A load bearing tension member for an elevator system includes a plurality of tension elements arrayed across a tension member width. The tension elements are offset from a tension member central axis, the central axis bisecting a tension member thickness and extending across the tension member width. The tension elements include a plurality of fibers extending along a length of the tension element, and a matrix material in which the plurality of fibers are embedded. A jacket at least partially encapsulates the plurality of tension elements.

A cord for reinforcing elastomers excellent in adhesion to elastomers such as rubber is provided. The cord is a cord for reinforcing elastomers (10) that includes metallic filaments (1) and a resin filament (2) twisted together, the resin filament (2) being made from a polymeric material having a melting point or softening point of 80 to 160° C. The cord for reinforcing elastomers includes a core and at least one sheath layer, wherein, after vulcanization, a distance w between metallic filaments (1b) forming an outermost sheath layer is 100 μm or less, and, on a cross section of the cord taken along a direction orthogonal to an axial direction, a filling ratio, which is a ratio of an area of a polymeric material (3) derived from the resin filament (2) to a gap region is 52 to 120%, where the gap region is defined as a portion occupied by a material other than the metallic filaments (1) within a region formed by connecting the centers of the individual metallic filaments (1b) constituting the outermost sheath layer.

A belt includes one or more tension members extending along a length of the belt, and a jacket at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes an elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing elements located in the elastomeric material to improve fatigue cracking performance of the belt. An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car located in the hoistway, and an elevator belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway. The elevator belt includes one or more tension members extending along a length of the belt and a jacket at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes an elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing elements located in the elastomeric material to improve fatigue cracking performance of the belt.

A belt includes one or more tension members extending along a length of the belt, and a jacket at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes an elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing elements located in the elastomeric material to improve fatigue cracking performance of the belt. An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car located in the hoistway, and an elevator belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway. The elevator belt includes one or more tension members extending along a length of the belt and a jacket at least partially enclosing the plurality of tension members. The jacket includes an elastomeric material and a plurality of reinforcing elements located in the elastomeric material to improve fatigue cracking performance of the belt.

Disclosed is a blended rope having an outer sheath (8) enclosing at least a strength member (7), the strength member (7) having high-strength synthetic fibers, the strength member (7) being a blended strength member (7) formed with a combination of ARAMID fibers and HMPE fibers, the blended strength member comprising a non-homogeneous distribution of the ARAMID and HMPE fibers, wherein the weight ratio of ARAMID to HMPE in the strength member (7) is preferably a minimum of 80:20.

Disclosed is a blended rope having an outer sheath (8) enclosing at least a strength member (7), the strength member (7) having high-strength synthetic fibers, the strength member (7) being a blended strength member (7) formed with a combination of ARAMID fibers and HMPE fibers, the blended strength member comprising a non-homogeneous distribution of the ARAMID and HMPE fibers, wherein the weight ratio of ARAMID to HMPE in the strength member (7) is preferably a minimum of 80:20.

An elevator tension member is presented that has one or more steel cords as strength members that are encased in a jacket of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer is selected on the basis of its thermal properties in that the glass transition temperature of the hard phase (Tg HS) is above 90° C. In preferential embodiments that thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer has a crystallisation temperature (Tg) that is at least 20° C. higher than Tg HS. In other preferential embodiments the sum of Tg HS and Tc is higher than 200° C. Such thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers exhibit an unexpected increase in useful lifetime when compared to conventionally used polyurethanes. Moreover the invention provides a simple method to select an appropriate thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.

An elevator tension member is presented that has one or more steel cords as strength members that are encased in a jacket of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer is selected on the basis of its thermal properties in that the glass transition temperature of the hard phase (Tg HS) is above 90° C. In preferential embodiments that thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer has a crystallisation temperature (Tg) that is at least 20° C. higher than Tg HS. In other preferential embodiments the sum of Tg HS and Tc is higher than 200° C. Such thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers exhibit an unexpected increase in useful lifetime when compared to conventionally used polyurethanes. Moreover the invention provides a simple method to select an appropriate thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.

An object of the present invention is to further improve upon the strength and durability of a wire rope. A wire rope has a core rope made of steel; a covering layer, which is made of a composite resin, covering the outer peripheral surface of the core rope; and multiple side strands, which are made of steel, wound on the outer peripheral surface of the core rope covered with the covering layer. The composite resin constituting the covering layer is obtained by blending cellulose nanofibers with polypropylene serving as a matrix.

An object of the present invention is to further improve upon the strength and durability of a wire rope. A wire rope has a core rope made of steel; a covering layer, which is made of a composite resin, covering the outer peripheral surface of the core rope; and multiple side strands, which are made of steel, wound on the outer peripheral surface of the core rope covered with the covering layer. The composite resin constituting the covering layer is obtained by blending cellulose nanofibers with polypropylene serving as a matrix.