FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of marine seismology, in which a moving ship generates seismic waves and detects reflections, and in particular to improving the reliability of ropes towed by these ships. Yet more specifically the present disclosure relates to seismic lines used by seismic survey vessels to connect to and tow paravanes, deflectors, substitutes for paravanes and deflectors, and to in general tow upon seismic arrays, such lines known generically as "towing warps" and known in the field of seismic surveillance as "wide tow ropes" (also known as "paravane lines"; "super wides"; and "superwide tow warps").

Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a particularly constructed and configured superwide tow warp that, when coupled with a sensor and an electronic control unit, permits monitoring the heat and temperature of distinct portions of the superwide tow warp. Definitions:

"Super Wide" is a rope used by a vessel at sea or in a water or marine environment to tow upon a towed array and its components, or to tow upon something connected to a towed array and its components or to tow upon something connected to at least a portion of a towed array and its components, such as a paravane and/or deflector. The rope preferably is formed mainly of synthetic fibers, but can include natural fibers such as steel, conductors and other items and even instrumentation. The term "Super Wide", the term "Superwide", and the term "Superwide tow warp" shall have the same meaning. There are several other names for a rope used for this purpose, including but not limited to "paravane line", "seismic line", "tow warp" and others.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND KNOWN ART

It is well known that most oil companies rely on seismic interpretation to select sites for drilling exploratory oil wells. Seismic data acquisition is routinely performed both on land and at sea. At sea, a seismic ship deploys a streamer or cable behind the ship as the ship moves forward. Multiple receivers are typically towed behind the ship on streamers in an array. Streamers typically include a plurality of receivers. A seismic source is also towed behind the ship, with both the source and receivers typically deployed below the surface of the ocean or sea. Streamers typically include electrical or fiber-optic cabling for interconnecting receivers and seismic equipment on the ship. Streamers are usually constructed in sections 25 to 100 meters in length and include groups of up to 35 or more uniformly spaced receivers. The streamers may be several miles long, and often a seismic ship trails multiple streamers, with a desired uniform lateral separation between the streamers, to increase the amount of seismic data collected. The number and length of streamers to be deployed, as well as the lateral separation to be maintained between streamers, dictates the size of deflectors, or paravanes, that must be deployed with the array, which in turn also has a major impact on the drag load of the seismic ship.

The array is ultimately spread apart by lateral forces generated by the deflectors, paravanes, or their substitutes, that in turn are connected to and towed upon by the vessel by superwides, also known as superwide tow warps, and other terms. Operating at a typical production speed of 4 to 5 knots and towing in excess of 50 tons of instrument-laden equipment in the water, tension on the superwides is both of large magnitude and also of long duration. This fact, coupled with the fact that vibrations travelling along the superwide tow warp must necessarily have a highest velocity and lowest amplitude at the least movable location along the tow warp, that being where the tow warp exits a sheave, drum and/or winch, much energy is dissipated into this location of the tow warp and is expressed as heat.

Operating environmental conditions often are such that external temperatures and other factors preclude discharge of this heat energy at a rate fast enough to ensure no net accumulation of heat energy. As a result, heat accumulates preferentially into this portion of the tow warp, and causes the tow warp to become heated in this location of the tow warp, more than it is heated on other locations along the tow warp.

Efforts to cool the tow warp at this location do reduce the effect of the heat accumulation in this location of the tow warp. However, nonetheless, known means for reducing the heat accumulating in this portion of the tow warp are not always adequate for cooling inner regions of the tow warp, that are distal from the surface of the tow warp, and are not always able to prevent excessive heat buildup, especially at or near the core and/or inner most regions of the tow warps strength member, especially in warm and tropical environments.

Consequently, the tow warps continue to experience failure predominantly in this location. Furthermore, even in cold environments, due to the fact that the heat accumulation is concentrated into the specific portion of the tow warp mentioned supra, this portion of the tow warp is experiencing more heat accumulation that do other portions of the tow warp, and is thus prone to failure sooner in comparison to other portions of the tow warp. It is thus important to be able to monitor the heat of this portion of the tow warp as it is directly related to degradation incurred at this location of the tow warp, that is the location along the tow warp that is most prone to failure.

