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US 10,865,913 B2Granted
Flexible hose
AssigneeEuroequipe S.R.L.
InventorPaolo De Nora
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible hose including a first tubular element of corrugated shape having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests and a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element so as to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs alternately shaped by said outer crests.
Claims9
A flexible hose for gardening, comprising:
- a first tubular element of rigid polymeric material having corrugated shape and having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests having a triangular profile, to be axially flexible, the first tubular element including a radially exterior surface and a radially interior surface, the radially interior surface defining a flow path for fluid through the flexible hose,
- a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs on the radially exterior surface alternately shaped by said outer crests,
- wherein the lightweight polymeric material partially fills the series of troughs to define a corresponding series of hollow chambers of annular shape at radially inward bottoms of the series of troughs;
- wherein the second tubular element has a cell structure having different characteristics in relation to different areas of the flexible hose;
- wherein the outer crests of the first tubular element have respective troughs aligned to define a groove longitudinal to the first tubular element;
- a reinforcing thread element housed in the groove, predisposed to be embedded in the lightweight polymeric material of the second tubular element.
3 more elements
A method for manufacturing a flexible hose, comprising the steps of:
- providing:
- a first tubular element of rigid polymeric material having corrugated shape and having in longitudinal cross-section a series of outer crests having a triangular profile, to be axially flexible, the first tubular element including a radially exterior surface and a radially interior surface, the radially interior surface defining a flow path for fluid through the flexible hose,
- a second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material externally associated with said first tubular element to fill at least partially a corresponding series of troughs on the radially exterior surface alternately shaped by said outer crests,
- wherein the lightweight polymeric material partially fills the series of troughs to define a corresponding series of hollow chambers of annular shape at radially inward bottoms of the series of troughs;
- that the second tubular element has a cell structure having different characteristics in relation to different areas of the flexible hose;
- that the outer crests of the said first tubular element have respective troughs aligned to define a groove longitudinal to the first tubular element;
- a reinforcing thread element housed in the groove, predisposed to be embedded in the lightweight polymeric material of the second tubular element;
- a. forming, by an extrusion device and a subsequent corrugation device, the first tubular element;
- b. arranging, by a compacting device, said first tubular element in a compacted configuration;
- c. associating externally with said compacted first tubular element, by a coextrusion device, the second tubular element of lightweight polymeric material so as to fill at least partially the corresponding series of troughs alternately shaped by said outer crests;
- d. cooling the hose obtained by said step of co-extrusion;
- e. operating a drawing of said hose at one end thereof to obtain a calibrated release of said compacted first tubular element.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.