HOOK FOR SUSPENDING CABLES OR HOSE PIPES

Abstract

An improved hook for cable management during maintenance, turnarounds, construction works and industrial works. An improved hook of an injection molded glass-fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin for suspending cables or hose pipes. The hooks are capable of safely bearing high loads in the range of 30 to 400 kg. Methods for providing the present improved hooks, specifically hooks for suspending cables and hoses, where the hooks are comprised of 45 to 800 grams of an injection molded composition comprised of a polybutylene terephthalate resin, 18% to 22% per total weight of the composition glass-fiber, one or more flame retardants and one or more UV stabilizers; and the hooks have a maximum load bearing of 0.3 to 0.8 kg per gram composition.

Claims

1. A hook for suspending cables and hoses, said hook is comprised of: 45 to 800 grams of an injection molded composition comprised of a polybutylene terephthalate resin, 18% to 22% per total weight of the composition glass-fiber; one or more flame retardants; and one or more UV stabilizers; and wherein said hook has a maximum load bearing of 0.3 to 0.8 kg per gram composition.

2. The hook of claim 1, said hook having first and second spherical ends connected to each other by an S-shaped body, the first spherical end including an opening, the second spherical end including an opening.

3. The hook of claim 1, wherein said one or more flame retardants are selected from the group consisting of minerals, organohalogen compounds and organophosphorus compounds.

4. The hook of claim 3, wherein said minerals are selected from the group consisting of aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, huntite and hydromagnesite, hydrates, red phosphorus, boron compounds and borates.

5. The hook of claim 3, wherein said organohalogen compounds are selected from the group consisting of chlorendic acid derivatives, chlorinated paraffins; organobromines, decabromodiphenyl ether, decabromodiphenyl ethane, polymeric brominated compounds, brominated polystyrenes, brominated carbonate oligomers, brominated epoxy oligomers, tetrabromophthalic anyhydride, tetrabromobisphenol A) and hexabromocyclododecane, optionally in combination with antimony tri- or pentoxide or sodium antimonate.

6. The hook of claim 3, wherein said organophosphorus compounds are selected from the group consisting of triphenyl phosphate, resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate), bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, phosphonates, dimethyl methylphosphonate, phosphinates, and aluminium diethyl phosphinate.

7. The hook of claim 1, wherein said one or more flame retardants are selected from the group consisting of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, chlorinated organophosphates, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate and tetrakis(2-chlorethyl)dichloroisopentyldiphosphate.

8. The hook of claim 1, wherein said one or more UV stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of oxanilides, benzophenones, benzotriazoles, hydroxyphenyltriazines and hindered amine light stabilizers.

9. The hook of claim 8, wherein said injection molded composition further comprises heat stabilizers.

10. The hook of claim 9, wherein said heat stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of metallic soaps and calcium stearate.

11. The hook of claim 1, wherein said injection molded composition further comprises one or more fluorescent compounds or particles, pigments and/or polyehtylene.

12. The hook of claim 1, wherein said hook is comprised of Valox Resin 4521, Amite TV4 240 S supplemented with one or more UV stabilizers; or RAMSTER PF321G4NT supplemented with one or more UV stabilizers.

13. A method for providing a hook for suspending cables or hoses according to claim 1, the method comprising: a) preparing a mixture of a thermoplastic polyester resin, 18% to 22% per total weight of the mixture glass-fiber, one or more flame retardants and one or more UV stabilizers as defined in claim 1; b) drying and compounding the mixture of step (a) to allow injection molding; c) injecting the compounded mixture of step (b) into a mold for a hook, the hook having first and second spherical ends connected to each other by an S-shaped body, the first spherical end including an opening, the second spherical end including an opening; and d) cooling and subsequently removing the injection molded hook from said mold.

14. The hook of claim 2, wherein a distance between the first spherical end and the S-shaped body is from 2-8 centimeters (cm) and a distance between the second spherical end and the S-shaped body is from 3 cm to 14 cm, and wherein a height of the hook is from 5 to 75 cm.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a distance between the first spherical end and the S-shaped body is from 2-8 centimeters (cm) and a distance between the second spherical end and the S-shaped body is from 3 cm to 14 cm, and wherein a height of the hook is from 5 to 75 cm

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a hook according to embodiments of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of another hook according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the present hooks for suspending cables and hoses have the shape of a hook depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0015] The hook illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise a first spherical end 1 and a second spherical end 3, which spherical ends are connected with each other by an S-shaped body 2. The first spherical end 1 is optionally provided with an opening 4. The second spherical end 3 is optionally provided with an opening 5. With the aid of these openings the hook may be secured, for example, with plastic binders. The height h of the hook may vary from 5 to 75 cm. Suitable values for a are between 2 to 8 cm, such as 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 cm and for b 2 to 15 cm, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 cm.

