Abstract: A rope structure adapted to engage an intermediate structure while loads are applied to ends of the rope structure comprises a primary strength component and a coating. The primary strength component comprises a plurality of fibers adapted to bear the loads applied to the ends of the rope structure. The coating comprises a mixture of a lubricant portion and a binder portion. The lubricant portion comprises particles having an average size of within approximately 0.01 microns to 2.00 microns. The binder portion is applied to the primary strength portion as a liquid and dries to support the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers. The matrix supports the lubricant portion such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between at least some of the plurality of fibers and between at least some of the plurality of fibers and the intermediate structure.

Abstract: A rope structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns. The first yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising HMPE, LCP, Aramids, and PBO, have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-5%, and have a tenacity of approximately 25-45 gpd. The second yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and blends or copolymers of the two, have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-12%, and have a tenacity of approximately 6-22 gpd. The first and second yarns are combined to form rope sub-components. The rope sub-components comprise approximately 20-80% by weight of the first yarns.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of rope subcomponents, a plurality of bundles, a plurality of first yarns, and a plurality of second yarns. The rope subcomponents are combined to form the rope structure. The bundles are combined to form the rope subcomponents. The first yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising HMPE, LCP, Aramids, and PBO and have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-5%. The plurality of second yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and blends or copolymers of the two and have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-12%. The first and second yarns are combined to form the bundles.

Abstract: A rope structure contains first and second sets of fibers. The first set of fibers is twisted together. The second set of fibers is twisted around the first set of fibers to form yarns. The first set of fibers is formed of a first material, the second set of fibers is formed of a second material, and elongation of the first set of fibers is different from elongation of the second set of fibers. Twists applied to the first and second fibers are such that loads on the rope structure are substantially evenly distributed across individual fibers. The yarns are combined to form strands in the form of a 3-strand rope. The strands are combined using a single braid process to form the rope structure defining a void space. The rope structure is formed such that lengths of fibers in the first and second sets are approximately the same.

Abstract: A dragline excavator system has a support assembly, a hoist coupler assembly suspended from the support assembly, a bucket assembly suspended from the hoist coupler assembly, a sheave assembly supported by the hoist coupler assembly, a drag coupler assembly, and at least one dump rope operatively connected to the drag coupler assembly and the bucket assembly. The at least one dump rope extends through the sheave assembly. The at least one dump rope is formed of at least one fiber made from at least one of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE), poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), aromatic polyamide (Aramid), polyester, nylon, polyolefin, polypropylene (PP), carbon, and glass.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of fibers combined to form a plurality of yarns which are in turn combined to form a plurality of strands. The plurality of strands are combined using a single braid process to form the rope structure defining a void space. At least one of the fibers, the yarns, and the strands are configured substantially to reduce a volume of the void space and thereby maintain a shape of the rope structure when the rope structure is under load.

Abstract: A rope structure adapted to engage an external structure comprising a primary strength component and a coating. The primary strength component comprises a plurality of fibers. The coating comprises a lubricant portion and a binder portion that fixes the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers. The coating is applied to the primary strength component such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between adjacent fibers and reduces friction between fibers and the external structure.

Abstract: A blended yarn comprises a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. Abrasion resistance characteristics of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A gripping ability of the second fibers is greater than a gripping ability of the first fibers. The plurality of second fibers are combined with the plurality of first fibers such that the first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn at least a portion of the second fibers are engaged with and extend from the plurality of first fibers effectively to define surface characteristics of the blended yarn.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a core component comprising core fibers combine to form a first rope structure and a first cover component comprising first cover strands comprising first cover fibers within a first matrix material. The first cover strands are arranged around at least a portion of the core component.

Abstract: A rope system comprising a rope structure comprising an intact portion comprising intact strands and a disassembled portion comprising loose strands. The loose strands are passed into an interior of the rope structure. Each loose strand is passed from the interior of the rope structure to the exterior of the rope structure adjacent to an associated intact strand. Each loose strand is extended along and wrapped around its associated intact strand at at least one wrap location.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of rope subcomponents, a plurality of bundles, a plurality of first yarns, and a plurality of second yarns. The rope subcomponents are combined to form the rope structure. The bundles are combined to form the rope subcomponents. The first yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising HMPE, LCP, Aramids, and PBO and have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-5%. The plurality of second yarns are formed of at least one material selected from the group of materials comprising polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, and blends or copolymers of the two and have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-12%. The first and second yarns are combined to form the bundles.

