US4545834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making and using ternary alloy coated steel wire
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
•
Filing: 1984-04-27
•
Granted: 1985-10-08
•
Expires: 2004-04-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention reveals a steel wire element useful in the reinforcement of rubber articles in which the steel wire is provided with an adhesive coating comprising a ternary brass alloy containing about 55 percent to about 75 percent by weight copper, about 15 to about 45 percent by weight zinc, and about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight iron. Preferably this ternary brass alloy will contain about 1 to 5 percent by weight iron. The ternary alloy may be formed by sequentially electroplating layers of copper, iron and zinc followed by heating to promote the diffusion of the copper, iron and zinc layers. The steel wire elements of this invention are useful in the reinforcement of vehicle tires, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, hoses, and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Shemenski
- 👤 Dong K. Kim
- 👤 Thomas W. Starinshak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:27
CPC Classifications
D; D07; D07B; D07B1/00; D07B1/06; D07B1/0606; D07B1/0666; B; B32; B32B; B32B15/00; B32B15/01; B32B15/013; B32B15/015; D07B2205/00; D07B2205/30; D07B2205/3021; D07B2205/3085; D07B2205/3089; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S156/00; Y10S156/91; Y10S205/00; Y10S205/917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An improved process for manufacturing a rubber article that contains at least one steel reinforcing element which comprises: (1) coating the steel reinforcing element with a ternary iron-brass alloy consisting essentially of from about 55 percent to about 75 percent by weight copper, from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight iron, and about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight zinc; (2) surrounding the metal reinforcement with a rubber to conform to the desired shape of the rubber article being produced, and (3) curing the rubber article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An improved process for manufacturing a rubber article that contains at least one steel reinforcing element which comprises: (1) coating the steel reinforcing element with a ternary iron-brass alloy consisting essentially of from about 55 percent to about 75 percent by weight copper, from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight iron, and about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight zinc; (2) surrounding the metal reinforcement with a rubber to conform to the desired shape of the rubber article being produced, and (3) curing the rubber article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as specified in claim 1 wherein the steel reinforcing element is coated with the ternary iron-brass alloy to a final thickness of from about 0.05 microns to about 0.40 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as specified in claim 2 wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy contains from 60 to 67 percent by weight copper, from 28 to 39 percent by weight zinc, and from 1 to 5 percent by weight iron.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A process as specified in claim 3 wherein the steel reinforcing element is coated with the ternary iron-brass alloy by sequentially electroplating layers of copper, zinc, and iron onto the steel reinforcing element followed by heating the steel reinforcing element to a temperature high enough to promote the diffusion of the copper, zinc, and iron layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as specified in claim 4 wherein said temperature high enough to promote the diffusion of the copper, zinc, and iron is at least 450° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as specified in claim 5 wherein the steel reinforcing element is coated with the ternary iron-brass alloy to a final thickness of from about 0.12 microns to about 0.25 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as specified in claim 6 wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy contains from 2 to 4 percent by weight iron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as specified in claim 7 wherein the rubber is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, carboxylated nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, EPDM, EPR, and polyisobutylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process as specified in claim 8 wherein the copper, zinc, and iron layers are electroplated onto the steel reinforcing element by first applying the copper layer, then applying the iron layer, and finally applying the zinc layer as the final step in the electroplating process.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as specified in claim 9 wherein the steel reinforcing element is heated to a temperature high enough to promote the diffusion of the copper, zinc, and iron layers for a period of from about 2 to about 10 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as specified in claim 10 wherein said rubber article is a belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as specified in claim 10 wherein said rubber article is a hose.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as specified in claim 10 wherein said rubber article is a tire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as specified in claim 13 wherein said rubber is natural rubber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as specified in claim 13 wherein said rubber is polybutadiene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for manufacturing a steel reinforcing element useful in the reinforcement of rubber articles in which the steel reinforcing element is provided with an iron-brass alloy adhesive coating which comprises: (1) electroplating layers of copper, zinc, and iron onto the steel reinforcing element; and (2) heating the steel reinforcing element to a temperature of at least 450° C. to promote the diffusion of the copper, zinc, and iron layers to form an iron-brass alloy adhesive coating wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy consists essentially of from about 55 percent to about 75 percent by weight copper, from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight iron, and about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight zinc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for manufacturing a steel reinforcing element useful in the reinforcement of rubber articles in which the steel reinforcing element is provided with an iron-brass alloy adhesive coating which comprises: (1) electroplating layers of copper, zinc, and iron onto the steel reinforcing element; and (2) heating the steel reinforcing element to a temperature of at least 450° C. to promote the diffusion of the copper, zinc, and iron layers to form an iron-brass alloy adhesive coating wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy consists essentially of from about 55 percent to about 75 percent by weight copper, from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight iron, and about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight zinc.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as specified in claim 16 wherein the steel reforcing element is coated with the ternary iron-brass alloy to a final thickness of from about 0.05 microns to about 0.40 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process as specified in claim 17 wherein the copper, zinc, and iron layers are electroplated onto the steel reinforcing element by first applying the copper layer, then applying the iron layer, and finally applying the zinc layer as the final step in the electroplating process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as specified in claim 18 wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy contains from 60 to 67 percent by weight copper, from 28 to 39 percent by weight zinc, and from 1 to 5 percent by weight iron.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process as specified in claim 19 wherein the steel reinforcing element is coated with the ternary iron-brass alloy to a final thickness of from about 0.12 microns to about 0.25 microns and wherein the ternary iron-brass alloy contains from 2 to 4 percent by weight iron.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2240805A
Cited
US2296838A
Cited
US2643273A
Cited
US2870526A
Cited
US2939207A
Cited
US3311458A
Cited
US3517722A
Cited
US3749558A
Cited
US3858635A
Cited
US4265678A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-07 | 1989-04-08 | 1989-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-07 | 1993-04-08 | 1993-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-07 | 1997-04-08 | 1997-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |