Back to results
US 8,137,604 B2Granted
Methods of creating soft formed hoses and molds
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorMatthew James Mahaffy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming hoses is provided. The method includes generating a virtual design for at least one of a solid durable core and a hollow sacrificial core. At least one of the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core is formed using rapid prototyping. A mold cavity is formed using the solid durable core. The hose is formed about the hollow sacrificial core with the hollow sacrificial core in the mold cavity.
Claims16
A method of forming hoses, the method comprising:
- generating a virtual design for at least one of a solid durable core and a hollow sacrificial core;
- forming at least one of the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core using rapid prototyping;
- forming a mold cavity using the solid durable core;
- and
- forming the hose about the hollow sacrificial core with the hollow sacrificial core in the mold cavity;
- wherein the step of generating the virtual design includes forming virtual designs for both the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core, the virtual design for the solid durable core including providing locking feature portions for the solid durable core and a hose forming portion located between the locking feature portions, the locking feature portions having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the hose forming portion.
3 more elements
A method of forming hoses, the method comprising:
- forming a solid durable core and a hollow sacrificial core using rapid prototyping such that the solid durable core has a width within a hose forming portion of the solid durable core that is greater than a width of the hollow sacrificial core within a hose forming portion of the hollow sacrificial core;
- forming a mold cavity using the solid durable core;
- locating the hollow sacrificial core in the mold cavity, the hollow sacrificial core and mold cavity sized to provide a hose forming volume in the mold cavity with the hollow sacrificial core located in the mold cavity, the hose forming volume formed by the difference between the widths of the solid durable core and the hollow sacrificial core within their respective hose forming portions;
- and
- providing a hose forming material in the hose forming volume such that the hose forming material surrounds the hollow sacrificial core;
- wherein the step of forming the solid durable core includes forming the solid durable core to include the hose forming portion located between locking feature portions of the solid durable core, the locking feature portions having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the hose forming portion.
3 more elements
A method of forming hoses, the method comprising:
- forming a solid durable core and a hollow sacrificial core using rapid prototyping;
- forming a mold cavity using the solid durable core;
- locating the hollow sacrificial core in the mold cavity, the hollow sacrificial core and mold cavity sized to provide a hose forming volume in the mold cavity with the hollow sacrificial core located in the mold cavity;
- and
- providing a hose forming material in the hose forming volume such that the hose forming material surrounds the hollow sacrificial core;
- wherein the step of forming the solid durable core includes forming the solid durable core to include a hose forming portion located between locking feature portions, the locking feature portions having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the hose forming portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.