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Glossary of Terms

Discover the comprehensive Loos & Co Glossary, unlocking the language of modern technology with terms and keywords.

A
ASTM
ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials; Publishes many standards concerning the design, manufacture, and material used in wire, wire rope, and wire rope slings
Abrasion
Surface wear on the wires of a wire rope
Acceleration Stress
Additional stress imposed on a wire rope due to increasing the velocity of the load
Aircraft Cables
Strands, cords and wire ropes made of special strength wire primarily for aircraft controls and miscellaneous uses in the Aircraft Industry
Alternate Lay
Lay of a wire rope in which the strands are alternately regular and lang lay
Area, Metallic
Sum of the cross-sectional areas of individual wires in a wire rope or strand
Armored Rope
Rope with individual strands spirally wrapped with flat steel wire
Austenitic Types
Stainless steels that have high ductility, low yield stress, and relatively high ultimate tensile strength, when compared to typical carbon steel. Added alloys (such as Nickel and Chrome) help increase corrosion resistance, among other properties
B
Back-Stay
Guy used to support a boom or mast: or that section of a main cable, as on a suspension bridge, cable-way, etc., leading from the tower to the anchorage
Bending Stress
Stress imposed on wires of a wire rope by bending
Breaking Strength (aggregate wire)
The sum of the breaking strength in tension of all the wires of a wire rope when the wires are tested individually
Breaking Strength (wire rope)
The measured load required to break a wire rope in tension
Bridle Sling
A two-part wire rope sling attached to a single part line. The legs of the sling are spread to divide and equalize the load
Bright Rope
Wire rope made of wires that are not coated with zinc, tin, or any other protective metal
Bronze Ropes
Wire rope made of bronze wires
Button Conveyor Rope
Wire ropes to which buttons or discs are attached at regular intervals to move material in a trough
Buy American Act
Federal legislation governing the requirements for domestically manufactured products used in federally funded procurement contracts
C
Cable
A term loosely applied to wire ropes, wire strands, and electrical conductors
Cable Clamp
A style of hardware that consists of a threaded U-Bolt and a saddle
Cable Fitting
Synonymous with cable hardware
Cable Railings
A railing system made from wire rope and fittings. Frequently used in porches, decks, stairways, and walkways
Cable-Laid Wire Rope
A type of wire rope consisting of several wire ropes laid into a single wire rope
Centers
Wire, strand or fiber in the center of a strand about which the wires are laid
Choker
Short wire rope sling used to form a slip noose around the object to be moved or lifted
Clevis
A “U” shaped fitting with pin
Clip
Fitting for clamping two parts of wire rope
Come-along
Device for making a temporary grip on a wire rope
Common Strand
Galvanized strand made of galvanized iron wire whose grade is common iron
Conical Drum
Grooved hoisting drum of tapering diameter
Construction
Design of wire rope including number of strands, number of wires per strand, and arrangement of wires in each strand
Continuous Bend
Reeving of wire rope over sheaves and drums so that it bends in the same direction, as opposed to reverse bend
Conveyor Rope
Parallel endless wire ropes used to carry material
Cord
Term applied to small sizes of wire ropes
Core
Member of a wire rope about which the strands are laid. It may be fiber, a wire strand, or an independent wire rope
Coring Line
Wire rope used to operate the coring tool for taking core samples during the drilling of a well
Corrosion
Chemical decomposition of the wires of a rope by exposure to moisture, acids, alkalines, or other destructive agents
Country of Origin
The country in which a wire rope (or component thereof) was manufactured
Critical Diameter
Diameter of the smallest bend for a given wire rope which permits the wires and strands to adjust themselves by relative movement while remaining in their normal position
Cylindrical Drum
Hoisting drum of uniform diameter
D
DFARS
Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Governs purchases made by the Department of Defense. Includes regulations for the purchase of materials made from Specialty Metals (including stainless steel). Often referred to as the “Berry Amendment”
Deceleration Stress
Additional stress imposed on a wire rope due to decreasing the velocity of the load
Design Factor
In a wire, the ratio of the minimum break strength to the total working load. Typical ratio is 5:1, but standards vary based upon industry, environment, and application
Diameter
Distance measured across the center of a circle circumscribing the wires of a strand or the strands of a wire rope
Dog-Leg
Permanent short bend or kink in a wire rope caused by improper use
Domestic Wire Rope
Wire rope that is stranded and closed in the United States of America
Drum
