Manufacture method and apparatus for improved efficiency reduced cost rope for pelagic trawls

Abstract

A method for producing a rope ( 35 ) that is useful for forming pelagic trawl mesh, particularly self-spreading trawl mesh. The rope ( 35 ): 1. is stronger for a given amount of material; 2. has less drag; 3. exhibits the same. or better lift when subjected to water flow at trawl mesh angles of attack; and 4. is also less costly to manufacture in comparison with known helix rope constructions. Most broadly, the method and apparatus of the present disclosure include a standard braiding apparatus ( 11 ) where an additional planetary carrier apparatus orbits about the outside of the usual planetary carrier apparatus, at a same or similar height as the usual planetary carrier apparatus, at a lower speed than the usual planetary carrier apparatus, and preferably carries fewer bobbins ( 19 ) than the usual planetary carrier apparatus.

1 . A braiding apparatus capable of forming a braided sheath about a central core, the braiding apparatus having both a support member and at least a first planetary carrier apparatus that has:
 a) a series of drivers carried by the support member and arranged so as to encircle an imaginary axis line ( 20 ) passing through a braiding point;   b) a mechanism to rotate adjacent of said drivers in opposite directions;   a plurality of cars, each car capable of
 i. carrying a quantity of a strand; and 
 ii. being driven by the driver for travel in serpentine intersecting paths in opposite directions around the imaginary axis line ( 20 ), 
   
       the braiding apparatus also having a second planetary carrier apparatus, the braiding apparatus characterized by the fact that the second planetary carrier apparatus includes a track ( 14 ) and a reverse curved track portion ( 24 ) that are sitioned at a height that is above a height that is positioned the first planetary carrier apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . The braiding apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that the braiding apparatus includes an upper braid ring ( 12 ) and a lower braid ring ( 13 ). 
     
     
         3  and  4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The braiding apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that at least a car ( 15 ) of the second planetary carrier apparatus passes along the reverse curved track portion ( 24 ) between imaginary axis line ( 20 ) and at least a strand ( 397 ) associated with at least a bobbin ( 18 ) of the first planetary carrier apparatus with fewer passes per revolution of the at least a car ( 15 ) around the imaginary axis line ( 20 ) compared to the quantity of passes of at least a strand ( 397 ) between other strands ( 397 ) and the imaginary axis line ( 20 ) per revolution of the at least a bobbin ( 18 ) around the imaginary axis line ( 20 ), thereby causing a strand ( 36 ) paying out from bobbin ( 19 ) to be interwoven with other strands ( 397 ) forming the braided sheath with a lesser quantity of bindings ( 44 ) per complete rotation of the strand ( 36 ) around the central core. 
     
     
         6 . The braiding apparatus of  claim 1  further characterized in that the track ( 14 ) and the reverse curved track portion ( 24 ) are made of more than one rail. 
     
     
         8 . The braiding apparatusof  claim 5  wherein the second planetary carrier apparatus includes a digitally controlled apparatus that includes the car ( 15 ). 
     
     
         9 . The braiding apparatus of  claim 2  further characterized in that the track ( 14 ) and the reverse curved track portion ( 24 ) are made of rsore than one rail. 
     
     
         10  though  12 . (canceled)