Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a heat treated high carbon or alloy steel wire and method of heat-treating the wire. The wire is produced by the steps of initially heating the high carbon or alloy steel wire to a temperature of about 1600 degrees F. to about 1800 degrees F. for between 10 seconds and 2 minutes; rapidly cooling the wire to an intermediate point temperature of between 400 to about 1000 degrees F.; holding the wire at the intermediate point temperature for about 2 minutes to about 40 minutes; and cooling the resulting wire to ambient temperature.

Abstract: It is usually desirable to utilize brass coated steel wires in the reinforcement of rubber articles, such as tires. This invention relates to a process for simultaneously parenting and brass plating a steel wire which comprises:(a) continuously passing the steel wire through a molten mixture of copper and zinc to apply a brass coating thereto, wherein the molten mixture is maintained at a temperature which is within the range of about 930.degree. C. to about 1100.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a strip of ply or belt stock reinforced with steel monofilaments fed from a plurality of reels (60, 60', 60") mounted on the spindles (54) of a reel support structure (18). The article of manufacture which results from the method is a uniform strip of reinforced ply or belt stock of higher epi, smaller gauge and fewer splices than possible with prior method and apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a strip of ply or belt stock reinforced with steel monofilaments fed from a plurality of reels (60,60', 60") mounted on the spindles (54) of a reel support structure (18). The article of manufacture which results from the method is a uniform strip of reinforced ply or belt stock of higher epi, smaller gauge and fewer splices than possible with prior method and apparatus. A plurality of the reels for feeding the monofilaments are mounted on a spindle secured at one end, with friction means (64,66) disposed between each of the reels located adjacent to each other for applying an axial braking force to each of the reels. A spring biasing means (68) is disposed between each of the reels located adjacent to each other for pressing the friction means (64,66) against the adjacent reels.