Wire rope is an extremely strong cable that is made from many small wires wrapped and braided into a common assembly. Wire rope in Texas is not only strong; it is heavy, weather resistant and great for taking tensile loads. Wire ropes are used extensively on construction sites and the oil exploration industry. The individual wires that go up to make the wire rope assembly allows wire rope to wrap around sheaves without putting undue stress on any one filament.
Traditional wire rope in Texas is made up of many steel strands; these strands are woven and arranged in a particular way around a core. By having a series of small strands wrapped around a core, the rope retains very good flexibility but remains ductile as well. There can be several strands in any wire rope, the designation of the rope is indicative of the construction or make-up of the rope. For example, 7 x 37, a very common rope is made up of 7 individual strands; each strand is made up of 37 small diameter wires. The 7 strands are then woven into the finished rope surrounding a center core.
Wire rope is usually produced from steel wire. As almost all wire rope is used in outdoor applications, they are galvanized prior to manufacture, thus making them resistant against rust. Wire that has not been galvanized is called bright wire. Although galvanized steel wire rope is by far the most common, it is also made from other alloys including stainless steel which is used extensively in the food processing industry. The life of the wire rope is extended by keeping it well lubricated and not running it over sheaves which are too small.
All wire rope has certain characteristics which are the result of the way the rope is laid up, the material and the rope outer diameter. All wire rope is made so that it does not flatten in uses when it is under load nor does it crush. When wire rope breaks, it breaks strand by strand which gives the equipment operator plenty of advance warning that replacement will soon be necessary.
Wire rope’s primary task is to function under the design load within the specific application. Wire ropes are found in many industries including logging, oil, material handling, tow cables and many more.
Oilfield products including wire rope in Texas are available from Thomas Wire Rope. The company has over 30 years experience in this demanding industry.
