Construction machine having synthetic rope arrangement

Abstract

A synthetic rope arrangement is disclosed for use with a construction machine. The synthetic rope arrangement may have a synthetic rope with an end, and an anchor having an opening formed therein to receive the end of the synthetic rope. The anchor may be removably connectable to the construction machine. The synthetic rope arrangement may also have a stop coupled to the end of the synthetic rope and configured to inhibit the end of the synthetic rope from passing through the anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A synthetic rope arrangement for a construction machine, comprising:
 a synthetic rope having an end;   an anchor having an opening formed therein to receive the end of the synthetic rope, the anchor being removably connectable to the construction machine; and   a stop coupled to the end of the synthetic rope and configured to inhibit the end of the synthetic rope from passing through the anchor.   
     
     
         2 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes a plurality of spikes extending from the opening of the anchor into the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         3 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes at least one of braiding or knotting that increases a size of the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         4 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes nails that pass through the anchor and the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         5 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes potting formed around the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         6 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the end of the synthetic rope is saturated with the potting. 
     
     
         7 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the end of the synthetic rope is frayed inside the potting. 
     
     
         8 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop is formed by filament wound into the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         9 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes a clamp compressed over the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         10 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop includes a wedge. 
     
     
         11 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 10 , further including a lock configured to push the end of the synthetic rope radially outward against the wedge when the lock is turned. 
     
     
         12 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the lock and the wedge includes a potting injection port. 
     
     
         13 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a clamp having inclined inner surfaces configured to engage the stop. 
     
     
         14 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp includes two-halves located at opposing sides of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         15 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the stop is ring-like and includes a plurality of holes each configured to receive separate strands of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         16 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor has an internal horseshoe shaped passage configured to receive the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         17 . The synthetic rope arrangement of  claim 1 , further including a coating applied to the synthetic rope at the end, the coating having at least one of a color and an abrasive property different from a rest of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         18 . A method of connecting a synthetic rope to a construction machine, the method comprising:
 passing an end of the synthetic rope through an anchor;   coupling a stop to the end of the synthetic rope to inhibit the synthetic rope from slipping through the anchor; and   connecting the anchor to the construction machine.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes forcing spikes into the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes at least one of braiding or knotting the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes passing nails through the anchor and the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes placing a potting material around the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope further including fraying the end of the synthetic rope before placing the potting material. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes winding a filament into the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes compressing a clamp over the end of the synthetic rope. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the stop to the end of the synthetic rope includes turning a lock to push the end of the synthetic rope radially outward against the anchor. 
     
     
         27 . A construction machine, comprising:
 a base;   a tool operatively connected to the base;   a drum mounted to the base;   a motor configured to drive the drum; and   a synthetic rope arrangement operatively connecting the drum to the tool, the synthetic rope arrangement including:
 a synthetic rope having a first end and a second end; 
   a first anchor having an opening formed therein to receive the first end of the synthetic rope, the first anchor being removably connectable to the drum;   a second anchor having an opening formed therein to receive the second end of the synthetic rope, the second anchor being removably connectable to the tool; and   at least one stop coupled to each of the first and second ends of the synthetic rope and configured to inhibit the first and second ends of the synthetic rope from passing through the first and second anchors.