Method of forming a conduit
AssigneeFisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
InventorsDaniel John Smith, Nathan Lee Gray, Luke Jeremy Gallagher, Kieran James Hatcher, Kristopher Poh Ming Laurent
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Abstract
A method of continuously forming heated conduit includes performing a tape for winding onto a spiral pipeline former. At least one conductor is positioned adjacent to the centerline of and parallel with a thin polymer ribbon. The ribbon is folded in half to encapsulate the conductors. The folded ribbon is thermally welded to itself. The folded, welded, ribbon is passed through a creaser, which forms a crease midway across the folded ribbon. The creased pre-formed ribbon is formed into a conduit in a continuous process on a spiral pipeline former.
Claims17
A method of continuously forming a breathing conduit comprising:
- providing a thin polymer ribbon,
- positioning at least a first conductor and a second conductor adjacent to and substantially parallel with said ribbon, said first conductor and said second conductor being separated by a controlled spacing,
- folding said ribbon substantially in half parallel with said ribbon such that said first and second conductors are adjacent to, and encapsulated in said fold,
- and thermally welding said folded ribbon to permanently encapsulate said first and second conductors,
- supplying said folded ribbon having “leading” and trailing” lateral edges, spirally around a former rotating and advancing said conduit, with the leading edge of each turn of ribbon overlapping the trailing edge of a previous turn of ribbon on the former and the trailing edge of each turn underlapping the leading edge of a succeeding turn,
- and applying a bead of molten plastic material over both said lapping edges of adjacent turns of ribbon and said first and second conductors, such that said bead welds said adjacent edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.