NON-DESTRUCTIVE WEAR MONITORING SYSTEM FOR SYNTHETIC ROPES AND TEXTILES
Embodiments disclosed herein include system and methods for monitoring synthetic ropes for damage. One embodiment may include a synthetic rope with non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers. The conductive fibers may include a conductive core and a non-conductive sheath surrounding the conductive core. The conductive fibers may be grouped and terminated to form an electrical termination point. Additionally, an electronic reader may be configured to make contact with the electrical termination point to measure the electrical resistance of the synthetic rope.
1 . A system for monitoring synthetic ropes for damage comprising:
a synthetic rope comprising:
non-conductive fibers; and
conductive fibers comprising a conductive core and a non-conductive sheath surrounding the conductive core, wherein conductive fibers are grouped and terminated to form an electrical termination point;
an electronic reader configured to make contact with the electrical termination point to measure the electrical resistance of the synthetic rope.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic rope comprises at least one inner layer and one outer layer.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising two or more electrical connections points such that each electrical connection point corresponds to a particular section on the synthetic rope to be monitored.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein each electrical connection point corresponds to the conductive fibers of a particular layer of the synthetic rope.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic rope comprises of an eye splice configuration at one end of the synthetic rope.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein at least one electrical termination point is located at a neck of the synthetic rope immediately below the eye splice configuration.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the eye splice configuration is covered with a hard surface protective layer.
8 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an attachment piece on at least one end of the synthetic rope.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the attachment piece comprises an electrical termination point in contact with the conductive fibers.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the attachment piece is constructed of hard non-conductive material.
11 . A method of monitoring synthetic ropes for damage comprising:
obtaining a synthetic rope comprising:
non-conductive fibers; and
conductive fibers comprising a conductive core and a non-conductive sheath surrounding the conductive core, wherein conductive fibers are grouped and terminated to form an electrical termination point;
placing an electronic reader in contact with the electrical termination point to measure an electrical resistance of the synthetic rope.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising two or more electrical termination points such that each electrical termination point corresponds to a particular section of the synthetic rope to be monitored.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining the synthetic rope is no longer safe for use when the electronic reader measures the electrical resistance of the synthetic rope to be higher than a predetermined break strength limit.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the synthetic rope comprises an eye splice configuration at one end of the synthetic rope.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one electrical termination point is located at a neck of the synthetic rope immediately below the eye splice.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the eye splice configuration is covered with a hard protective surface.
17 . A synthetic rope comprising:
Non-conductive fibers; and
conductive fibers comprising a conductive core and a non-conductive sheath surrounding the conductive core;
wherein the non-conductive fibers and conductive fibers are woven together and the conductive fibers are grouped and terminated at least one end of the synthetic rope to form an electrical termination point.
18 . The synthetic rope of claim 17 , wherein the synthetic rope comprises an eye splice configuration at one end of the synthetic rope.
19 . The synthetic rope of claim 18 , wherein at least one electrical termination point is located at a neck of the synthetic rope immediately below the eye splice.
20 . The synthetic rope of claim 17 , wherein the electrical termination point is formed by electroplating, electroless plating, conducting ink coating, or vapor deposition of the conductive fibers.