Abstract: A rope comprising a plurality of yarns, where at least one of the plurality of yarns is a blended yarn comprising a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. Abrasion resistance properties of the blended yarn are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A coefficient of friction of the first fibers is less than a coefficient of friction of the second fibers. The second fibers substantially define abrasion resistance and coefficient of friction characteristics of the at least one blended yarn. When the rope contacts a structural member, the first set of fibers of the at least one blended yarn substantially bear tension loads on the at least one blended yarn and at least a portion of the second fibers of the at least one blended yarn substantially lie between the set of first fibers and the structural member.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of fibers combined to form a plurality of yarns which are in turn combined to form a plurality of strands. The plurality of strands are combined using a single braid process to form the rope structure defining a void space. At least one of the fibers, the yarns, and the strands are configured substantially to reduce a volume of the void space and thereby maintain a shape of the rope structure when the rope structure is under load.

Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a line structure for use as a mud line assembly. In this case, the line structure comprises a plurality of strands, and each of the strands comprises a core portion, a jacket portion, and a barrier portion. The barrier portion is arranged between the core portion and the jacket portion to inhibit movement of contaminate material into the core portion.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of rope subcomponents, a plurality of bundles combined to form the rope subcomponents, a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns combined to form the bundles. In one embodiment, the first yarns have a tenacity of approximately 25-45 gpd and the second yarns have a tenacity of approximately 6-22 gpd. In another embodiment, the first yarns have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-5% and the second yarns have a breaking elongation of approximately 2%-12%.

Abstract: A rope structure comprising a plurality of fibers combined to form a plurality of yarns which are in turn combined to form a plurality of strands. The plurality of strands are combined using a single braid process to form the rope structure defining a void space. At least one of the fibers, the yarns, and the strands are configured substantially to reduce a volume of the void space and thereby maintain a shape of the rope structure when the rope structure is under load.

Abstract: A rope comprising a plurality of yarns, where at least one of the plurality of yarns is a blended yarn comprising a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. Aabrasion resistance properties of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is less than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. The second fibers substantially define abrasion resistance and coefficient of friction characteristics of the at least one blended yarn. When the rope contacts a structural member, the first set of fibers of the at least one blended yarn substantially bear tension loads on the at least one blended yarn and at least a portion of the second fibers of the at least one blended yarn substantially lie between the set of first fibers and the structural member.

Abstract: A fire resistant rope and method of making the same. The fire resistant rope comprises a core, a jacket, and a fire retardant coating. The core comprises a plurality of strands. Each core strand comprises a plurality of core yarns, and each core yarn comprises a plurality of high tensile strength fibers. The jacket comprises a plurality of jacket strands. Each jacket strand comprises a plurality of jacket yarns and each jacket yarn comprises a plurality of high temperature resistant fibers. The fire retardant coating formed on at least one of the core and the jacket. The fire retardant coating expands when subjected to temperatures above a state-change level. At least a portion of the expanded coating inhibits transfer of heat to the core. The state-change level is below a failure temperature defined by the materials from which at least some of the fibers forming the core are formed.

Abstract: A rope structure adapted to engage an external structure comprising a primary strength component and a coating. The primary strength component comprises a plurality of fibers. The coating comprises a lubricant portion and a binder portion that fixes the lubricant portion relative to at least some of the fibers. The coating is applied to the primary strength component such that the lubricant portion reduces friction between adjacent fibers and reduces friction between fibers and the external structure.

Abstract: A blended yarn and method of making the same. The blended yarn is formed into a rope adapted to engage structural member and comprises a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. The abrasion resistance properties of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers. A coefficient of friction of the second fibers is less than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers. The first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn. A plurality of blended yarns are combined to form the rope such that, when the rope contacts the structural member, the second fibers of the blended yarn are primarily in contact with the structural member and the first set of fibers substantially bear tension loads on the rope.