Semi-rigid flexible duct
DCFirst Claim
1. A semi-rigid, flexible air duct having an axis running the length of said duct and having an inner and outer surface, comprising:
- a pair of coaxial sleeves, including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about said inner sleeve; and
a resilient wound element disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve,wherein each of said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve constitutes an aluminum foil ribbon layer,a second, plastic layer bonded to said first foil layer of at least one of said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, wherein said second plastic layer of said two-layer laminate is bonded to said first layer thereof with a fire-retardant adhesive,wherein each of said sleeves has metallic properties,wherein said wound element imparts corrugations to said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, such that said duct is axially extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in an air transport arrangement;
and wherein said layers of both said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve are of a predetermined thickness rendering said duct substantially rigid when in said extended configuration and enabling said duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from said compacted configuration and wherein said inner sleeve having an inward-facing surface being substantially smooth and featureless except for said wound corrugations so that there is a reduction in the tendency to accumulate lint, thereby improving airflow and reducing fire hazards.
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Abstract
A semi-rigid, flexible duct including a pair of coaxial sleeves, namely an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about the inner sleeve and a resilient wound element disposed between the sleeves. Each of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve constitutes an aluminum foil ribbon. The wound element imparts corrugations to the two sleeves, such that the duct is extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in a gas transport arrangement. Both the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve are of a predetermined thickness rendering the duct substantially rigid when in an extended configuration and enabling the duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from a compacted configuration. Optionally, at least one of the sleeves further includes a second, plastic layer bonded to the aluminum foil ribbon layer.
29 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A semi-rigid, flexible air duct having an axis running the length of said duct and having an inner and outer surface, comprising:
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a pair of coaxial sleeves, including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about said inner sleeve; and a resilient wound element disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, wherein each of said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve constitutes an aluminum foil ribbon layer, a second, plastic layer bonded to said first foil layer of at least one of said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, wherein said second plastic layer of said two-layer laminate is bonded to said first layer thereof with a fire-retardant adhesive, wherein each of said sleeves has metallic properties, wherein said wound element imparts corrugations to said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, such that said duct is axially extendible between a compacted configuration suitable for storage and for shipping and an extended configuration suitable for installation in an air transport arrangement; and wherein said layers of both said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve are of a predetermined thickness rendering said duct substantially rigid when in said extended configuration and enabling said duct to maintain its substantial rigidity upon extension from said compacted configuration and wherein said inner sleeve having an inward-facing surface being substantially smooth and featureless except for said wound corrugations so that there is a reduction in the tendency to accumulate lint, thereby improving airflow and reducing fire hazards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for manufacturing a semi-rigid, flexible duct, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a mandrel of preselected diameter for fabricating a duct therearound; b) providing a first continuous aluminum ribbon of predetermined thickness; c) providing a second continuous aluminum ribbon of predetermined thickness; d) wrapping said first continuous ribbon with a predetermined overlap around said mandrel to form an inner sleeve; e) combining at least one of said first and second aluminum ribbon, with a continuous polyester ribbon of predetermined thickness to form a continuous two-layer laminated tape; f) winding a wire around said inner sleeve; and g) wrapping said second continuous ribbon with a predetermined overlap around said inner sleeve and the wire winding to form an outer sleeve disposed parallel to and about said inner sleeve, wherein said outer sleeve is bonded to said inner sleeve using a fire-retardant adhesive, thereby to form a duct. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification