A flexible conduit having a helical wire reinforcement embedded in the wall thereof; the reinforcement being of a character to normally place the conduit in its axially contractile condition, yet permitting axial extension as required and restoration to its contractile condition; together with a method of making such a conduit. The convolutions of the helical wire reinforcement being under torsional stress whereby the conduit in its contractile state has pleat forming wall portions between successive helical convolutions of the reinforcement; such pleat forming wall portions tending to extend radially inward despite repeated alternate extension and contraction of the conduit. The conduit is formed by disposing inner and outer wall portions of elastomeric material on a mandrel with an interposed helical wire winding therebetween; the winding being applied over the inner wall portion in an axially stretched condition while the winding is subjected to torsional forces.
A flexible composite hose comprises an inner tube formed from a synthetic resin, an outer tube formed from a thermally shrinkable synthetic resin, having a relatively small wall thickness and carrying an adhesive on its inner peripheral surface, and a metal wire interposed spirally between the inner and outer tubes. The adhesive and the thermal shrinkage of the thermally shrinkable resin cause the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube to stick closely to the inner tube and the wire. The outer tube has a spirally corrugated outer peripheral surface defined by the wire.
An apparatus and method for a bicycle lamp includes a plurality of light sources; a source of power; an electrical circuit connecting the source of power with the plurality of light sources; at least one switch connected in the electrical circuit; a diffuser positioned adjacent at least one individual light source of the plurality of light sources, the diffuser including translucent resilient material supported on a helical coil defining a central passageway extending through the diffuser, the diffuser passageway being of sufficient dimension to accept a bicycle tube therethrough; a housing coupled to the diffuser, the housing having a housing passageway extending therethrough, wherein the housing passageway is generally complementary to and aligned with the diffuser passageway so as to provide a continuous opening through the bicycle lamp; and a reflector adjustably connected to the housing spaced apart from the housing passageway.
A flexible double-walled plastic tubing product includes a helically wound support bead between inner and outer walls, and an helically wrapped electrical resistance heating conductor is disposed adjacent to the inner wall in good heat transfer relation to fluid flow within the tubing product. Fluid flow within the tubing product is insulated against heat loss to ambient by the helical support bead and a trapped "dead-air" space between the walls of the tubing product. Apparatus and method for making the tubing product are disclosed.
A helically wound and helically ribbed plastic tubing incorporating an electrically conductive wire and an apparatus and method for making the tubing are disclosed. A plastic ribbon is wound about an axis into a tube with one edge of each lap overlapping and heat-bonded to an edge of the preceding lap as the tubing is rotated; a conductive wire is embedded in the ribbon; and a bead is applied and heat-sealed onto the tubing, encapsulating the conductive wire during rotation of the tubing, providing a unitary structure including a conductive wire integral to a flexible tubing having a corrugated crevice-free outside and a smooth inside. Coolant is applied to the tubing for cooling the unitary ribbon, wire and bead tubing and to assist in advancing the tubing along the axis.
A helically wound and helically ribbed plastic tubing incorporating an electrically conductive heating wire and an apparatus and method for making the tubing are disclosed. A plastic ribbon is wound about an axis into a tube with one edge of each lap overlapping and heat-bonded to an edge of the preceding lap as the tubing is rotated; a conductive wire is embedded in the ribbon; and a bead is applied and heat-sealed onto the tubing, encapsulating the conductive wire during rotation of the tubing, providing a unitary structure including a conductive wire integral to a flexible tubing having a corrugated crevice-free outside and a smooth inside. Coolant is applied to the tubing for cooling the unitary ribbon, wire and bead tubing and to assist in advancing the tubing along the axis.
