Bend fatigue resistant blended rope

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A blended rope, the rope having an exterior 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-heterogenous distribution of the ARAMID and HMPE fibers, the strength member further comprising main rope strands (17) each are formed with a primary strand sheath (21) that: (a) mainly is formed from HMPE filaments; and (b) encloses a core (19) mainly formed from ARAMID filaments.

2. The rope of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of ARAMID to HMPE in the strength member (7) is in a range of 80:20 to 93:17.

3. The rope of claim 2 wherein at least some of the primary strand sheaths (21) are formed as a hallow braided construction formed of braid strands.

4. The rope of claim 3 wherein braid strands forming the hallow braided primary strand sheaths (21) comprise a filament of HMPE film.

5. The rope of claim 4 wherein the filaments of HMPE film do not rotate or twist about their own long axis for at least lengths of the strength member (7) that are a minimum of twenty centimeters in length.

6. The rope of claim 2 wherein the primary strand sheaths (21) comprise tape wrapped about the ARAMID core (19), wherein the tape comprises HMPE.

7. The rope of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of ARAMID to HMPE in the strength member (7) is in a range of 80:20 to 99:1.

8. The rope of claim 1 wherein in at least some of the main rope strands (17) the ratio of ARAMID to HMPE is in a range of 80:20 to 100:0.

9. The rope of claim 1 wherein in at least some of the main rope strands (17) the ratio of ARAMID to HMPE is in a range of 95:5 to 100:0.

10. The rope of claim 1 wherein in at least some of the main rope strands (17) the ratio of ARAMID to HMPE is in a range of 99:1 to 100:0.

11. The rope of claim 1 wherein the at least a plurality of the main rope strands (17) includes at least half of the main rope strands (17).

12. The rope of claim 1 wherein the at least a plurality of the main rope strands (17) includes all of the main rope strands (17).

13. The rope of claim 1 wherein at least some of the primary strand sheaths (21) are formed as a hallow braided construction formed of braid strands.

14. The rope of claim 13 wherein braid strands forming the hollow braided primary strand sheaths (21) comprise a filament of HMPE film.

15. The rope of claim 14 wherein the filaments of HMPE film do not rotate or twist about their own long axis for at least lengths of the strength member (7) that are a minimum of twenty centimeters in length.

16. The rope of claim 1 wherein the primary strand sheaths (21) comprise tape wrapped about the ARAMID care (19), wherein the tape comprises HMPE.

17. A process for producing a rope having a blended strength member, the process having at least steps of: providing a care (3) formed of thermoplastic; forming a flow-shield sheath (5) around the thermoplastic core (3); forming several main rope strands (17) where each main rope strand (17) comprises ARAM ID fibers and a material comprising HMPE; loading a braiding machine capable of forming hollow braided sheaths with several of the main rope strands (17), and using the loaded braiding machine to form a braided strength member (7) around the combination of at least the thermoplastic core (3) and the flow-shield sheath (5); next: while maintaining tension sufficiently to preserve a desired amount of elongation and compaction of the strength member, cooling the strength member and all it contains until the thermo-plastic core achieves a solid phase, the process characterized by that fact that the step of forming the several main rope strands (17) where each strand comprises ARAMID fibers and a material comprising HMPE further comprises a step of selecting a non-heterogenous distribution of the ARAMID fibers and the material comprising HMPE.

18. The process of claim 17 where the step of forming the several main rope strands (17) each with a core portion (19) comprising ARAMID fibers, and further comprises forming a primary strand sheath (21) situated at the exterior periphery of the core portion (19), where the primary strand sheath (21) comprises HMPE.

