Mold for manufacturing conduit grommet elements

• US 5,788,994 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mecanismos Auxiliares Industriales S.A.
• Original Assignee: Mecanismos Auxiliares Industriales S.A.
• Inventors: Jorda Teixido, Miguel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khanh P.
• Application Number:
  US08/808,569
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 425/116, 425/112, 425/117, 425/125, 425/577, 425/DIG. 47, 425/123, 425/542, 264/266, 264/276, 264/278, 264/275
• US Class Current: 425/116
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence

Abstract

A mold is provided for forming a grommet element. The mold includes a stationary portion and an axially movable portion. The grommet element is formed by the steps of installing respective connecting terminals on conduits; forming a conduit assembly from a plurality of individual conduits, and banding together two proximal points of the conduit assembly; introducing the conduit assembly into the lower part of the mold; closing the mold; moving the two proximal points closer together to produce flexural buckling of the conduits in the conduit assembly; introducing an adhesive mass into the mold, under pressure, at an elevated temperature, during a predetermined period of time; injecting the hot adhesive between the conduits of the conduit assembly; cooling the mold to solidify the adhesive; and molding PVC or another thermoplastic elastomer over the adhesive-sealed conduit assembly, to form a grommet element, and joining the thus sealed conduit assembly to a flange or dividing wall.

Claims

1. A mold for manufacturing a conduit grommet which contains a conduit assembly consisting of a plurality of conduits, and having positioning and fixation elements for securing the conduit grommet to a dividing wall, said mold comprising:

upper and lower mold sections adapted to receive said conduit assembly along an axial direction;

said upper mold section having axially displaced upper conduit seals, wherein said axially displaced upper conduit seals are supported by respective upper conduit seal supports;

said lower mold section having axially displaced lower conduit seals, wherein said axially displaced lower conduit seals are supported by respective lower conduit seal supports; and

each of said upper and lower mold sections including a first portion which is axially movable with respect to a second portion thus facilitating buckling of the conduit assembly when said conduit assembly is contained in the mold.

2. The mold according to claim 1, wherein said lower mold section comprises a guide channel extending axially through said lower conduit seals for accommodating said conduit assembly.

3. A mold for manufacturing a conduit grommet which contains a conduit assembly consisting of a plurality of conduits, and having positioning and fixation elements for securing the conduit grommet to a dividing wall, said mold comprising:

upper and lower mold sections adapted to receive said conduit assembly along an axial direction;

said upper mold section having axially displaced upper conduit seals, wherein said axially displaced upper conduit seals are supported by respective upper conduit seal supports;

said lower mold section having axially displaced lower conduit seals, wherein said axially displaced lower conduit seals are supported by respective lower conduit seal supports; and

each of said upper and lower mold sections including an axially stationary portion and an axially movable portion thus facilitating buckling of the conduit assembly when said conduit assembly is contained in the mold.

4. The mold according to claim 3, wherein said lower mold section comprises a guide channel extending axially through said lower conduit seals for accommodating said conduit assembly.