Apparatus and method for producing a tube of varying cross-section
AssigneeAxiom Medical, Inc.
InventorsJ. Rae Walker, David S. Paul
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for producing a tube having a round cross-section over a major portion of its length and intermediate its ends having a flattened oval cross-section. The apparatus includes an extrusion head with an extrusion die through which the tube is extruded. A pinching device, which includes opposed pinching elements, is arranged at the extrusion head so as to be selectively moveable together to press on and pinch the tube to produce the oval cross-section of the tube. The rollers are selectively moveable apart to not pinch the tube to enable the tube to be extruded round, whereby a round tube with an intermediate flattened oval shaped portion is produced.
Claims18
An apparatus for producing a tube having a round cross-section over a major portion of its length and intermediate its ends having a flattened oval cross-section, the apparatus comprising:
- an extrusion head with an extrusion die through which the tube is extruded;
- and
- a pinching device including opposed pinching elements arranged at the extrusion head so as to be selectively moveable together to press on and pinch the tube, for thereby producing the oval cross-section of the tube and so as to be selectively moveable apart to not pinch the tube to enable the tube to be extruded round, whereby a round tube with an intermediate flattened oval shaped portion is produced.
A method for forming a tube having a normally round internal and external cross-section and an intermediate region which is flattened to an oval cross-section, wherein the method comprises:
- extruding extrudable tubing material through an extrusion die to produce a tube with a round cross-section;
- and
- periodically pinching the tube between opposing pinching elements after the tubing exits the extrusion die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.