Helical wound flexible torque transmission cable

Abstract

A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail of a boat includes a core having at least one termination end and a bight, and at least one layer of fiber wound around the core, wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over a center portion of the bight has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the core and wherein a fiber in a portion of the fiber layer disposed over the at least one termination end has a second pitch angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the core. The fiber layer includes a transition zone disposed between the at least one termination end and the center portion, wherein a fiber in the transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A cable adapted to transmit torque in rigging or furling a sail, said cable comprising:
 a core having at least one termination end and a bight; and   a plurality of layers of fiber concentrically wound around said core;   wherein a first fiber layer of said plurality of fiber layers has a portion having at least one fiber that is disposed over a center portion of said bight and that has a first pitch angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said core;   wherein said first fiber layer has a portion having at least one fiber that is disposed over said at least one termination end and that has a second pitch angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said core;   wherein said first fiber layer comprises a first transition zone disposed between said at least one termination end and said center portion of said bight, wherein at least one fiber in said first transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the first pitch angle to the second pitch angle;   wherein a second fiber layer of said plurality of fiber layers has a portion having at least one fiber that is disposed over said center portion of said bight and that has a third pitch angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said core;   wherein said second fiber layer has a portion having at least one fiber that is disposed over said at least one termination end and that has a fourth pitch angle relative to said longitudinal axis of said core; and   wherein said second fiber layer comprises a second transition zone disposed between said at least one termination end and said center portion of said bight, wherein at least one fiber in said second transition zone has an orientation that transitions from the third pitch angle to the forth pitch angle.   
     
     
         14 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said first pitch angle and third pitch angle are between 40° and 50°, inclusive. 
     
     
         15 . The cable of  claim 14 , wherein said first pitch angle matches said third pitch angle. 
     
     
         16 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said second pitch angle matches said fourth pitch angle. 
     
     
         17 . The cable of  claim 16 , wherein said second pitch angle and said fourth pitch angle are 90°. 
     
     
         18 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second fiber layers each comprises at least one fiber helically wound around said core. 
     
     
         19 . The cable of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one fiber of said first fiber layer differs in length from the at least one fiber of said second fiber layer. 
     
     
         20 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second transition zones are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         21 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second transition zones span the core by different lengths. 
     
     
         22 . The cable of  claim 13 , wherein said core comprises a groove at said termination end, said groove securing said first fiber layer and said second fiber layer to said core such that said fiber in said portion of said first fiber layer disposed over said termination end is secured at the second pitch angle and such that said fiber in said portion of said second fiber layer disposed over said termination end is secured at the fourth pitch angle; and
 wherein said first and second fiber layers disposed within said groove are impregnated with resin.