A cord rubberized in situ (C). Internal layer of the cord (CT1) comprises N1 internal thread(s). External layer of the cord (CT3) comprises N3 external threads wound helically around the internal layer of the cord. Rubber composition (20) is positioned between the internal layer of the cord and the external layer of the cord, and comprises a compound of formula (I) or a salt of this compound:

##STR00001##

in which: each R1, R2 and R3 group represents, independently of one another, an alkylene, arylene, arylalkylene, alkylarylene or cycloalkylene group, each X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 group represents, independently of each other, COOH, CONHOH, SOOH, PO(OR)(R) or PO(OR)(OR) with R and R representing, independently of each other, hydrogen or an alkyl group, and X.sub.3 comprises at least one COOH, CONHOH, SOOH, PO(OR)(R) or PO(OR)(OR) group with R and R representing, independently of each other, hydrogen or an alkyl group.

A cord rubberized in situ (C). Internal layer of the cord (CT1) comprises N1 internal thread(s). External layer of the cord (CT3) comprises N3 external threads wound helically around the internal layer of the cord. Rubber composition (20) is positioned between the internal layer of the cord and the external layer of the cord, and comprises a compound of formula (I) or a salt of this compound:

##STR00001##

in which: each R1, R2 and R3 group represents, independently of one another, an alkylene, arylene, arylalkylene, alkylarylene or cycloalkylene group, each X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 group represents, independently of each other, COOH, CONHOH, SOOH, PO(OR)(R) or PO(OR)(OR) with R and R representing, independently of each other, hydrogen or an alkyl group, and X.sub.3 comprises at least one COOH, CONHOH, SOOH, PO(OR)(R) or PO(OR)(OR) group with R and R representing, independently of each other, hydrogen or an alkyl group.

A metal cord has an M+N construction with two concentric layers. An internal first layer or core includes M wire(s) of diameter d.sub.1, M having a value from 1 to 4. An external second layer includes N wires of diameter d.sub.2 and is positioned around the core, the N wires being wound in a helix. Between the wires of the two layers are gaps, some or all of which include a filling rubber based on an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer. The filling rubber may be, for example, based on an SBS or an SIS block copolymer. When used in a molten state, the thermoplastic elastomer presents no problem due to unwanted stickiness if the filling rubber overspills outside the cord after manufacture. The unsaturated and therefore (co)vulcanizable nature of the thermoplastic elastomer makes it compatible with diene rubber matrices used as calendering rubber in metal fabrics intended for reinforcing tires.

A metal cord has an M+N construction with two concentric layers. An internal first layer or core includes M wire(s) of diameter d.sub.1, M having a value from 1 to 4. An external second layer includes N wires of diameter d.sub.2 and is positioned around the core, the N wires being wound in a helix. Between the wires of the two layers are gaps, some or all of which include a filling rubber based on an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer. The filling rubber may be, for example, based on an SBS or an SIS block copolymer. When used in a molten state, the thermoplastic elastomer presents no problem due to unwanted stickiness if the filling rubber overspills outside the cord after manufacture. The unsaturated and therefore (co)vulcanizable nature of the thermoplastic elastomer makes it compatible with diene rubber matrices used as calendering rubber in metal fabrics intended for reinforcing tires.

A method of manufacturing a metal cord with two concentric layers of wires is provided. The cord includes an internal layer of M wires, M having a value from 1 to 4, and an external layer of N wires. The cord is rubberized from within in situ. That is, during manufacture of the cord, the cord is rubberized from inside. According to the method, the internal layer is sheathed with rubber or a rubber compound by passing the internal layer through an extrusion head, and the N wires of the external layer are assembled around the sheathed internal layer to form a two-layer cord rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer that is extruded in a molten state, and preferably is a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) type of thermoplastic elastomer, such as an SBS or an SIS block copolymer, for example.

A method of manufacturing a metal cord with two concentric layers of wires is provided. The cord includes an internal layer of M wires, M having a value from 1 to 4, and an external layer of N wires. The cord is rubberized from within in situ. That is, during manufacture of the cord, the cord is rubberized from inside. According to the method, the internal layer is sheathed with rubber or a rubber compound by passing the internal layer through an extrusion head, and the N wires of the external layer are assembled around the sheathed internal layer to form a two-layer cord rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer that is extruded in a molten state, and preferably is a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) type of thermoplastic elastomer, such as an SBS or an SIS block copolymer, for example.

Disclosed is a tire-reinforcing steel cord for a radial tire. The tire-reinforcing steel cord has a double layer structure including a first-layer core and a second-layer core provided on the surface of the first-layer core. The first-layer core has an elliptical or rectangular cross section. The tire-reinforcing steel cord can improve processability, fatigue characteristics, and rolling resistance performance of a tire, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. A radial tire using the tire-reinforcing steel cord is also disclosed.

Disclosed is a tire-reinforcing steel cord for a radial tire. The tire-reinforcing steel cord has a double layer structure including a first-layer core and a second-layer core provided on the surface of the first-layer core. The first-layer core has an elliptical or rectangular cross section. The tire-reinforcing steel cord can improve processability, fatigue characteristics, and rolling resistance performance of a tire, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. A radial tire using the tire-reinforcing steel cord is also disclosed.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.

A wire rope for face shovels or draglines, comprising: a core, said core is made from a plurality of core strands a plurality of outer strands laid on said core, a plurality of separator strands located in the interstices between said core strands and said outer strands, a plastic jacket around said plurality of outer strands, said plurality of separator strands and said core strands, wherein said plurality of separator strands extend from said core strands and in-between each pair of said plurality of outer strands so as to produce and maintain gaps between said pair of said plurality of outer strands; wherein said core strands are compacted, and the gap between said core strands is less than 0.4% of the diameter of the core strand.