(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,311,466 Bi
De Vos et al. (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 6,2001
(54) STEEL CORD WITH WAVED ELEMENTS
(75) Inventors: Xavier De Vos, Oudenaarde; Yvan
Lippens, Anzegem; Albert R. Somers, Gentbrugge; Frans Van Giel, Kortrijk, all of (BE)
(73) Assignee: N. V. Bekaert S.A., Zwevegem (BE)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/555,045
(22) PCT Filed: Nov. 25, 1998
(86) PCT No.: PCT/EP98/07548 § 371 Date: May 24, 2000
§ 102(e) Date: May 24, 2000
(87) PCT Pub. No.: W099/28547 PCT Pub. Date: Jun. 10, 1999
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 27, 1997 (EP) 97203712
(51) Int. CI.7 D07B 1/06; D07B 7/02;
D02G 3/02; D02G 3/36
(52) U.S. CI 57/212; 57/902; 428/592
(58) Field of Search 57/902, 212; 152/451;
428/592
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,274,699 3/1942 Jacobs 140/71
3,805,853 4/1974 Gladu 140/105
5,020,312 6/1991 Watakabe 57/200
5,111,649 5/1992 Watakabe 57/311
5,581,990 * 12/1996 Van Giel et al 57/311
5,584,169 * 12/1996 Ikehara 57/212
5,595,617 * 1/1997 Tonteling et al 148/595
5,606,852 * 3/1997 Yanagisawa 57/207
5,843,583 * 12/1998 D'Haene et al 428/592
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0 462 716 Al 12/1991 (EP) .
0 619 398 Al 12/1994 (EP) .
0 676 500 Al 10/1995 (EP) .
W095/16816 6/1995 (WO) .
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Bourgois, L Survey of Mechanical Properties of Steel Cord and Related Test Methods, Tire Reinforcement and Tire Performance, ASTM STP 694, 1980, pp. 19-46.
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Andy Falik
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Foley & Lardner
(57) ABSTRACT
A steel structure adapted for the reinforcement of elastomeric members has steel elements containing a plurality of steel filaments at least one of which filaments is provided with first and second crimps. The first crimp lies in a plane that is substantially different from the plane of the second crimp. Application of the both crimps can be carried out efficiently using two pairs of toothed wheels which are not externally driven. This arrangement renders it possible to obtain steel structures with an increased penetration of rubber or with an increased elongation at break.
5 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
