A synthetic rope (20) comprises a core (22) and at least a first layer surrounding the core (22). The first layer has first layer strands (26). The core has a fluted outer surface with spaced apart helical concave grooves. Each of these grooves contacts one of the first layer strands (26). The grooves have a radius of curvature (24) that is greater than the radius of curvature (14) of a circle having a same diameter as the contacting first layer strand before twisting.

A lifting member for an elevator system is disclosed, including a rope formed from a plurality of strands comprising liquid crystal polymer fibers, with the strands extending along a length of the lifting member. A first polymer coating is disposed on outer surfaces of the fibers or on outer surfaces of the strands. A second polymer coating disposed over the first polymer coating.

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 braided rope includes a plurality of braided strands comprising twisted yarns. Each of the twisted yarns includes a blend of first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers and the second fibers may be lyotropic polymer filaments, thermotropic polymer filaments, or polyphenylene benzobisoxazole fibers. The first fibers can have a creep rate of no more than 3.0×10.sup.−8 percent per second at 20° C. while subjected to a stress of 5.0 grams/dtex. The first fibers can have a creep rate of no more than 1.0×10.sup.−7 percent per second at 20° C. while subjected to a stress of 7.5 grams/dtex.

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.

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.

There is described a hoisting system and method of lifting that make use of a particular fibre rope. The fibre rope includes a plurality of magnets that are embedded within the fibre rope and spaced apart along the rope with a known axial distance between the magnets. The system may include a fibre rope hoisting speed sensor, and a magnetic field sensor that can sense the presence of the magnetic field of the embedded magnets. Using the sensors, the hoisting speed of the rope may be determined by: measuring the time between the passing of consecutive magnets by using the magnetic field sensor; calculating the distance between consecutive magnets using the hoisting speed sensor and the measured time between the passing of the consecutive magnets; and comparing the calculated distance between the magnets with an original, predefined distance between the magnets.

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.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

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.