .adOltional. range
of adjustment. Also the threadson the exterior xunfate... of :the. loading i
Studs are again omitted
for purposes olvisudi charity). This view illustrates the advantage of
including ball-,and-socket.
2.7.5 connection in some of the. prnboditiii,I4: As each strand emerges
from the i,:-.01c%=.. braided
Construction it assumes a patti010 angle With respect to the. collector. Some
diverge more than
.Pka *1.SL, C>=nr A
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280 The
bell-and-socket.connection should pmperb,,t be viewed as .one
otarople.amoog'many
poollile eonneetion typo. Thotra(ler is refeitetitO commonly-owned U.S. Patent
for additional examples ..regattling .the application of an attachment to a
sub-component of a
larger cable.
Theterin.."Conei*e:in thi$:ontoxt:shOold be viewed broadly as anything that is
used to
285 collect a:tensile.load from two or more strand it
may. bea..unitied piece as Shown
but may-elso'bo n aggpiOly-pf. multiple. pieces; :fzurther: a."st.and4o"
olio:tor ritta!;.' he used to
Fe-load %he:cable and adjust each:: of the W.4ild terininatiOns: (as described
subsequently y and the
stand terminations may ultimately be connected tow). entirely different
colledon
It is not common for user to take an assembly r for a large
cable.snch.as:shovn in Fla
290.: and 0140:it.....000.woce withootHpileadiogIbe assembly and testing it ft
is important to .pre,
load the assembly: to settle the Stninds and other components into a stable
configuration .before
the cable is 'placed into :service, in this context it is...detirable. to bow
'a =.particular .cables.
1.tittNimum Working lead.in:the .seryJi:4 etwirOnmeat It is. destined to
enter. The pre-load process
:might :apply a tension to The cable that isequal to1.00%.or.even as madras
150% of
29:5 maximum .workiog load,
While most large Cables. are pni...qoaded as a wholeõ the ptesent invention
.seeks to pre,
load the cable.at:the strand level and manipulate the.stranellOrmiNtiop to
collector connections:
in order to create a desired apportionment :Of the overall load: aniona. the
.constituent wo.T.14,
Without careful preloading. alarge.Cable.asseMbly will very likely .bave an
uneven distribution Of
.300 lead to eachindividnal .strand, The ms process.:aiwOonq,redneesthis
phenomenon,
One cold tho
configuration Of 110:;: 6 to mgresSively tighten all twelve nuts: and:
thereby place an initial load .on the. cable.. Such ...a. process would be
unlikely to produce an
optimal result., however. The .present invention. obtains .advantages by
individually .applying
terisinn.:to the stands in a large.inniti-stranded
cvmee_lecnel tA:sa
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12:
he heid.::statiorty, such as by winding it around a capstan or providing a
second CO1100tOr. On the.
far end.
310
:Collector 34 is held within. fixture. 58. .during the tensioning process,
.$ignificantly
however,. is .1101: :.v.onttly used: to apply anylensiim. to the
cable:strands. dt.461010:ort-iicwii.og:
process. . During the process, each individual Strand termination -is allowed
to float With roped.
to collector .34. Tension to theca:Weis actually applied directly through the
strand terminations
themselves (as will be described subsequently). As tebsion is applied, the
inventive components
115
operate to apportion the .overall lbad..among the individual .strands in a
predetermined
arrarigement(usnally. this v W he an equal load applied to e.ech strand hut
there are exceptions),
Once the desired. pre..4eati is applied.: and the strand terininations are
adjusted to achieve ..the
desired load . apportionment,. then :the relationship between each strand
termination and the
collet:Am ts established by
locking the *and .termintition. to the collector tu ihodosirod
320: position or by recording the de sired. position :$0 :that it. can law be
reestablished).
In the embodiment of FIG. 1.3; collector 34., :fixture A. space: frames :
fixture Wand
all the cormeaed component* move in. unison: This: entire:::asenibly: may
:Slide lattee
frame or otherwise be .stsbiti*.i.
in this .exemplary .apparatus one or more hydraulic cylinders. 72, connect
primary load
.325. fixture 70 .to:aaachment 7.4 .on the: ............... movinr assembly,.