When a superwide fails without warning, there is a tremendous imbalance to the towed array systems, resulting in the often miles long streamers and other components of the array tangling. Such events necessitate halting of survey operations and cause substantial downtime and economic loss. Importantly, there also are high safety risks to personnel resultant of unexpected failure of the superwides, with fatalities having occurred.

For the above stated reasons, it has long been a desire in the industry to be able to accurately detect, monitor and chart the heat of a superwide tow warp at distinct locations along the tow warp, and especially at or near the core of the tow warp at those distinct locations.

It is most important to monitor heat at or near the core of the tow warp, and especially at or near the core of the strength member forming the tow warp, because those portions of the tow warp furthest from its exterior surface are less able to dissipate heat and thus experience failure sooner than do other portions of the tow warp. When a tow warp commences to fail at its core and/or at or near the innermost region of the strength member forming the tow warp, failure of the remainder of the tow warp at that point along the length of the tow warp is inevitable. However, as the tow warp is under sometimes an excess of seventy tones tension, there is no way to visually inspect the integrity of the inner most region of the strength member forming the tow warp. Thus, some means for remotely detecting a value that is related to the integrity of the innermost region of the strength member forming a tow warp at specific location along the tow warp so as to permit prediction of failure of the tow warp is a need long felt in the industry.

Thus, a means for reliably ascertaining and monitoring the heat of the tow warp during use of the tow warp in field operations, and especially the heat at or near the center and/or core of the strength member forming the tow warp, would answer a need long felt in the industry.

Thus far, none of the known art has proposed a solution to this need.

Hence, there exists a long felt need for a construction and method that permits monitoring the heat of a superwide tow warp, at distinct locations along the superwide tow warp, and especially at or near the center and/or core of the superwide tow warp at those distinct locations, thereby permitting prediction and thus advance warning of likely catastrophic failure of the superwide tow warp.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE:

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for a superwide tow warp, a method for its manufacture, and a method for its use that permits detection and also monitoring of the amount of heat being experienced by distinct portions of the superwide tow warp, so as to permit prediction of likely failure of the superwide tow warp.

It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide for a construction for a superwide tow warp, a method for its manufacture, and a method for its use that permits detection and monitoring the amount of heat being experienced by the superwide tow warp at distinct portions of the superwide tow warp, prior to the heat causing sufficient destruction of the superwide tow warp to result in failure of the superwide tow warp, where such superwide tow warp construction is reliable in applications that require passing through high tension sheaves, and that can tolerate winding upon high tension drums and winches, especially where tensions greater than forty metric tons are applied to the tow warp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE:

Briefly, the present invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that catastrophic failure of a superwide during use can be predicted and avoided by a method including steps of: subjecting a rope incorporating magnets at distinct locations within the rope and along the long dimension of the rope to a range of temperatures, until, in each case, the rope reaches each of various distinct temperatures; next, measuring a force associated with the magnet or magnets at each distinct location along the rope; subsequently recording both the temperature value measured as well as the value of the measured specific force generated by the magnet and measured at the same time that the temperature value was measured; and, next, forming a database correlating the specific measured force values to specific rope temperatures; and later, during use of the rope, measuring the same type of force associated with the magnets as was already measured when forming the database; and, next, correlating the value and/or values of the measured force that was measured during use of the rope to a temperature previously identified in the prior steps as a temperature that corresponds to a certain force value measured, that the heat value and especially the temperature of the rope at distinct locations along the rope and at and/or near the core of the rope is able to be determined at will and monitored over time, so as to permit predicting and avoiding catastrophic failure of the rope.

In more detail, the present invention is based upon the discovery that by subjecting a rope incorporating magnets at distinct locations within the rope and along the long dimension of the rope to a range of temperatures, until, in each case, the rope reaches each of various distinct temperatures; and measuring a signal associated with the magnet or magnets at each distinct location along the rope (such signal may be a force, in particular a magnetic force, or magnetic flux, or magnetic moment, or other); and then subsequently recording the temperature value measured and the value of the measured specific signal generated by the magnet and measured at the same time that the temperature value was measured; and forming a database correlating the specific signal value measured at a specific temperature that the rope was at when the signal value was measured, for several different temperatures of the rope; and then by subsequently using the rope in its intended application, that by monitoring at least those portions of the rope containing distinct magnets, and specifically by measuring at a later time and during use of the rope the same type of signal already measured when forming the database, and by correlating the value and/or values of the measured signal to a temperature identified in the prior steps as a temperature that corresponds to the force value measured, that the heat value and especially the temperature of the rope at distinct locations along the rope and at and/or near the core of the rope is able to be determined at will and monitored over time, so as to permit predicting and avoiding catastrophic failure of the rope.

