A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body.

When forming a toothed portion on the outer section of a blank by contacting a tooth profile-forming portion of a forming die with a curved portion of the blank, the first projection of the blank is accommodated in a first depression, and a load is applied axially to a center section of the blank so a material of the blank flows radially outward. The material of the blank at the first projection flows in the axial direction to inside the first depression, and the material of the blank at an intermediate section between the center and the outer section flows in axially to inside a second depression to form a second projection. When the load is maximized, a space is provided between a toothed portion and the tooth profile-forming portion, between the first projection and the forming die, and between the second projection and the forming die.

A method of manufacturing large diameter tapered roller bearing cages includes beginning with a metal strip, coil or plate of cage blank material and feeding it into a rolling mill. The rolling mill includes a pair of unparallel forming rolls disposed to define a wedge-shaped gap therebetween. As the cage blank material is fed through the wedge-shaped gap, one lateral side of the cage blank material is plastically deformed to reduce its thickness and to elongate its length, while slight or no deformation is introduced into the other lateral side, thus forming the cage blank into an arc shape. A third roll disposed at the exit side of the forming rolls bends the rolled cage blank into a circular conical ring. Adjacent butt ends of the formed conical ring cage blank are aligned and joined together during the assembly process to form the large diameter tapered roller bearing cage.

Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material.

A method for forming a piece of a sheet metal is performed by positioning a consumable body, made of metal, proximate to the piece of the sheet metal. The consumable body is rapidly vaporized, and the gas pressure generated thereby is directed into the piece of the sheet metal. This results in acceleration of the piece of sheet metal, and it is collided into a stationary body at a velocity, generally in excess of 200 m/s. Depending upon the type of stationary body, the piece of sheet metal is deformed into a predetermined shape or is welded onto the stationary body. The vaporization is accomplished by passing a high current of electricity into the consumable body. The effect of the vaporized metal may be augmented by additional components in the consumable body.

A hydroforming method for metal produces hardware having a throat in only one side and having approximately right-angled corners without causing thinning and breakage. The method includes using a working fluid to exert a liquid pressure on a metal embryo and cooperating with a push rod of a hydroforming mold to supply material from the lower edge, forcing the side sheet metals to bulge. Furthermore, by using the hydroforming mold to provide a downwardly pressing active force on the metal embryo, under feeding of the downwardly pressing active force cooperating with continuous liquid pressure, the metal embryo deforms and bulges such that each corner of the metal embryo and the wall corners of the die cavity of the hydroforming mold have approximately the same angles. Hardware, every angle of which approximates a right angle, can be obtained after removing the hydroforming mold. This method can also be used to obtain a metal box.

A pressing and stripping apparatus for punch die includes a base, a pressing and striping plate, an A-type pillar, a first bolt, an elastic or pressure element, a stripping bolt, a second bolt, a die-mounting bolt, a B-type pillar, a locating pin, a cylindrical guide column, a third bolt, an outer supporting frame, and a square guide column; wherein the pressing and stripping plate is movably connected to the base via the stripping bolt, wherein the pressing and stripping plate reciprocates along the axial direction of the stripping bolt while working, and the elastic or pressure element is provided between the pressing and stripping plate and the base. The push rod used with the pressing and stripping apparatus for the punch die is a column, one end thereof is a polygonal blind hole, and the other end thereof is a stepped shaft with parallel threads. This arrangement can achieve a common pressing and stripping apparatus, making the punch die easy to be disassembled.

A machine tool (1) for processing a workpiece (2) by relative movement of a tool (18) with respect to the workpiece (2), including a homogenizer (15) into which water and oil are taken to disperse oil homogeneously in water, a working fluid produced in homogenizer (15) being supplied to a work area for processing of the workpiece.

In order to provide a steel sheet for hot pressing from which a hot-pressed part excellent in perforation corrosion resistance is obtainable and a method of manufacturing a hot-pressed part using the steel sheet for hot pressing, provided is a steel sheet for hot pressing having, sequentially on a surface of a base steel sheet: a plating layer I containing 60% by mass or more of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 0.01 to 5 g/m2; and a plating layer II containing 10 to 25% by mass of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 10 to 90 g/m2.

