Pipes and tubular conduits – Flexible – Spirally wound material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-06-12
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Flexible
Spirally wound material
C138S132000, C138S174000, C138S122000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244303
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a flexible hose and, more particularly, to a helically wound flexible hose comprised of a flexible material and a material more rigid than the flexible material.
BACKGROUND ART
Helically wound flexible hoses are commonly used to convey fluids. These hoses must be flexible enough to allow nobility during use, yet durable enough to withstand the normal abuses associated with their environment, such as being dragged upon a surface such as a floor, being stepped upon, etc. These flexible hoses can be subjected to both pressure and vacuum and must be able to sustain both of these forces.
Flexible hoses are often used to convey liquid chemicals. In liquid chemical applications, the hose must be able to withstand the pressure or vacuum of the application, the environment, and additionally must be chemically resistant. Prior art hoses built for chemical applications are formed of a flexible material, or web, and a more rigid material that are helically wound in an interlocking manner to form a tubular channel. The more rigid material has a circular or oval cross-section and typically, a portion of the cross-section extends radially outwardly beyond the flexible material on the exterior surface of the hose. This radially outwardly extending portion of the cross-section of the more rigid material helps to prevent damage to the flexible material, such as that caused by friction from the hose being dragged across a surface.
Problems with the prior art hoses arose when customers began demanding hoses having a greater chemical resistance and an ability to withstand higher pressures. Some materials that provide excellent chemical resistance have low strengths and, in the prior art configuration are unable to withstand the pressures demanded by the customers. Additionally, these hoses are susceptible to failure if the surface of the flexible material becomes damaged because the more rigid material, with a circular or oval cross-section, concentrates the stress or strain caused from bending the hose on the exterior surface of the flexible material. Consequently, when the prior art hose is subject to bending stresses and the high pressure application, the flexible material may peel away from the more rigid material and cause the hose to fail.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,594 discloses a reinforced flexible pipe having a tubular wall formed of a soft synthetic material and a reinforcing spiral core of a hard synthetic resin material. The reinforced spiral core is substantially I-shaped and is partly exposed out of the pipe wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,628 discloses an apparatus for extruding a plastic tube having a spiral or helical tape or filament forming a reinforced skeleton of the tube. The spiral or helical tape or filament has a substantially S-shaped or a round cross-section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,145 discloses a flexible hose comprising soft and hard members alternately disposed in a spiral form. The hose further has a connector element disposed through the center of the thickness of the soft member. The connector element comprises projected portions that are interconnected to the hard member. The connector element further comprises a string member on which projected portions are sewed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The flexible hose of the invention is comprised of a flexible material and a material more rigid than the flexible material. The flexible material and the more rigid material are helically wound and molded together to form a hose with an exterior surface and an interior surface.
The cross-section of the more rigid material has at least two peninsulas, extending in longitudinally opposite directions, at least one radially inwardly extending peninsula, and at least one radially outwardly extending peninsula. The longitudinally extending peninsulas are embedded in the flexible material and the radially extending peninsulas are at least partially embedded in the flexible material.
DEFINITIONS
For ease of understanding this disclosure, the following terms are defined.
“Longitudinal” or “longitudinally” are used to mean directions along the length of the hose.
“Peninsula” or “peninsulas” are used to mean one or more protrusions from a central area of the cross-section of the more rigid material. Each protrusion is surrounded on at least three sides by either the flexible material, the hose interior, the atmosphere or any combination of these items. A side of each peninsula can be smooth, curved, or contoured. The central area of the cross-section of the more rigid material may vary in size from merely an intersection of multiple peninsulas to a larger body of the more rigid material.
“Radial” or “radially” are used to mean directions toward or away from the central axis of the hose.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 24468 (1958-05-01), Roberts
patent: 1179575 (1916-04-01), Sundh
patent: 2516864 (1950-08-01), Gilmore et al.
patent: 3207827 (1965-09-01), Kuehnle
patent: 3885594 (1975-05-01), Tanaka
patent: 4130535 (1978-12-01), Coran et al.
patent: 4587145 (1986-05-01), Kanao
patent: 4613389 (1986-09-01), Tanaka
patent: 5358580 (1994-10-01), Miyamura et al.
patent: 1 407 974 (1971-08-01), None
patent: 43-17816 (1943-07-01), None
Brinson Patrick
Krawczyk Nancy T
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
LandOfFree
Helically wound flexible hose does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Helically wound flexible hose, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Helically wound flexible hose will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2517012