In this way, the heat of distinct portions of the rope, at the center of the rope (when that is where the magnets are situated), can be determined, and the likelihood of the materials forming the rope failing, and thus the rope itself failing, depending upon what type of material and/or combination of materials is used in forming the rope, is able to be evaluated and predicted. Thus, the rope can be serviced, and portions of the rope deemed to be experiencing excessive heat replaced, or no longer used at a critical location, especially a location where heat is preferentially imparted to the rope in comparison to other portions of the rope, so as to extend the rope's service life in comparison to the rope's service life when it is not possible to accurately determine the heat of the rope at distinct locations along the rope at and/or near the core of the rope.

The present disclosure requires combining the method for determining the temperature of the rope taught above and herein with a rope formed with magnets, preferably in a certain construction as to be taught herein for forming the present disclosure's rope.

In one preferred construction of a rope of the present disclosure the rope is formed by incorporating into a braided rope formed of high strength fibers such as UHMWPE a series of magnets interspaced at distinct locations along the rope where the magnets are aligned so that the north pole of one magnet faces the south pole of an adjacent magnet, for all the magnets in the rope. When the magnets are so aligned, it is anticipated that a Gaussmeter is a useful meter for reading the magnetic force (including flux or moment). Alternatively, the magnets forming the rope may be aligned so that an imaginary straight line bisecting the north pole and the south pole of each magnet is perpendicular and/or nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the rope when the rope is straight (i.e. is not bent). Subsequent to forming the rope, and in order to complete the present disclosure's teachings, after forming the present disclosure's rope, the methods stated supra for ascertaining the temperature of the rope at distinct locations along the rope are enacted.

One preferred construction of the rope includes a Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core formed of, preferably, a solid (i.e. not hollow) plastic and preferably thermoplastic rod that both fills out the centrally located internal void space that naturally occurs within a strength member constructed from a hollow braided rope and that also includes magnets both within the solid plastic rod as well as interspaced at distinct locations positioned along the long dimension of the solid plastic rod. The magnets are preferably super magnets. By situating the magnets within the above taught construction for a solid rod of plastic and preferably thermoplastic material and forming a hollow braided strength member about such solid plastic rod that incorporates magnets within the solid plastic rod, and by aligning the magnets so as to have their polarity aligned as taught supra, a superwide is formed that is able, by enacting method teaching of the present disclosure, to be effectively monitored for temperature and heat, as well as for creep, while not compromising the breaking strength of the superwide.

The presently preferred fibers for the high strength fibers forming the hollow braided strength member are HMPE and/or UHMWPE. In some instances, HMPE and/or UHMWPE may be usefully combined with any of Aramid and/or Para- Aramid, such as Technora®, and/or PBO, LCP or other fibers.

The above stated advantages of the present disclosure, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure, no doubt shall become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment including when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which: Brief Description of the Drawings: FIG. 1 is a top plan and expanded view of the pre-processed rope of Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure where a portion of the strength member has been cut away to reveal the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core enclosed by the strength member; FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a portion of the solid plastic rod of FIG. 1 where the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core has been cut in half along its long dimension, such as in a fillet cut, to reveal the magnets contained within the solid plastic rod and other structure of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternative construction of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core of FIG. 1 where additional flow shields and additional layer of plastic material are used.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of an assembly that can be included into the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 where the magnets have been coupled to a line, such as a filament, string, yarn, thread, tape or the like, or included and encapsulated within a hollow braided sheath formed preferably of thermoplastic fibers such as Polyethylene, prior to being included within or coupled to the solid plastic rod.

