High pressure stripping heads and methods of making same

A method of making a stripper element, comprising:

• a) providing a mold for forming a one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2) having a top (4), a bottom (6), a central longitudinal through passage (8) defining an inside surface (10), and an outer surface (12), the one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2) comprising an upper cylindrical portion (14) and a lower truncated cone portion (16), the upper cylindrical portion (14) including a cylindrical lip (18) configured to seal against an inside surface (33) of a stripper head body (32);
• b) selecting an elastomer;
• c) selecting a one-piece, formed, flexible insert (22) including a plurality of slots (24) or a plurality of through holes (26) therein;
• d) positioning the one-piece, formed, flexible insert (22) within the mold;
• e) filling the mold with an elastomer so that that the one-piece, formed, flexible insert (22) is surrounded by the elastomer;
• f) heating the mold and the elastomer to temperature sufficient to cause the elastomer to flow and form the one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2);
• and
• g) cooling the mold and the elastomer.

A method of making a stripper element, comprising:

• a) providing a mold for forming a one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2) having a top (4), a bottom (6), a central longitudinal through passage (8) defining an inside surface (10), and an outer surface (12), the one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2) comprising an upper cylindrical portion (14) and a lower truncated cone portion (16), the upper cylindrical portion (14) including a cylindrical lip (18) configured to seal against an inside surface (33) of a stripper head body (32);
• b) selecting an elastomer;
• c) selecting a one-piece, formed, flexible insert (22) as described herein formed into a cylindrical metal ring;
• d) welding or brazing an edge of the cylindrical ring to a stripper head insert formed as a steel disk;
• e) positioning the cylindrical metal ring within the mold;
• f) filling the mold with an elastomer so that the one-piece, formed, flexible insert (22) is surrounded by the elastomer;
• g) heating the mold and the elastomer to temperature sufficient to cause the elastomer to flow and form the one-piece, formed, generally cylindrical elastomer body (2);
• and
• h) cooling the mold and the elastomer.