The right 'side of the one
cylinders 72 the wiotitittiOof tim:Oeyto.is. -
1.1)40 subStonial: and:stationary anchor point.
When the one or more hydraulic cylinders 72 are: activated, the moving
asseinhly (along with:
collector 34). is. urged to the...r.ighdo.the view, This act on applies.
tetujon to eabie. if) .(siNe the
far end of the cable
310 The
frame structures: shown are preferably very stout so that tt Urge tensile load
may be
applied.. For sontc:. cables it may he desirable to. provide e tensile load of
I million .pounds or
more;
4, ..N1AN, ;Vtl, .44 uN RV), =
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13
the desipiled: length. Returning to FlQ. the reader wilt ................
recall that each individual.strand.:must
be .cut to length 044 have. a strand termination added to its free end. The
marinfactiaing
tolerances of both:the cutting operation and the termination operator can only
go so far.. ..Some of
the strands v ind t.T. being :Shorter ............................... than
.designed and odigrs. will 04d. u being :kpoger:tho
340: designed, Of: =CouNey when the cable is hiitiolly placed under tension,.
the .shorter .strands will
carry most of the toad and thelongerstrands. may in fact carry very little.
For this reason, it is
ttoirttNe:40::he able to .adkot the pWtion. of each of the: toaud.
tortioalleft with respect to the.
eolleetOr.
Looking now at FIG. 6, the:leader will recall that them:tic:IA connections
between each
345:: strand termination and the col lector include an adjustment ffe,axtire
The oeijosoneofotore.ht the
embodiment of FIG; 6 is the nut 40 placed on each loading stud 24::
These:nuts:can.be tightened
manually: to provide the desired adjustment There are many other .ways to
adjust the voiAl.
folatteaship.betweoia.,strott&teottiootiou..tiod the colleeter.: =Rowes,er the
adjustment j*:.irtade4t:
is desirable to the process of apportioning the load among various
.strands.
350' Returning: now .to F G I the reader .observe that: :each
loading stud ongacb
joiNidhat $troh0 is attached to a.strand tens:jotter 50; All the strand
tenSionerS are attached to
fixture 44. Thus, when the moving :assembly is moved to the right under the
foree: imparted by
the one or diore hydraulic cylinders 72, it is the. strand tensioners (50) On
this pilciar
embodiment) that
apply the: tension to the Cable. The loading stud each Strand =pasSes.
355 through the collector but should not transfer any significant %roes:to-
the collector. Instead,. the.
leading stud is attached :to its:tosptive$4-4,11d.tengiortgr::.*
FIG. 7 shows an exemplary strand tergdonor 50. Thk.particolo.strand.tensioner
ihdades.
a hydratilic cylinder 52 an:
extendinviretractingrott 56: Coupler 48: is provided on the free
.gnd. of the rod, The Coupler in this oxArbpio.: irto4dgs-a female threaded
hole configured to.
MO. .011gage an indWid01 iottding. qua :24. The. Coupler IS threaded over
:the loading stud .and
;*.;,f ; tls..rc Nswee41 8.
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include any device able to transmit tension from a strand tensioner to tt.
strand termination, and.
may includ.e hook's., ..kkacktts,...thd inanY other typeS...df deviceS.
365 The
tOtation limiting device prevents rotation between .coupler- 48: and loading
stud 24'
once the coupler is firmly attached to the loading stud. It is also prefirahk
to ihnit rotation'
.between tOO. 56 And Cylinder 52; A:keyway may be used to rotatienally lock
the rod ad cylinder
together, Mount 54 is provided to attach strand tensioner.50..to an.extemal
:frame, One or more
.pivots may be: provided on mount 54 so that the angle. . of strand tensioner
SQ. may be made.
