Solventless assembly of flexible tubing to a component

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating assembling a length of flexible tubing on a component part which avoids the use of sealing solvents yet affords a secure placement of the tubing thereon. The apparatus and method assures a secure fitment by stretching the tubing to a predetermined dimension which is larger than the outside dimension of the portion on which the tubing is to be placed on the component part, and while in such a position the tubing is temporarily frozen by means of a coolant. An important feature in stretching the tubing to the enlarged dimension is in assuring that it is done in a uniform manner and that the stretched walls are substantially parallel to each other. This is effected by utilizing a parallel motion of jaw members which are placed within the tubing to stretch it to its expanded state. With the tubing frozen in the expanded state, it is then placed on that portion of the commodity as it normally would be and the tubing allowed to return to room temperature whereby it will attempt to assume its original diameter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.