FIG. 5 is a side plan cross sectional view of an end portion of an actuator ram 31 belonging to an actuator used in forming the rope of the present disclosure. The actuator ram has a concave head 32 shaped so as to be able to hold a spherical and/or quasi- spherical shaped magnet 5, where the magnet may be coated, such as with a resin, and that may be coupled to an RFID tag with the resin or other coating substance so as to create a spherical and/or quasi-spherical shape including both the magnet and the RFID tag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

As shown in FIG. 1 : the pre-processed phase of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope 10 of the present disclosure, that is the rope assembly of the present disclosure prior to it's being subjected to the tension and heat processing steps taught herein and above, includes a strength member 1 and a Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2. The strength member 1 preferably is formed mainly of synthetic fibers, especially HMPE and/or UHMWPE. The strength member may be enclosed within a cover (not shown), as is preferable, such as may be a tightly braided sheath formed also of HMPE or, in some applications, another suitable synthetic fiber, such a Kevlar®. The cover is applied to the strength member by coverbraiding (i.e. "overbraiding") the strength member after completion of tension and heat processing steps, including after the rope assembly has been finally cooled following the heating steps.

The strength member 10 preferably is formed by a hollow braided construction, also known as a hollow braid, and encloses the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 by being braided around the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 such as by first forming the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 and then passing it through a braiding machine designed to form hollow braids, so that the strength member is braided around the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core. A minimum of twelve (12) carriers are considered useful so as to result in a minimum of twelve (12) primary strands forming the strength member's hollow braided construction. Multiple rope construction types are useful for forming the strength member, especially those that apply to hollow braid rope constructions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of magnets. While ceramic and all magnet types are likely useful, the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core preferably is formed of a combination of super magnets 5 and RFID tags 6. The super magnets are preferably permanent magnets formed of neodymium or formed of an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron to form the Nd ₂ Fe ₁₄ B crystalline structure, and can be nickel plated.

The solid plastic rod portion 3 of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 preferably is formed mainly of thermoplastic material, and preferably entirely of thermoplastic material, preferably Polyethylene (PE). It may be desired in some instances to blend the PE with elastomer, such as from one percent to fifteen percent elastomer. The Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core also includes an outer sheath 8 that forms flow shield sheath 8. The flow shield sheath 8 is formed of any useful construction and material that permits the flow shield sheath 8 to be capable of stopping and/or mainly stopping molten phases of the thermoplastic material from exiting the flow shield sheath 8 at temperatures at which the thermoplastic material is molten. Presently, the flow shield sheath 8 preferably is formed of tightly braided polyester threads (including yarns and strands) and/or fibers tightly wrapped and braided around the outer surface of the solid plastic rod, where the flow shield sheath is capable of stopping and/or mainly stopping molten phases of the thermoplastic material from exiting the flow shield sheath (8) at temperatures at which the thermoplastic material is molten.

FIG. 3 shows a construction for an alternative Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 7 of the present disclosure that is assembled by first forming the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 of FIG. 2 as taught above and subsequently enclosing the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 taught in FIG. 2 above within a sleeve of an additional layer 10 of plastic material, that preferably is thermoplastic material, so as to form an outer sleeve 10 of thermoplastic material about flow shield sheath 8, so that outer sleeve 10 thus forms a plastic tube within which is the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core of FIG. 2; and, subsequent to forming outer sleeve plastic layer 10, forming an additional flow shield sheath 12 about outer sleeve plastic layer 10, also preferably of tightly braided polyester threads and/or fibers. The volume selected for the plastic material forming outer sleeve plastic layer 10 preferably is greater than the volume selected for the plastic portion of rod 3. The plastic portion of rod 3 may preferably be a blend of thermoplastic and elastomer, such as from one to fifteen percent elastomer and ninety-nine to eighty-five percent thermoplastic and especially PE, while the outer sleeve plastic layer preferably is either entirely thermoplastic material, or mainly thermoplastic material, with PE being a preferred thermoplastic. In some instances it may be desired to blend PE with elastomer in forming outer sleeve layer 10. However, it is preferred in this instance that the percentage of elastomer in the PE / elastomer blend forming outer sleeve layer 10 is lesser than the percentage of the elastomer in the PE/ elastomer blend forming plastic portion of rod 3.

