Chain with endless braided chain-link
A chain is provided which includes a plurality of interconnected chain-links. At least one chain-link of the chain has a braided core which includes a first primary strand having polymeric elongated elements having a tenacity of at least 1.0 N/tex. The braided core is braided from at least 2 consecutive turns of the primary strand. Also disclosed is a braided endless shaped element suitable as chain-link for the chain as well as a chain which has a tenacity (Ten) in N/Tex and a combined titer of the 2 legs of the chain-link having polymeric elongated elements (T) in MTex satisfying the relationship of Ten≥0.50*T−0.05.
1. A chain comprising:
a plurality of interconnected chain-links, wherein
at least one of the interconnected chain-links comprises a braided core comprising at least one primary strand, wherein
the at least one primary strand comprises polymeric elongated elements having a tenacity of at least 1.0 N/tex, and wherein
the braided core comprises at least two consecutive turns of the at least one primary strand, and wherein
the braided core comprises a cross-section which is comprised of a number of cross-sections of one of the primary strands originating from the same primary strand, and wherein
the at least two consecutive turns of the primary strand within each link have a braided nature such that the braided core is a Turk's head braided core, and wherein
the at least one primary strand is a braided, twisted or laid rope, and wherein
the chain has a tenacity of at least 0.55 N/tex.
2. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises at least three consecutive turns of the at least one primary strand.
3. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises a plurality of primary strands, wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises at least two consecutive turns of each of the plurality of primary strands.
4. The chain of claim 3 , wherein
each of the plurality of primary strands comprises a plurality of polymeric elongated elements, and wherein
each of the polymeric elongated elements is formed of the same type of polymer.
5. The chain of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of primary strands comprises a plurality of polymeric elongated elements, and wherein at least one and another of the plurality of polymeric elongated elements differ by at least one property selected from the group consisting of material, tenacity, yarn titer, filament titer and creep rate.
6. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements of the at least one primary strand have a tenacity of at least 1.2 N/tex.
7. The chain of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one primary strand comprises at least one braided or laid primary strand, and wherein
at least two terminal ends of the at least one braided or laid primary strand are connected together with a splice.
8. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the at least one chain-link comprises a cover, and wherein either
(i) the at least one primary strand is sheathed with the cover, or
(ii) the Turk's head braided core is sheathed with the cover.
9. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements are at least partially coated with a thermoset or thermoplastic polymer.
10. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core has a cross-section of between 5 mm 2 and 5 dm 2 .
11. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the chain has a tenacity of at least 0.60 N/tex.
12. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the chain has a static strength of at least 300 kN.
13. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises at least four consecutive turns of the at least one primary strand.
14. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises at least six consecutive turns of the at least one primary strand.
15. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the number of turns of the same primary strand in the Turk's head braided core is at most 24.
16. The chain of claim 1 wherein the number of turns of the same primary strand in the Turk's head braided core is at most 18.
17. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the number of turns of the same primary strand in the Turk's head braided core is at most 12.
18. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises a plurality of primary strands, and wherein the Turk's head braided core comprises at least six consecutive turns of each of the plurality of primary strands.
19. The chain of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of primary strands comprises a plurality of polymeric elongated elements comprising polymeric yarns of the same type.
20. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements of the at least one primary strand have a tenacity of at least 2.0 N/tex.
21. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements of the at least one primary strand have a tenacity of at least 2.5 N/tex.
22. The chain of claim 9 , wherein the thermoset and the thermoplastic are polymer silicone resins and plastomers, respectively.
23. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core has a cross-section of between 10 mm 2 and 3 dm 2 .
24. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the Turk's head braided core has a cross-section of between 50 mm 2 and 100 cm 2 .
25. The chain of claim 1 , wherein each of the polymeric elongated elements is an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) yarn having a tenacity of at least 1.8 N/Tex.
26. The chain of claim 1 , wherein each of the polymeric elongated elements is a UHMWPE yarn having a tenacity of at least 2.5 N/Tex.
27. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements comprise fibers made from organic synthetic material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyaramides; poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), poly(p-phenylene-2, 6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO), liquid crystal polymers, poly{2,6-diimidazo-[4,5b-4′,5′e]pyridinylene-1,4(2,5-dihydroxy)phenylene}, polyesters, polyvinyl alcohols and polyacrylonitriles.
28. The chain of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric elongated elements comprise fibers made from organic synthetic material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide), copolymers of para hydroxybenzoic acid and para hydroxynaphtalic acid, poly(hexamethyleneadipamide), poly(6-aminohexanoic acid); poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), and poly(1,4 cyclohexylidene dimethylene terephthalate).