A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

A method for creating a termination by attaching some kind of fitting to the end of a tensile member such as a cable. The end fitting is provided with one or more internal cavities. Each cavity has a proximal portion that is adjacent to the area where the tensile member exits the fitting and a distal portion on its opposite end. A length of the tensile member's filaments is placed within this expanding cavity and infused with liquid potting compound. The method exploits the characteristic of a liquid potting compound as it transitions to a solid. Once the potting compound in at least a portion of the cavity has transitioned sufficiently to hold the filaments at a desired level, tension is placed on the tensile-member and a small linear displacement may be imposed on the tensile member. This linear displacement tends to pull the filaments residing in the potting compound into better alignment and improve load sharing. The invention can be applied to single fittings having multiple cavities and to multiple fittings having only one cavity per fitting.

A compact overall termination for a multi-stranded synthetic filament cable that provides for the inspection of the individual components. Multiple individual cable strands are provided with a strand termination on their free end. These strand terminations are connected to a collector to form an overall cable termination. An advanced collar is provided that reroutes the strands as they leave the collector and controls the transition to the structure found in the free portion of the cable. The advanced collar often shortens the length required for the transition from the collector to the free portion of the cable.

A hand-held device for joining fishing line segments of monofilament, fluorocarbon, and/or braid lines of similar or differing sizes or combinations or securing hooks or other components to at least one line. The device includes an encasement for orienting the fishing line segments in a closed chamber in close, non-contacting orientation. A material is injected into the closed chamber to encase the lines. This material can be adhesive material or a flowable polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the line segments to be bonded. A pre-formed, flexible polymer sheath is used to retain the line segments in the chamber. A heater heats the polymer sheath within the encasement to allow the polymer to flow and encase the line segments without melting the line segments. Bonding of the line segments can be achieved without melting, abrading, compressing, or impairing the integrity the line segment(s) to be encased.

Apparatus and methods for coupling a rope socket with an armored cable. The armored cable includes a conductor core having one or more cables for transmitting electrical and/or optical signals and at least one layer of armor wires wound around the conductor core. The rope socket includes a housing having an uphole end through which the armored cable extends into the housing and a downhole end through which the conductor core extends from the housing to a component of downhole equipment suspended in a wellbore by the armored cable. The armor wires are arranged inside of the housing so that they are spaced apart at least locally from the conductor core. A plastic material disposed within the housing fills interstices each defined by one or more surfaces of one or more of the conductor core, one or more of the armor wires, and the housing.

A method for creating a composite cable having at least one high-performance termination on at least one end. A high-performance termination is added to an end of a short synthetic tensile strength member. The strength of the tensile strength member and termination is then tested. Once tested satisfactorily, the short cable is spiced onto a long cable of the same type using prior art splicing techniques. The union of the short cable and the long cable creates a composite cable having a high-performance termination on at least one end. In most applications preferable to set the length of the short cable so that the interwoven splice will exist at a desired location.

A method for attaching an anchor to an end of a tensile member by inverting the assembly of anchor and tensile member and injecting pressurized potting compound. A length of filaments of the tensile member are placed within a cavity through the anchor. The anchor and filaments are placed in an inverted position, with the distal end of the anchor facing downward and the cable extending upward out of the anchor. If the anchor has an open distal end this is sealed. Liquid potting compound is injected into the anchor cavity and allowed to solidify. During the solidification process, a controlled translation (pulling) of the cable is preferably introduced.

An assembly and method for using a flexible tensile member as part of the rigging for a dragline bucket. The tensile member includes a stranded core surrounded by a separate armor layer. The armor layer assumes the form of a hollow cylinder having a substantial wall thickness. A significant gap is provided between the outward-facing surface of the stranded core and the inward-facing surface of the armor layer. This gap minimizes wear between the two elements during the normal bending and flexing of the tensile member. A first anchor is attached to a first end of the stranded core and a second anchor is attached to a second end of the stranded core. These anchors serve to transmit tension carried by the stranded core. A first end of the armor layer is also attached to the first anchor and a second end of the armor layer is attached to the second anchor.

A method for creating a composite cable having at least one high-performance termination on at least one end. A high-performance termination is added to an end of a short synthetic tensile strength member. The strength of the tensile strength member and termination is then tested. Once tested satisfactorily, the short cable is spiced onto a long cable of the same type using prior art splicing techniques. The union of the short cable and the long cable creates a composite cable having a high-performance termination on at least one end. In most applications it is preferable to set the length of the short cable so that the interwoven splice will exist at a desired location.

A method for attaching an anchor to an end of a tensile member by inverting the assembly of anchor and tensile member and injecting pressurized potting compound. A length of filaments of the tensile member are placed within a cavity through the anchor. The anchor and filaments are placed in an inverted position, with the distal end of the anchor facing downward and the cable extending upward out of the anchor. If the anchor has an open distal end this is sealed. Liquid potting compound is injected into the anchor cavity and allowed to solidify. During the solidification process, a controlled translation (pulling) of the cable is preferably introduced.