There is provided a steel cord including a steel wire and a plating layer that covers the steel wire and has Cu, Zn, and Co, wherein Cu and Zn are alloyed and a region covered with Co and a region not covered with Co are mixed on the outermost surface of the plating layer.

A tire includes a steel cord having a plated coating layer, rubber covering the steel cord, the plated coating layer including Cu and Zn, and a bonding layer including Cu.sub.2S and CuS provided closer to the rubber than an interface between the steel cord and the rubber, wherein a molar ratio Cu.sub.2S/CuS of Cu.sub.2S and CuS included in the bonding layer is 1.0 or higher.

A tire includes a steel cord having a plated coating layer, rubber covering the steel cord, the plated coating layer including Cu and Zn, and a bonding layer including Cu.sub.2S and CuS provided closer to the rubber than an interface between the steel cord and the rubber, wherein a molar ratio Cu.sub.2S/CuS of Cu.sub.2S and CuS included in the bonding layer is 1.0 or higher.

A straightening device for straightening cables includes two rows of rollers, an adjusting device for manually adjusting a distance between the rows of rollers, a measuring device for recording the distance between the rows of rollers, and an indicator device with which deviations of the actual value of the distance between the rows of rollers, determined by the measuring device, from a nominal value is visually indicated. The indicator device has two optical error indicating elements for indicating too high and/or too low an actual value compared with the nominal value of the distance, as well as an optical correct indicating element for indicating that the actual value of the distance corresponds with the nominal value.

A straightening device for straightening cables includes two rows of rollers, an adjusting device for manually adjusting a distance between the rows of rollers, a measuring device for recording the distance between the rows of rollers, and an indicator device with which deviations of the actual value of the distance between the rows of rollers, determined by the measuring device, from a nominal value is visually indicated. The indicator device has two optical error indicating elements for indicating too high and/or too low an actual value compared with the nominal value of the distance, as well as an optical correct indicating element for indicating that the actual value of the distance corresponds with the nominal value.

A belt containing steel cords, the steel cords containing strands made of steel filaments wherein the largest diameter filaments are at least intermittently positioned at the radially outer side of the steel cord. Such a configuration can be obtained by using steel cord constructions wherein the thickest filaments are positioned outside of the steel cord which is contrary to the current practice. In a further embodiment the largest diameter filaments fill up some or all of the valleys of the strands at their radially outer side. These monofilaments thus have the same lay length and direction as the strands in the steel cord. The advantage of putting the largest filaments at the outside is that they will break first and thus will be readily detectable by electrical, magnetic or visual means. In this way a belt is provided that can be monitored easier and more conveniently than prior art belts.

A belt containing steel cords, the steel cords containing strands made of steel filaments wherein the largest diameter filaments are at least intermittently positioned at the radially outer side of the steel cord. Such a configuration can be obtained by using steel cord constructions wherein the thickest filaments are positioned outside of the steel cord which is contrary to the current practice. In a further embodiment the largest diameter filaments fill up some or all of the valleys of the strands at their radially outer side. These monofilaments thus have the same lay length and direction as the strands in the steel cord. The advantage of putting the largest filaments at the outside is that they will break first and thus will be readily detectable by electrical, magnetic or visual means. In this way a belt is provided that can be monitored easier and more conveniently than prior art belts.

A rope system (10, 20) comprising a splice structure (12, 22) with an intact portion (23) comprising at least 8 intact strands (32, 34), and a disassembled portion (26) comprising at least 4 loose strands (30), wherein the intact portion (23) is a braid of at least 4 S oriented (32) and at least 4 Z oriented intact strands (34), wherein at least one loose strand (30) of the disassembled portion (26) passes under and over intact strands (32, 34) of the intact portion (23), and at least one loose strand (30) passes under at least one X-tuck (38) of intact strands (32, 34). By this means the splice length can be minimized resp. slippage of the splice at high loads can be avoided.

A rope system (10, 20) comprising a splice structure (12, 22) with an intact portion (23) comprising at least 8 intact strands (32, 34), and a disassembled portion (26) comprising at least 4 loose strands (30), wherein the intact portion (23) is a braid of at least 4 S oriented (32) and at least 4 Z oriented intact strands (34), wherein at least one loose strand (30) of the disassembled portion (26) passes under and over intact strands (32, 34) of the intact portion (23), and at least one loose strand (30) passes under at least one X-tuck (38) of intact strands (32, 34). By this means the splice length can be minimized resp. slippage of the splice at high loads can be avoided.

A longitudinal element produced with a core made of high-strength fibers and at least one metal casing, preferably steel, surrounding this core. In this way, there is the significant advantage that these high-strength fibers, which are very lightweight in relation to their strength, are protected in a number of ways, namely against humidity, moisture, UV light and other environmental influences. In addition, the metal casing provides the fibers with protection against transverse loads. In this way, all the high-strength properties of the traction or suspension means are maintained over a sustained period