Patent ID: 7565791

Claim:
A wire rope comprising: (A) A central wire rope axis extending substantially the length of the wire rope through the cross-sectional center of the wire rope in a substantially axial direction, with the wire rope having a radial direction, and with the radial direction of the wire rope being substantially transverse to the central wire rope axis; (B) An independent wire rope core having a central core axis extending in a substantially axial direction through the cross-sectional center of the independent wire rope core, wherein said central core axis substantially coincides with and is substantially coextensive with said central wire rope axis, with the independent wire rope core having a radial direction, with the radial direction of the independent wire rope core being substantially transverse to the axial direction of the central core axis, and with the independent wire rope core having an outer circumference; (C) Said independent wire rope core including a plurality of individual core wires arranged about said central core axis, wherein the individual core wires are twisted together and coated with a core lubricant; (D) The independent wire rope core further including core encapsulating material, wherein the core encapsulating material is substantially tubular in shape, wherein the core encapsulating material has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surface of the core encapsulating material forms the outer circumference of the independent wire rope core and the inner surface of the core encapsulating material surrounds the twisted individual core wires and the core lubricant coating the twisted individual core wires; (E) A plurality of strands located radially outwardly from the central core axis and the independent wire rope core, with the plurality of strands being adjacent to the independent wire rope core; (F) Each of the strands having an outer circumference and including a plurality of individual strand wires that are twisted together, wherein the twisted individual strand wires are coated with a strand lubricant; (G) Each of the strands further including strand encapsulating material, wherein the strand encapsulating material is substantially tubular in shape, wherein the strand encapsulating material has an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the outer surfaces of the strand encapsulating material form the outer circumferences of the strands and the inner surfaces of the strand encapsulating material surround the twisted individual strand wires and the strand lubricant coating the individual strand wires; (H) The outer surface of the strand encapsulating material contacting the outer surface of the core encapsulating material; and (I) Wherein the wire rope does not further include wire rope encapsulating material located radially outward of the strands and simultaneously encapsulating both the wire rope core and the strands.