A cylindrical flanged barrel of uniform or tapering diameter on which rope is wound for operation or storage. It may be smooth or grooved
E
Efficiency (wire rope)
Percentage ratio of measured breaking strength of a wire rope to the aggregate strength of all individual wires tested separately
Elastic Limit
Limit of stress above which a permanent deformation takes place within the material
Endless Rope
Rope whose two ends are spliced together
Endurance Test
The procedure by which aircraft cable is tested for longevity in applications requiring cycles over a pulley or other device. This test differs from a pull test by simulating real world applications and environments
Equalizing Thimbles
Special type of fitting used as a component part of some wire rope slings
Extra High Strength Strand
A grade of galvanized or bright strand
Extra Improved Plow
See “Grades, Rope”
Extrusion
The process by which a coating is applied to wire rope. Both wire rope and coating material are drawn through a die to create the desired jacket thickness and consistency
Eye or Eye Splice
A loop with or without a thimble formed in the end of a wire rope
F
Factor of Safety
Ratio of breaking strength of a wire rope to total rope stress
Fatigue
Term commonly applied to progressive fracture of wires of a rope
Fiber Centers
Cords or rope made of vegetable fiber or synthetic fiber used in the center of a strand
Filler Wire
Small auxiliary wires in a strand for spacing and positioning other wires
Fitting
Small auxiliary wires in a strand for spacing and positioning other wires
Flat Rope
Wire rope made of parallel alternating right lay and left lay ropes sewn together by relatively soft wires
Fleet Angle
Angle between position of a rope at the extreme end wrap on a drum, and a line drawn perpendicular to the axis of the drum through the center of the nearest fixed sheave
G
Galvanize
To coat with zinc to protect against corrosion
Galvanized Rope
Rope made of galvanized wire
Galvanized Strand
Strand made of galvanized wire
Galvanized Wire
Wire coated with zinc
Grades, Rope
Classification of wire rope by its breaking strength. In order of increasing breaking strengths they are Iron, Traction, Mild Plow Steel. Plow Steel, Improved Plow Steel, Extra Improved Plow Steel
Grades, Strand
Classification of strand by its breaking strength. In order of increasing breaking strengths they are Common, Siemens Martin, High Strength, and Extra-high Strength. A Utilities grade strand is also made to meet special requirements
Grooved Drum
Drum with grooved surface to accommodate and guide the rope
Grooves
Depressions in the periphery of a sheave or drum for positioning and supporting a rope
Guard Rail Cable
A galvanized wire rope or strand erected along a highway
Guy Line
Strand or rope, usually galvanized, for holding a structure in position
H
High Strength Strand
Grade of galvanized or bright strand
I
Idler
Sheave or roller used to guide or support a rope
Improved Plow
See “Grades, Rope”
Independent Wire Rope Core
Wire rope used as the core of a larger rope
Internally Lubricated
Wire rope or strand having all wires coated with lubricant
Iron Rope
See “Grades, Rope”
K
Kink
Sharp bend in a wire rope that permanently distorts the wires and strands
L
Lagging
External wood covering on a reel of rope or strand
Lang Lay Rope
Wire rope in which the wires in the strands in the rope are laid in the same direction
Lay
Sharp bend in a wire rope that permanently distorts the wires and strands
Left Lay
(a) Strand – Strand in which the cover wires are laid in a helix having a left-hand pitch
(b) Rope – Rope in which the strands are laid in a helix having a left-hand pitch
M
Marine Eye
A style of hardware with a drilled eye and a drilled shank into which wire rope is inserted for swaging
Marline Spike
Tapered steel pin used in splicing wire rope
Messenger Strand
Galvanized strand or bronze strand used to support telephone and electric cables
Metric Cable
Cable designed and manufactured to metric sizes and tolerances
Mild Plow
See “Grades, Rope”
Military Specification
A specification governing the manufacture of specialty wire ropes and aircraft cables required in various military and non-military applications. See Cable Specifications
Minimum Bending Radius
Ratio of the diameter of the pulley used in an application (D) to the diameter of the wire rope (d)
Modulus of Elasticity
Mathematical quantity giving the ratio, within the elastic limit, between a definite range of unit stress on a wire rope, to the corresponding elongation
Mooring Lines
Galvanized wire rope, usually 6×12, 6×24 or spring lay construction, for holding ships to dock
N
Non-Rotating Wire Ropes
18×7 wire rope consisting of a 6×7 left lay Lang lay inner rope covered by twelve 7-wire strands right lay regular lay – also 19×7’s
P
Peening
Permanent distortion of outside wire in a rope caused by pounding
Plow Steel
See “Grades, Rope”
Preece Test
A recognized standard of testing the galvanized coating on wire
Preformed Strand
Strand in which the wires are permanently shaped, before fabrication in the strands, to the helical form they assume in the strand