In both the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Cores 2 and 7 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively it is preferred that the magnets are either round shaped or oblong in shape. The magnets are preferably enclosed in a layer of elastomer or mainly elastomer material capable of tolerating the heat and temperature at which the thermoplastic material of cores 2 and 7 are molten (semi-liquid). For example, the magnets may be coated with an elastomer containing substance to form round or oblong shaped objects. The magnets may be coated with a thermoplastic or thermoplastic containing substance having a same or, preferably, slightly higher softening temperature than the softening temperature of the thermoplastic substances forming Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core. The magnets and any RFIDs and/or other magnets can be positioned into the primary core 2, that preferably is a rod of PE or of mainly PE, by injecting them into molten PE that is situated at the head of an extruder of a die used in forming the extruded PE rod. The injection of the magnets is accomplished by use of a simple piston coupled with a magazine pre-loaded with several of the magnets. If both super magnets as well as RFID tags are to be injected, then two distinct piston and magazine combinations are used, one for the super magnets and another one for the RFID tags. The die and the piston or pistons preferably are formed of metal which is not magnetic. The magnets can be injected into the molten PE at the head of the extruder die in a fashion so that alternatively are extruded a super magnet and next an RFID, and then again a magnet and next again an RFID, repeatedly, to result in a series of magnets contained within the PE or other thermoplastic rod forming the rod of the creep altering core 2 that alternate between magnets including super magnets and RFIDs.

In order to accomplish another aspect of a most preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, that aspect being that the super magnets are aligned north to south with respect to one another, i.e. the north pole of each magnet faces the south pole of one of its adjacent magnets while its south pole faces the north pole of the other of its adjacent magnets, while also accomplishing to automate the positioning of the magnets within the rope's core, the following process and apparatus is preferred: With reference to FIG. 5 :

Step 1 : An actuator ram 31 is provided. The actuator has an actuator head 32. The actuator head 32 is concave, and preferably cupped, for example, the concave can define a third of a sphere in concave form or less than half of a sphere in concave form. Various concave forms are useful for the actuator head 32. The actuator's cupped head is formed of a non-magnetic material such as plastic or copper in order to, during a further step to be described in greater detail below, allow release of a magnet temporarily situated in the actuator head to frictional forces created by internal surfaces of a hollow braided sheath being formed by a braiding machine. The actuator head 32 is constructed so as to have a temporary magnet situated at the bottom of the actuator head, preferably at the bottom of the cupped actuator head, and preferably so that the temporary magnet is recessed below the bottom of the actuator head's cupped form.

In order to situate the magnets into a structure used to form a core of the present disclosure for a rope of the present disclosure the following process is employed: Step 2: the actuator, and a reservoir containing a selected type of magnets, are first positioned below the braid point of a braiding apparatus (i.e. a braiding machine) capable of forming a hollow braided sheath. At least the actuator is centrally situated with respect to the orbiting cars of the braiding machine. That is, the actuator is situated in such a position so that, during manufacture steps, when the actuator ram's arm is extended so as to become elevated, it becomes inserted into a hollow braided sheath being formed by the braiding machine.

Step 3 : the actuator ram, that preferably is formed as a retractable and extendable ram, is vertically oriented, and in the preferred method is always vertically oriented. Step 4. Magnets from the reservoir are fed one by one to be situated within the cupped actuator head. An injection piston may be used to so feed the magnets.

Step 5. Next, the temporary magnet situated recessed below the lower inner surface of the cupped actuator head is now energized, and consequently rotates the magnetic ball to a predetermined orientation relative to its north and south poles. As taught herein, the magnet preferably is a magnetic ball but also may be a quasi- spherically shaped magnet, or other shaped magnet.

Step 6. While maintaining the temporary magnet that is situated recessed below the lower inner surface of the cupped actuator head in an energized state, the actuator head is elevated and/or extended a distance so as to cause it to be inserted into, and beyond, the braid point of converging braid strands forming a hollow braided sheath. As a consequence, the actuator head becomes inserted into the interior passage of the hollow braided sheath being formed by the braiding machine.

