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US 2012/0068386 A1Published application
Method for making a reservoir
AssigneeMercury Plastics, Inc.
InventorsGrandin A. Rushlander, William W. Rowley, Robert Yunk, Earl Christian, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention described herein relates to a method by which a reservoir having desired end connection profiles may be made using shape memory characteristics of crosslinking to compressively seal the connection profiles into the reservoir.
Claims20
A process for making a reservoir comprising the steps of:
- a) positioning a pliable hollow extrudate into a mold with a cavity at a first temperature, said extrudate having a profile in cross-section,
- said cavity having at least one cavity dimension which is larger than a corresponding dimension of said extrudate profile;
- said extrudate having a first and second opening, each opening positioned at an end of said extrudate;
- b) inserting one end of a hollow first polymeric profile at a second temperature, said second temperature being less than said first temperature, into said first opening of said extrudate, said end of said first profile being dimensionally smaller than said first opening of said extrudate;
- c) inserting one end of a hollow second polymeric profile at a third temperature, said third temperature being less than said first temperature, into said second opening of said extrudate, said end of said second profile being dimensionally smaller than said second opening of said extrudate;
- d) affixing at least one source of pressurized gas to at least one non-inserted end of either said first or second profile;
- e) closing said mold and pressurizing said hollow extrudate by the application of pressure through said other non-inserted end having at least one source of pressurized gas affixed thereto so that said hollow extrudate expands to fill said at least one cavity dimension, to form at least one expanded section in said extrudate, and
- f) compressively sealing an exterior surface of said two inserted ends of said first and second hollow profiles with an interior surface of said ends of said extrudate using said latent heat within said extrudate at said first temperature and forming a reservoir, wherein said reservoir includes said first and second polymeric profiles.
5 more elements
A process for making a reservoir comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning a pliable hollow cylindrical extrudate into a mold with a cavity at an elevated temperature, said extrudate having a profile in cross-section,
- said cavity having at least one cavity dimension which is larger than a corresponding dimension of said extrudate profile;
- said extrudate having a first and second opening, each opening positioned at an end of said extrudate;
- (b) affixing at least one source of pressurized gas to at least one of said first and second opening;
- (c) closing said mold and pressurizing said hollow extrudate by the application of pressure through said at least one end so that said hollow extrudate expands to fill said at least one cavity dimension forming at least one expanded section in said extrudate, and forming said first opening to a desired internal opening diameter;
- (d) releasing said pressure and removing said reservoir from said mold;
- (e) crosslinking at least a portion of said extrudate to set the internal opening diameter of said extrudate and shape memory characteristics in said first opening;
- (f) forcibly enlarging said first opening;
- (g) inserting an end of a first connection profile into said enlarged first opening of said extrudate, said end of said first connection profile being dimensionally greater than said desired internal opening diameter and smaller than said enlarged first opening diameter of said extrudate;
- and
- (h) applying an external or internal stimulus to said first opening to contract said opening compressively sealing an exterior surface of said first connection profile with an interior surface of said first end of said extrudate, thereby forming a reservoir, wherein said reservoir includes said connection profile.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.