Method for non-destructive testing of synthetic ropes and rope suitable for use therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100463-B2
Application number	US-201314423287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2013
Priority date	Sep 4, 2012
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

Methods for non-destructive testing of synthetic ropes is described, where the rope in use is subjected to X-ray, terahertz, permanent magnetic field or electromagnetic analysis to determine a pattern, the results of the analysis are compared with a standard pattern determined by the analysis, and the results of the comparison are used in determining whether the rope is fit for use; where the rope comprises at least two types of fibers, the first fiber type has a density which differs from the density of the second fiber type and the second fiber type is of the same polymer material as the first fiber type, but provided with a high-density or low-density material. Ropes suitable for use in this method are also described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for non-destructive testing of a synthetic rope, comprising:
subjecting a synthetic rope during use to an X-ray analysis;
receiving a pattern of the synthetic rope from the X-ray analysis;
comparing the pattern to a standard pattern determined by the analysis; and
determining, based on the comparison, a condition of the synthetic rope;
wherein the synthetic rope comprises a first fiber type and a second fiber type,
the first fiber type has a density that is different from a density of the second fiber type,
the second fiber type and the first fiber type are formed of a same polymer material, and
the second fiber type comprises a further material having a density higher than a density of the polymer material, wherein the further material is adhered to the second fiber type.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the further material is adhered to the second fiber type by a glue or a coating process.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the further material comprises a metal.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the metal is at least one metal selected from a group consisting of copper and nickel.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the standard pattern and the pattern of the synthetic rope are derived from a repeating oscillation pattern associated with a structure of the synthetic rope, and
the pattern of the synthetic rope is compared to the standard pattern for a change in the repeating oscillation pattern associated with the structure of the synthetic rope caused by use.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the first fiber type is present in an amount of at least 60 wt. % of the synthetic rope, and contributes to properties of the synthetic rope during use, and
the second fiber type is present in an amount of at most 40 wt. % of the synthetic rope and contributes to possibilities for pattern determination during use.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein distribution of the second fiber type throughout the synthetic rope is such that changes in the pattern derived from the X-ray analysis originating from the second fiber type are representative for changes in properties of the synthetic rope during use.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first fiber type and the second fiber type are made from aramid.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first fiber type and the second fiber type are made from the polymer selected from a group consisting of para-aramid.

10. A synthetic rope suitable for non-destructive testing, comprising:
a first fiber type and a second fiber type, wherein the first fiber type and the second fiber type are made of a same polymer material;
a density of the first fiber type is different from a density of the second fiber type; and
the second fiber type comprises a high density further material, wherein the high density further material is adhered to the second fiber type, and the high density further material has a density higher than a density of the polymer material.

11. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein the high density material is adhered to the second fiber type using glue or a coating process.

12. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein the high density material comprises a metal.

13. The synthetic rope according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one material is selected from a group consisting of copper and nickel.

14. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein the first fiber type is present in an amount of at least 60 wt. % of the rope, and contributes to the rope properties, and
the second fiber type is present in an amount of at most 40 wt. % of the rope and contributes to possibilities for pattern determination.

15. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein a distribution of the second fiber type throughout the rope is such that changes in an X-ray analysis originating from the second fiber type are representative for changes in properties of the rope.

16. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein the first fiber type is aramid.

17. A method comprising:
carrying out an application in which a rope suffers from tension-tension fatigue or bending fatigue,
wherein the rope is a synthetic rope of claim 10 .

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
obtaining a pattern by subjecting the synthetic rope that has been used in the application to an X-ray analysis;
comparing the pattern to a standard pattern determined by the analysis; and
determining, based on the comparison, a condition of the used synthetic rope.

19. The synthetic rope according to claim 10 , wherein the first fiber type and the second fiber type are made from a polymer selected from a group consisting of para-aramid.

Assignees

• Teijin Aramid Bv

Inventors

• Grabandt Otto
• Van Berkel Bertil
• Oosterhuis Folkert
• Mathew Tony
• Akker Peter Gerard

Classifications

• G01N23/041

  Phase-contrast imaging, e.g. using grating interferometers · CPC title

• D07B2301/555

  for measuring magnetic properties · CPC title

• Y10T428/2913

  Rod, strand, filament or fiber · CPC title

• D10B2505/00

  Industrial · CPC title

• G01N33/365 Primary

  Filiform textiles, e.g. yarns · CPC title