370
adjustable: Appropriate hydraulic connections are provided So that hydraulic
pressure may. he
.used to extend and re tractrod 56.¨ifdes i red:
In ::a preferred embodiment, strand 50
could be viewed as.::"passive"'deviees:. In
this embodiment, the hydraulic lines leading :front each Strand. tensioner 50
are fed into a
common., pressurized reservoir. The reservoir can be contained within
pressure'controlleriserisof
375 60 (see 'Fla.. 1.3y geturning'to ficiõ the hydra:0C c it n103
tarn0.ch ''Strand,tertsiorier'50
are double-acting ollhde,...78: for this example.. The piston .Within .eaCh.
of 'these dotibleacting
cYlinders ispreferab/y.:placed near then0:6901* of its:tange of travel
.:(Inidway .between the two
fijotrawd fluid ports).
One mule; ="phor the cylinders in different ways, Those skilled in the art
will know
380 thatdoubleacting.hydraulte cylinders type 11y have two:
hydrattlie.ports -- one on each extreme
Of the pistore$ range of travel, The pot that i&.Osed..for the: -tomer woo
.(causing the rod to
retract into the cylinder is generally located. near :the rod
end.:afthe.hydraulic .cylinder. All the
hydraulic lines leading from the :retract ports in this example are connected
to .a edoththo,
presm.i#,,d hydraditl,õ
385
Rdtoroidg. to = FIG.:. 13, when the one or more hydraulic cylinders: 72 are
:pressurized to
begin moving the. fixture :.:64 .ano. the. strandtensiOners 50: to the Oh:
the orientation of.F1Q,
1.4 the tenSion on the Cable tends.. to pull the rods out of ihe..ttydrithlic,
eyiindem.in the. Strand.
Tkk mexiiesrs r.x.1 eS tlx:x =
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390
pressurized. hydra* .reservoir.. As ja result, the same pressure winds no Wog
:applied to each
retract port,.
The result is that the tension being applied to each individual strand must be
equalized
and* motion of the:Nds the strahd tensioners.
5:0.etIsIOs ,e0Ilioutt13:0
need..fOr any sophisticated. active contra A simple operational example will
.make this .point
395 clear One of the strands in the. .assembly will draw taut first and
this fact will cause the rod in
the.strandtensioncr: attached, to that particular strand to start :Moving out.
of Its cylinder. This wIll
displace bydraulic fluid withiiithat strand tensionet and cause that hydraulic
fluid to be expelled
out the retract port on the par& ular strandlensionm The common .reqtrµvir v
pressurized,. so
expelling fluid from one.:eylioder..Causes the:sattle. volume of fluid to be
discharged into the Other
400 y:finders: As a result, the rods in the other strand tensioners 50
actually retract a. small distance
tivitattached. strands d raw-taut::
Simi* ¨4,100.09.T.I" disploOmm% take place among all tWelve strand;
teliiitiners 50.
Some rods. will .extend outward through a .small displacement stroke, .other
rods, will retract
through a;:5tntin dispiseeinent stroke., and likely still. others will not
move much .at all, This is
405 why it is a. good Jdea.10:.%4rt .the process ,: with the pistons in
hydraulic Cylinders within the
strand tensioners: near tbe middle of their range of travel, rather than at
an: .extreme. . The result is
that by tooting fixture 64 through a. small splaopeut .strandlensioners 50
wind up with an
equal amount of internal oN5mv. Iht...bydrautioylincl and all 0*. tonite004.
strands 'wind
up with the .saine amount of .tensionõ
410. Rotortiing.no to
.displacetnent sensor 04 taps.*,,. provided to ilvaitorth6 WOO
oftbeTokt.duriog the. tensioning The ten
actually being applied can be monitored by
monitoring the hydraulic pressure ..applied to cylinder,.
Returning now to. some ociproa:try:
.6pop.tiget, .components : will be:
described. This: example is:.apnlyinglenSion to 121.11(1. c0)10. fix
cable. provide
Pe>., :stre.N.A , :=; 4'CA
,74
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strand tertsioner to be adjusted as desired, though some embodiments may
include fixed
positions. The result in this example is a radial pattern of diverging strand
tensk,ners. Several
420 space frames 66 are positioned to keep fixtures 58 and 64 in
position so that the substantial
tensile forces applied to the strands do not distort the assembly.
