Method and device for the production of tubular structures that are reinforced with a strengthening support

A method for making reinforced tube-shaped structures comprises the steps of:

• applying a first rubber layer with a first extrusion unit to a series of sequential rigid cylindrical mandrels which are coupled to each other and which are driven at an advancement speed (v) in the direction of an advancement axis (X);
• applying a first filament layer at defined desired filament angles (α1) referred to the advancement axis (X) by rotating a bobbin creel unit about the advancing mandrels;
• applying at least one further rubber layer to the first filament layer utilizing at least one additional extrusion unit;
• continuously measuring the advancement speed (v) of the mandrels;
• controlling the rotational speed of the first bobbin creel unit during the rotation about the mandrels in dependence upon the advancement speed (v) in order to obtain a filament layer having the defined filament angles (α1)
• applying at least one further filament layer to each of the further rubber layers at defined desired filament angles (α2) referred to the advancement axis (X) in each case with a second bobbin creel unit by rotating the second bobbin creel about the forwardly driven mandrels;
• applying at least one additional rubber layer to each filament layer utilizing a corresponding extrusion unit;
• controlling the rotational speed of the additional bobbin creel unit during the rotation about the mandrels in dependence upon the rotational speed of the first bobbin creel unit;
• and,
• controlling the rotational speeds of the additional bobbin creel unit in dependence upon a desired thickness of the additional rubber layer and the desired filament angles (α2) with the bobbin creel units being coupled to each other via a dead time and coupling factors.

A method for makin reinforced tube-shaped structures comprising the steps of:

• a) applying a first rubber layer with a first extrusion unit to a series of sequential rigid cylindrical mandrels which are coupled to each other and which are driven at an advancement speed (v) in the direction of an advancement axis (X);
• b) applying a first filament layer at defined desired filament angles (α1) referred to the advancement axis (X) by rotating a bobbin creel unit about the advancing mandrels;
• c) applying at least one further rubber layer to the first filament layer utilizing at least one additional extrusion unit;
• d) continuously measuring the advancement speed (v) of the mendrels;
• e) controlling the rubber quantity, which is applied via the first extrusion unit, in dependence upon the measured advancement speed (v) in order to obtain a defined desired thickness of the first rubber layer;
• and,
• f) controlling the rotational speed of the first bobbin creel unit during the rotation about the mandrels in dependence upon the advancement speed (v) in order to obtain a filament layer having the defined desired filament angles (α1);
• and
• g) contactlessly measuring the outer edges of the reinforced tube-shaped structure and the outer edges of the mandrel and determining the thickness of the reinforced tube-shaped structure from the positions of the outer edges.

An arrangement for making reinforced tube-shaped structures comprising:

• a) a first extrusion unit for applying a first rubber layer to a series of sequential rigid cylinder-shaped mandrels, which are coupled to each other, the mandrels being driven at an advancement speed (v) in a direction of an advancement axis (X);
• b) a first bobbin creel unit, which rotates about the advancing mandrels, for applying a first filament layer at defined desired filament angles (α1) referred to the advancement axis (X);
• c) at least one additional extrusion unit for applying at least one additional rubber layer to the first filament layer;
• d) advancement speed measuring means for continuously measuring the advancing speed (v) of the mandrels;
• e) at least one control unit for driving the extrusion units and the bobbin creel units with the control unit being configured for:
• controlling the rotational speed of the first bobbin creel unit during the rotation about the mandrels in dependence upon the advancement speed (v) in order to obtain a filament layer having defined desired filament angles (α1);
• and,
• controlling the rubber quantity, which is applied by the first extrusion unit, in dependence upon the measured advancement speed (v) in order to obtain a defined desired thickness of the first rubber layer;
• f) a layer thickness measuring means with measuring units for measuring the outer edges of the reinforced tube-shaped structure at several positions on the periphery of the tube-shaped structure and at least one contactless measuring sensor for detecting the outer edges of the mandrel.