19. The process of claim 18 further comprising forming at least some of the primary strand sheaths (21) sufficiently tight about any of said cores (19) to reduce relative movement between ARAMID fibers forming said core portion (19) when no primary strand sheath (21) is present, while also forming the primary strand sheath (21) sufficiently loose so that any said core (19) is subsequently deformed during the permanent elongation and compaction of the strength member and acquires a non-circular and non-oval cross section in the final, permanently elongated and permanently compacted strength member (7).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a rope of the present disclosure.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view of a cross section of the rope of the present disclosure taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is an expanded detail view of a portion of the cross section of the rope of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2 that is indicated by reference character B. The expanded detailed view includes a braided outer sheath of the rope of the present disclosure, a portion of the strength member of the rope of the present disclosure where such portion of the strength member is proximal the braided outer sheath, as well as associated structures.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE DISCLOSURE

(4) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate essential constructional components of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure's bend fatigue resistant blended rope for use with high tension blocks and powered blocks, and is identified by the general reference character 1. FIG. 2 depicts a preferably thermoplastic shaped supportive core 3 enclosing an optional core 2 that can be an elongatable conductive structure capable of transmitting information and/or data, such as may include a thermoplastic core having fiber optic conductors spiraling about it and encased within another layer of thermoplastic where the thermoplastic core and the another layer of thermoplastic are either the same type of thermoplastic or are types of thermoplastic that bond firmly to one another so as to be inseparable without damaging the entire structure that they form, and preferably that bond to the exterior surface of each of the fiber optic conductors or of the buffer or insulating that is exterior and formed about each of the fiber optic conductors, or that can be a lead core, or other, the shaped supportive core 3 being enveloped within a flow shield sheath 5. Strength member 7 encloses the combination of the shaped supportive core 3, its enveloping flow shield sheath 5 and its optional core 2. Contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, the blended high-strength synthetic strength member is formed of a non-heterogeneous blend of ARAMID and HMPE fibers, preferably by forming the blended strength member of several individual main rope strands 17 that themselves each are formed of a core 19 formed mainly and preferably entirely of ARAMID fibers, and further have a layer 21 formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE material situated about and around the outer periphery of the core.

(5) Contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry, the cores 19 preferably are formed by directly stranding the ARAMID fibers to form a strand, said such strand forming the cores 19, without use of yarns and/or bundles grouped together to form a core 19. Preferably, each layer 21 is in the form of a sheath 21 known as a primary strand sheath. The various individual main rope strands 17 preferably are of uniform construction, or of similar construction. Each of the individual ARAMID cores 19 preferably is enclosed within a distinct primary strand sheath 21 that preferably is a braided sheath formed of HMPE (including UHMWPE). In some embodiments, such as when using film shaped HMPE strands, preferably, each HMPE fiber may forms one of the braid strands forming each distinct braided primary strand sheath 21.

(6) Exterior sheath 8 preferably is of a braided construction and is adhered to strength member 7 by an elastic adhesive substance layer 9, that preferably is formed of a settable adhesive substance such as an adhesive polyurethane having a high elasticity and a high shear strength, such as a two or more component PUR. Preferably braided exterior sheath 8 is formed of multiple braid strands 10 by use of a braiding machine, the braid strands 10 preferably are of a laid construction. Preferably, there are thirty-two individual strands 10 forming the overbraided exterior sheath 8, each strand 10 having between twenty-four to thirty-six fibers in each strand, preferably of an abrasion resilient construction, and, especially, of a different construction than primary strand sheaths 21, that are formed with a construction that is too loose by industry standards for a protective braided sheath about a synthetic strength member. The selection of the fiber and material type for protective exterior sheath 8 depends upon the application, with known useful fiber types including Kevlar, Polyester, and other, and also include HMPE fibers of non-tape like and non-film like shapes, but rather of usual circular or near circular or figure eight and/or side by side shapes. However, any quantity of strands 10 forming the overbraided exterior sheath 8 that provide sufficient wear resistance and strength transfer to the strength member 7 are useful, including but not limited to twenty-four, twenty-eight, thirty-six, forty-two, forty-eight, up to sixty-four and even much more. The braid tension on each strand 10 forming the exterior sheath 8 during braiding operations preferably is about sixty-three kilogram, and can be from forty to one hundred sixty kilograms. Importantly, the braid tension on each strand forming a braided primary strand sheath 21 during braiding operations of any such braided primary strand sheath 21 when a braided sheath variant is selected for the primary strand sheaths 21 is lesser per strand forming a braided sheath 21 in comparison to the braid tension used per strand 10 during braiding operations when forming the coverbraided exterior sheath 8. The braid tension on each strand forming a braided primary strand sheath 21 during braiding operations of any such braided primary strand sheath 21 is preferably about seven kilograms, and can be from ten grams to thirty kilograms, though optionally it is nine times less than the braid tension used per strand 10 during braiding operations when forming the coverbraided exterior sheath 8, and is at least forty percent less.

