The present invention is directed to a new and improved flexible hose assembly for transmitting pressurized air, gases and/or fluids between two spaced apart components. The hose assembly includes an inner liner surrounded by a helix formed of thermoplastic material having a substantially flat surface portion for bonding with the inner liner, eliminating the need for a outer cord to prevent the helix from floating relative to the liner. A self-adjusting retainer ring serves to compress the flexible hose onto the beaded end portion of a component with increasing pressure as the pressure increases within the hose assembly. Preferably the retainer ring is formed from a single piece of thermoplastic material.
The apparatus for joining and sealing conduits, includes edge trim, a sleeve, and a retaining element. The edge trim is shaped to mount upon and engage an end of a conduit. The sleeve extends between the conduits and at least partially surrounds the edge trim. The sleeve may be made of compressible material, such that when the retaining element surrounds a portion of the sleeve and the edge trim, the retaining element generally compresses the portion of the sleeve portion underlying the retaining element and displaces the sleeve material to expand on either side of the retaining element and limit movement of the retaining element. The method of joining and sealing conduits includes mounting the edge trim and a retaining element upon an end of a conduit, extending a sleeve between the conduits, and sliding the retaining element over the sleeve toward the end of the conduit.
The apparatus for joining and sealing conduits, includes edge trim, a sleeve, and a retaining element. The edge trim is shaped to mount upon and engage an end of a conduit. The sleeve extends between the conduits and at least partially surrounds the edge trim. The sleeve may be made of compressible material, such that when the retaining element surrounds a portion of the sleeve and the edge trim, the retaining element generally compresses the portion of the sleeve portion underlying the retaining element and displaces the sleeve material to expand on either side of the retaining element and limit movement of the retaining element. The method of joining and sealing conduits includes mounting the edge trim and a retaining element upon an end of a conduit, extending a sleeve between the conduits, and sliding the retaining element over the sleeve toward the end of the conduit.
A flexible hose which has a hose body made of soft synthetic resin, a reinforcement made of hard synthetic resin wound spirally and joined to the hose body by fusion, and a conductor arranged inside the reinforcement in its longitudinal direction. The conductor does not adhere to the reinforcement and is movable. The hose body is formed by: extruding a tube made of soft resin from a head of an extruder; pressing and flattening the tube to form a strip; and winding the strip spirally with the adjacent side edges joined together.
A lightweight hose (80) is disclosed which is formed from a heat seamable material and includes a helically-wound reinforcing member (88). The hose (80) can be formed in a short, definite length and a relatively long, indefinite length by a mandrel and a continuous process, respectively. In one aspect of the invention, a lightweight conduit (80) comprises a tubular wall (82) formed of at least one ply of heat seamable material and at least one helical member (88) whereby the at least one ply is bonded to itself and to the at least one reinforcing member (88) without additional adhesive. The invention also relates to lightweight conduits in the form of connectors such as cuffs (140) and T- and Y-connectors (170) and (180), respectively. The invention further relates to a method for forming a lightweight conduit, including but not limited to, the embodiments of a hose described herein. The method can be characterized by the steps of wrapping at least one ply of heat seamable material (134) around a mandrel (120) so that at least one portion thereof overlaps another portion, wrapping an elongated member (132) helically around the mandrel (120), heating the material (134) and the member (132) to a predetermined temperature and time wherein the at least one portion will adhere to the other portion and form a conduit (80). Thereafter, the conduit (80) can be removed from the mandrel (120).
The apparatus for joining and sealing conduits, includes edge trim, a sleeve, and a retaining element. The edge trim is shaped to mount upon and engage an end of a conduit. The sleeve extends between the conduits and at least partially surrounds the edge trim. The sleeve may be made of compressible material, such that when the retaining element surrounds a portion of the sleeve and the edge trim, the retaining element generally compresses the portion of the sleeve portion underlying the retaining element and displaces the sleeve material to expand on either side of the retaining element and limit movement of the retaining element. The method of joining and sealing conduits includes mounting the edge trim and a retaining element upon an end of a conduit, extending a sleeve between the conduits, and sliding the retaining element over the sleeve toward the end of the conduit.
