Lined water conduit

• US 20070031624A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mercury Plastics, Inc.
• Inventors: Brosius, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/197,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20070031624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/36.910
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 58/1036 the coating being a preformed pipe F16L58/1027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 9/147 comprising only layers of metal and plastics with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]

Abstract

A method of lining the interior passageway of a water conduit and the article produced thereby is disclosed.

Claims

1. A water conduit faucet assembly comprising:

a base;

a delivery spout supported by the base and formed of a metallic material, the delivery spout including an outer surface and an inner surface extending between an inlet and an opposing outlet; and

a thermoplastic liner molded within the delivery spout, the thermoplastic liner having an outer surface substantially contacting the inner surface of the delivery spout from the inlet to the outlet.

2. The water faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic liner is formed of a polyethylene.

3. The water faucet assembly of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic liner is formed of a cross-linked polyethylene.

4. The water faucet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plating layer received on the outer surface of the support tube.

21. The water faucet assembly of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic liner is cross-linked within the delivery spout.

22. The water faucet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable coupling supporting the delivery spout.

5. (canceled)

6. A delivery spout for a water faucet assembly, the delivery spout comprising:

an outer cover formed of a metallic material; and

a liner received within the outer cover, the liner being formed of a cross-linked polyethylene.

7. The delivery spout of claim 6, wherein the liner is molded within the outer cover.

8. The delivery spout of claim 7, wherein the liner is blow molded within the outer cover.

9. The delivery spout of claim 6, wherein the linter has an outer surface which contacts the inner surface of the outer cover from the inlet to the outlet.

10. The delivery spout of claim 6, further comprising a plating layer received on the outer surface of the outer cover.

11. A method of forming a water conduit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support tube including a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining a passageway extending between the first end and the second end;

providing a thermoplastic material;

inserting the thermoplastic material within the passageway of the support tube;

heating the thermoplastic material;

placing a tubular member of the thermoplastic material within the passageway of the support tube, the tubular member having a first end and a second end;

sealing the first end of the tubular member with a plug;

sealing the second end of the tubular member with a blow pin assembly;

applying pressurized fluid to the second end of the tubular member; and

cooling the thermoplastic material within the support tube.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a polyethylene, and the method further comprises the step of cross-linking the polyethylene.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the cross-linking step includes providing a silane-grafted polyethylene and exposing the silane-grafted polyethylene to moisture and heat.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of metal plating the outer surface of the support tube.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the support tube comprises a delivery spout of a water faucet assembly.

14. (canceled)

17. A method of forming a delivery spout for a water faucet assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a metallic support tube including a passageway;

providing a polyethylene material;

inserting the polyethylene material within the passageway of the support tube;

heating the polyethylene material;

molding the polyethylene material within the support tube; and

cross-linking the polyethylene material within the support tube.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the cross-linking steps includes providing a silane-grafted polyethylene and exposing the silane-grated polyethylene to moisture and heat.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the molding step includes placing a tubular member of the polyethylene material within the passageway of the support tube, the tubular member having a first end and a second end, sealing the first end of the tubular member, and applying pressurized fluid to the second end of the tubular member.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of metal plating the outer surface of the support tube.