In some embodiments the strand tensionem may be remotely located, with the
connection
to the strand terminations being made with cables passing over pulleys. Other
embodiments
might use levers or other remote-mounting mechanisms. Thus, the construction
shown is
425 ppri< viewed as exemplary,
Pressure controller/sensor 60 provides hydraulic pressure to each of the
twelve strand
tensionem In many instances the same pressure will be fed to all tensioners,
since this will
ultimately produce a uniform tension among the strands. If a common pressure
is desired, the
prior example of simply plumbing all the retract ports on all the cylinders
within strand
430 tension= 50 to a common, pressurized reservoir may be 140d.
However, in other instances it
will he desirable to vary the pressure applied to each tensioner, Thus,
pressure controller 60 may
be configured to independently apply mssure to each cylinder and to monitor
and maintain a
selected pressure for each cylinder. This may he desirable for cable lay
constructions, where a
higher tension may be applied to the inner strands than the outer strands,
435 Process controller 62 preferably receives infbrmation regarding the
translation of each
cable strand (via an input such as displacement sensor 64) and the t<E3S10E)
applied to each strand,
Strand tension may be derived from the pressure applied to each strand
tensioner or via some
other source such as a load cell or strain gage placed on the strand terminal
ion or on the strand
tens loner,
440 In a
representative pre-load operation, pressure would be applied to one or more
hydraulic. cylinders 72 to pull the slack out of the cable and apply
increasing tension, Hydraulic
pressure will then be created within the strand tensionms 50 as the load is
transferred from
-3:es A IA a 5:.>=.-w5l.e.4 sert'" ear
tt,,,Zeaz,Kr, VW.V.C23,C. 0,21.4112.1ko
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loading studs : 24 to he pined further through collector 34 than others
:(Since "the longer strands.
wiltstill have more slack needing be pulled Out. in this exaniple),
.Once :a unitOrm tension in all strands.has:been.achievedand:
the.desired.total tension has.
been achieved, the: relatiye position betwee etioh. strand termination
od:..tbe collector should be:
4.50 locked in place : so: that the strands don't :shift significantly When
the pre4ond...is removed. Any
suitable locking mechanism .can be used For the cum* of FIG:. 6, one would
simply apply a
nnifortn:intiontit .010r:one:to .each of the nuts 40 while.* 000 tens:loners
50 maintain tension
on the strands.
More generally, the :invention seeks to preserve the proper spatial
relationship between
455. ..etteb $trand ton-Ai/lain:6 and the 'collector, w that the proper
tvlutionsrhip co be recreated .when
the cable is put into use. One.way.to preserve this::rOationship is.
mechanically locking the tumid:
terminations in the position determined to he correct during the
preloadinwprocess, There are
certainly other ways, however. One codid, for oompici now-04 .moolite and
record the
.$0.4141 relationship hetWeen. each Strand termination and. the .collector
without :mechanically
460 locking: the strand terminations: in position. Later,õ the :correct
spatial relationship would he.
'recreated by adjusting: each strand termination untii. it. 'repeated .the
p.wiooly taken
measurements. This could be done with the same cOileeter used in the
pre,:loati process. ..tt could
.also be done with another substitute telleeter. For :,,:xaroplo.,. the
.collector used in the preload
process might boa modular assembly intended only for the IA in:of oaorige
measurements and
465 not for field we: It :might be equipped with expensive position sensors
that one would not wish
to install in the. field.
As .F010 nrevionsly.:,:obles:.nsing.:syinhetie Watnent.s:Itnd to have
relatiVely..linIeStirface
friction. Thus, if one does not load: a stranded termination carefully it is
possible for one strand
to siip relative to the others in a. direction that: is :roughly :parallel to
the cable:s:terlot aL.N.iS
470 "lOgitiOinai
0.00. iuch a slip Occ.Ors it is difficult to detect and in many itiStatuy$
irrme,c*.msE. = esk, ;.2Viz"cistte,1!;..,` 5,1 ,MF65,,,e4 .
zr1;a'cl;6* .er4,7,2,.., ;Ass
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slip near one of the cable's.terminate.d ends can be a significant: prOblem.