An apparatus for shot peening blade mounting areas on a disc of a rotor includes a peening nozzle unit which streams shot peening media along a longitudinal axis. The unit includes a nozzle outlet which extends at least partially in a circumferential direction of the unit, and a deflection arrangement with a deflection area for the media. The deflection area is at least partially cone or half-hyperboloid shaped, such that the media passes the nozzle outlet over an angle range in circumferential direction after being deflected by the deflection arrangement. A method for shot peening the blade mounting areas positions the unit in a slot profile of a blade mounting area, and guides the unit along the contour of the slot profile with the nozzle outlet facing the contour of the slot profile to approximately uniformly peen the contour of the slot profile.

An apparatus and method are described for automatically inserting angle plates into duct work and for seaming the duct work.

A rolling stand 100 in accordance with the invention is a rolling stand provided with three grooved rolls for rolling a tubular or bar shaped material to be rolled, in which three grooved rolls R21 to R23 are arranged in such a manner that an angle formed by pressing directions of any two adjacent grooved rolls of the three grooved rolls R21 to R23 comes to 120 degrees. With regard to a cross sectional shape of each of the grooved rolls R21 to R23 formed by cutting each of the grooved rolls in a plane which includes a center line of a rotating axis of each of the grooved rolls R21 to R23 and is orthogonal to a pass line of a material to be rolled, any one grooved roll R21 is provided with a first straight portion L1 extending vertically to the pressing direction in both side flange portions, and the other two grooved rolls R22 and R23 are provided with a second straight portion L2 opposing to the first straight portion L1 and extending in parallel to the first straight portion L1 in the flange portions.

A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber.

A method and a device for the production of a stamping with an enlarged functional surface, for example, fine blanking a workpiece out of a flat strip, wherein the flat strip is clamped between an upper part including a shearing punch, a pressure pad for the shearing punch, a V-shaped projection arranged on the pressure pad and an ejector which is pressed into the flat strip, and a lower part including a cutting die and an ejector. Edge rollover is avoided by preforming, before cutting begins, a negative with regard to the cutting direction with a preforming element in the direction opposite to the cutting direction that corresponds to the expected edge rollover into the cutting die with regard to size and geometry at cutting, generating a material volume at the side of the rollover in a mirror-inverted form. During cutting, the preformed area is supported by the preforming element.

A hydraulically installed tube plug with or without O.D surface enhancements and plug installation tooling, high pressure fluid system and method. The invention stops leaks in tubes with a plug that utilizes controlled high pressure fluid within the plug itself to radially expand the plug in place. Other plugs and plugging systems rely on mechanical methods for setting the plugs in the tubes with little or no control on the radial pressure applied to the tube. This lack of radial pressure control can result in a tubesheet ligament being over stressed (plastically deformed) or not enough pressure applied to stop the leak. The plug high pressure expansion tooling is designed with built in safety components that allow high pressure hydraulic expansion methods to be used safely in blind holes. The high pressure fluid system's design allows it to be used in hazardous environments.

A green ball grinding method includes the step of supplying a green ball between a first surface of a first member and a second surface of a second member constituting a grinding apparatus, and the step of grinding the green ball between the first surface and the second surface while the green ball rotates around its own axis and in orbital motion. In the step of grinding the green ball, the step of causing the green ball grinding to proceed while applying load between the green ball and each of the first surface and the second surface, and the step of modifying the rotation axis of the green ball by reducing the load lower than in the step of causing the green ball grinding to proceed are executed alternately.

A blank rolled in transverse directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blank, and with the aid of a drive for rockingly moving rolls in opposite directions, ensures that the geometry and dimensions of finished parts do not coincide with the form and dimensions of a die. A four-link articulation mechanism lifts/lowers the upper roll and transmits a rolling force thereto. Rods of hydraulic torque cylinders pivotally connect to ends of a rocker thereby transmitting oppositely directed torques and a rolling force to a lower roll. A wedge mechanism coupled to the lower end face of the lower thrust bearing lifts/lowers the lower roll thereby transmitting a rolling force thereto. A rack bar disposed between retainers horizontally moves during rolling and secures the blank using a cradle.

