Cable Armoring System

Abstract

A novel cable construction provided an armored covering over a cable containing high-strength synthetic filaments. The synthetic cable is provided with a strong and tough termination where it attaches to heavy machinery, such as mining machinery. An external armoring is then provided for a desired portion of the cable (up to the entire length of the cable). A collar is preferably provided to seal the end of the armoring portion to a cable jacket (where a cable jacket is present).

1 . A mining machine for scooping material, comprising:
 a. a cab;   b. a boom extending to a point sheave;   c. a bucket assembly;   d. a lift rope extending from said bucket assembly over said point sheave and to said cab, said lift rope being wrapped around a hoist drum;   e. said lift rope configured to cycle between a low position in which said bucket assembly is in a low position and a high position in which said bucket assembly is in a high position;   f. said lift rope including a wire rope portion wrapped around said hoist drum and extending out to a wire rope junction, and a synthetic portion extending from said wire rope junction over said point sheave to proximate said bucket assembly;   g. wherein said wire rope junction lies between said hoist drum and said point sheave when said bucket assembly is in said low position and said high position; and   h. cable armoring on said lift tope, extending from proximate said bucket assembly up to a level below said point sheave when said bucket assembly is in said high position.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. a dragline rope configured to pull said bucket assembly toward said cab;   b. a portion of said dragline rope being wrapped around a dragline drum;   c. said dragline rope including a wire rope portion wrapped around said dragline drum and a synthetic portion attached to said bucket assembly; and   d. said wire rope portion of said dragline rope being joined to said synthetic portion of said dragline rope by a dragline junction.   
     
     
         4 . The mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cable armoring comprises fiber-reinforced rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a collar sealing an upper end of said cable armoring. 
     
     
         6 . The mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said point sheave is powered. 
     
     
         7 . The mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a spray nozzle configured to clean said lift rope before it passes over said point sheave. 
     
     
         8 . The mining machine as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a brush assembly configured to clean said lift rope before it passes over said point sheave.