Method for manufacturing exhaust connection member with preformed braided cover
AssigneeTru-Flex, LLC
InventorsRobert Franklin Stalcup, II, Scott Robert Swank
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.
Claims12
A method of manufacturing an exhaust system coupler, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a flexible bellows member made of metallic material and having a generally cylindrical and repeatedly corrugated shape;
- manufacturing an intertwined cover member, wherein manufacturing the intertwined cover member comprises;
- providing a plurality of wire filaments;
- intertwining said wire filaments to form a sleeve having first and second ends;
- and
- forming at least one end of said sleeve into shape using a forming die such that said end includes a circumferential neck portion and a shoulder that is generally perpendicular to a body portion of the cover member;
- positioning the intertwined cover member over the flexible bellows member such that the shoulder is spaced apart from and not in contact with end most corrugations of said bellows member;
- and
- securing a retainer to the flexible bellows member and the intertwined cover member to combine end parts of the flexible bellows member and the intertwined cover member.
A method of manufacturing an exhaust system coupler, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a flexible bellows member made of metallic material and having a generally cylindrical and repeatedly corrugated shape;
- manufacturing an intertwined cover member, wherein manufacturing the intertwined cover member comprises;
- providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments, said sleeve including first and second ends and a body portion extending therebetween having a first diameter;
- forming at least one end of said sleeve into shape using a forming die such that said end includes a circumferential neck portion having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter and a shoulder extending radially outwardly from, and generally perpendicular to, said neck portion and meeting said body portion at a stiffened corner;
- and
- positioning the intertwined cover member over the flexible bellows member such that the shoulder is spaced apart from and not in contact with end most corrugations of said bellows member;
- and
- securing a retainer to the flexible bellows member and the intertwined cover member to combine end parts of the flexible bellows member and the intertwined cover member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.