Method for producing curved elastomeric tubular articles
AssigneeThe Gates Rubber Company
InventorDavid N. Tally
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The method includes filling the hollow interior of a flexible uncured tubular preform with a flowable substantially incompressible material, training the thus filled tubular element about discrete support means which contact a portion of the exterior surface of the tubular element to form the desired serpentine configuration, and then curing the filled, serpentined tubular element followed by totally discharging the incompressible material from the interior of the tubular element.
Claims13
A method for producing elastomeric tubular articles of a predetermined fixed serpentine configuration having at least one bend portion, comprising:
- preparing a flexible, at least partially uncured length of an elastomer tubular element;
- filling the hollow interior of the element with a flowable substantially incompressible material which is capable of substantially total removal from the hollow interior upon curing of the tubular article;
- training the thus filled tubular element about discrete unconnected support means in contact with the exterior surface of the tubular element at spaced positions along its length and intermediate the ends, in a manner so as to dispose the tubular element in substantially its said serpentine configuration while precluding said bend portion(s) from collapse;
- and
The method of claim 8 wherein the ends of the tubular element are plugged with stop means at least one of which is provided with a pressure relief valve set at a positive venting pressure of from about 2 to about
A method for producing curved resilient rubber hose of a predetermined permanently fixed serpentine configuration comprising:
- preparing a flexible, at least partially uncured length of a hose element;
- filling the hollow interior of the hose with a flowable substantially incompressible friable, granular or liquid material which is capable of total removal from the hollow interior in a liquid state upon curing of the tubular article;
- positioning the thus filled hose about a plurality of spaced and unconnected discrete U-shaped support means contacting each of the inner, radiused portions of the bend segments of the hose along its length in a manner so as to dispose the tubular element in substantially its said serpentine configuration while precluding said bend portions from collapse;
- curing the filled, serpentined hose;
- removing the cured hose from its associated U-shaped support means;
- and
- discharging in a liquid state the incompressible material from the interior
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.