The invention relates to a rope (1) made of textile fibre material, which is characterized by the combination of features whereby

a) the load-bearing fibre material of the rope (1) consists of high-strength synthetic fibres

b) the rope (1) is in the form of a spiral strand rope

c) the rope (1) has at least two, preferably at least three concentric load-bearing strand layers (3,4,5)

d) the individual strands (7,8,9,10,11,12) of the strand layers (3,4,5) are movable with respect to one another

e) the degree of filling of the rope (1) with textile fibre material is ≧75%, preferably ≧85%

f) the outermost ply (5,6) of the rope has a coefficient of frictionμ with respect to steel of μ<0.15.

A synthetic fiber rope comprising:—a core, said core being a laid or braided synthetic fiber strand,—a polymer layer, said polymer layer covering said core,—a first layer, said first layer having at least six first synthetic fiber strands laid in a first direction surround said polymer layer, and—a second layer, said second layer having at least twelve second synthetic fiber strands laid in a second direction surround said first layer.

A wire cable construct including a plurality of strands each made of a plurality of wire filaments, the strands and wire filaments arranged in a 37×7 configuration of 37 strands of 7 wire filaments each, with the strands arranged in four layers including a first, central layer of a single strand, a second layer of six strands, a third layer of twelve strands and a fourth, outermost layer of eighteen strands. The cable may have a small diameter for use in medical device applications, and the strand and wire element configuration allows the cable to carry high axial loads, minimizes bending stress when the cable is routed around a tight turn such as a small pulley, and minimizes torsion in the cable due to axial loading.

A wire rope formed from a resin core and six strands, the resin core having an inner core with a circular cross section and an outer layer built up on the periphery thereof. The outer layer has a melting temperature lower than that of the inner core. The six strands are twisted together helically on the periphery of the resin core in an intertwining die in such a state that gaps are assured between the strands. The resulting wire rope is heated in a heating unit at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the outer layer but lower than the melting temperature of the inner core. The wire rope is formed by subsequently compressing the six strands from the periphery thereof in a compressing die. The molten outer layer is hardened by natural cooling, after which the wire rope is taken up.

A synthetic fiber rope comprising:a core, said core being a laid or braided synthetic fiber strand,a polymer layer, said polymer layer covering said core,a first layer, said first layer having at least six first synthetic fiber strands laid in a first direction surround said polymer layer, anda second layer, said second layer having at least twelve second synthetic fiber strands laid in a second direction surround said first layer.

A wire rope formed from a resin core and six strands, the resin core having an inner core with a circular cross section and an outer layer built up on the periphery thereof. The outer layer has a melting temperature lower than that of the inner core. The six strands are twisted together helically on the periphery of the resin core in an intertwining die in such a state that gaps are assured between the strands. The resulting wire rope is heated in a heating unit at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the outer layer but lower than the melting temperature of the inner core. The wire rope is formed by subsequently compressing the six strands from the periphery thereof in a compressing die. The molten outer layer is hardened by natural cooling, after which the wire rope is taken up.

Hybrid rope (20) comprising a core element (22) containing high modulus fibers surrounded by at least one outer layer (24) containing wirelike metallic members (26). The core element (22) is coated (23) with a thermoplastic polyurethane or a copolyester elastomer, preferably the copolyester elastomer containing soft blocks in the range of 10 to 70 wt %. The coated material (23) on the inner core element (22) is inhibited to be pressed out in-between the wirelike members (26) of the hybrid rope (20) and the hybrid rope (20) has decreased elongation and diameter reduction after being in use.

A hybrid rope (40) or a hybrid strand (50) comprising a core element (42, 52), a first (44, 54) and a second (46, 56) metallic closed layer surrounding said core element (42, 52). The core element (42, 52) includes a bundle of synthetic yarns. The first metallic closed layer (44, 54) includes a plurality of first strands of wires helically twisted together with the core element (42, 52) in a first direction. The second metallic closed layer (46, 56) includes a plurality of second wires or strands helically twisted together with said core element (42, 52) and said first metallic closed layer (44, 54) in a second direction. The cross-sectional area of the core element (42, 52) is larger than the total cross-sectional area of the first (44, 54) and second (46, 56) metallic closed layers. A corresponding method of producing such a hybrid rope or hybrid strand is also disclosed.