Tension Element Made of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a tension member (such as a cable or rod) made from fiber-reinforced plastic, especially carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, with one or more loops at its ends for anchoring. The innovative aspect is the way the fibers are arranged and looped: two groups of parallel fibers are bent into the loop in opposite directions, with the fiber ends staggered at various distances from the loop's apex. This creates a tension member with a gradually decreasing cross-section outside the loop area, strengthening the anchoring and enabling efficient force transmission.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Construction of buildings, bridges, and tunnels requiring high-strength tension elements
• Lightweight structural supports in sports facilities, towers, and stadiums
• Tension cables or rods in cranes, ships, wind turbines, and other heavy machinery
• Anchoring systems where corrosion resistance and high tensile strength are needed, such as marine or offshore applications
• Reinforcement of lightweight composite structures in automotive or aerospace engineering

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• High tensile strength-to-weight ratio, due to use of advanced fibers like carbon fiber
• Improved anchoring strength and reduced failure risk at looped ends, thanks to staggered fiber arrangement and gradual cross-section transition
• Enhanced durability and corrosion resistance compared to conventional metal tension elements
• Customization in dimension and form, allowing made-to-measure tension elements for diverse engineering needs
• Potential for on-site or flexible manufacturing, reducing reliance on complex factory setups
• Versatility in integration with various fiber types beyond carbon, including glass, aramid, basalt, or their combinations

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

A tension member with at least one loop made from fiber-reinforced plastic, which tension member has a plurality of fibers that run substantially parallel to each other, so that the loop is formed by the plurality of fibers, wherein a first group of fibers is turned over along the loop in a first turning direction, while a second group of fibers is turned over along the loop in a second turning direction, which is opposed to the first turning direction. Some of the turned-over fibers of both groups end in a different distance from the vertex of the loop than others of the turned-over fibers, so that a cross-section of the tension member that results from the respective number of fibers that run approximately parallel to each other outside the turning-over area of the fibers approximately continuously decreases until it reaches the cross-section size of the tension member.