The:siip. produces ...A.
475 looalized disturbance in the This
will peady always eauSe.a weakness at the
point of the slip and amoverall.reduction in the cable's breaking strength:
Even if one .balances
the strand tenons at the et-Id:S:010V aole dftrsuch astip,.. theiinternal.
disturbance in the: cables
Stniott.trt will compromise its Oder/n.000. P&itas. more .significantly. .the
compromise in
pertb.mianeernay not be detectable without actually testing the cable to the
breaking point.
480: So long as the strand.s .are initiallyloaded hi a controlled
03040, .holdiog the tension on
the ind.Wirinai soltd$ reasonably. evert the region..Where:the strands
transition from the free cable
Structure to the collector should stay reasonably balanced. The goal is
primarily..the prevention
of a slip, The approach is: to carefully control and regulate the tension
applied to each individual
strand So that no significant imbalance occurs.. In the absence,: of an
imbalance &Slip is :unlikely.
485 UI anopemloop..enibodiment of the inventive process, one COO apply
astepped'increase in
tension. . For example, one. May apply a tensile load of I of the anticipated
ultimate 'break
strength, check for the tc*540.4 of The strands, move
up. to a 5% load, reelicekõ.then:move up
to ,a 1:0%..load, and ...so on. Automated: strand :adjustment can allow for.
continuous tension to be
maintained on the 'OW.:
490
.Consistency and repeatability are very. ii-npoittant :in the cable:: industry
particularly
.where the-cables.carry large loads.. The present invention seeks *pre4oad:the
cable and adjust.
each :strand. termination to :the appropriate spatial relationship = with the
collector WithOtit.
producing a longitudinal slip. In .a...losed-loOp embodiment, strand. tension
:and/or position can
be monitored and fed to a. proem controller diat.autoniatically adjusts the
tension .41)00 to:
495 .each strand.- The loading process is preferably modified in real:
time in the event that unwanted
'atipvitge:is detected.
The reader should understand that some minimal slippage is inherent in the
preloading
'proc4i4ss can
likely never be..eliniiiiiited altogether. But, it is possible by using the
present
irSVP.nti"n= trr, Att=re..,SA:ser cAiyuz Sx,
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It is .generally important to control the rotation of the strand during
Joading. Since the
strand .itself almost always has -some type.. of tviated eonatruction(tich
as:braided :or wound)
taatiob. isbighly related to tension. Thus it Is preferable..to.apply tension
to :a .strand without
505: allowing it to rotate Further, once the tensioning process. is complete,
it is preferable to limit
rotation between the grand and. the: collector, Otherwise the may "unwind"
In an exemplary implementation of the closed-loop embodiment, a strand
tensioner 50
(as: deseriNd previously) s pro idett for each strand 'in anle F IC 11
illustrates one possible
fiktoring arrangement, The Nader 1=01:1 Alai) that collector 34. is .simply
held implacedtitingthe
510 tensioning process. The strands pass through the:cam:ter:hut should not
transfer any significant
forces to the collector :as. the strandlensioners. go to. work: Process
controller 152 preferably.
receives information regarding the owls:14m of each cable Strand (via an input
such .as
displacement sensor 64) and the tension applied to each strand,. .Strand
tenSion. may be derived.
from .the: pPet,4ore'app14:to'each:hydNolk cyiinderor via some other source -
sueb as a ldad
515 WI Or strain gage placed On the %hula. termination .of on the .04,444
tensidrien
In the close&loop embodiments, process controller 62: idetillY includes a
processor
mbuiriga OM:Mtprogram. This:.*ip).a:prostribo0 ''ramp up'
strand tori.061õ However, 010
process need :not be a fixed One but :is more preferably an adaptive -process
that .changes
according to the sensor values. FIG. /2:
illustrate several examples of operation for the
520 devio,.:.of KO, & The reader should hear in mind, however, that the
.oproorgibus.
are virtually limitless and so the examples provided be viewed as liMiting.
F1CL 9 shows an example Where tension is steadily raised. on all strands at
the same time.