Preformed Wire Rope
Wire rope in which the strands are permanently shaped, before fabrication into the rope, to the helical form they assume in the wire rope
Prestretching
Stressing a wire rope or strand before use under such a tension and for such a time that the constructional stretch is largely removed
Proof Load
A load applied in performance of a proof test. Typically 40-60% of breaking strength
Proof Test
Non-destructive test to verify construction and workmanship of a wire rope assembly
R
Reel
The flanged spool on which wire rope or strand is wound for storage or shipment
Regular Lay Rope
Wire rope in which the wires in the strands and the strands in the rope are laid in opposite directions
Reverse Bend
Reeving of a wire rope over sheaves and drums so that it bends in opposite directions
Reverse Lay
Synonymous with “Alternate Lay”
Reverse Strength
Strength represented by the inner wires of a wire rope
Rigging
Any assembly made from wire rope that is to be used in a lifting, pulling, holding, or strapping capacity; Wire rope or aircraft cable used for securing the mast and/or boom on a sail boat, and for running of sails
Right Lay
(a) Strand – Strand in which the cover wires are laid in a helix having a right-hand pitch, similar to a right-hand screw
(b) Rope – Rope in which the strands are laid in a helix having a right-hand pitch, similar to a right-hand screw
Rollers
Relatively small diameter cylinders which are free to turn while supporting ropes
S
Safe Working Load
Proper load which the rope may carry economically and safely
Sash Cord
Term applied to small 6×7 wire ropes commonly made of iron, bronze or copper wires
Seale
A strand construction having one size of cover wires with the same number of one size of wires in the inner layer and each layer having the same length and direction of lay
Seize
To bind securely the end of a wire rope or strand with seizing wire or strand
Seizing Strand
Small strand usually of 7 wires made of soft annealed wire
Seizing Wire
Soft annealed wire
Serve
To cover the surface of a wire rope or strand with a wrapping of fiber cord
Shackle
A “U” shaped fitting with pin
Sheave
A grooved pulley for use with rope
Siemens-Martin Strand
A grade of galvanized strand
Sleeve
A style of hardware that allows wire rope to be doubled back on itself in order to create a loop end
Slings
Wire ropes made into forms, with or without fittings, for handling loads and so made as to permit the attachment of an operating rope
Slings, Braided
A very flexible sling composed of several individual wire ropes braided into a single sling
Smooth Faced Drum
Drum with a plain face, not grooved
Spiral Groove
Groove which follows the path of a helix around the drum, as the thread of a screw
Splicing
Interweaving of two ends of ropes so as to make a continuous or endless length without appreciably increasing the diameter. Also making a loop or eye in the end of a rope by tucking the ends of the strands
Stainless Steel Rope
Wire rope made of chrome-nickel steel wires having great resistance to corrosion
Stake Eye
A style of hardware stamped from sheet metal to include an eye and a U-Shaped shank for swaging onto wire rope or aircraft cable. This hardware is similar to, but much sturdier than, wire ends used in the electrical industry
Steel Clad Rope
Rope with individual strands spirally wrapped with flat steel wire
Stone Swaging Strand
Usually a 3-wire strand used in quarrying stone or slate
Strand
An arrangement of wires helically laid about an axis. or another wire or fiber center to produce a symmetrical section
Stretch, Elastic
The actual physical elongation of individual wires under load
Stretch, Structural
The lengthening of the lay in construction as wires adjust under load
Stud
Swaged fitting that is often threaded to provide a method of attaching a cable assembly to some other item or end point
Swaged Fittings
Fittings in which wire rope is inserted and attached by cold flowing method
T
Tag Line
A small wire rope used to prevent rotation of a load
Tapered Drum
Grooved hoisting drum of tapering diameter
Tapering & Welding
Reducing the diameter of the end of a wire rope and welding it to facilitate reeving
Thimble
Grooved metal fitting to protect the eye of a wire rope
Tiller Rope/Cable
A very flexible operating rope, commonly made by cable laying six 6×7 ropes around a fiber core resulting in a 6×42 construction. Also a 3/32″ 7×7 galvanized cable coated to an outside diameter of 3/16″ with vinyl or nylon
Tinned Wire
Wire coated with tin
Turnbuckle
Device attached to wire rope for making limited adjustments in length. It consists of a barrel and right and left hand threaded bolts
W
Warrington
A strand construction in which one layer of wires, usually the outer, is composed of alternating large and small wires
Wire (round)
Single continuous length of metal cold drawn from a rod
Wire Rope
A plurality of strands laid helically around an axis or a core
Working Load
The load which a new wire rope may handle under a given operating condition and at an assumed design factor