(7) Optionally, and preferably, as shown in more easily visible detail in FIG. 3, elastic adhesive substance gap filling surface layer 13 fills in depressions on the surface of rope 1 formed in between adjacent coverbraid strands 10.

(8) In order to form the rope of the present disclosure:

Preferred Fabrication Methods

(9) There are two preferred embodiments of the present disclosure: one is a rope of the present disclosure for use in applications where the rope of the present disclosure is subject to storage under high compressive pressure, such as when used with high tension winches and drums, such as when used as a trawler's warp; another is where the rope of the present disclosure is not subject to storage under high compressive pressure, such as is common in many yachting applications.

(10) In forming a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure for use in applications where the rope of the present disclosure is subject to storage under high compressive pressure:

(11) First is provided a plurality of fibers that preferably are an ARAMID. An example of a presently preferred ARAMID fiber is Twaron, contrary to our prior disclosure. These fibers are used in forming several distinct strands that serve as the core strands 19. Preferably, a minimum of twelve distinct core strands 19 are formed, but a minimum of eighteen to twenty-four core strands is preferred for forming the strength member. Contrary to the state of the art and against the trend in the industry for forming blended ropes from high-strength fibers, the core strands 19 preferably are stranded directly from the ARAMID fibers without first stranding the ARAMID fibers into yarns and or bundles and then using those yarns and/or bundles to form strands to use in forming a blended rope. That is, direct stranding from ARAMID fibers presently is preferred for forming a core strand 19 for purposes of enacting the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. The ARAMID fibers stranded directly together to form each core strand 19 are preferably loosely twisted together.

(12) However, but not presently preferred, the process may be accomplished by first stranding the ARAMID fibers into yarns and or bundles and then using those yarns and/or bundles to form distinct core strands 19.

(13) Second, optionally but preferably, after forming the several distinct core strands 19 from ARAMID fibers, the core strands are saturated with impregnations agents and/or lubricative agents using known processes and agents and so as to minimize the potential for friction between various of the ARAMID fibers forming each core strand 19.

(14) Third, each of the distinct core strands 19 is wrapped by a distinct sheath 21, formed as already disclosed supra.

(15) Thus, provided are several main rope strands 17 each formed of an ARAMID core strand 19 ensheathed by a HMPE sheath 21.

(16) Fourth, next, several and preferably at least twelve, and more preferably at least eighteen to twenty-four already formed main rope strands 17 are used to form a braided strength member having a hollow braided construction that is achieved by using a braiding machine to braid together the main rope strands 17 about a flow shield 5 ensheathed thermoplastic rod that forms the core 3, where the main rope strands 17 are formed in a hollow braided construction about the flow shield ensheathed thermoplastic rod forming the core 3. Alternative to hollow braided, the strength member may be parallel laid, laid (including twisted) or plaited, but a hollow braided construction is strongly preferred. It is highly preferable and important for a preferred embodiment of the instant disclosure that a hollow braided strength member is selected that has a thermoplastic core having a sufficiently large diameter so that the core can be shaped during its molten phases in subsequent processing steps so as to fill out the natural interior cavity formed interior the hollow braided strength member under tension.

