Dump Rope for a Dragline Excavator

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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dragline excavator system comprising:
 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, the bucket assembly, where the dump rope extends through the sheave assembly; wherein   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.   
     
     
         2 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 1 , in which the at least one dump rope is formed of a blend of at least two fibers made from at least two of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE), poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), aromatic polyamide (Aramid), polyester, nylon, polyolefin, polypropylene (PP), carbon, and glass. 
     
     
         3 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 1 , in which each dump rope comprises a first loop and a second loop, where the first loop is connected to the bucket assembly and the second loop is connected to the drag coupler assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 1 , in which each dump rope is formed from a rope structure in which first and second ends of the rope structure are spliced to the rope structure to form the first and second loops. 
     
     
         5 . The dragline excavator of  claim 4 , in which each dump rope defines a first splice region and a second splice region. 
     
     
         6 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 1 , in which an elongation of the dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 4 percent. 
     
     
         7 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 1 , in which an elongation of the dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 5 percent. 
     
     
         8 . The dragline excavator system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the at least one dump rope comprises first and second dump ropes. 
     
     
         9 . A dragline excavator system comprising:
 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, the bucket assembly, where the dump rope extends through the sheave assembly; wherein   the at least one dump rope is made of synthetic fibers; and   an elongation of the at least one dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 4 percent.   
     
     
         10 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 9 , in which an elongation of the at least one dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 5 percent. 
     
     
         11 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 9 , in which the at least one dump rope is formed from 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 
     
     
         12 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 9 , in which the at least one dump rope is formed of a blend of at least two fibers made from at least two of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE), poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), aromatic polyamide (Aramid), polyester, nylon, polyolefin, polypropylene (PP), carbon, and glass. 
     
     
         13 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 9 , in which each dump rope comprises a first loop and a second loop, where the first loop is connected to the bucket assembly and the second loop is connected to the drag coupler assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 9 , in which each dump rope is formed from a rope structure in which first and second ends of the rope structure are spliced to the rope structure to form the first and second loops. 
     
     
         15 . The dragline excavator system of  claim 14 , in which each dump rope defines a first splice region and a second splice region. 
     
     
         16 . The dragline excavator system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the at least one dump rope comprises first and second dump ropes. 
     
     
         17 . A dump rope for a dragline excavator system comprising:
 a first loop;   a second loop; and   a central portion; wherein the 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; and   an elongation of the dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 4 percent.   
     
     
         18 . The dump rope of  claim 17 , in which the dump rope is formed of a blend of at least two fibers made from at least two of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE), poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), aromatic polyamide (Aramid), polyester, nylon, polyolefin, polypropylene (PP), carbon, and glass. 
     
     
         19 . The dump rope of  claim 17 , in which the dump rope is formed from a rope structure in which first and second ends of the rope structure are spliced to the rope structure to form the first and second loops. 
     
     
         20 . The dump rope of  claim 17 , in which the dump rope defines a first splice region and a second splice region. 
     
     
         21 . The dump rope of  claim 17 , in which an elongation of the dump rope is within a first range of less than approximately 5 percent.