[0016] Polybutylene terephthalate, or PBT, is a thermoplastic engineering polymer that is used, amongst others, as an insulator in the electrical and electronics industries. It is a thermoplastic (semi-)crystalline polymer, and a type of polyester. PBT is resistant to solvents, shrinks very little during forming, and is mechanically strong.

[0017] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present one or more flame retardants are selected from the group consisting of minerals, organohalogen compounds and organophosphorus compounds.

[0018] The present minerals are preferably selected from the group consisting of aluminums hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, huntite and hydromagnesite, hydrates, red phosphorus, boron compounds and borates.

[0019] The present organohalogen compounds are preferably selected from the group consisting of chlorendic acid derivatives, chlorinated paraffins; organobromines, decabromodiphenyl ether, decabromodiphenyl ethane, polymeric brominated compounds, brominated polystyrenes, brominated carbonate oligomers, brominated epoxy oligomers, tetrabromophthalic anyhydride, tetrabromobisphenol A) and hexabromocyclododecane optionally in combination with antimony tri- or pentoxide or sodium antimonate.

[0020] The present organophosphorus compounds are preferably selected from the group consisting of triphenyl phosphate, resorcinol bis(diphenylphosphate), bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, phosphonates, dimethyl methylphosphonate, phosphinates, and aluminum diethyl phosphinate.

[0021] Other flame retardant contemplated for preferred embodiments of the present invention are flame retardants selected from the group consisting of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate, chlorinated organophosphates, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate and tetrakis(2-chlorethyl)dichloroisopentyldiphosphate.

[0022] Stabilizers are a class of chemical additives commonly added to polymeric materials, such as plastics, to inhibit or retard their degradation. Polymers can be subject to various degradation processes, including oxidation, UV-damage, thermal degradation, ozonolysis, or combinations thereof like photo-oxidation. These processes all degrade the polymer on a chemical level, leading to chain scission that can adversely affect its mechanical properties such as strength and malleability, as well as its appearance and color.

[0023] According to the present invention, the present hooks for suspending cables and hoses preferably comprise one or more UV stabilizers selected from the group consisting of oxanilides, benzophenones, benzotriazoles, hydroxyphenyltriazines and hindered amine light stabilizers. The UV absorbers generally dissipate the absorbed light energy from UV rays as heat by reversible intramolecular proton transfer. This reduces the absorption of UV rays by the polymer matrix and hence reduces the rate of degradation and weathering.

[0024] The ability of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS or HAS) to scavenge radicals produced by degradation or weathering may be explained by the formation of aminoxyl radicals through a process known as the Denisov Cycle. The aminoxyl radical (NO.) combines with free radicals in polymers: NO.+R..fwdarw.NOR. Although they are traditionally considered as light stabilizers, they can also stabilize thermal degradation.

[0025] According to still another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to hooks for suspending cables and hoses, wherein the present an injection molded composition further comprises heat stabilizers, preferably metallic soaps or calcium stearate.

[0026] The present injection molded compositions can preferably further comprise one or more fluorescent compounds or particles.

[0027] According to an especially preferred embodiment, the present hooks for suspending cables and hoses are comprised of Valox Resin 4521, Arnite TV4 240 S supplemented with one or more UV stabilizers; or RAMS TER PF321G4NT supplemented with one or more UV stabilizers.

[0028] Valox Resin 4521 (SABIC Innovative Plastics B.V., Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands) is a 20% glass filled, high flow, flame retardant polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) of injection moldable grade.

[0029] Arnite TV4 240 S (DSM, Heerlen, The Netherlands) is part of the Arnite (PBT, PET and blends) family and is a high-performance engineering plastic that combine high strength and rigidity with excellent processing characteristics.

[0030] RAMSTER PF321G4NT (Polyram Plastic Industries LTD, Israel) is a 20% glass fiber reinforced, flame Retardant PBT polymer for injection molding applications.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods for providing the present hooks for suspending cables or hoses, the method comprises the steps of: [0032] a) preparing a mixture of a thermoplastic PBS resin, 18% to 22% per total weight of the composition glass-fiber, one or more flame retardants and one or more UV stabilizers as defined in the embodiments above; [0033] b) drying and compounding the mixture of step (a) to allow injection molding; [0034] c) injecting the compounded mixture of step (b) into a mold for a hook with a shape as depicted in FIG. 1 or 2; [0035] d) cooling and subsequently removing the injection molded hook from the mold.

[0036] According to another embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of the present hooks for suspending cables or hoses for (heavy) industrial applications, preferably cable management in the (petro)chemical industry, the offshore industry, the steel and aluminum industry, the ship building industry, oil and gas extraction, the mining industry, the prefabricated construction industry and power stations and plants.