(though only a single strand is plotted). The upper plot Shows the linear
displacement of the
termination affixed to ":Strand I The lower plot shows the tension applied to
the same "Strand.
525 1.,".
The first port.of.the opryo
414.0proorits..010initial rrnoval of S144, Once
tis ebiz;.k. ref.'
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530 tension applied actnally falls.tPoint..A on the lower. The
decrease. in ;tension results from
the:fag that the Strand-to-strand friction has hansitioned..frern a
Static.incidetba.dynarniettiode.
The substantial slip continues :until Point K. when Strand I stops. Slipping
withlespect to
its :neighbors and res.:mites:elastic: elongation,. Atthis. point the tension
in .Strit114 laJo room:SW:a
linear relationship (Point W.. in the lower .plot). f1Ø,. 9
tepto.sait$.0:"ope..i Tor .scenario Where
.535 tension: is ramped up at a. fixed rate and noslipdetection. is included,
Hower it may be possible to detect .and: prevent
$ignifiont.jonOtodittai:00:.tiOng the
information available in FIG., 9., The slope of the displacement curve.
(dyld.0 should :remain
fairly. 'constant in the :absence .of aSittlificantsl.ip,
monitoring the:rate Ofchangeo this Slope
ylaxithe. cciritOl system can dotect *sudden slope inecoSe ----
Whichstroni4VstiggeStS the
54.0 onset of ap. si
FRi .1Ø illustrates this scenarir..).. At Point. A in. the. upper plot
.process. Oqtrolipt 62
detects fhe Onset...o.f.4
entatl da rta, rig slip The t:Oritrollenininiediately nxicees the applied
tension. on Strand I. (See lower Plot) so that a smooth displacement: is.
maintained,: 'Tension
continues. to be ramped op on the other strands within the cable.
1711.0:inotostwtobsion on the
545: other W4114 will tend to te.7c10,nolf :the previously slipping Strand I
(recall the .complex
braided structure shown. in FIG, 1).:
Once. the determines that the is
under control Ouch as by monitoring the
rate Of change of the displacement plot slope, among other methods) tension on
Strand I is:
ramped' :back.: up. (shown -as 'Points. B and. IV), A normal increase is then
continued wafts
.55.0 another sup is 4t...eqe0::
In some instanot..s.. Op may occur so quickly that the tensioning apparatus
cannot
respond rapidly enough In those cases the best approach wilt be to regulate
the to.Mon:npptiod.
.tty.tocb strgnO=j'o.:$1.4$ a fasniOn as to. prevent. the slip to bqin with II
the Oispteittinont..senso
:Mot detect a slip. this information May still be useful because it informs
The .operator that the
t"ee = =
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Of course, there are many lenslowincroasing profiles that are.non4inear. In
:some. cable
OftW400.0S. it IS..Ø.dvalitqgoetS. to Ow. :the apptioninti of to:skin. Fla
1'1 shows a plot
depleting this type Of "ramp 1.1:p:' Again,: the: plet shows. only one strand
in a .11,strand cable, but
.560 the plots .for the other eleven strands would be similar the
.absence. of :a _Sleek is
removed and telisiOn is ramped ...up.
Point A. lotion is tben stepped down to a low level
and
low,tension interval: (from Point kW:PO:int .13) is maintained so that the
cable structure . can
At Point B tension is:agairt.appliedAw. increased. . Another "rear interval
commences at
565 Point C. and .continues to. Point D. This process continues. until
&desired: amount of pre-load has
been applied to the cable.:
FIG. ilshows a co ribined. plot Of displacement versus ..tine for alitikelve
strands in :a 12.
strand braidedeable. The process controller typically measures and compares
the Naves: for
the cable: strands as the: tensiOning:process.proceeds., .406tho effective
slip detection it ethod is
570 to 's.e.ari.7 for one strand paSsingtein far Outside the average the
strands. bitheplot of
12: one strand (Strand .3) has experienced a substantial longitudinal slip and
its displacement has
suddenly progressed rspi di y beyond that of the Ow strand*, When thi.
condition is detected the
controller can .reduce the tension on Strand 3 and :Allow the cable to
stabilize as the tension on the
other strands is increased.