A method of forming a product via induction heating and forming of the product includes providing an induction heating coil for induction heating of a component and providing a die forming shell for supporting the component and for defining the final shape of a formed product formed from the component. The die forming shell includes a metallic material. A support structure is provided for supporting the die forming shell during the induction heating of the component. The support structure includes a metallic material. The support structure includes insulating portions to limit or substantially preclude inducement of electrical current through the support structure during the induction heating process. The component is inductively heated along its length while the component is in the die forming shell. The component is at least one of (a) heated before the formed product is formed and (b) heated while the formed product is formed.

A mandrel is provided with a plurality of oval sections of varying circumference formed thereabout. The circumference of a first oval section is between about 1.75″ and about 2.6″. The circumference of a second oval section is about 0.2″ to 0.9″ greater than the circumference of the first section. The circumference of a third oval section is about 0.2″ to 0.9″ greater than the circumference of the second section.

In a method of making a tubular body, material is pressed through a die of a forming tool into a first mold cavity disposed in downstream relationship to the die to produce a first end piece. A mandrel is then moved in a direction of the die to thereby displace the mold cavity in the same direction and to extrude a tubular center piece to adjoin the first end piece. The mandrel is then replaced by a mold having a second mold cavity to mold a second end piece to adjoin the center piece.

The invention relates to a cluster arm arrangement for the intermediate roll sets of 18 HS roll stands, wherein arranged between the chock at the operating side and the chock at the drive side are cluster arms which are pivotable laterally of the intermediate roll and in which the lateral backing rolls are integrated for support of the working rolls in the stand. In that case, arranged between the chock (1) and the cluster arm (2) is a pivot pin (3), which is fixedly connected with the cluster arm and about the axis of which the cluster arm (2) is pivotable, and a locking means for the cluster arm (2) as well as an abutment (6) with a restoring spring (6) are operatively arranged on the pivot pin (3) as a compact unit in the region between the cluster arm (2) and chock (1).

Using a method for producing a spring from a spring wire, turns of a first spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a first direction. Thereafter, turns of a second spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a second direction which is different from, in particular opposite of, the first direction. Such a method can be used to produce a spring having a plurality of spring parts.

A composite hybrid cord comprising a core comprising of a first bundle of synthetic filaments having a filament tenacity of from 10 to 40 grams per decitex and a plurality of cabled strands helically wound around the core, each cabled strand comprising of a plurality of metal strands helically wound around a center second bundle of synthetic filaments that have a filament tenacity of from 10 to 40 grams per decitex. The ratio of the largest cross sectional dimension of the first bundle of synthetic filaments to the largest cross sectional dimension of the second bundle of synthetic filaments is from 1.5:1 to 20:1. The metallic filaments of the cabled strands have an elongation at break that is no more than 24 percent different from the elongation at break of the synthetic filaments of the first and second bundles.

A yarn object which, even though made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, can be satisfactorily prevented from color fading caused by contact with other objects or the like, can be produced easily at low cast, and can maintain high strength. The yarn object is colored with a colorant. The yarn object includes a core yarn 2 colored with a predetermined colorant and an outer-layer yarn 3 disposed on the periphery of the core yarn. The outer-layer yarn 3 is disposed in such a manner that the core yarn 2 is prevented from contacting with other objects. The outer-layer yarn 3 includes a transparent filament and a space 4 is formed between the outer-layer yarns 3. The color applied to the core yarn 2 is externally visible through the transparent outer-layer yarn 3 and the space therebetween 4.

