Controlled translation method of affixing a termination to a tensile member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10434724-B2
Application number	US-201715838457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2017
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with an internal cavity. The cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. The potting compound in one portion of the cavity is typically transitioned to a solid at a more rapid rate than other portions. Once the potting compound in one portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at the desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing.

First claim

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member made up of multiple synthetic filaments, said tensile strength member having a central axis, comprising:
a. providing an anchor with a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity;
b. said cavity including a distal region and a neck region;
c. providing a potting compound in a liquid state, said potting compound being configured to transition to a solid state over time;
d. placing a length of said filaments within said cavity;
e. adding said potting compound in said liquid state to said cavity;
f. controlling a set of initial conditions for said potting compound in said liquid state in order to ensure repeatability;
g. monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound from said liquid state toward said solid state; and
h. upon detecting said defined transition and while at least a portion of said potting compound has not yet transitioned to said solid state, applying tension to said tensile strength member.

2. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a passage of time from a point in time when said liquid potting compound is added to said cavity.

3. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 2 , further comprising after said step of applying tension to said tensile strength member, monitoring a translation of said tensile strength member relative to said cable and limiting said translation to a defined maximum translation.

4. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by applying a specified tension to said cable and measuring a resulting translation of said cable.

5. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a temperature of said anchor.

6. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , further comprising upon detecting said defined transition pulling said tensile member through a defined linear translation along said central axis of said tensile strength member.

7. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , further comprising upon detecting said defined transition rotating said tensile strength member around said central axis.

8. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a. controlling a mixture ratio of said potting compound;
b. controlling a temperature of said potting compound; and
c. wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a passage of time.

9. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 8 , further comprising controlling a temperature of said anchor.

10. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 1 , further comprising orienting said tensile strength member and said anchor so that said neck region of said cavity lies above said distal region of said cavity before said potting compound transitions completely to said solid state.

11. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member made up of multiple synthetic filaments, said tensile strength member having a central axis, comprising:
a. providing an anchor with a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity;
b. said cavity including a distal region and a neck region;
c. providing a potting compound in a liquid state, said potting compound being configured to transition to a solid state over time;
d. controlling a set of initial conditions for said potting compound in said liquid state in order to ensure repeatability
e. placing a length of filaments and said potting compound in said cavity;
f. determining when said potting compound in said cavity is undergoing a defined transition toward said solid state; and
g. upon detecting said defined transition applying tension to said tensile strength member.

12. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a passage of time.

13. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 12 , further comprising after said step of applying tension to said tensile strength member, monitoring a translation of said tensile strength member relative to said cable and limiting said translation to a defined maximum translation.

14. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by applying a specified tension to said cable and measuring a resulting translation of said cable.

15. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a temperature of said anchor.

16. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , further comprising upon detecting said defined transition pulling said tensile member through a defined linear translation along said central axis of said tensile strength member.

17. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , further comprising upon detecting said defined transition rotating said tensile strength member around said central axis.

18. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
a. controlling a mixture ratio of said potting compound;
b. controlling a temperature of said potting compound; and
c. wherein said step of monitoring for a defined transition of said potting compound in said cavity is carried out by monitoring a passage of time.

19. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 18 , further comprising controlling a temperature of said anchor.

20. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , further comprising orienting said tensile strength member and said anchor so that said neck region of said cavity lies above said distal region of said cavity before said potting compound transitions completely to said solid state.

21. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
a. after said potting compound has transitioned to said solid state, removing said anchor; and
b. securing a second anchor around said potting compound in said solid state.

22. A method for adding a termination to an end of a tensile strength member as recited in claim 12 , further comprising:
a. after said potting compound

Assignees

• Campbell Richard V
• Gladwin David M

Inventors

• Campbell Richard V
• Gladwin David M

Classifications

• B29C65/72

  by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching · CPC title

• F16G11/042

  using solidifying liquid material forming a wedge · CPC title

• B29C65/542

  by injection · CPC title

• B29C65/4835

  Heat curing adhesives · CPC title

• B29C66/91221

  of the parts to be joined · CPC title