Abstract: A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail of a boat includes a core having at least one termination end and a bight, and at least one layer of fiber wound around the core, wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over a center portion of the bight has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core and wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over the at least one termination end has a second pitch angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. The fiber layer includes a transition zone disposed between the at least one termination end and the center portion, wherein a fiber in the transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle.

Abstract: A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail of a boat includes a core having at least one termination end and a bight, and at least one layer of fiber wound around the core, wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over a center portion of the bight has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core and wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over the at least one termination end has a second pitch angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. The fiber layer includes a transition zone disposed between the at least one termination end and the center portion, wherein a fiber in the transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle.

Abstract: A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail of a boat includes a core having at least one termination end and a bight, and at least one layer of fiber wound around the core, wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over a center portion of the bight has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core and wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over the at least one termination end has a second pitch angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. The fiber layer includes a transition zone disposed between the at least one termination end and the center portion, wherein a fiber in the transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle.

Abstract: Shaped terminations for composite tension members, as well as methods for creating such shaped terminations. A shaped termination is consolidated into a solid mass that is substantially uniform in structure. Heat and pressure are used to shape and fuse the carbon fiber composite into geometries having favorable loading characteristics. This durably fixes the components of the tension member into an optimized arrangement for the intended loading configuration such that unequal stresses are minimized. Terminal geometry can be formed by re-forming existing material, or by adding additional material, which can comprise a thermoplastic composite material or other epoxy/resin composite, metal, tow, tape, mat, or other fibers, to the inside or outside of the tension member. The terminal may be machined and/or thermoformed before and/or after the addition of material.