As stated above, in order to accomplish this, the actuator ram is positioned below the braid point of a braiding machine, where at least the long axis of the actuator ram 31 terminating in the actuator head 32 is centrally situated with respect to the orbiting cars of the braiding machine, and directed upward and aimed at the braid point, in such a position so that when the actuator ram is extended so as to be elevated it becomes inserted into the hollow braided sheath being formed by the braiding machine. Step 7. The temporary magnet situated recessed at the bottom of the cupped actuator head is de-energized, i.e. the electric current flow to the actuator head is ceased. This causes the actuator head to no longer have magnetic attraction to the magnet it is holding. Because the temporary magnet is sitting still below the cupped actuator head's concave bottom surface, it does not attract the magnetic being inserted to the braid.

Step 8. The actuator head is retracted from within the hollow braided sheath, and the process repeated. As a result of being retracted while the temporary magnet situated recessed below the lower inner surface of the cupped actuator head is de- energized, the friction of the hollow braided sheath around the magnet retains the magnet within the hollow braided sheath. To facilitate this step, the sheath is formed with an internal void that has a lesser diameter than the diameter of the magnets selected. Most preferably, the magnets are selected with an external diameter greater than the diameter of the hollow braided sheath being formed. Due to the funnel of the converging braid strands forming the braided sheath as they funnel into the braid point, the actuator head, and the magnet, are able to be inserted into a position either within the hollow braided sheath, if the strands forming the sheath are sufficiently elastic or able to experience constructional expansion, or, are positioned just where the strands forming the hollow braided sheath begin to all meet, and therefore the magnet is grabbed by the strands and retained into the sheath's interior passage when the actuator ram and its head are retracted. By regulating the frequency by which the actuator inserts magnets into the hollow braided sheath being formed, and by regulating the speed of the braiding machine, the distance between adjacent magnets held within the hollow braided sheath is regulated. By selecting either a positive or a negative electrical current for energizing of the actuator head in step 8, a specific alignment for the magnets, relative to their north and south poles, is selectable and established so that the magnet are, in each case, grabbed by the interior walls of the braided sheath while they are in the desired alignment. Preferably, the strands forming the braided sheath are themselves formed of a thermoplastic polyethylene.

Step 9: Next, the product resultant of steps 1 to 7 above, that is a hollow braided sheath incorporating a magnet at several distinct predetermined locations spatially separated along the length of the hollow braided sheath, where the magnets are aligned so that the north pole of one magnet faces the south pole of an adjacent magnet, is used by having a thermoplastic layer extruded around it so that the hollow braided sheath incorporating the magnets and the thermoplastic layer extruded around it, that also enters into void spaces within the sheath, together form a bar. This bar is a Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core useful for forming the Heat Indicating Rope of the present disclosure.

In order to Use the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core to Make a Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure:

Firstly, a Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core as taught above and herein is formed; Secondly, a strength member is formed around the Creep Tolerant Magnetized

Core. The strength member is preferably formed of a hollow braided construction, and preferably has at least twelve primary strands using known rope construction formulae. This is accomplished by feeding the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core through a braiding machine designed to form hollow braided ropes, where the braiding machine has at least twelve cars where each car has a bobbin loaded with one of the primary strands used in forming the hollow braid constructed strength member. Preferably the strength member is formed mainly or entirely of synthetic fibers, and preferably HMPE and/or UHMWPE and in some cases a blend of Aramid and UHMWPE; Thirdly, the strength member is dried such as with hot blown air so as to remove excess of moisture from the strength member;

Fourthly, optionally, but preferably, the strength member is submerged or otherwise contacted with an adhesive substance such as a urethane or other substances commonly known in the industry as "impregnating agents", in such fashion so as to permit all fibers in the strength member to be contacted by the impregnation agent(s), as is known in the art. The strength member is then dried such as with blown hot air so as to remove excess of the adhesive substance.

