Wire rope

Abstract

A wire rope includes a rope body having a plurality of strands that are twisted, each strand including a plurality of wires. A gap between the strands of the rope body is filled with a first material that differs from a material that makes up the plurality of wires. The first material is exposed from the gap between the plurality of strands at a surface of the rope body, to define a first-material spiral portion that is spirally formed around an axial line of the rope body is formed at the surface of the rope body.

1 . A wire rope comprising:
 a rope body having a plurality of strands that are twisted, each strand including a plurality of wires, wherein
 a gap between the plurality of strands is filled with a first material that differs from a material that makes up the plurality of wires, and 
 the first material is exposed at the gap between the plurality of strands at a surface of the rope body, to define a first-material spiral portion that is spirally formed around an axial line of the rope body at the surface of the rope body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein a color of the first material differs from a color of a surface of each wire. 
     
     
         3 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein a friction resistance of a surface of the first-material spiral portion differs from a friction resistance of a surface of each wire. 
     
     
         4 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of wires is hollow. 
     
     
         5 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein an outermost periphery of the rope body is defined by the plurality of strands. 
     
     
         6 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein an outermost periphery of the rope body is defined by the first-material spiral portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         8 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of vinyl resin, polystyrene resin, polyethylene resin, acrylic resin, polyamide resin, nylon resin, and fluororesin. 
     
     
         9 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a rubber material. 
     
     
         10 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber and polyisoprene rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         12 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a single compound. 
     
     
         14 . The wire rope according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes at least two compounds. 
     
     
         15 . The wire rope according to  claim 13 , wherein the single compound is selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, an anti-oxidizing agent, an antistatic agent, a crystallization accelerating agent, a flame retardant, a flame-proofing agent, a water repellent, an oil repellent, an insecticide, an antiseptic, a wax, a surface-active agent, a lubricant, an age resistor and an ultraviolet absorber. 
     
     
         16 . The wire rope according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the at least two compounds is selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, an anti-oxidizing agent, an antistatic agent, a crystallization accelerating agent, a flame retardant, a flame-proofing agent, a water repellent, an oil repellent, an insecticide, an antiseptic, a wax, a surface-active agent, a lubricant, an age resistor and an ultraviolet absorber. 
     
     
         17 . A wire rope comprising:
 a plurality of wire strands that are spirally formed, each wire strand being separated by a space that defines a spirally extending gap around an axial line of the wire rope; and   a spiral portion that is formed in the spirally extending gap, wherein
 a material making up the spiral portion differs from a material making up the plurality of wire strands. 
   
     
     
         18 . The wire rope according to  claim 17 , wherein
   an outermost periphery of the wire rope is defined by either the plurality of wire strands, or the spiral portion.     
     
     
         19 . A wire rope comprising:
 a plurality of wire strands that are spirally formed, each wire strand being separated by a space that defines a spirally extending gap around an axial line of the wire rope; and   a spiral portion that is formed in the spirally extending gap, wherein
 an outermost periphery of the wire rope is defined by either the plurality of wire strands, or the spiral portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The wire rope according to  claim 19 , wherein
   a material making up the spiral portion differs from a material making up the plurality of wire strands.