Mold and method for manufacturing conduit grommet elements

• US 5,833,910 A
• Filed: 10/03/1995
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mecanismos Auxiliares Industriales S.A.
• Original Assignee: Mecanismos Auxiliares Industriales SA -Maisa
• Inventors: Teixido, Miguel Jorda
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, DAVID WEI HSIUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/538,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 264/1.25, 264/271.1, 264/277, 264/279, 425/116, 425/123
• US Class Current: 264/277
• 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 method for forming a grommet element including two successive steps which are performed on an assembly of conduits, such as cables or wires. The first step consists of sealing the conduit assembly under pressure, while the second step involves molding PVC or another thermoplastic elastomer over the sealed structure to form the grommet. A mold is also provided for carrying out the method. The mold includes a stationary portion and an axially movable portion. Preferably, the method includes at least one of the following operations or steps: (a) Installing respective connecting terminals on the conduits; (b) Forming a conduit assembly from a plurality of individual conduits, and banding together two proximal points of the conduit assembly; (c) Introducing the conduit assembly into the lower part of a mold; (d) Closing the mold; (e) Moving the two aforementioned proximal points closer together to produce flexural buckling of the conduits in the conduit assembly; (f) Introducing an adhesive mass into the mold, under pressure, at an elevated temperature, during a predetermined period of time; (g) Injecting the hot adhesive between the conduits of the conduit assembly; (h) Cooling the mold to solidify the adhesive; and (i) 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 method for manufacturing a conduit grommet containing a conduit assembly consisting of a plurality of individual conduits, and having a positioning and fixation elements for securing the conduit grommet to a dividing wall, said method comprising the steps of:

moving two proximal points of the conduit assembly closer together to produce a slight bowing of the plurality of conduits of the conduit assembly to increase the area between adjacent conduits of the conduit assembly;

sealing the conduit assembly under pressure by injecting a hot adhesive between the plurality of conduits of the conduit assembly while said conduit assembly is contained in a mold having two separable mold sections, to produce a sealed conduit assembly, one of said two mold sections including a stationary part, a radially movable and axially stationary part and a radially movable part, and the other of said two mold sections including an axially movable part, an axially movable and radially stationary part and an axially and radially movable part; and

molding PVC or other thermoplastic elastomers over the sealed conduit assembly, to form a grommet element;

said moving of the two proximal points of the conduit assembly closer together to produce slight bowing of the plurality of conduits of the conduit assembly includes axially moving said other mold section of the mold toward said one mold section of the mold.

2. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive mass is introduced into said mold with a pressure between 20 kg/cm.² and 70 kg/cm².

3. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive mass is introduced into said mold with a temperature between 130°

C. and 250°

C.

4. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 1, wherein said step of moving the two proximal points of the conduit assembly closer together to produce the slight bowing of the plurality of conduits of the conduit assembly is performed using pneumatically or hydraulically driven mechanical means.

5. A method for manufacturing a conduit grommet containing a conduit assembly consisting of a plurality of individual conduits, and having positioning and fixation elements for securing the conduit grommet to a dividing wall, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting respective connecting terminals to distal ends of said plurality of conduits;

gathering and banding together two proximal points of said plurality of conduits to form said conduit assembly;

introducing the conduit assembly into a mold having two mold sections formed of an axially stationary mold section and an axially movable mold section, and each of said two mold sections having a radially stationary lower part and a radially movable upper part;

closing the mold by bringing said radially movable upper part of said two mold sections together with said radially stationary lower part of said two mold sections;

moving the two proximal points of the conduit assembly closer together by axially moving said axially movable mold section toward said axially stationary mold section to produce a slight bowing of the conduit assembly to increase the area between adjacent conduits of the conduit assembly;

injecting an adhesive mass into the mold between the plurality of conduits, under pressure and at an elevated temperature, during a predetermined period of time;

cooling the mold to effect solidification of the adhesive mass and produce an adhesively bonded conduit assembly; and

molding PVC or other thermoplastic elastomers over the adhesively bonded conduit assembly, to form a grommet element.

6. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive mass is introduced into said mold with a pressure between 20 kg/cm.² and 70 kg/cm².

7. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive mass is introduced into said mold with a temperature between 130°

and 250°

C.

8. The method for manufacturing a conduit grommet according to claim 5, wherein said step of moving the two proximal points of the conduit assembly closer together to produce flexural buckling of the plurality of conduits of the conduit assembly is performed using pneumatically or hydraulically driven mechanical means.