Working Group D Rope attachments

Most rope end connections, including those between the carriers of aerial tramways and haul ropes, have to satisfy high demands. Although subjected to alternating stress and weathering, they are expected to transmit the rope forces involved for years or even decades on end without weakening. The conventional type of connection used for such purposes is the cast socket, for the production of which a good deal of care is necessary. If, for instance, all traces of the pickling agent used for cleaning the wires' ends are not removed, water may seep in and cause internal corrosion. Since wire failure and corrosion within and at the socket entry cannot be reliably detected, the cast socket is not dependable enough. This has been demonstrated by recent accidents . Attaching of the rope ends by the use of anchoring drums is only possible where there is adequate accommodation for the large and heavy drums required. Consequently it was decided to develop a rope end connection that was not only reliable and easy to make and check, but which was of about the same size as the cast socket and could thus be easily exchanged. Extensive theoretical work and testing led finally to the clamp-type socket described below.

Author: G. Oplatka