This article takes you to understand the structure and classification of elevator wire ropes

Elevator wire rope accounts for a small proportion of the cost of the entire elevator, but elevator wire rope is an indispensable key component in the elevator industry, and it is also a consumable and vulnerable part.

Therefore, it is very important to understand the structure, performance, use, installation, maintenance, and correct selection and use of elevator wire ropes. This article mainly analyzes the structure and classification of elevator wire ropes, hoping to provide you with some reference opinions when choosing elevator wire ropes.

The elevator wire rope is used to suspend the car and the counterweight, and use the friction between the traction sheave and the traction wire rope to drive the car and the counterweight to run. The traction wire rope is an important elevator component and one of the wearing parts.

Wire rope consists of steel wire, rope strands, and rope core.

(1)Steel wire: Steel wire is the basic strength unit of steel wire rope, which requires high strength and toughness.

(2)Strand: Each small strand is made of steel wire. The same diameter and wire rope, the more strands, the higher the fatigue strength. The number of strands of steel wire ropes for elevators is mostly 8 or 6 strands.

(3) Rope core:  The flexible mandrel wrapped by the rope strands, which plays the role of supporting the rope strands. The rope core is divided into two types: fiber rope core and metal rope core. The steel wire rope for the elevator is a fiber rope core, which can increase the flexibility of the rope and can also play the role of storing lubricating oil.

According to the contact state of each layer of steel wire in the wire rope strand, it can be divided into three types: point contact, line contact, and surface contact. For line contact steel wire rope, according to the configuration of the steel wire in the strand, it can be divided into three types: Xilu type, Valinton type, and filling type. Generally speaking, the thicker the wire diameter, the stronger the corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

Except for the central wire, all the wires of this strand have the same diameter, and the lay lengths of the adjacent layers of wires are not the same.

However, the secondary bending stress between the contact points of each layer of steel wire will be generated when the steel wire rope is used.

The lay length of all the wires in the strand is the same, and each layer of steel wire is placed on the groove formed between the inner steel wires. The wires are in the line contact state, and the strand structure is tight. There is no secondary bending stress between the layers of steel wires, and the fatigue resistance is good.

The steel wires in the strand are in a surface contact state and are composed of special-shaped steel wires with different cross-sections. When the steel wire rope is in use, the contact between the steel wires should be a small force and there is no secondary bending stress, so the surface-contact wire rope is wear-resistant and fatigue-resistant.

The most commonly used strand structure is elevator wire ropes. The outer steel wire is thicker and has strong wear resistance. The Xilu type steel wire rope is also called the outer thick steel wire rope.

The thickness of the outer steel wire is alternate, the flexibility is better, and the steel wire in the strand is thinner. In addition to the wear and tear of the elevator rope, the bending fatigue life should also be considered. Compared with the Xilu type wire rope, the bending fatigue life of the Vinton type wire rope around the sheave is 20% higher than that of the Xilu type wire rope.

The gap between the two layers of steel wire is filled with finer steel wire, and the structure has better bending and wears resistance. Filled wire rope is also called dense wire rope.

When we choose elevator wire ropes, in addition to considering the structure and classification of the wire ropes, we must also clarify the bearing capacity of the wire ropes so as to adapt to more engineering needs.

As an experienced hardware manufacturer, TERADA always puts product quality and customer needs as the first priority. Relying on our excellent manufacturing technology and dedicated service attitude, we have gained the praise of the people in the industry and the trust of customers. Our products cover a variety of specifications and models to meet the different needs of users. If you are interested in our wire rope, please contact us immediately!