A double rustproof PC strand has superior durability and semi-permanent rustproof performance. A core wire and surrounding wires are formed of wires subjected to a wire drawing treatment and a plating treatment to be formed with a plated layer. A rustproof treatment is applied by forming a synthetic resin coat on an outer peripheral surface thereof. In order to uniformize and regulate the twisting pitch, the core wire and the surrounding wires are adjusted under the conditions of: (A) Diameter of CORE: 4.42±0.05 mm, Diameter of Surrounding wire: 4.25±0.05 mm,(B) Diameter of CORE: 5.22±0.05 mm, Diameter of Surrounding wire: 5.06±0.05 mm, or(C) Diameter of CORE: 5.40±0.05 mm, Diameter of Surrounding wire: 5.25±0.05 mm, and then twisted, andthe tensile strength is 1850 N/mm2 or higher.

Provided is a steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article, which has an improved durability against so-called cuts, such as notches and perforations, which are generated in the case of treading on an obtusely or sharply pointed projection, without decreasing the strength in the axial direction of the cord, and without increasing the thickness in the radial direction, namely without increasing the weight of a tire, as well as a tire using the steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article as a reinforcing material, especially a construction vehicle tire. Also provided is a steel cord for reinforcing rubber articles with a multi-twisted structure formed by twisting a plurality of sheath strands formed by twisting a plurality of wires around a core strand formed by twisting a plurality of wires, and the core strand being constituted of an at least three-layer-twisted structure formed by twisting core filaments and sheath filaments. The lowest tensile breaking strength of filament bs and the tensile breaking strength of steel cord Bc satisfy the relationship represented by the following formula: bs/Bc×100≧0.65.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, e.g., traditional Korean paper, and a composite yarn manufactured thereby, a method for manufacturing a fabric using the same and an automotive interior material manufactured thereby. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of traditional Korean paper by using a traditional Korean paper yarn and a synthetic yarn, in which the composite yarn can be used in weaving and knitting, and a method for manufacturing a fabric as an automotive interior material using the same. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, comprising twisting a tape-type paper yarn, and covering the twisted paper yarn as a ground yarn at least two strands of synthetic yarn as an effect yarn to manufacture a composite yarn of paper of 160˜700 denier.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described.

An apparatus for producing a textile product generally includes a feeding section for providing a starting material to facilitate producing a textile product derived from the starting material; a drafting section operably coupled to the feeding section for gripping, pulling, stretching and breaking at least one strand of the starting material into at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product; and a spinning section operably coupled to the drafting section for winding and twisting the at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product onto a removable receiving member to form the textile product; the feeding section, the drafting section, and the spinning section are configured to form the textile product in a continuous operation.

Intermittently colored yarns having an intermittent and random dye spacing pattern, and systems and methods of making the same, are disclosed. Such intermittently colored yarns exhibit higher quality and lower manufacturing costs over the known intermittently colored yarns. The intermittent coloring takes place while the yarn is in caterpillar form. Carpets made from such intermittently colored yarns exhibit enhanced aesthetics over carpets made from known intermittently colored yarns. Alternatively, a stain resist, colorless base dye, or bleaching agent can be applied in the same intermittent and random spacing pattern to the intermittently colored yarns prior to subsequent dyeing. This creates a mirror image like color effect to the resulting yarn.

Metal cord of K×(L+M) construction. K elementary strands assembled in a helix, with pitch PK, each having a cord with L wire inner layer of diameter d1, and M wire outer layer of diameter d2, in a helix with pitch p2 around the inner layer; with (in mm): 0.10

Improved self cleaning and lubricating all-weather fishing lines and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The line includes a core line portion of polyester multifilament fiber and a coating portion, the coating formed by a thermoplastic polyester elastomer mixed with a blowing agent . The methods of this invention are characterized by the use of a finely ground powder of copolymer and blowing agent processed through a medical-quality elongated mixing screw at the line coating unit and very low processing temperatures.

