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 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.

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 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.

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.