Fifthly, the combination of the strength member (with any impregnation agents) and the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core, that is hereafter also optionally known the "pre-processed rope", are tensed to a predetermined tension;

Sixthly, while maintaining the tension on the pre-processed rope, a heat is applied to the entire pre-processed rope, i.e. to the combination of the strength member (with any impregnation agents) and the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core contained within the strength member, where such heat is applied in such a fashion so as to cause a phase change of the thermoplastic substance forming the thermoplastic portion or portions of the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core, it being preferred to cause the thermoplastic portion to reach only a semi-liquid state, and even a semi-molten state, rather than a totally molten state;

Seventhly, the tension is maintained, and in some cases may be altered, such as increased, or may be repeatedly altered, such as by being increased followed by being decreased, followed by being increased again, and so on, until the combination of the strength member (with any impregnation agents) and the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core have been stretched and/or elongated a predetermined magnitude (such as a predetermined percentage greater than their length prior to being stretched), and, preferably, until the outer diameter of the pre-processed rope is between fifteen percent and forty-three percent lesser than its original outer diameter; Eighthly, while a predetermined tension is maintained, the combination of the strength member (with any impregnation agents) and the selected Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 are cooled until the thermoplastic substance of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 returns to a solid phase. Ninthly; optionally, and preferably, a sheath is formed about the outside of the strength member, such as a braided sheath, that may be adhered to the strength member with a highly elastic adhesive substance such as with a high elasticity polyurethane that is applied to the outside surface of the strength member immediately prior to braiding the sheath about the outside surface of the strength member.

Methods for Using the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure

Having produced the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure, to use the rope in order to monitor the heat of the rope, and especially the heat at and/or near the core of the rope, the methods of the present disclosure include steps of: First: subjecting the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope and/or selected portions of the

Heat Indicating Fiber Rope to a range of temperatures, until, in each case, the rope reaches each of various distinct temperatures. A probe that can be inserted into the rope to read temperature at the boundary of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core 2 and the strength member surrounding it is useful. Alternatively, but less desirably, magnets identical to those magnets contained within the rope are subjected to heat when they are not enclosed within the rope, until they reach the desired temperature, and are retained at the desired temperature for about one hour so as to ensure that the entire body of the magnet has reached such temperature. Second: measuring a force associated with the magnet or magnets at each distinct location along the rope (such force may be magnetic force, or magnetic flux, or magnetic moment, or other). A Gaussmeter or a 3D fluxmeter is useful for measuring the magnetic moment of the magnet or magnets at each distinct location along the rope. There may be several magnets positioned at one distinct location along and within the rope, and for purposes of the present disclosure the use of one or several magnets at a specific distinct location along and within the rope is considered the same as using one magnet.

When the alternative First step is selected, the selected measured force of the magnet is measured when the magnet is not contained within the rope. Third: recording the temperature value measured and the value of the measured specific force generated by the magnet at such temperature, for each of various temperatures selected;

Fourth; forming a database correlating any specific force value measured to a specific temperature that the rope was at when the force value was measured, for several different temperatures of the rope, and especially temperatures expected to be of importance in determining degradation of the rope, for example, such as temperatures at which a material forming fibers forming the rope degrades, as well as temperatures within a predetermined range of such degradation temperature;

Fifth: using the rope in its intended application; Sixth: monitoring at least those portions of the rope containing distinct magnets, and specifically by measuring during use of the rope the same type of force already measured when forming the database;

Seventh: correlating the value and/or values of the measured force associated with a magnet to a temperature identified in the prior steps as a temperature that corresponds to the force value measured, thereby determining the heat value and especially the temperature of the rope at distinct locations along the rope and at and/or near the core of the rope;

Eighth: Preferably, a database is maintained of the heat values measured over time, so as to be able to monitor the heat being experienced by certain portions of the rope over time. Preferably as well, any failure or compromise of the rope detected is compared to the amount of heat input over time at specific locations of the rope so as to permit future prediction of when a rope of similar and/or same construction is likely to fail or be at risk of failure according to how much heat is being experienced by the rope at such specific location along the rope. In some instances, it may be desired to use the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure in a fashion that permits monitoring, during actual use of the rope, both the heat of the rope, and as well, additionally, any creep experienced by the rope. In order to additionally use the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure to monitor and alert operators of excessive or undesired magnitudes of creep in the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure, the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure is employed in such a fashion that adjacent to at least a portion of the long dimension of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure during its deployment, preferably in the vicinity of the sheave upon which the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope is travelling outboard the seismic vessel, and arranged in sequence and at predetermined spatial distances between one another, are a plurality of sensors capable of detecting the predetermined force type desired associated with the magnets and desired to be measured and correlated to the rope's temperature, including in above steps. These sensors may be any of a variety of devices cable of detecting magnets such as by detecting Halls effect, or magnetic force, or magnetic flux, magnetic fields, or any effect associated with magnets. The sensors are connected to an electronic control unit (computer).

