Breakage of suspension ropes due to insufficient lubrication

• Causes

Insufficient lubrication of ropes for prolonged period, which causes abrasive wear between and within the strands.

• Description of defect

Failure to properly lubricate will result in accelerated of sheave groove wear, internal notching, crown wear, core degradation and rouging of ropes, and this faults can decrease the ropes service life by up to 80%.

Severely corroded suspension ropes [3]

Ropes experiencing crown wear and rouge in the valleys between strands [16]

• Diagnostic/testing method

To test signs if the ropes need lubrication is firstly to stop the elevator operation and safely secure the car. The ropes are then lightly wiped using fingers, and the finger test should show a visible and slippery film of oil. Absence of oil film shows the ropes are desperately need to be lubricated. Meanwhile, if the film is visible, but there is no oily sensation, it shows the ropes need a light amount of lubrication

• Good practices

Regular wire rope lubrication conducted as according to maintenance program will assists the ropes to achieve long ropes service life. Besides, proper operation of ropes re-lubrication and elevator installation will determine the service life of the ropes

• Corrections

The most time-efficient way to lubricate ropes is by using automatic lubricators. Nevertheless, the ropes that are over the sheave need to be lubricated manually when the car is at the lowest landing as the oil does no contact with that section of the ropes. For manual methods, paintbrushes or rollers are acceptable to be used provided that the ropes are not over-lubricated.

Prior to lubricating, the ropes need to be cleaned from any dirt and dust using an automatic metal-brush cleaner or wire brush. The use of solvent to clean the ropes need to be avoid, as the solvent will break down the rope lubricant causing the rope to deteriorate.

Automatic rope oiler [29]