A contribution to the valuation of the prospective service life of winding ropes in Koepe-winding systems in mining

In transport and lifting technology, wire ropes of various designs are used. Ropes, such as those used in cranes, elevators, shelf systems, and winding systems in mining, is given particular consideration in this context. Force induction into moving ropes is normally assured by:
- drums or
- Koepe friction wheels.
These two ways of force induction result in varying stresses to the ropes. Further dominating parameters are the sheave/friction wheel/drum to rope diameter ratios and the tractive efforts in operation. With consideration of these parameters the rope fatigue phenomena were investigated in a large number of studies. Up to present it was standard practice to plot the possible number of alternating bending cycles against the tractive efforts used, and to consider as parameter the ratio of the wheel/sheave diameter to the rope diameter as well as the rope construction. From the variety or results on hand meanwhile, forecasts of the service life of ropes used on rope systems with similar design features may be deduced.

Author: D. Fuchs