Upon initial deployment under working load tensions of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure, the sensors detect the positions of the various magnets within the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope. These positions are logged by the control unit as predetermined locations having specific distance intervals between themselves along the long dimension of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure, each of which specific distance intervals preferably is identifiable by the RFID tag associated with it by virtue of having been positioned between subsequent super magnets or other magnets.

In order to ascertain magnitudes of creep of the various distance intervals between the predetermined locations, the positions of the various magnets are monitored and the specific distance intervals between them measured and recorded. The control unit keeps record of the distance measured for each of the specific distance intervals over time. When a distance interval elongates, the control until sends an alarm or alert. The control unit is programmed so as to be able to provide a constant report of the progressive creep of the various distance intervals along the long dimension of the superwide.

That portion of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope in the vicinity of the sheave from which the superwide exits outboard the vessel, and especially between the winch or drum that pulls upon the superwide to just outboard the sheave, is constantly being monitored by an appropriately configured sensor system coupled to the control unit.

When the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope is being payed out or retrieved, it must pass the sensors, that transmit to the control unit information permitting the control unit to monitor creep along those portions of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope that are far from the sheave.

The control unit calculates creep and/or other elongation experienced by distinct regions corresponding to distinct distance intervals situated along the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure. When RFIDs are used between subsequent super magnets, for example, the control unit identifies specific distance intervals through the RFID associated with same. When no RFIDs are used in the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core, the control unit counts up and down, along the long length of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope, to thereby keep track of distinct specific distance intervals. Upon sensing a predetermined amount of linear length increase in such distance intervals, the control unit is programmed to send a warning alarm to operators of the seismic surveillance vessel, thereby alerting operators of the likely failure of the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure prior to such failure occurring as a result of creep. Thus, catastrophic failures of the superwide are avoided, minimizing economic losses and fatalities, the objects of the present disclosure thereby being attained. Alternative Embodiments:

FIG. 4 shows a side plan view of an assembly 22 of spatially arranged magnets 5 and 6 coupled to a line 23. The line may be a thread, yarn, filament, tape or other. The line preferably is formed of the same substance that is formed the plastic portion 3 or 10 of the Creep Tolerant Magnetized Cores 2 and 7. The magnets may be coupled to the line by means of an adhesive, or any other means. The magnets are preferably aligned as to their polarity so as to provide the magnets a predetermined alignment relative to their north and south poles and relative to the long axis of the finished rope, prior to being affixed to the line. Upon completion of the assembly 22, the assembly 22 may be fed through an extruder that is extruding the molten thermoplastic in forming plastic rod 3. As a result, is formed an embodiment of a Creep Tolerant Magnetized Core.

Industrial Applicability:

The processes taught herein to make and use a Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure can be used to make a high strength synthetic rope of the present disclosure for any application for which rope is used, including towing warps, trawler warps, crane ropes, deep sea winch lines, mooring ropes, anchor ropes, well bore lines, and other.

The finished rope forming the Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure may also be used as a mooring rope or as a crane rope. As a mooring rope, such as for deep water and ultra-deep water rigs, the rope's heat and/or creep, and especially the rope's internal heat, is monitored about sheaves as taught above. However, to monitor creep along submerged portions of the mooring rope it is anticipated than an ROV constructed and configured with the needed sensors and control units to measure and monitor over time the lengths and changes in lengths of the specific distance intervals along the mooring rope would be employed. Such use, construction, methods for construction, and methods for use of the

Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure results in a Heat Indicating Fiber Rope of the present disclosure that addresses problems described herein above and addresses needs long felt in the industry.

While the present disclosure has been described in terms of its presently preferred embodiments, others, no doubt, having read the instant disclosure, shall suggest various alternatives and variations, which are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure and the claims of the present disclosure.