US 4,911,206 A · Supported flexible thin-walled tube structure

Abstract

Cables supporting and actually limiting excursion of a flexible thin-walled tube are held in position by spacers which are formed with recesses to receive the cables. To permit easy assembly, and eliminate threading the cables on the spacers with the hose in position, the spacers are formed as half-ring elements, coupled together independently of the cables which pass through recesses. The recesses may be tangentially or radially open slits so that the half elements can be slipped over a subassembly of hose and cables, or the recesses can be formed adjacent overlapping or abutting end portions of the half elements. The recesses also may be in the form of through-bores, on which half elements are threaded, the half elements then being fitted against each other around the hose. The half elements are held together either by external rings, interlocked with the half elements, or by overlapping regions, connected together by hook-and-recess connections, welding, adhesive or the like.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Supported flexible thin-walled tube structure having

a corrugated tube formed with mutually parallel ring-shaped flutes;
end connectors (17) at the ends of the tube;
longitudinal support cables (4, 5;
15;
29;
33, 34;
43, 44;
55, 56) located outside of said tube alongside said tube;
and
spacers (2, 3;
8, 9;
11, 12;
16;
25;
30;
35, 36;
39, 40;
53, 54) filling into the flutes of the tube, said spacers being formed with recesses determining the relative position between the tube and said cables and holding the cables at intervals along the length of the tube,
said spacers surrounding the tube and retaining said cables in said recesses,
wherein the spacers comprise
two half elements coupled together independently of the cables passing through the recesses,
said half elements surrounding, each, about half of the circumference of said flutes;
the half elements are formed with projections (57, 58) extending tangentially with respect to the tube and located diametrically opposite each other and overlapping an adjacent half element;
and
wherein said projections are formed with open slits (59, 60) having a width corresponding at least approximately to at least the thickness of said cables (55, 56).

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Supported flexible thin-walled tube structure

Life of this patent

Supported flexible thin-walled tube structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19