(17) Preferably, for a strength member is provided a braided strength member where the main rope strands 17 forming the strength member have been stretched so as to remove constructional elongation and so as to cause permanent elongation and permanent compaction of the strength member and all contained within it, after the main rope strands 17 have been braided into the strength member, so that the resultant strength member is unable to elongate greater than 5% before reaching break point when measured at an original tension of 100 Kg, and preferably so that the resultant strength member is unable to elongate greater than 3.5% before reaching break point when measured at an original tension of 100 Kg. In order to form such an embodiment of the present invention, that is in forming a strength member for the preferred form of the instant disclosure the following further steps are employed:

(18) First: a thermoplastic elongate object and especially a core formed of Polyethylene is provided, e.g. a PE rod, that ultimately forms core 3.

(19) Second: a flow shield 5 is formed about the thermoplastic rod 3. A preferred fashion to accomplish this is by braiding a tightly woven braided flow-shield sheath 5 around the thermoplastic rod 3. Filaments are selected to form the flow-shield sheath that are not made either liquid or semi-liquid at a temperature selected to change the phase of the thermoplastic rod, but rather that have a much higher softening point than the material of the thermoplastic rod. Polyester is suitable.

(20) Third: the main rope strands 17 are loaded onto bobbins that are loaded onto cars of a braided machine capable of forming hollow braids and are braided around the thermoplastic rod surrounded by a flow-shield sheath, so as to form a hollow braided strength member including a thermoplastic core surrounded by a flow-shield sheath.

(21) Fourth: the braided strength member having the thermoplastic rod surrounded by the flow-shield sheath as its core is then subject to tension and to heat, preferably by being subject first to tension and secondly to heat, while maintaining the tension, in such a fashion and under such conditions that the thermoplastic selected to form the thermoplastic core becomes semi-liquid, i.e. molten, at a temperature that is used to permanently elongate the braided strength member by applying about thirteen percent of the cool strength member's breaking force to the heated strength member. The flow shield-sheath 5 mainly or entirely stops the phase changed thermoplastic core from exiting the flow-shield sheath. That is, the majority of the thermoplastic core is unable to exit the flow-shield sheath even when the thermoplastic core is either liquid or semi-liquid, i.e. molten, despite enormous constrictive and compressive forces applied to the phase changed thermoplastic core as a result of the high tensions applied to the strength member, such high tensions able to permanently elongate the strength member under the conditions taught supra and herein.

(22) A preferred tension to be used in the disclosed processes for forming the disclosed rope is about thirteen to fifteen percent (13-15%) of the break strength of the strength member when such break strength is measured at room temperature, with up to twenty-two percent being useful, and in some cases even more.

(23) Importantly, the tension applied to the strength member, and thus necessarily also applied to the filaments forming the strength member, preferably is a static tension and/or a generally static tension and/or a very slowly fluctuating tension. After applying a predetermined tension (including approximately a predetermined tension), and while under such predetermined tension simultaneously the strength member, its filaments, and its thermoplastic core are heated to a predetermined temperature and/or to approximately a predetermined temperature as taught above and herein, with a minimum temperature of eighty (80) degrees C. being most preferred. Next, another tension may be applied to the strength member that is selected so as to permanently elongate the strength member a desired amount and also so as to permanently compact, e.g. cause a reduction in overall diameter of the strength member, to a desired amount, that also are amounts that reduce the capacity for ARAMID fibers forming the primary rope strands to move relative to one another.

