Degradation resistant expandable tubing and method and system for manufacture thereof

• US 20060216450A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jay Arthur Ballard
• Original Assignee: Jay Arthur Ballard
• Inventors: Ballard, Jay Arthur
• Application Number:
  US11/087,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20060216450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/36.910
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/552 Fatigue strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/714 Inert, i.e. inert to chemical degradation, corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/04 comprising rubber as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/043; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/044; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/042; next to a metal layer B32B15/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/063; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/043; next to a wood layer B32B21/045; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/046
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/042 of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/12 comprising natural rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/20 comprising silicone rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2509/00 Household appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/04 made of rubber or flexible plastics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

An article of manufacture, apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing degradation-resistant expandable tubing. Degradation resistance is supplied by integrally bonding a degradation resistant liner of similar expansion capacities to the expandable tubing.

Claims

1. an article of manufacture comprising:

an expandable tube; and

an expandable, degradation-resistant liner integrally bonded to the interior surface of the expandable tube.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the expandable tube comprises latex.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein the latex tube includes additives.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises thermal plastic.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises at least one of silicone and polyurethane.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the mandrel comprises material of sufficient flexibility to withstand the tubing manufacture process and sufficient rigidity to support the liner and tubing during manufacture.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a material capable of bonding to the expandable tubing material and releasing from the mandrel

6. An article of manufacture comprising:

an expandable tube;

an expandable, degradation-resistant liner integrally bonded to the interior surface of the expandable tube; and

a mandrel inserted in the longitudinal lumen of the liner.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the mandrel is pre-formed

9. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the mandrel is hollow.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the mandrel comprises silicon rubber.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the mandrel comprises PVC.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the mandrel is extruded.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the liner is pre-formed.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the liner is extruded on the mandrel.

16. An apparatus for manufacturing tubing, the apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal center chamber having gas-permeable, rigid walls;

a longitudinal outer chamber of a diameter greater than the center chamber, having impermeable rigid walls;

the center chamber positioned inside the outer chamber; and

the space between the center chamber and the outer chamber being closed on each end with an air-tight seal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the outer chamber includes an evacuation port.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the walls of the center chamber include perforations at least one of perforations, slits, or louvers.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the walls of the center chamber comprise a rigid mesh.

20. A system for manufacturing tubing, the system comprising:

a mandrel insertion apparatus;

a pre-formed liner tube;

a pre-formed mandrel; and

a resulting liner-clad mandrel.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a latex application mechanism.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a mandrel removing mechanism.

23. A system for manufacturing tubing, the system comprising:

a mandrel extrusion die;

a source of extrudable mandrel material;

a liner tube extrusion die;

a source of extrudable liner tube material; and

a resulting liner-clad mandrel.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a latex application apparatus.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a mandrel removing procedure.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a mandrel chipping and recycling apparatus.

27. A method for manufacturing tubing, the method comprising:

providing an insertion apparatus;

inserting a pre-formed liner tube into the apparatus;

circumferentially fastening each end of the liner tube to the apparatus to form an air-tight seal leaving the lumen of the liner open;

evacuating the insertion apparatus;

inserting a mandrel into the lumen of the liner tube;

aerating the apparatus; and

removing the liner-clad mandrel from the apparatus.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising applying expandable tubing material to the liner-clad mandrel.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising removing the mandrel from the lined expandable tube.

30. A method for manufacturing tubing, the method comprising:

providing a mandrel extrusion die;

loading the die with extrudable mandrel material;

extruding a mandrel;

passing the extruded mandrel through a liner tube extruding die;

extruding a liner tube on the mandrel; and

removing the liner-clad mandrel from the die.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising applying expandable tubing material to the liner-clad mandrel.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising removing the mandrel from the lined expandable tube.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising decomposing and recycling the used mandrel back into the mandrel extrusion die.