575 FIG.
8 shows a simplified :alternate tensioning . fixture. In this ernbodiment
fixture 58 :And
thcture 64 are stationarr Tension : j$...applied...10..the far .end of the
Cable using another or
sonic other means such as by rotating a capstan around which the table is
wound. As described
for the embodiment of f 10.13, the tension On the individual strailds..
is:.:Ngt.44thel..w).4 adjusted.
using the individual strand tensioners 50, It may be regulated via connecting
them to a common,.
580' pressurized reservoir,.. or Ala an active coptrol. approach,.
Of course, 'other .antotnated tensioners could be substituted fb.r:. the
hydraulic cylinder
pin 7 Rini:. c. ,ftswfi fkits, sw: qi-
eartd...foym.
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585 his. preferable to secure loading stud 24 so:that:ft/does. not :turn
with the nut. &pair- of.
opposing flats.. 9.; are .:providt0 on loachng stt4 24:: Tej.escoping:. clOis.
90 :is: part of strod:
tetisidoer 8. =Fbis component inchides a eleviis .notch sized to woo the two
flat on the.
loading stud.. FIG. 16 shows telescoping elevis..90 In an activated state. It
engages the two flats
and prevents the OtAtiO6 of load mg stud.. 24, In
confignmlohs. :die oar dtie flhm
590 wand Iensionor 8 rotates nut 44 and thereby increases. or decreases the
tension on the strand to.
which loading stud 24 .is attached:. The control 0T:strand. tensioner 88.E may
he manualõ On the:
other 404, strand 10060.$8 tnay he substituted for atrand tensioner. 50 in the
.ettbExtintent. Of
EJO. 3 In that case, strand: tenSioner 88 could be:.controtted by
process:controller61
FIG, 17 ilhottates.. a .. substitute .,5ensing method that . could be:. used
.for virtually an
595 embodTmenL In.0$ ..version, the conventional washer between 4440-and
c.;011ecor 34.bas:beeft
roplaced..by.load cell 94.. This load t'll is provided -with wiring 96 to.
connect it a =mote.
sensor trxoa4pr or possibly the process...m*0.1ot itself 'Using thisload
ceit.tho te.nsiort on.each.
strand thay be monitored, The red connection could he replaced by 4. wireless
One haying an.
internal. battery :with enough energy to last through the preloading process:
It :could evert be
600. roaderectiargeable. in or c. (.I be Wild for load monitoring the leld
.Those. skilled in the...art Witt. appteoiate That .n.nttly other deviCes..and
.raethOds Ovid be
used in place oftheentbodiments described. For example:
The disnigttempt.vmtior.ott the hydrat*:cyhnder.txPA-1 he. replaced by .an.
optical. system that uses light to rnotswe the: displacement of 040160h*
stud;
605 2, The pressure sensors in the hydraulic system could be
replaced with direct load
sensors such as load cells or main gages;
3. Tbe.threaded connection between the:atrand.tenatonerand
the:Ioadiog..StOd could
be replaced with.adiffenenttype of connection; and
4. Pulsed hydraulic force could he applied. to the tensioning process
rather that)
(i6=es.:,1 1i "iikts:m 1.iN
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is not usefnilelocked into the fixture of 'HQ 8.. One way to transition to the
completed.
.product is to bold the final tension within the .fbcture: of FRI. 13 and
.advance nuts 40 to a:
615 I/endued position with .:a specified amount Of torque. Once :
e.suitable balance is Ø.efiioied, the.
geometric relationship between the. strand terminations and the collector is
preferably secured so.
that the "relaxation' : of the cable won't allow disorganization to resume,
.There ure moy, oariy.
ways
soe'ure this geometric relationship, FIQ. 14 depicts anothee way this .could
be dem.
Castellated out .84 is used in the place of a conventional not.
The.castellated..nut is lightened
620 against collector .34 *secure. loading stud 24 in place. Two proximate
16 with ossOciOted.
bOles78 are ptovided on. collector 34. Once the castellated nut is in
position, lock Wire. 811 is
passed around one bbss, through a suitable cross hole::82 in loading stud 24.
