A method of making a hoist cable capable of continuous resistance monitoring includes applying an electrically-insulating material to at least one strand of a wire rope such that a length of the strand is electrically insulated and an end of the strand is electrically conductive. The end of the at least one strand is joined to other strands of the wire rope such that at least two strands are electrically connected at a free end of the wire rope. A method of inspecting the hoist cable includes transmitting a first electrical signal through a first strand from a hoist drum to a free end of the wire rope and receiving the first electrical signal through a second strand at the hoist drum, the first and second strands being electrically connected at the free end. Using the first electrical signal, the resistance of the wire rope is calculated.

A method of making a hoist cable capable of continuous resistance monitoring includes applying an electrically-insulating material to at least one strand of a wire rope such that a length of the strand is electrically insulated and an end of the strand is electrically conductive. The end of the at least one strand is joined to other strands of the wire rope such that at least two strands are electrically connected at a free end of the wire rope. A method of inspecting the hoist cable includes transmitting a first electrical signal through a first strand from a hoist drum to a free end of the wire rope and receiving the first electrical signal through a second strand at the hoist drum, the first and second strands being electrically connected at the free end. Using the first electrical signal, the resistance of the wire rope is calculated.

A cord rubberized in situ (C) comprising: an internal layer of the cord (CT1), an external layer of the cord (CT3), a rubber composition (20) positioned between the internal layer of the cord and the external layer of the cord. The rubber composition (20) comprises a compound of formula (I):

##STR00001##

in which X and Y represent, independently of each other, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation.

A cord rubberized in situ (C) comprising: an internal layer of the cord (CT1), an external layer of the cord (CT3), a rubber composition (20) positioned between the internal layer of the cord and the external layer of the cord. The rubber composition (20) comprises a compound of formula (I):

##STR00001##

in which X and Y represent, independently of each other, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation.

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.