(24) Fifth; when the braided strength member and its thermoplastic core and the thermoplastic core's flow shield have been elongated and compacted to predetermined amounts so as to create an ultra-compact rope, and to experience a reduction in overall exterior diameter of the rope of at least three percent, and also of at least fifteen percent, and also of from fifteen to thirty and up to forty-five percent in comparison to the rope's overall exterior diameter prior to the stretching and heat processing steps, the now elongated strength member and its elongated thermoplastic core are cooled while sufficient tension is maintained and applied to the strength member and thus by extension to its thermoplastic core 3 and other components during the cooling process so that all such components are cooled to their respective solid states while under a tension that results in the cooled main rope strands 17 formed from the core strands 19 as well as the cooled distinct primary strand sheaths 21 enclosing the core strands 19, as well as the strength member and its flow shield enclosed thermoplastic core 3 being permanently elongated, and the strength member being permanently compacted, and the thermoplastic core being permanently deformed to adapt to and, most preferably, so as to both adapt to and completely fill out the natural interior cavity of the hollow braided strength member 7 that is exhibited when the final formed strength member is under tension. The thermoplastic rod 3 is selected of sufficient diameter and bulk so as to permit so filling out the natural interior cavity of the strength member under tension. That is, the thermoplastic core is reshaped during the production process described supra so that the thermoplastic core supports the main rope strands 17 in their ideal positions, preventing them from being displaced by crushing forces incurred on high tension blocks, by being selected of sufficient diameter and bulk to permit filling out the needed interior cavity of the strength member being formed, and by being first changed in phase from solid to molten state, and retaining in molten state while the strength member is permanently elongated and permanently compacted, and by having the strength member retained under tension, that is, subject to strain, while cooling the strength member and also the thermoplastic core so that it returns to its solid phase while the strength member is maintained at sufficient tension to retain the desired amount of permanent elongation. This process causes the strength member to: a) to acquire a lower capacity for elongation than it had prior to its having been permanently elongated and permanently compacted, and prior to having had its thermoplastic core adapted to fill the strength members internal cavity; b) to acquire a substantially lesser diameter and a greater compactness than it had prior to its having been permanently elongated and permanently compacted; c) to result in less capability for relative movement between ARAMID fibers forming the primary rope strands; and d) to acquire to its thermoplastic content core a permanent solid shape, having at its surface the flow shield sheath also taking the same shape as the exterior of the core, that supports the interior cavity of the permanently elongated hollow braided strength member in such a fashion that the filaments and braid strands forming the strength member are sufficiently less able to move relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the long dimension of the permanently elongated strength member in comparison to prior to the strength member having been permanently elongated so as to reduce filament to filament abrasive wear, and also so as to preclude crushing of the rope, especially under high compressive forces such as occurs during reeling/winding upon and storage on a high tension drum, the necessary tension to achieve such result for any particular LCP and HMPE blend formed according to the present disclosures teachings able to further be experimentally determined by one of ordinary skill in the art after having read the present disclosure.

(25) Surprisingly and unexpectedly, and directly contrary to the explicit teachings and state of the art and trend in the industry, the blended strength member of the present disclosure benefits from the above described production process as disclosed above despite the fact that its main rope strands are formed mainly from ARAMID fibers.

(26) Sixth; optionally, and preferably, an elastic adhesive substance, especially a two or more component polyurethane blend, is used to adhere the formed strength member to an exterior braided sheath 8. The elastic adhesive substance is chosen as a flowable settable adhesive substance. While it is in a liquid and/or semi-liquid (including “flowable”) phase, it is situated upon the outside surface of the preferably permanently elongated strength member, in contact with surfaces of multiple of the distinct primary strand sheaths 21. Then a preferably braided exterior sheath 8 is formed about the combination of the permanently elongated strength member and the flowable settable adhesive substance, still in its flowable phase.

(27) The final formed and final processed strength member preferably has the elastic adhesive substance situated exterior the itself just prior to the exterior sheath 8 being braided about the strength member.

(28) Examples of the Present Disclosure:

(29) 1. A synthetic fiber rope capable of being used in application with high tension blocks, i.e. in an application requiring bending around high tension blocks while being subjected to strain, that can also include travelling while simultaneously bending around high tension blocks while being subject to strain, the rope having an outer sheath (8) enclosing at least a strength member (7), the strength member (7) being a blended strength member (7) comprising: (i) ARAMID fibers; and (ii) HMPE fibers, the blended strength member comprising main rope strands (17), at least most and preferably all of the main rope strands (17) each comprising: (a) a core (19) formed mainly and preferably entirely of: (i) ARAMID fibers; and (b) a structure (21) that mainly is situated about and around the outer periphery of each said core (19) and that is formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE.

(30) 2. The synthetic fiber rope of example 1 comprising a braided strength member formed of multiple main rope strands (17) where most and preferably each of said multiple main rope strands (17) are further characterized by the fact that: (i) mainly and preferably entirely ARAMID fibers form the fiber quotient of said strands' cores (19); and (ii) each said structure (21) that is situated about and around the outer periphery of each of said strands' cores (19) also mainly is situated at the outer periphery of the main rope strand (17) with which is associated the structure (21).

(31) 3. The rope of examples 1 or 2 where the structure (21) of a most and preferably each of said main rope strands (17) is formed as a sheath (21) of fibers HMPE fiber, and is situated about its associated core (19) and where its associated core (19) is formed of ARAMID fibers.

(32) 4. The rope of any one of examples 1 to 3 wherein the weight ratio in the strength member (7) of ARAMID fibers relative to HMPE in the strength member (7), is at minimum 80:20.

(33) 5. The rope of claim 5 wherein the weight ratio is at minimum 90:10 and more preferably a minimum of 97:3.

(34) 6. The rope of example 5 where most and preferably each sheath (21) is formed as a hollow braided sheath formed of braid strands.

(35) 7. The rope of example 6 where most and preferably all braid strands forming most and preferably each hollow braided sheath (21) are a filament of HMPE film.

(36) 8. The rope of any one of examples 4 to 7 where the fibers forming most and preferably each core (19) are ARAMID fibers that are Twaron fiber, and where the ARAMID fibers have a different cross section than the cross section of the material formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE forming the sheath (21), where HMPE film fibers form the sheath (21).

(37) 9. The rope of any of examples 5 to 8 where most and preferably all the core portions (19) are formed mainly of ARAMID fibers, and preferably of Twaron fibers, and where most and preferably all the core portions (19) as well as the sheaths (21) associated with the core portions (19) have cross-sectional shapes when viewed in a plane that is perpendicular to the long axis of any of (i) a main rope strand (17); or (ii) the strength member (7), where the cross sectional shapes do not define a circular shape.

(38) 10. The rope of example 9 where the cross-sectional shapes do not define either an ellipse or an oval.

(39) 11. The rope of any one of claims 8 to 10 where the film shaped strands forming each hollow braided sheath (21) do not rotate or twist about their own long axis for at least lengths of the strength member (7) that are greater than twenty centimeters in length and preferably for lengths extending the full length of the strength member.

(40) 12. The rope of any one of examples 1 to 11 where most and preferably each core portion (19) lacks yarns.

(41) 13. A process for producing a rope having a blended strength member, the process having at least steps of:

(42) First: providing a thermoplastic elongate object (3) and especially a core (3) formed of PE and preferably formed as a PE rod;

(43) Second: forming a flow-shield sheath (5) around the thermoplastic rod (3);

(44) Third: forming several strands (17) where each strand includes ARAMID fibers; and (ii) a material formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE;

(45) Fourth: loading a braiding machine capable of forming a hollow braided sheath with at least several of the strands (17) from the third step, and using the loaded braiding machine to form a hollow braided strength member (7) about the combination of at least the thermoplastic core (3) and its associated flow-shield sheath (5);

