Method for making a tension member

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a tension member, in particular for use in a belt or in a belt segment, having the steps of: preparing a tension member which has a plurality of tension member strands and filling at least some of the intermediate spaces between the tension member strands with a filling material at least at one open end of the tension member, wherein the tension member remains free of the filling material toward the outside.

Claims

1. A method for making a tension member, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a tension member which has a plurality of tension member strands defining intermediate spaces between individual strands of the plurality of the tension member strands; and, filling at least some of the intermediate spaces with a filling material at least at an open end of the tension member, wherein the tension member remains free of the filling material toward the outside; the filling material comprised of an elastomer material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filling material is an elastic but incompressible material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the tension member has an open end and defines a longitudinal direction (X); and, the intermediate spaces, only at the open end of the tension member, are, at least partially as far in the longitudinal direction (X) as the open end is, to be used for connecting by clamping, filled with the filling material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein all the intermediate spaces of the tension member strands are completely filled with the filling material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tension member is a steel cable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tension member is for a belt or a belt segment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a pressing process and the elastomer material is configured to prevent buckling during the pressing process.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising pressing the formed tension member into a bore of a clamping web of fastening device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising clamping the tension member into the bore.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting the fastening device to a body via a cutout.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a fastening device for receiving a tension member;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic illustration of the fastening device in FIG. 1 with pressed tension members;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a cross-section through the fastening device in FIG. 2; and,

(5) FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the detail of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a fastening device 1 for receiving a tension member 24. FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic illustration of the fastening device 1 in FIG. 1 with pressed tension members 24. The arrangement of the fastening device 1 and the belt 2 or the belt segment 2, respectively, extends substantially in a longitudinal direction X which can also be referred to as the depth X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as the width Y, extends perpendicularly thereto. A perpendicular direction Z, which can also be referred to as the height Z, extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction X and perpendicularly with respect to the transverse direction Y.

(7) The fastening device 1 has a head region 10 in which a connecting element 12 in the form of a cutout 12 is arranged. The fastening device 1 can be connected to other bodies via this cutout 12. The fastening device 1 also has a clamping region 14 in which a plurality of clamping webs 16, which are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction X and which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction Y are formed. The individual clamping webs 16 each have a longitudinal bore 18 in the longitudinal direction X, see for example, FIG. 1.

(8) The belt 2 or the belt segment 2 has a rubber covering layer 20 respectively at the top and the bottom in the height Z, which rubber covering layers 20 enclose a core rubber layer 22 between them. A plurality of tension members 24 in the form of steel cables 24 are embedded in the elastomer material in the core rubber layer 22. The steel cables 24 run in the longitudinal direction X, and are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction Y. The tension member ends 25 or steel cable ends 25 project with their open ends in the longitudinal direction X from the core rubber layer 22 and are each individually pressed in the longitudinal bores 18 of the fastening device 1, see for example, FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a cross-section through the fastening device 1 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows an illustration of the detail of FIG. 3. In these two cross-sectional illustrations, the individual tension member strands 26 or steel cable strands 26 of the tension members 24 or steel cables 24 can each be seen, which tension member strands 26 or steel cable strands 26 are twisted together to form the tension members 24 or steel cables 24.

(10) According to the invention, the intermediate spaces between the steel cable strands 26 are filled with a filling material 28 in the form of an elastomer material 28. In this way, the previously customary inclusions of air between the steel cable strands 26 are avoided. In addition, the elastomer material 28 even has a comparability incompressibility to the steel cable strands 26, with the result that the pressing effect between the individual steel cable strands 26 can be significantly enhanced by the elastomer filling 28. Furthermore, strong binding of the elastomer material 28 to the steel cable strands 26 can be achieved. At the same time, the elasticity of the elastomer filling 28 makes it possible to ensure that the steel cable strands 26 are prevented from buckling during the pressing process, which could lead to damage to the steel cable strands 26.

(11) It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Part Of The Specification

(12) X Longitudinal direction, depth

(13) Y Transverse direction, width

(14) Z Perpendicular direction, height

(15) 1 Fastening device

(16) 10 Head region of the fastening device 1

(17) 12 Connection element, or cutout of the head piece 10

(18) 14 Clamping region of the fastening device 1

(19) 16 Clamping webs of the clamping region 14

(20) 18 Longitudinal bores of the clamping region 14

(21) 2 Belt or belt segment

(22) 20 Rubber covering layer, upper and lower

(23) 22 Core rubber layer

(24) 24 Tension member, steel cables

(25) 25 Open tension member end, open steel cable end

(26) 26 Tension member strands, steel cable strands

(27) 28 Filling material, elastomer material