METHOD OF REDUCING FRETTING OF STEEL ROPES AND BELTS
A load-bearing member includes a core including a first plurality of steel wires. Each of the first plurality of steel wires have a benign metallic layer disposed thereon and a low friction coating disposed over the benign metallic layer. A plurality of outer strands surrounds the core. The plurality of outer strands includes a second plurality of steel wires. Each of the second plurality of steel wires have a benign metallic layer disposed thereon. Each of the plurality of outer strands includes a plurality of outer strand inner wires surrounded by a plurality of outer strand outer wires and each of the outer strand inner wires includes a low friction coating.
1 . A load-bearing member, comprising:
a core including a first plurality of steel wires, each of the first plurality of steel wires having a benign metallic layer disposed thereon, and a low friction coating disposed over the benign metallic layer; and
a plurality of outer strands surrounding the core, the plurality of outer strands including a second plurality of steel wires, each of the second plurality of steel wires having a benign metallic layer disposed thereon;
wherein each of the plurality of outer strands includes a plurality of outer strand inner wires surrounded by a plurality of outer strand outer wires, each of the outer strand inner wires including a low friction coating.
2 . The load-bearing member of claim 1 , wherein only the outer strand inner wires of the outer strands include the low friction coating.
3 . The load-bearing member of claim 2 , wherein the low friction coating includes PTFE.
4 . The load-bearing member of claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing member is free of lubricant.
5 . The load-bearing member of claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing member is a wire rope.
6 . The load-bearing member of claim 5 , wherein the wire rope is an independent wire rope core rope.
7 . The load-bearing member of claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing member is a flat belt.
8 . The load-bearing member of claim 1 , wherein the benign metallic coating includes nickel.
9 . The load bearing member of claim 1 , wherein the benign metallic coating forms a diffusion barrier.
10 . An elevator system, comprising:
an elevator car;
a load-bearing member including a core including a first plurality of steel wires, each of the first plurality of steel wires having a benign metallic layer disposed thereon, and a low friction coating disposed over the benign metallic layer; and
a plurality of outer strands surrounding the core, the plurality of outer strands including a second plurality of steel wires, each of the second plurality of steel wires having a benign metallic layer disposed thereon;
wherein each of the plurality of outer strands includes a plurality of outer strand inner wires surrounded by a plurality of outer strand outer wires, each of the outer strand inner wires including a low friction coating;
a drive motor configured to displace the rope and move the car;
one or more sheaves configured to guide the displacement of the rope; and
a counterweight coupled to the rope and configured to counterbalance the weight of the car.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein only the outer strand inner wires of the outer strands include the low friction coating.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the low friction coating includes PTFE.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the load-bearing member is free of lubricant.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the load-bearing member is a wire rope.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the wire rope is an independent wire rope core rope.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the load-bearing member is a flat belt.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the benign metallic coating includes nickel.
18 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising one or more brushes disposed contactingly adjacent the load-bearing member for removing debris therefrom.