System and method for damping forces exerted on a cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366277-B2
Application number	US-202418680090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2024
Priority date	Dec 18, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A method includes coupling a damper to a cable and a load, and moving the damper, the cable, the load, or a combination thereof. In response to the movement, slack is introduced into the cable, and the slack is suddenly released, which exerts a tensile load on the damper and the cable. The damper is configured to dampen the tensile load exerted on the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
coupling a damper to a cable and a load such that the damper is positioned between the cable and the load; and
moving the damper, the cable, the load, or a combination thereof, wherein, in response to the movement, slack is introduced into the cable, and the slack is suddenly released, which exerts a tensile load on the damper and the cable, wherein the damper is configured to dampen the tensile load exerted on the cable, and wherein the damper comprises:
a first connector, wherein the cable is coupled to the damper via the first connector;
a second connector, wherein the load is coupled to the damper via the second connector; and
a body extending between and connecting together the first and second connectors, wherein the body permanently increases in length in response to the tensile load applied to the body by the cable and the load, and wherein the body comprises:
a first portion that is substantially straight and extends longitudinally between the first connector and the second connector; and
a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to experience more plastic strain than the second portion, wherein the second portion comprises two laterally offset portions, wherein the first portion is positioned at least partially between the two laterally offset portions, wherein each of the two laterally offset portions of the second portion comprises a plurality of continuous loops and a tortuous portion, wherein the tortuous portion comprises a plurality of turns extending in opposite upward and downward directions over a common distance between the first connector and the second connector, and wherein the plurality of turns comprises first, second, and third turns over the common distance arranged laterally outward relative to a longitudinal axis of the damper,

wherein the body further comprises a one-piece configuration having the first and second portions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is configured to experience more plastic strain than the second portion during a first damping stage that occurs in response to the tensile load being greater than a first threshold, wherein the first portion is configured to stretch more than the second portion during the first damping stage, wherein the second portion is configured to at least partially straighten while the first portion stretches, wherein the first portion is configured to break, and the second portion is configured to remain intact, during a second damping stage that occurs in response to the tensile load being greater than a second threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the damper permanently increases in length during the first damping stage, the second damping stage, or both, wherein the damper further comprises a visual indicator that becomes visible once the body of the damper has increased in length, wherein the visual indicator is disposed on the body separate from the first and second portions, and wherein the method further comprises determining that the damper has experienced the first damping stage, the second damping stage, or both in response to viewing the visual indicator.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining that the damper has experienced the first damping stage, the second damping stage, or both using a strain sensor that is coupled to the damper.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising repairing or replacing the cable, the damper, or both in response to the damper experiencing the first damping stage, the second damping stage, or both.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are substantially parallel to one another and extend separately between the first and second connectors.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the damper further comprises a cover positioned between the first and second connectors, and wherein the body of the damper is positioned at least partially within the cover.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the damper further comprises a cover positioned between the first and second connectors, wherein the body of the damper is positioned at least partially within the cover, and wherein the visual indicator becomes visible below the cover when the body permanently increases in length.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each laterally offset portion of the second portion further comprises:
a first arrangement including the plurality of continuous loops; and
a second arrangement including the tortuous portion,
wherein the first arrangement and the second arrangement are vertically offset from one another, wherein, prior to the tensile load applied to the body by the cable and the load, the first arrangement is disposed over a first length and the second arrangement is disposed over a second length between the first and second connectors, wherein the first length of the first arrangement is configured to increase by a greater percentage than the second length of the second arrangement in response to the tensile load applied to the body by the cable and the load.

10. A method, comprising:
coupling a damper to a cable and a load such that the damper is positioned between the cable and the load; and
moving the damper, the cable, the load, or a combination thereof, wherein, in response to the movement, slack is introduced into the cable, and the slack is suddenly released, which exerts a tensile load on the damper and the cable, wherein the damper is configured to dampen the tensile load exerted on the cable, and wherein the damper comprises:
a first connector, wherein the cable is coupled to the damper via the first connector;
a second connector, wherein the load is coupled to the damper via the second connector; and
a body extending between and connecting together the first and second connectors, wherein the body permanently increases in length in response to the tensile load applied to the body by the cable and the load, and wherein the body comprises:
a first portion that is substantially straight and extends longitudinally between the first connector and the second connector; and
a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to experience more plastic strain than the second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of turns between the first connector and the second connector, wherein the plurality of turns of the second portion defines an S-shape in a vertical position along a longitudinal axis of the damper when arranged in a vertical orientation, a top of the S-shape faces toward the first connector, a bottom on the S-shape faces toward the second connector, a first linking portion extends from the top of the S-shape along a height of the S-shape toward the second connector, and a second linking portion extends from the bottom of the S-shape along the height of the S-shape toward the first connector, and wherein the S-shape is laterally between the first and second linking portions in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis,

wherein the body further comprises a one-piece configuration having the first and second portions.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second portion comprises first and second laterally offset portions having respective first and second sets of the plurality of turns, wherein the first portion is positioned at least partially between the first and second laterally offset portions, wherein each of the first and second sets of the plurality of turns of the second portion comprises:
a first plurality of turns arranged in a series arrangement along a longitudinal axis between the first and second connectors; and
a second plurality of turns arranged in a parallel arrangement alo

Assignees

• Cameron Int Corp

Inventors

• Holen Dag
• Tindvik Kristian
• Skibsrud Rune

Classifications

• E21B19/02

  Rod or cable suspensions · CPC title

• F16F2230/0005

  Attachment, e.g. to facilitate mounting onto confer adjustability · CPC title

• F16F2226/04

  Assembly or fixing methods; methods to form or fashion parts · CPC title

• F16F2232/08

  Linear · CPC title

• F16F2230/0047

  Measuring, indicating · CPC title