Reinforcing structure for elastomeric article and article thereby obtained

Claim 2

A flat reinforcing structure having a warp direction and a weft direction for elastomeric objects, comprising: (a) a first series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel warp cords arrayed generally in a plane; (b) a second series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel weft cords, said weft cords generally transverse to said warp cords and disposed along a first side of said plane and engaged with said warp cords at a plurality of intersection points; and (c) non-metallic strand means having substantial strength wound about each of said warp cords and about the associated weft cord at each of said intersection points for maintaining said cords in engagement and for providing an elastic fabric.

Claim 3

The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said fabric has a longitudinal strength of between about 200 N/mm to about 2000 N/mm; and, (b) said warp cords have a tensile strength not exceeding three times the tensile strength of said weft cords.

Claim 4

The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: (a) said weft cords spaced apart a distance exceeding two times the distance separating said warp cords.

Claim 5

The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said second series has between about forty to about 200 weft cords per meter of width.

Claim 6

The structure as defined in claim 4, wherein: (a) said second series has 100 weft cords.

Claim 7

The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said second series has a density degree equal to the number of cords in said second series per unit width multiplied by the diameter of said weft cords; and, (b) said first series has a nominal tensile strength such that the ratio of the nominal tensile strength of said first series to the density degree of said second series is between about 3000 N/mm to about 20,000 N/mm.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said structure has an elongation at fracture between about 5% to about 12% in the weft direction.

Claim 9

The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) said structure has a longitudinal strength of between about 200 N/mm to about 2000 N/mm; and (b) the ratio of the nominal strength of said first series to the density degree of said second series is between about 4000 N/mm and about 16000 N/mm.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 1, wherein: (a) said weft cords being spaced apart so that the distance between adjacent weft cords is between about 1/2 to about 7 times the distance separating adjacent warp cords and the tensile strength per unit width of the structure in the warp direction is at least twice the tensile strength per unit width of the structure in the weft direction; (b) said warp cords having a tensile strength of between about 1 to about 10 times the tensile strength of said weft cords; (c) said fabric having an elongation at fracture in the warp direction of about 2.5% to about 7.5%; and, (d) said fabric having an elongation at fracture in the weft direction of at least 3%.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 1, wherein: (a) said warp and weft cords having associated therewith means for stimulating adhesion to a surrounding matrix.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 10, wherein: (a) said means for stimulating adhesion including a brass coating.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 1, wherein: (a) each of said warp cords including a plurality of twisted together strands.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 12, wherein: (a) free intermediate spaces extend helically along said cords permitting penetration of an elastomer between the strands of said cords.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 1, wherein: (a) said structure being embedded in a resilient matrix.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 1, wherein: (a) said binding means including nylon.

Claim 17

A reinforced elastomeric sheet having embedded therein parallel to the surface of the sheet at least one reinforcing structure having a warp direction and having a weft direction comprising: (a) a first series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel warp cords arrayed generally in a plane; (b) a second series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel weft cords, said weft cords generally transverse to said warp cords and disposed along a first side of said plane and engaged with said warp cords at a plurality of intersection points; and, (c) non-metallic strand means having substantial strength wound about each of said warp cords and about the associated weft cords at each of said intersection points for maintaining said cords in engagement and for providing an elastic fabric.

Claim 18

A reinforced elastomeric sheet having embedded therein parallel to the surface of the sheet at least one reinforcing structure having a warp direction and having a weft direction comprising: (a) a first series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel warp cords arrayed generally in a plane; (b) a second series of spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel weft cords, said weft cords generally transverse to said warp cords and disposed along a first side of said plane and engaged with said warp cords at a plurality of intersection points; and, (c) non-metallic strand means having substantial strength wound about each of said warp cords and about the associated weft cords at each of said intersection points for maintaining said cords in engagement and for providing an elastic fabric.

Claim 19

A reinforced elastomeric sheet as in claim 16, wherein: (a) said elastomeric sheet has a portion above said reinforcing structure and a portion below said reinforcing structure and wherein, the thickness of said portion of said elastomeric sheet above said reinforcing structure amounts to about twice the tickness of said portion of said elastomeric sheet below said structure.

