Extensible flexible hose, and method and production line for continuously manufacturing thereof

• US 20190309875A1
• Filed: 06/14/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FITT S.p.A. (Innovision Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: FITT S.p.A. (Innovision Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Mezzalira, Alessandro, Vigolo, Valentino, Battaglia, Luca, Petronilli, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 11,287,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0016 using a plurality of extrusion dies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/0018 combined with shaping by orienting, stretching or shrinking, e.g. film blowing B29C48/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/151 Coating hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/355 Conveyors for extruded articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/22 of tubes B29C61/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/00 Producing tubular articles B29D24/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2313/00 Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2667/003 PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/007 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/005 Hoses, i.e. flexible
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/021 Fibrous or filamentary layer layers of natural mineral fibres or particles being impregnated in a plastic substance B32B19/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/023 Two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/046 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0223 Vinyl resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 : Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0269 : Aromatic polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 : Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0284 : Polyethylene terephthalate [PET] or polybutylene terephthalate [PBT]
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2274/00 : Thermoplastic elastomer material thermoplastic elastomer fibres B32B2262/0215, thermoplastic elastomer particles B32B2264/0221, thermoplastic elastomer foam B32B2266/0292
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/51 : Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/536 : Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/54 : Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 : Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/558 : Impact strength, toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/718 : Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 : Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2410/00 : Agriculture-related articles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/10 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/14 : comprising synthetic rubber copolymers B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 : Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 : characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/28 : comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups B32B27/30 - B32B27/42
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 : comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 : for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 : Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/06 : characterised by a fibrous or filamentary layer mechanically connected, e.g. by needling to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 : another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 : permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/08 : with reinforcements embedded in the wall F16L11/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/085 : comprising one or more braided layers in combination with layers of a helically wound core or wire F16L11/088
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/088 : comprising a combination of one or more layers of a helically wound cord or wire with one or more braided layers
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/12 : with arrangements for particular purposes, e.g. specially profiled, with protecting layer, heated, electrically conducting F16L11/11 takes precedence

Abstract

A hose that includes an inner layer and an outer layer made of an elastic polymeric material, and a textile reinforcement layer interposed between the inner and the outer layers. The inner layer and the outer layer are reciprocally coupled to form a unitary tubular member, within which the textile reinforcement layer is embedded. The unitary tubular member has an elasticity such to automatically elongate under the working pressure given by the liquid flowing therethrough to increase its original length and to automatically recover once the working pressure stops. The textile reinforcement layer is adapted to move from a rest configuration when the working pressure stops to a working configuration when the unitary tubular member elongates under the working pressure, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A method of continuously manufacturing an extensible flexible hose, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing an inner layer made of a first elastic polymeric material;

(b) elongating the inner layer over an original length thereof;

(c) disposing a textile reinforcement layer on the elongated inner layer so as to obtain a semifinished hose; and

(d) extruding an outer layer made of a second elastic polymeric material on the semifinished hose,

wherein extruding the outer layer includes reciprocally coupling the outer and the inner layers so as to obtain a unitary tubular member with the textile reinforcement layer embedded therein,

wherein the unitary tubular member has an elasticity sufficient to enable the unitary tubular member to automatically elongate and enlarge under a working pressure given by a liquid flowing therethrough, thereby respectively increasing original length and diameter of the unitary tubular member, and automatically recovering once the working pressure stops, thereby returning to the original length and diameter, and

wherein the textile reinforcement layer is adapted to move between a rest configuration assumed when no liquid flows through the unitary tubular member and a working configuration assumed when the unitary tubular member elongates and enlarges under the working pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of disposing the textile reinforcement layer and the step of extruding the outer layer are performed while the inner layer is in elongated condition beyond its original length.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein elongating the inner layer comprises drawing the inner layer.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of drawing is performed using a first and a second conveying devices that rotate and are adapted to convey and press the inner layer, the first conveying device pressing the inner layer before the step of disposing the textile reinforcement layer, the second conveying device pressing the inner layer after the step of extruding the outer layer, the second conveying device rotating faster than the first conveying device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the inner layer internally includes a detaching film on an inner side, the detaching film being adapted to come in contact with the liquid to be moved.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein a ratio between rotation velocities of the first conveying device and the second conveying device is 1:

2 to 1;

5.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein a ratio between rotation velocities of the first conveying device and the second conveying device is 1:

3 to 1;

5.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of extruding the outer layer is performed with the textile reinforcement layer in the working configuration, the hose recovering after the step of extruding so that a recovery of the unitary tubular member promotes a moving of the textile reinforcement layer from the working configuration to the rest configuration.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic polymeric material and the second elastic polymeric materials are compatible with each other, the inner layer and the outer layer becoming coupled upon the step of extruding the outer layer.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of extruding the outer layer is carried out by an extrusion die adapted to extrude a film having a weight per linear meter that is 3% to 10% by weight with respect to a total weight of the unitary tubular member, further comprising holding an extrusion die under vacuum.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the textile reinforcement layer and the unitary tubular member are configured to cause the textile reinforcement layer to envelop the unitary tubular member upon elongation and enlargement of the unitary tubular member so as to define a maximum length and diameter thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the textile reinforcement layer is disposed on an outer surface of the inner layer so as to leave thereon a plurality of uncovered areas, the outer layer and the inner layer being reciprocally coupled in correspondence of the uncovered areas.

13. A production system for continuously manufacturing an extensible flexible hose by a method according to claim 1, comprising:

an inlet for an inner layer of a first elastic polymeric thermoplastic material;

an elongation station adapted to elongate the inner layer over an original length thereof;

a coupling station adapted to dispose a textile reinforcement layer on the elongated inner layer, so as to obtain a semifinished hose;

an extruding station adapted to extrude an outer layer of a second polymeric thermoplastic elastic material on the semifinished hose; and

an outlet for the extensible flexible hose,

wherein, in the extruding station, the inner layer and the outer layer are joined to define a unitary tubular member, the textile reinforcement layer being embedded therebetween,

wherein the unitary tubular member has an elasticity such to automatically elongate and enlarge upon a working pressure given by a liquid flowing therethrough and increase original length and diameter of the unitary tubular member, and to automatically recover once the working pressure stops, returning to the original length and diameter,

wherein the textile reinforcement layer is adapted to move between a rest configuration assumed when no liquid flows through the unitary tubular member and a working configuration assumed when the unitary tubular member elongates and enlarges under the working pressure, and

wherein the elongating station includes at least a first and a second device that rotate and are adapted to convey and press the inner layer, the first conveying device being upstream of the coupling station, the second conveying device being downstream of the extruding station, the second conveying device rotating faster than the first device.

14. The production system according to claim 13, wherein a ratio between rotation speeds of the first conveying device and the second conveying device is 1:

2 to 1;

5.

15. The production system according to claim 13, wherein a ratio between rotation speeds of the first conveying device and the second conveying device is 1:

3 to 1;

5.