(and through two of
the .notches 86 on the eastellated nut) and around ti* other :1)4s, .t)sing
sneli a deviOe The: rotation
of the loading stud i limited and the rotation of the.oastellato.naf$.
625: The .strand tensioners.arethetureleasedand the cable can be,
removed from the fixture and
prepared for use. The nuts may he soured in position using other device such
as a .cdttar.key.,
tack *Oding,:Or:any other suitable method. If desired, the protruding length
of loading stud 24
can beremovettat that lime.
The tightening of the nuts . may be done by automated 040100y, oin(* it is
.generaily
630 undesirable fora human operator to come near the
assembly while the strand tensioners
are maintaining tension: The ..amount of' Three applied is such that a
component failure could
produce a dangerous condition.
Retuning to PIO,: 7, those ski:Red:in:the art will realize that other
.components could he
used, in: the place of the threaded:ertgAgemenf. between out. 4.0 . and
loading ..3tod 24 Once the .finet
635
tension is applied a::shim of sthtable thickness :04d be pi4ed bei,*eott.A
pornon Oftlieloading
stud and the collector. It is Also:desirable in some circumstances to clamp
the collector .from the:
underside: (in the perspective of FIG, 5). A. separate, shim or fasterner can
he used for :thi$.
rotnns;e Ciamnftsg, -Awn hath mirtimi2, the 31-sAtiri:n tOrrsthvAgesvs
N.L.;=;th .Z`PLZINNt,i
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24
The invention thus described is applicable to .any large synthetic cable. It
is perhaps most.
usecalbr construction where the constituent strands ink:rot:in 0:$.4014100,M
way: This include
tables haying a braided construction, or table .lay construction. it also
includes .cables made
using simple helical twists, as: well as .other. constructions. Such .cables
Are said to have an
645
interwoven structure. However, the load-balancing aspects of the invention are
pow tiafly useful
for all synthetic cables, including those with a purely parallel' construction
Wilt with parallel
strands encased in it: wound external jacket.
The invention is also applicable to virtually any defined tensioning plan: The
example Of
FtGs. 10:a1.10 I 1. are only two Among the. virtually endless pOsSibilities..
Many of the inventive
650
embodiments Monitor the amount: of :tension being applied inthe:cable.through
indirect means,
An example of this: is: psi pg the pressure. tpphed to the hyekauiiv ixio
ill the example. .of Fn.
8. One rnay easily caleulate.theapplied :tension .by knowing.the..pressure On
the other hand,.
one may simply use pressure as a .good proxy for applied tension and base. the
controlling
algorithms directly on pressure., Process controller 62 Ima:f0Ably includes a
proceSSor running
455 software that can accommodate these and other variations.
.Once the desired strand: loading. plan has. been .achieved in #10-40.0'0,.
t4e.:4pprppriate.:
.spatial relationShip between each of :the strand terrninations:: .and the
Collector has been.
established. The term "spatial relationship" will be understood to mean the
relative position of a
strand termination with respect to the eellector. In some. instances this :may
be a sit* OitOar.
660
:dimension, ..1.,,00kirtgatthe.:exatople of FtO. 6. if one omits a Wil-
andr.SOcket :connection .and
.sitnk; passeS the loading.stUds 24 through hales in the collector 34õ, then
adjusting the nuts :40
will adjuSt one 'linear. dimension:. In othev. examples, however, there:: may
be more than one
degree f freedom involved,:
:Many other variations are possible. including;
665 1, The.
'strand: tensioner" could .assuint many: forms other .than -those examples
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3. The collector could be an assembly of multiple nieces that are not
joined until the
670 cable is put into use; and
4. The tension monitoring for each strand could be via a wireless
transmission from
a load cell mounted in each receiver.
Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not
he construed
as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations
of the preferred
675 embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to
devise many other
embodiments that carry out the present invention. Thus, the language used in
the claims shall
define the invention rather tiari Ow specific embodiments provided.
680
685
690
