Variable radius fairlead
Devices, methods, and systems for a fairlead changing direction of a line under tensions are disclosed. The fairlead may include an opening with a front lip. The line under tension may be roved through the opening. The front lip may have a variable radius round. The front lip guides a change in direction of the line.
1. A fairlead comprising:
an opening through which a line under tension is rove;
a front lip of the opening comprising a variable radius round;
the front lip guides a change in direction of the line, and
a back lip of the opening comprising a mirror image of the variable radius round.
2. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the fairlead is mounted on a winch, a crane, or a pulley system.
3. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shorter radius on an inside portion of the variable-radius round and a longer radius on an outside portion of the variable radius round.
4. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shorter radius on an outside portion of the variable-radius round and a longer radius on an inside portion of the variable radius round.
5. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the variable radius round is parabolic.
6. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein a general shape of the opening is round, elliptical, U-shaped, omega shaped, C-shaped, or rectangular with rounded corners.
7. The fairlead of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the fairlead is discontinuous, resulting in a gap in the front lip.
8. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the front lip comprises plastics, ceramics, aluminum, steel, bronze, metal alloys, or a combination thereof.
9. The fairlead of claim 8 , wherein the front lip comprises a low-friction surface comprising polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, natural diamond, man-made diamond, chemical-vapor deposition diamond, polycrystalline diamond, or a combination thereof.
10. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises cables, wires, lines, cords, twine, strands, threads, or ropes.
11. The fairlead of claim 10 , wherein the line comprises nylon, polyester, polypropylene, high modulus polyethylene, aramid, carbon fiber, vegetable fibers, wood fibers, animal fibers, asbestos fibers, or a combination thereof.
12. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shortest radius and a longest radius, and wherein the ratio of the longest radius and the shortest radius is greater than 1.
13. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shortest radius and a longest radius, and wherein the ratio of the longest radius and the shortest radius is greater than 1.5.
14. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shortest radius and a longest radius, and wherein the ratio of the longest radius and the shortest radius is greater than 2.
15. The fairlead of claim 1 , wherein the variable radius round has a shortest radius and a longest radius, and wherein the ratio of the longest radius and the shortest radius is greater than 2.5.
16. A fairlead comprising:
an opening through which a line under tension is rove;
a front lip of the opening comprising a variable radius round;
the front lip guides a change in direction of the line; and
a back lip of the opening comprising a 90 degree rotation of the variable radius round.
17. The fairlead of claim 16 , wherein the fairlead is mounted on a winch, a crane, or a pulley system.
18. The fairlead of claim 16 , wherein the variable radius round has a shorter radius on an inside portion of the variable-radius round and a longer radius on an outside portion of the variable radius round.
19. The fairlead of claim 16 , wherein the variable radius round has a shorter radius on an outside portion of the variable-radius round and a longer radius on an inside portion of the variable radius round.
20. The fairlead of claim 16 , wherein a shape of the variable radius round is parabolic.