This invention relates to a tension buffer system for multi-wirepay-off system. The tension buffer system comprises guiding pulleys (4, 4a, 4b) adapted to guide wires (6, 6a, 6b) being paid off, and reversing pulleys (8). Each reversing pulley (8) is adapted to guide a wire (6, 6a, 6b) from the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b) and back to the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b), two reversing pulleys (8) are rotatably mounted on a first support (10), the first support (10) is pivoted around first support axis (12) lying between the two reversing pulleys (8) so that pivoting brings one of the two reversing pulleys (8) closer to the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b) while the other of the two reversing pulleys (8) more remote from said guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b). This invention provides a mechanical device to balance the tension difference between multiple wires in the pay-off system to produce a steel cord with constant tension and satisfactory quality.

This invention relates to a tension buffer system for multi-wirepay-off system. The tension buffer system comprises guiding pulleys (4, 4a, 4b) adapted to guide wires (6, 6a, 6b) being paid off, and reversing pulleys (8). Each reversing pulley (8) is adapted to guide a wire (6, 6a, 6b) from the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b) and back to the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b), two reversing pulleys (8) are rotatably mounted on a first support (10), the first support (10) is pivoted around first support axis (12) lying between the two reversing pulleys (8) so that pivoting brings one of the two reversing pulleys (8) closer to the guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b) while the other of the two reversing pulleys (8) more remote from said guiding pulley (4, 4a, 4b). This invention provides a mechanical device to balance the tension difference between multiple wires in the pay-off system to produce a steel cord with constant tension and satisfactory quality.

The invention relates to a method for operating a braiding, winding or spiraling machine for braiding around, wrapping around or spiraling around a strand-like material, in particular a cable, with at least one elongate material strand formed from at least one elongate material fibre, in particular from at least one wire. In the method, a diameter of the strand-like material is measured and a feed rate of the strand-like material and/or a rotational speed at which the at least one elongate material strand moves about the longitudinal axis of the strand-like material is controlled by open-loop or closed-loop control depending on said diameter measured. A predefined degree of coverage of the strand-like material by the at least one elongate material strand can be kept substantially constant by means of an open-loop or closed-loop control of the relative feed rate of the strand-like material depending on the diameter measured.

An installation for compacting strands or a preform including strands, the strands or the preform including at least a first portion in which the strands are twisted at a first angle and a second portion in which the strands are twisted at a second angle different from the first angle, the installation including a mould which includes the strands or the preform, and wherein the mould has at least a first part in which the first portion of the strands or of the preform is disposed, having a first thickness and a second part in which the second portion of the strands or of the preform is disposed, having a second thickness different from the first thickness.

An apparatus for forming a rope matrix having seaweed propagules embedded therein is provided and may include an intertwining assembly configured to intertwine at least three ropes at a braiding point to form a rope matrix. Further, the apparatus may include a conveying device configured to introduce seaweed propagules adjacent to the braiding point and to enable embedding of the seaweed propagules within the rope matrix while the rope matrix is being formed. Further, the apparatus may comprises an offtake assembly configured to move the rope matrix, with the seaweed propagules embedded therein, out of the apparatus.

An apparatus for forming a rope matrix having seaweed propagules embedded therein is provided and may include an intertwining assembly configured to intertwine at least three ropes at a braiding point to form a rope matrix. Further, the apparatus may include a conveying device configured to introduce seaweed propagules adjacent to the braiding point and to enable embedding of the seaweed propagules within the rope matrix while the rope matrix is being formed. Further, the apparatus may comprises an offtake assembly configured to move the rope matrix, with the seaweed propagules embedded therein, out of the apparatus.

An apparatus (1) for surface treatment of an elongate object (50), such as a wire rope, while the apparatus (1) travels along the object (50), including a squeegee unit (10) for applying a deformable material, such as a coating material, comprising: a first and a second opening (16, 17) which are mutually aligned and through which said elongated object (50) is able to pass in a longitudinal direction (12), wherein a squeegee element (102) is provided between the first and the second opening (16, 17) defining an opening (15) which is adapted to the cross sectional shape of the elongated object (50) to distribute a coating layer by wiping along the surface of the elongated object (50) passing through said opening (15).

An apparatus (1) for surface treatment of an elongate object (50), such as a wire rope, while the apparatus (1) travels along the object (50), including a squeegee unit (10) for applying a deformable material, such as a coating material, comprising: a first and a second opening (16, 17) which are mutually aligned and through which said elongated object (50) is able to pass in a longitudinal direction (12), wherein a squeegee element (102) is provided between the first and the second opening (16, 17) defining an opening (15) which is adapted to the cross sectional shape of the elongated object (50) to distribute a coating layer by wiping along the surface of the elongated object (50) passing through said opening (15).

A steel cord for reinforcing a breaker or belt ply in a rubber tire having a core group and a sheath group. The core group consists of two to four core steel filaments with a first diameter dc and the sheath group consists of one to six sheath steel filaments with a second diameter ds. The ratio dc/ds of the first diameter dc to the second diameter ds ranges from 1.10 to 1.70. The two core steel filaments are untwisted or have a twisting step greater than 300 mm. The sheath group is twisted around the core group with a cord twisting step in a cord twisting direction. The ratio of the difference in residual torsions of the core group and the sheath group to the difference in saturation level between the core group and the sheath group ranges from 0.10 to 0.65, preferably from 0.10 to 0.60.

With a wire rope comprising at least one plastic core (11) and a number of wire strands (15) twisted around the latter a helical groove (20) is respectively produced by machining around the periphery of the plastic core (11) for each wire strand (15). The cross section of these helical grooves (20) is respectively matched to the outside diameter of the wire strands (15). The plastic core (11) is provided with the helical grooves (20) for receiving the wire strands (15) by this machining directly before the wire strands (15) are wound onto said core. By thus forming the wire rope by means of this machining in order to produce helical grooves of the plastic core, optimal guiding of the wire strands in the twisted state is achieved, and so overall there are improvements to the properties of the wire rope.