Reinforced tubing
First Claim
1. A flexible torque transmission cable which comprises:
- a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface;
a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and
an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reinforced tubing has an inner continuous hollow metallic tube. To strengthen the tube, a metallic helical structural member is bonded in tension by nickel or cobalt electroplating to the outside wall of the tube. Thus, a surrounding layer of electroplated material (i.e. nickel or cobalt) covers the tube and the structural member to bond the structural member to the tube. The individual coils of the helical structural member are spaced apart, so that the edges of successive coils do not touch or overlap. Importantly, the angular pitch between successive coils is in the range 20°-60°, the pitch being variable throughout the length of the tubing.
For applications wherein the tubing is to be used as a rigid platform, a longitudinal stiffening member may be bonded to the inside of the tube. Additionally, regardless of the particular application of the tubing, a polymeric coating may be molded onto the outside of the tube, the helical structural member, and the surrounding electroplated layer to cover and protect the tubing.
60 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A flexible torque transmission cable which comprises:
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a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A torque transmission cable which comprises:
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a hollow tube having a continuous wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said inner surface of said tube wall; a helical structural member positioned in tension around said outer surface of said wall for strengthening said tube; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
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14. A flexible reinforced tubing apparatus, which comprises;
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at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A reinforced tubing apparatus which comprises:
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at least one continuous metallic helical structural member defining an axial bore therethrough; a metallic hollow tube axially disposed within said bore of said helical structural member, said tube having a continuous wall, said helical structural member being positioned in tensile stress against said wall; a stiffening member disposed longitudinally within said tube, said stiffening member being bonded to said tube wall; and an electroplatable metal surrounding layer electroplated over said tube and said structural member to continuously coat said tube and said structural member and bond said structural member to said tube.
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Specification