Claim 20

The sheet of claim 16, wherein: (a) said weft cords being spaced apart about 1/2 to about 7 times the distance separating the warp cords and the tensile strength per unit width of the structure in the warp direction is at least twice the tensile strength per unit width of the structure in the weft direction; (b) said warp cords having a tensile strength of between about 1 to about 10 times the tensile strength of said weft cords; (c) said fabric having an elongation at fracture in the warp direction of between about 2.5% to about 7.5%; and, (d) said fabric having an elongation at fracture in the weft direction of at least 3%.

Claim 21

The sheet of claim 16, wherein: (a) said warp and weft cords each having associated therewith means for stimulating adhesion to a surrounding matrix.

Claim 22

The sheet of claim 19, wherein: (a) said means for stimulating adhesion including a brass coating.

Claim 23

The sheet of claim 16, wherein: (a) each of said warp cords including a plurality of twisted together strands.

Claim 24

The sheet of claim 21, wherein: (a) free intermediate spaces extend helically the length of said cords for permitting penetration of an elastomer between the strands of said cords.

Claim 25

The sheet of claim 16, wherein: (a) said weft cords being disposed in pairs.

Claim 26

The sheet of claim 16, wherein: (a) said binding means including nylon.

Claim 27

A conveyor belt including a fabric having a warp direction and a weft direction comprising: (a) consecutive spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel warp cords extending in said warp direction and arrayed generally in a plane, said warp cords spaced apart a distance A; (b) consecutive spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel weft cords extending in said weft direction, said weft cords generally transverse to said warp cords and disposed along a first side of said plane and engaged with said warp cords at a plurality of intersection points, said weft cords being spaced apart a distance B; (c) non-metallic strand means, having substantial strength, wound about each of said warp cords and about the associated weft cord at each of said intersection points, for maintaining said cords in engagement and for making said fabric elastic; (d) each said warp cord having a tensile strength of between one to about ten times the tensile strength of said weft cords for providing tensile strength and impact resistance for said fabric; (e) said consecutive warp cords and consecutive weft cords spaced apart a distance so, one half times said distance A is less than or equal to B which is less than or equal to 7 times said distance A; (f) the tensile strength per unit width of said fabric in the warp direction is at least twice the tensile strength per unit width of said fabric in the weft direction; (g) said fabric having an elongation at facture in the warp direction of between 2.5% and 7.5%; (h) said structure having an elongation at fracture in the weft direction of between 5% and 12%; (i) an elastomeric matrix; and, (j) said fabric is embedded in said elastomeric matrix such that said plane is parallel to a surface of said matrix.

Claim 28

A conveyor belt including a fabric having a warp direction and a weft direction comprising: (a) consecutive spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel warp cords extending in said warp direction and arrayed generally in a plane, said warp cords spaced apart a distance A; (b) consecutive spaced apart parallel multi-strand steel weft cords extending in said weft direction, said weft cords generally transverse to said warp cords and disposed along a first side of said plane and engaged with said warp cords at a plurality of intersection points, said weft cords being spaced apart a distance B; (c) non-metallic strand means, having substantial strength, wound about each of said warp cords and about the associated weft cord at each of said intersection points, for maintaining said cords in engagement and for making said fabric elastic; (d) each said warp cord having a tensile strength of between one to about ten times the tensile strength of said weft cords for providing tensile strength and impact resistance for said fabric; (e) said consecutive warp cords and consecutive weft cords spaced apart a distance so, one half times said distance A is less than or equal to B which is less than or equal to 7 times said distance A; (f) the tensile strength per unit width of said fabric in the warp direction is at least twice the tensile strength per unit width of said fabric in the weft direction; (g) said fabric having an elongation at facture in the warp direction of between 2.5% and 7.5%; (h) said structure having an elongation at fracture in the weft direction of between 5% and 12%; (i) an elastomeric matrix; and, (j) said fabric is embedded in said elastomeric matrix such that said plane is parallel to a surface of said matrix.

Claim 29

The conveyor belt as in claim 25, wherein: (a) the side of said matrix associated with said weft cords has a thickness of at least twice the tickness of the side associated with said warp cords.