Rope for urban transport systems

Abstract

 A rope for closed-path urban transport systems of the type provided with a central core and with a plurality of outside strands (13) exhibits at least seven outside strands (13) for the purpose of forming an outline of the rope allowing the reduction of the onset of vibrations. The rope exhibits a central extruded core (11) around which, during the rope stranding, a shell consisting of fibrous material is realised. As an alternative, the rope is provided with a metal core (21), optionally plasticised, on which the stranding is carried out. The rope can also exhibit an outside coating layer (31) made of a plastic material.

Description

[0001] Object of the present invention is a rope for closed-path urban transport systems.

[0002] As known, ropes for closed-path urban transport systems consist of six outside strands.

[0003] This type of construction meets the dimensional requirements of the realisation of the rope end junction, even though it exhibits some technical disadvantages, better illustrated in the following description.

[0004] The main feature of the ropes intended for closed-path urban transport systems is the possibility of realising their continuous-loop joint.

[0005] To correctly connect the two ends of the rope, the size of the central core must be more than the diameter of the rope strands so as to insert the strand ends at the centre of the rope (originally occupied by the core).

[0006] Since in such portions of the junction the core must be removed, it cannot be assigned the function of supporting loads, and therefore generally it is made of non-metal materials (natural, artificial fibres, extruded materials, etc.).

[0007] The features of the material used for constructing the core greatly affect the dimensional stability of the rope both as regards the elastic elongation of the rope under tension, and the plastic elongation depending on the load application time.

[0008] Cores consisting of fibrous materials do not allow the desired stability and moreover, due to their fibrous structure, they can generate dimensional irregularities of the ropes produced with them (irregularities relating to the rope diameter and to the spacing between the strands).

[0009] Moreover, the outline of such ropes is such as to generate vibrations during the passage of the rope on the support and deviation rollers, with a consequent reduction of the passengers' comfort and with mechanical problems to the system.

[0010] These problems are extremely important in urban transport systems, where the rope tension can be very low with respect to that of lifts.

[0011] Thus, purpose of the present invention is that of realising a rope for closed-path urban transport systems which should allow solving the above problems, in particular by reducing vibrations during the rope operation.

[0012] A further purpose of the present invention is that of realising a rope for closed-path urban transport systems which, although considerably reducing vibrations, should in any case maintain the possibility of extending the junction of the ends of the same rope through splice.

[0013] These and other purposes are obtained through a rope for closed-path urban transport systems, according to claim 1, to which reference shall be made for shortness.

[0014] Moreover, further features of the present invention are defined in the following claims.

[0015] Further features and advantages of the present invention shall appear more clearly from the following description and attached drawings, provided by way of an explicative and non-limiting example. In such drawings:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic sectioned view of a rope for closed-path urban transport systems, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a schematic sectioned view of a second alternative embodiment of the rope of the invention; and
• Figure 3 shows a schematic sectioned view of a third alternative embodiment of the rope of the invention.

[0016] With particular reference to figure 1, the rope for closed-path urban transport systems, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is collectively indicated with reference numeral 10.

[0017] Rope 10 for transport systems exhibits a central extruded core 11, around which, during the rope stranding, a shell consisting of a fibrous material is realised.

[0018] In particular, the shell consists of a plurality of small stranded textile ropes 12.

[0019] Moreover, rope 10 exhibits a number of strands 13 equal to seven, and the number of small stranded textile ropes 12 is equal to the number of strands 13 of rope 10.

[0020] The extruded core 11 has a higher compactness with respect to the cores consisting of fibrous materials.

[0021] With reference to figure 2, a rope for transport systems according to another embodiment of the invention, is collectively indicated with reference numeral 20.

[0022] Also rope 20 exhibits a number of strands 13 equal to seven.

[0023] Rope 20 is provided with a metal core 21 which can optionally be coated with plastic, where such inside coating is indicated with reference numeral 22.

[0024] Stranding is performed on the hot-formed plasticised metal core 21.

[0025] It is also possible to provide an interposed thickness between strands 13 and core 21.

[0026] With reference to figure 3, a rope for transport systems according to another embodiment of the invention, is collectively indicated with reference numeral 30.

[0027] Also such rope 30 exhibits seven strands 13 and is provided with a metal core 21, which can be optionally coated with plastic, with the inside coating 22.

[0028] In such embodiment there is also present outside coating material 31.

[0029] In synthesis, it can be noted that the described ropes 10, 20 and 30 having seven strands 13 are capable of improving the rope outline for the purpose of reducing vibrations during its operation, maintaining in any case the possibility of performing the junction of its ends through splice.

[0030] Further constructive variants of the present invention (the production of parallel or crossed-winding ropes, the use of metal cores having the same or opposed direction with respect to the rope, the use of compacted strands) allow adapting this type of product to specific requirements connected to the single systems or to operating conditions in which they can advantageously be used.

[0031] It is also possible to provide for a number of strands 13 higher than seven.

[0032] The features of the rope for closed-circuit urban transport systems, object of the present invention, as well as its advantages, clearly appear from the above description.

[0033] The following considerations are intended to better highlight such advantages.

[0034] The use of seven outside strands improves the rope outline, thus reducing the onset of vibrations.

[0035] The use of a core exhibiting a central extruded core 11, around which during the rope stranding a shell consisting of fibrous material is realised, allows reducing the anaelastic elongation of the rope.

[0036] The use of a metal core (optionally coated with plastic) reduces both the elastic and the anaelastic elongation of the rope.

[0037] The use of an outside coating made of a plastic material around the rope optimises its outline for preventing vibrations.

[0038] Finally, it is clear that several variants can be made to the rope for closed-path urban transport systems object of the present invention without departing from the novelty principles of the inventive idea.

[0039] In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details can be of any type according to the requirements, and the same can be replaced with other technically equivalent details.

Claims

1. Rope (10, 20, 30) for closed-path urban transport systems of the type provided with a central core and a plurality of outside strands (13), characterised in that it provides for the presence of at least seven of the above outside strands (13) for the purpose of forming a rope outline allowing the reduction of the onset of vibrations.

2. Rope (10), according to claim 1, characterised in that the above rope (10) exhibits a central extruded core (11) around which, during the rope stranding, a shell consisting of fibrous material is realised.

3. Rope (10), according to claim 2, characterised in that the above shell consists of a plurality of small stranded textile ropes (12), whose number is equal to the number of the aforesaid strands (13) of the aforesaid rope (10).

4. Rope (20), according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a metal core (21) on which stranding is carried out.

5. Rope (20), according to claim 4, characterised in that on the above metal core (21) there is present inside coating plastic material (22).

6. Rope (20), according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that it is provided with an interposed thickness between the aforesaid strands (13) and the aforesaid core (21).

7. Rope (30), according to claim 4, characterised in that it is provided with an outside coating layer (31) made of a plastic material.

Drawing