The invention relates to an endless shaped article comprising at least one strip of material forming a plurality of convolutions of the strip of material, the strip having a longitudinal axis, wherein each convolution of said strip comprises a twist along the longitudinal axis of said strip, wherein said twist is an odd multiple of 180 degrees. The invention also relates to a method to manufacture said article, and its use as sling, loop, belt or chain link.

An aligning device (15) for straightening a wire (11) which comprises an aligning system (20) having a first row of rollers (21) and a second row of rollers (31) which can be moved relative to one another. The aligning device (15) comprises a measuring unit (40) for determining a wire diameter and/or a tensile force measuring mechanism (70). A method for adjusting the aligning system (20) and a method for setting the aligning system (20), as well as a wire processing machine having at least one aligning device (15) are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a method for producing a high strength synthetic strength member containing rope and a resultant rope, comprising multiple layers of twisted and braided yarns, wherein individual sheaths enclosing individual strands are of a material such as HMPE, PTFE or UHMWPE with a lower decomposition temperature than the material of said strands being aramid, the method comprising subjecting parts of the rope to heat and tension thereby pre-stretching and creating a non-uniform or non-round shape of said strands, further choosing a combination of braid and twist angles as well as braid compressive forces to accommodate specific strength and elongation relation between the individual rope layers.

Disclosed is a method for producing a high strength synthetic strength member containing rope and a resultant rope, comprising multiple layers of twisted and braided yarns, wherein individual sheaths enclosing individual strands are of a material such as HMPE, PTFE or UHMWPE with a lower decomposition temperature than the material of said strands being aramid, the method comprising subjecting parts of the rope to heat and tension thereby pre-stretching and creating a non-uniform or non-round shape of said strands, further choosing a combination of braid and twist angles as well as braid compressive forces to accommodate specific strength and elongation relation between the individual rope layers.

Disclosed is a non-steel strength membered high strength cable easily monitored for heat and elongation comprising a length of a core-cable (10), the length of core-cable (10) including at least two fiber-optic conductors (2) that are: (i) disposed in a helical shape; and (ii) completely encased in a solid, flexible material.
One fiber-optic conductor capable of transmitting at least Raman backscattering and the other fiber-optic conductor capable of transmitting at least Brillouin scattering.

A combination of the cable (10): (i) with an interrogator that can read and interpret Raman backscattering coupled to and communicating with the fiber optic conductor that is capable of transmitting at least Raman backscattering; and (ii) another interrogator that can read and interpret Brillouin scattering coupled to and communicating with the fiber optic conductor that is capable of transmitting at least Brillouin scattering;
permits ascertaining the elongation of the cable, without using loose tube fiber-opticplacement.

Endless shaped articles include at least one strip of material forming a plurality of convolutions of the strip of material, the strip having a longitudinal axis, wherein each convolution of the strip comprises a twist along the longitudinal axis thereof, wherein the twist is an odd multiple of 180 degrees. Methods to manufacture the article, and its use as sling, loop, belt or chain link are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a rope having a length LR of at least 100 m, the rope comprising synthetic filaments with a filament tenacity of at least 1.0 N/tex, characterized in that a weight fraction χ of the total weight of synthetic filaments present in the load bearing core have a length LF of 0.01 m to 0.7*L.sub.R, wherein said weight fraction is at least 50 wt %. The invention further relates to an airborne wind power generation system comprising the rope as well as the use of the rope in an airborne wind power generation system wherein the length of the rope oscillates between a maximum length L.sub.max and a minimum length L.sub.min, wherein L.sub.max is at most 10,000 m and L.sub.min is at least 100 m and wherein the ratio of L.sub.max to L.sub.min is between 10 and 1.5.

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.

A production method for a headline sonar cable characterized by steps of: a. providing a first strength member (14); b. coupling to strength member (14) a conductor (122); c. forming a layer of polymeric material about the combination of strength member (14) and conductor (122) while ensuring that the conductor remains slack; d. forming a flow shield around the layer of polymeric material, thus forming an elongatable internally located conductive structure; and e. braiding a strength-member jacket layer (52) of polymeric material around the elongatable internally located conductive structure while ensuring that the conductor is slack when surrounded by the jacket layer (52).

For another embodiment, an optical fibre is wrapped around the exterior of the layer of polymeric material within which is enclosed a braided conductor formed about the first strength member (14). Other embodiments employ further thermo-plastic layers and further sheaths and further conductors.

A production method for a headline sonar cable characterized by steps of: a. providing a first strength member (14); b. coupling to strength member (14) a conductor (122); c. forming a layer of polymeric material about the combination of strength member (14) and conductor (122) while ensuring that the conductor remains slack; d. forming a flow shield around the layer of polymeric material, thus forming an elongatable internally located conductive structure; and e. braiding a strength-member jacket layer (52) of polymeric material around the elongatable internally located conductive structure while ensuring that the conductor is slack when surrounded by the jacket layer (52).

For another embodiment, an optical fibre is wrapped around the exterior of the layer of polymeric material within which is enclosed a braided conductor formed about the first strength member (14). Other embodiments employ further thermo-plastic layers and further sheaths and further conductors.