(46) Fifth: subjecting the braided strength member (7) enclosing the thermoplastic core (3) that is sheathed within the flow-shield sheath (5) to tension and to heat, preferably by first subjecting the strength member (7) to tension and, secondly, by subjecting it to a heat suitable to change the phase of the thermoplastic core (3) to a semi-liquid phase, while choosing tension that may be either constant or variable and that at least at some point during application of tension is sufficient to permanently elongate and permanently compact the strength member;

(47) Sixth: determining that a desired amount of elongation as well as desired amount of compaction of the strength member all contained within it has occurred, followed by subsequently, while maintaining tension sufficiently to preserve a desired amount of elongation and compaction of the strength member, cooling the strength member and all it contains at least until the thermoplastic core achieves a solid phase, the process comprising a step of selecting to form the strands (17) as (a) a core (19) formed mainly and preferably entirely of ARAMID fibers; and (b) a structure (21) that is mainly situated about and around the outer periphery of said core (19) and that is formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE.

(48) 14. The process of example 13 further comprising selecting to form most and preferably each of the strands (17) with proportionally greater quantities of the ARAMID fibers in comparison to the quantity of material formed mainly and preferably entirely of HMPE.

(49) 15. The process of any one of examples 13 or 14 further comprising selecting to form the structure (21) as a layer situated about the exterior periphery of its associated core (19).

(50) 16. The process of example 15 further comprising forming most and preferably each layer (21) as a braided sheath sufficiently tight that it reduces relative movement of ARAMID fibers forming its associated core (19), and also so that any such core (19) as well as any such sheath (21) are subsequently permanently deformed during the permanent elongation and compaction steps, and so as to adopt a cross sectional shape being none of circular, oval or elliptical.

(51) 17. The process of example 16 further comprising forming most and preferably each layer (21) as a sheath sufficiently loosely about its associated core (19) so that any such core (19) as well as any such sheath (21) are subsequently permanently deformed during the permanent elongation and compaction steps while not rupturing the sheath (21) and so as to adopt a cross sectional shape being none of circular, oval or elliptical.

(52) 18. The process of any one of examples 14 to 17 further comprising selecting to saturate most and preferably all of the fiber cores (19) with a lubricative substance that contacts the fibers prior to forming the layer (21), so as to minimize the potential for friction between various of the fibers, and selecting to conduct the saturating prior to forming the layers (21) about their associated cores (19), and prior to forming the strength member (7) from various of the strands (17).

(53) 19. The process of any one of examples 14 to 18 further comprising selecting for the strength member (7) a weight ratio of the ARAMID fibers relative to the HMPE, where said weight ratio is at minimum 80:20.

(54) 20. The process of claim 19 where said weight ratio is a minimum of 90:10.

(55) 21. The process of claim 20 where said weight ratio is a minimum of 97:3.

(56) 22. The process of any one of examples 17 to 21 further comprising selecting to form at least some and preferably each of said sheaths (21) from a film of HMPE.

(57) 23. The process of example 22 further comprising selecting to form and least some and preferably each of said sheaths (21) by selecting to wrap the film of HMPE around the core.

(58) 24. The process of any one of examples 17 to 22 further comprising selecting to form and least some and preferably each of said sheaths (21) as braided sheaths, and selecting for braid strands forming said braided sheaths a filament formed of HMPE film.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(59) Ropes formed according to teachings of the present disclosure may be used as crane ropes, deep sea deployment and recovery ropes, tow ropes, towing warps, trawl warps (also known as “trawlwarps”), deep sea lowering and lifting ropes, powered block rigged mooring ropes, powered block rigged oil derrick anchoring ropes used with blocks and also with powered blocks, deep sea mooring ropes, deep sea winch lines, superwides and paravane lines used in seismic surveillance including but not limited to being used with towed arrays, yachting ropes, rigging ropes for pleasure craft including but not limited to sail craft, running rigging, powered block rigged anchor ropes, drag lines, and other.

(60) Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, various alterations, modifications and/or alternative applications of the disclosure are, no doubt, able to be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art upon having read the preceding disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications or alternative applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.