What is "wire rope"

Wire \Wire\ (w[imac]r), n. [OE. wir, AS. wir; akin to Icel. v[=i]rr, Dan. vire, LG. wir, wire; cf. OHG. wiara fine gold; perhaps akin to E. withy. [root]14

1. ] 1. A thread or slender rod of metal; a metallic substance formed to an even thread by being passed between grooved rollers, or drawn through holes in a plate of steel.

   Note: Wire is made of any desired form, as round, square, triangular, etc., by giving this shape to the hole in the drawplate, or between the rollers.

2. A telegraph wire or cable; hence, an electric telegraph; as, to send a message by wire. [Colloq.]

3. Chiefly in pl. The system of wires used to operate the puppets in a puppet show; hence (Chiefly Political Slang), the network of hidden influences controlling the action of a person or organization; as, to pull the wires for office; -- in this sense, synonymous with strings.

4. One who picks women's pockets. [Thieves' Slang]

5. A knitting needle. [Scot.]

6. A wire stretching across over a race track at the judges' stand, to mark the line at which the races end. [Racing Cant] Wire bed, Wire mattress, an elastic bed bottom or mattress made of wires interwoven or looped together in various ways. Wire bridge, a bridge suspended from wires, or cables made of wire. Wire cartridge, a shot cartridge having the shot inclosed in a wire cage. Wire cloth, a coarse cloth made of woven metallic wire, -- used for strainers, and for various other purposes. Wire edge, the thin, wirelike thread of metal sometimes formed on the edge of a tool by the stone in sharpening it. Wire fence, a fence consisting of posts with strained horizontal wires, wire netting, or other wirework, between. Wire gauge or Wire gage.

   1. A gauge for measuring the diameter of wire, thickness of sheet metal, etc., often consisting of a metal plate with a series of notches of various widths in its edge.

   2. A standard series of sizes arbitrarily indicated, as by numbers, to which the diameter of wire or the thickness of sheet metal in usually made, and which is used in describing the size or thickness. There are many different standards for wire gauges, as in different countries, or for different kinds of metal, the Birmingham wire gauges and the American wire gauge being often used and designated by the abbreviations B. W. G. and A. W. G. respectively.

      Wire gauze, a texture of finely interwoven wire, resembling gauze.

      Wire grass (Bot.), either of the two common grasses Eleusine Indica, valuable for hay and pasture, and Poa compressa, or blue grass. See Blue grass.

      Wire grub (Zo["o]l.), a wireworm.

      Wire iron, wire rods of iron.

      Wire lathing, wire cloth or wire netting applied in the place of wooden lathing for holding plastering.

      Wire mattress. See Wire bed, above.

      Wire micrometer, a micrometer having spider lines, or fine wires, across the field of the instrument.

      Wire nail, a nail formed of a piece of wire which is headed and pointed.

      Wire netting, a texture of woven wire coarser than ordinary wire gauze.

      Wire rod, a metal rod from which wire is formed by drawing.

      Wire rope, a rope formed wholly, or in great part, of wires.

      down to the wire, up to the last moment, as in a race or competition; as, the two front runners were neck-and-neck down to the wire. From wire[6].

      under the wire, just in time; shortly before the deadline; as, to file an application just under the wire.

n. A strong cable consisting of twisted strands of wire, generally intended for supporting heavy loads.

thumb|Steel wire rope (right hand Lang's lay)

Wire rope is a type of cable which consists of several strands of metal wire laid (twisted) into a helix. The term cable is often used interchangeably with wire rope. However, in general, "wire rope" refers to diameter larger than 3/8 inch (9.52 mm). Sizes smaller than this are designated cable or cords. Initially wrought iron wires were used, but today steel is the main material used for wire ropes.

Historically wire rope evolved from wrought iron chains, which had a record of mechanical failure. While flaws in chain links or solid steel bars can lead to catastrophic failure, flaws in the wires making up a steel cable are less critical as the other wires easily take up the load. Friction between the individual wires and strands, as a consequence of their twist, further compensates for any flaws.

Wire ropes were developed starting with mining hoist applications in the 1830s. Wire ropes are used dynamically for lifting and hoisting in cranes and elevators, and for transmission of mechanical power. Wire rope is also used to transmit force in mechanisms, such as a Bowden cable or the control surfaces of an airplane connected to levers and pedals in the cockpit. Static wire ropes are used to support structures such as suspension bridges or as guy wires to support towers. An aerial tramway relies on wire rope to support and move cargo overhead.