Rope structure with improved bending fatigue and abrasion resistance characteristics

1. A rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising:

a primary strength component comprising a plurality of fibers adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure;

a coating comprising a mixture of a lubricant portion and a binder portion, where

the lubricant portion comprises particles having an average size of within approximately 0.01 microns to 2.00 microns, and

the binder portion is applied to the primary strength portion as a liquid and dries to form a matrix that supports the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers; whereby

the matrix supports the lubricant portion such that the lubricant portion

reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers, and

reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.

2. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which the liquid form of the coating material comprises substantially between 5% and 40% by weight of the lubricant portion.

3. A rope structure as recited in claim 2 , in which the liquid form of the coating material comprises substantially between 32% and 37% by weight of the lubricant portion.

4. A rope structure as recited in claim 2 , in which the liquid form of the coating material comprises approximately 35% by weight of the lubricant portion.

5. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which the binder portion adheres to the fibers such that the lubricant portion is arranged between at least some of the fibers and between at least some of the fibers and the intermediate structure.

6. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which the lubricant portion is in powder form.

7. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which an average size of the particles forming the lubricant portion is within approximately 0.10 microns to 0.50 microns.

8. A rope structure as recited in claim 7 , in which an average size of the particles is approximately 0.22 microns.

9. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which the binder portion adheres to at least some of the fibers.

10. A rope structure as recited in claim 1 , in which the coating comprises a polyurethane dispersion.

11. A method of forming a rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of fibers;

combining the plurality of fibers to form a primary strength component adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure;

providing a coating material in liquid form comprising a lubricant portion and a binder portion, where

the coating material comprises substantially between 5% and 40% by weight of the lubricant portion, and

the lubricant portion comprises particles having an average size of within approximately 0.01 microns to 2.00 microns;

applying the coating material in liquid form to the primary strength component;

allowing the coating material applied to the primary strength component to dry on the primary strength component such that the binder portion at least partly surrounds at least some of the fibers to support the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between adjacent fibers and between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing a coating material comprises the step of formulating the coating material such that the binder portion adheres to at least some of the fibers.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing the binder portion comprises the step of providing a polyurethane dispersion.

14. A rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure, comprising:

a primary strength component comprising a plurality of fibers adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure, where the plurality of fibers are combined to form a plurality of yarns, the plurality of yarns are combined to form a plurality of strands, and the plurality of strands are combined to form the primary strength component;

a coating comprising particles suspended within a matrix formed of binder material such that the binder fixes the particles relative to at least some of the fibers such that the particles reduce friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure; wherein

an average size of the particles is within approximately 0.01 microns to 2.00 microns.

15. A rope structure as recited in claim 14 , in which the liquid form of the coating material comprises substantially between 5% and 40% by weight of the lubricant portion.

16. A rope structure as recited in claim 14 , in which the binder portion adheres to the fibers such that particles are arranged between at least some of the fibers and between at least some of the fibers and the intermediate structure.

17. A rope structure as recited in claim 14 , in which the binder portion adheres to at least some of the fibers.

18. A rope structure as recited in claim 14 , in which the coating comprises a polyurethane dispersion.