J strands form a core. K outer strands are wound around it in a helix with pitch PK, each having a cord with an L wire inner layer of diameter d1, and an M wire outer layer of diameter d2, wound around the inner layer in a helix with pitch p2; with (in mm): 0.10

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing and drawing a synthetic thread to form a fully drawn yarn. The thread is formed by joining a plurality of extruded filaments and is guided by contact on the circumference of heated guide jackets of several driven galette pairs. In order to obtain a gentle and highly homogenized treatment of the filaments, the thread is guided in an S-shaped or Z-shaped thread course by a first galette pair having two guide jackets driven in opposite directions during the removal from a spinning zone and before the drawing. Thus, both sides of the thread can be brought directly into circumferential contact with the guide jackets for in order to heat the thread.

A method of reducing an initial stress on a cable includes stretching the cable to a first length to thereby define the initial stress. The cable has a central longitudinal axis, and includes a plurality of wires each twisted around the axis and formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable in response to a signal between a first state wherein each of the wires has a first temperature-dependent length, and a second state wherein each of the wires has a second temperature-dependent length that is less than the first. After stretching, the method includes activating the alloy by exposing the alloy to the signal such that the alloy transitions from the first to the second temperature-dependent state. Concurrent to activating, the method includes elongating the cable to a second length that is greater than the first to define a second stress on the cable that is less than the first.

The abrasion resistance of organic fiber based ropes and cords is increased by a outer woven cover of tapes of high molecular weight and more preferably ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

A machine is provided for processing elongate strand-form material, having a rotatably mounted rotor bow which is used to twist the strand-form material and, proceeding from a cross-sectional area, extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis. In the direction of this longitudinal axis, the rotor bow extends in a curved manner at least in portions. In this direction, the rotor bow has a longitudinal groove extending substantially orthogonal to this cross-sectional area. At least regions of this longitudinal groove are covered by at least one guide element. In this rotor bow, the strand-form material is guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The present rotor bow is preferably made of plastics, preferably reinforced with fibers.

A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of rubber products, comprises a core strand (12) and six peripheral strands (14) concentrically surrounding the core strand (12). Each of the core and peripheral strands (12, 14) comprises a center of two or more center filaments (16) and two layers of filaments surrounding the center. The core strand (12) has a diameter D1 which is greater than the diameter D2 of the peripheral strands (14). All the filaments (18, 20) of each layer have substantially the same diameter and a radially outer layer has a twist angle which is greater than a twist angle of a radially inner layer of the same strand. Each of the strands (12, 14) in the cord is composed of no more than twenty-six filaments (16, 18, 20) being twisted together.

The invention relates to a method of operation for an air jet spinning machine, which is characterized in that the spinning process is interrupted when a yarn fault is detected, and subsequent to the interruption of the spinning process, a piecing process is initiated which is at least partly carried out by the spinning station and in which a number of yarn process and handling devices directly assigned to the spinning station are applied. Furthermore, an air jet spinning machine is proposed which permits such a piecing method.

A cable-stranding apparatus includes a stationary guide, a motor, a driven guide, and a controller electrically coupled to the motor. The stationary guide is configured to guide strand elements in a spaced-apart configuration and to pass a core member. The motor is operatively associated with a guide driver. The driven guide is disposed at least partially within the guide driver so as to rotate therewith. The driven guide is configured to receive the strand elements from the stationary guide, individually guide the strand elements received from the stationary guide, and to further pass the core member. The controller is electrically coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotational speed and direction of the motor.

Composite yarns, comprising one or more elastomeric fibers and hard yarns, are formed by adhering the elastomeric fibers and hard yarns together using a size material. The size-covered composite yarn can be used in weaving and knitting to make stretch fabrics with desired garment characteristics. The size material may be removed by subsequent wet fabric processing.

The spinning station of a spinning machine includes a yarn end disposal means, arranged between the outlet of the spinning device and the winding device, and with the aid of which an end section of the produced yarn is separated from the rest of the yarn and eliminated. Furthermore, a process for removing an end section of a yarn at a spinning station of a spinning machine prior to the subsequent piecing process is proposed, wherein the end section is gripped, cut off, and subsequently eliminated from the area of the spinning station with the aid of a yarn end disposal means arranged between the outlet of the spinning device and the winding device.

