# US 2009/0260737 A1 · Method of forming a conduit

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- Number: US 2009/0260737 A1
- Document ID: US20090260737A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/496,258
- Filed: 2009-07-01
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2002-09-11
- Inventors: Daniel John SMITH; Nathan Lee GRAY; Luke Jeremy GALLAGHER; Kieran James HATCHER; Kristopher Poh Ming LAURENT
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260737A1

## CPC

- B29C 53/063: {combined with folding}
- A61M 16/08: Bellows; Connecting tubes {(having means for taking samples G01N1/22); Water traps; Patient circuits}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- B29C 53/36: Bending and joining, e.g. for making hollow articles (B29C53/56 takes precedence)
- B29C 53/582: {comprising reinforcements, e.g. wires, threads}
- B29C 53/60: using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels
- B29C 53/607: {having driving means for advancing the wound articles, e.g. belts, rolls (B29C53/74 takes precedence)}
- B29C 53/785: {with reinforcements}
- B29C 63/0013: {Removing old coatings}
- B29C 65/40: Applying molten plastics, e.g. hot melt (using welding bar {combined with hot gases} B29C65/12; by moulding B29C65/70)
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/135: {Single hemmed joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being hemmed in the joint area}
- B29C 66/349: {Cooling the welding zone on the welding spot}
- B29C 66/431: {Joining the articles to themselves (B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/4329: {the joint lines being transversal but non-orthogonal with respect to the axis of said tubular articles, i.e. being oblique}
- B29C 66/433: {Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam (for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261)}
- B29C 66/49: {Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining (B29C66/63 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/81427: {comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth}
- B29C 66/81431: {comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove}
- B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums}
- F16L 9/16: wound from sheets or strips, with or without reinforcement
- F16L 11/115: having reinforcements not embedded in the wall
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- B29C 48/001: {Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations}
- B29C 48/0019: {combined with shaping by flattening, folding or bending}
- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C 48/09: Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
- B29C 48/10: flexible, e.g. blown foils
- B29C 48/13: Articles with a cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction, e.g. corrugated pipes
- B29C 48/151: Coating hollow articles
- B29C 48/19: the layers being joined at their edges
- B29C 59/007: {Forming single grooves or ribs, e.g. tear lines, weak spots (by moulding B29C37/0057; folding lines B29C53/06; in metal articles B21D17/00; by cutting B26D3/08)}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/10: using hot gases {(e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/72: by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/81423: {being concave}
- B29C 66/81457: {comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber (pressing elements supported or backed-up by resilient material B29C66/8161)}
- B29C 67/0011: {for shaping plates or sheets}
- B29C 2053/365: {provided with a string}
- B29L 2023/18: Pleated {or corrugated} hoses
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method of continuously forming heated conduit includes performing a tape for winding onto a spiral pipeline former. At least one conductor is positioned adjacent to the centreline of and parallel with a thin polymer ribbon. The ribbon is folded in half to encapsulate the conductors. The folded ribbon is thermally welded to itself. The folded, welded, ribbon is passed through a creaser, which forms a crease midway across the folded ribbon. The creased pre-formed ribbon is formed into a conduit in a continuous process on a spiral pipeline former.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of continuously forming conduit comprising:
providing a thin polymer ribbon,
heating said ribbon to soften said ribbon, and forming a crease approximately midway across said ribbon, said crease being substantially parallel with said ribbon,
supplying said creased ribbon having “leading” and trailing” lateral edges, spirally around a former with the leading edge of each turn of ribbon overlapping the trailing edge of a previous turn of ribbon on the former and the trailing edge of each turn underlapping the leading edge of a succeeding turn,
said former and rotating and advancing said conduit, and
applying a bead of molten plastic material to said lapping edges of adjacent turns of ribbon, such that said bead welds said adjacent edges of said ribbon and forms a helical reinforcement to said conduit when cooled.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said crease is formed by passing said film through at least one set of crease rollers,
said crease rollers in a creasing region shaped according to the profile of said crease.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said crease is substantially ‘v-shaped’ in cross section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said crease is substantially arcuate in cross section and said crease has a width substantially spanning the distance between adjacent turns of said helical reinforcing bead.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A method according to claim 3, wherein said crease is located approximately midway between adjacent turns of said helical reinforcing bead.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, wherein said crease is located approximately midway between adjacent turns of said helical reinforcing bead.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said thin polymer ribbon includes at least one integral electrical conductor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

A method according to claim 3, wherein said crease faces outwards with respect to said conduit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, wherein said crease faces outwards with respect to said conduit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said bead of molten plastic material has a concave underside that is applied to said lapping edges.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein said bead of molten plastic material has indented sides located toward the base of said bead.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A method according to claim 10, wherein said bead of molten plastic material has indented sides located toward the base of said bead.