A device comprising: (a) a body portion including: (i) a first end and ii. a second end; (b) for a holder at the first end; (c) a holder at the second end; (d) a rotation device at the first end in communication with the holder at the first end; and wherein the holder is fixedly attached to a split gear having a channel therethrough so that one or more flexible mediums may be placed through the channel and removed from a work area located between the holder at the first end and the holder at the second end.

A method is provided for interrupting yarn production on a spinning machine upon detecting a defined deviation of a monitored yarn parameter from a target value, upon changing bobbins at a winding device, and/or prior to switching off the spinning machine. The feed speeds of the delivery device, the take-off device, and the winding device are gradually reduced to a stop in order to interrupt the yarn production, wherein the reducing takes place such that an end of the produced yarn is located within the spinning point after the reducing is completed.

A method interrupts yarn production on a spinning machine having at least one spinning point having an inlet for a fiber material and an outlet for the yarn made from the fiber material, and wherein the spinning machine comprises a delivery device for feeding the fiber material into the spinning point, a take-off device for drawing off the yarn out of the spinning point, a winding device for winding up the produced yarn, and a yarn monitoring unit for monitoring at least one yarn parameter. Yarn production is interrupted upon detecting a defined deviation of the monitored yarn parameter from a target value, upon changing bobbins at the winding device, and/or prior to switching off the spinning machine. The feed speeds of the delivery device, the take-off device, and the winding device are gradually reduced to a stop in order to interrupt the yarn production, wherein the reducing takes place such that the end of the produced yarn is located between the outlet of the spinning point and the winding device after the reducing is completed.

Rope (4) having an eye (2). The rope (4) comprises a first rope portion (8) and a second rope portion (10). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are spliced into each other for forming a spliced connection for obtaining the eye (2). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are formed from an end portion of the rope (4).

A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of elastomeric products comprises a core strand (12) and a layer of outer strands (14) arranged around the core strand (12). The core strand (12) comprises a core and at least a layer arranged around the core. The core further comprises one to three core filaments and the layer further comprises three to nine layer filaments. The core strand (12) has a first wave form and each filament of the outer strands (14) has a second wave form such that the first wave form is substantially different from the second wave form. This allows to guarantee full rubber penetration.

A yarn-producing apparatus for an air spinning machine, which is used for producing a yarn from a fiber strand with the assistance of an air flow, has a spinning tip with an inlet opening surrounded by the outer surface of the spinning tip, in the area of which a yarn is able to be produced with the assistance of the air flow. The yarn-producing apparatus has an internal inset with a draw-off conduit adjacent to the inlet opening for the yarn and several air outlets branching off on the side from the draw-off conduit, such that an air flow introduced counter to the direction of spinning (S) in the draw-off conduit can escape in part through the air outlets and in part through the inlet opening. In addition, a spinning unit with a corresponding yarn-producing apparatus is provided.

In a method of manufacturing a fiber-reinforced strand, the fiber-reinforced strand is so manufactured that the cross-section thereof becomes as circular as possible. Particularly a method of causing a reinforced fiber bundle 3 to pass through a resin bath means 7 and, thereafter, twisting the reinforced fiber bundle 3. The resin bath means 7 includes an impregnation region 21 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin 5 and a twisting region 22 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation can be twisted, and the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation is twisted in such a manner that a twist pitch P imparted to the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation within a length L in the twisting region 22 satisfies L/3≧P≧3.15/90×(dtex)1/2.

A steel cord for reinforcement of rubber articles, whose cord strength is enhanced by preventing occurrence of preceding break of the outermost layer filaments in the steel cord having a multi-twisted structure, and a pneumatic tire using it as a reinforcing material are provided. In a steel cord for reinforcement of rubber articles having a multi-twisted structure in which a plurality of strands are twisted together, which strands have a layered twisted structure in which a plurality of steel filaments are twisted together, dc/ds, which represents the ratio between dc, the diameter of outermost layer sheath filaments constituting the outermost layer sheath of a core strand, and ds, the diameter of outermost layer sheath filaments constituting the outermost layer sheath of sheath strands, is 1.05 to 1.25.