Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a tubular body member for use as a clean air duct (10) including the steps of providing a blow mold (50) with at least one embedded knife (54), forming a tubular body (12) with an apex (78) where the embedded knife is located; removing the tubular body from the blow mold, and cutting the tubular body at the apex so as to form an open end (14,16). Another method for manufacturing a clean air duct includes the steps of providing a tubular body (12) having at least one open end, inserting the open end onto a mandrel (90), closing an injection mold (110) around the tubular body and the mandrel, and injecting a polymeric material into the mold, to secure a connecting means (30) to the tubular body so as to form the air duct. The method concludes by opening the injection mold and removing the air duct from the injection mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hose having an expanded portion and a compression formed portion, including making the expanded portion and the compression formed portion integral and almost simultaneously. The manufacturing process is simple and easy, and the number of manufacturing steps is reduced and the cost can be reduced. The process forms the expanded portion and the compression formed portion from a tube. A rigid, middle core member is inserted into at least one end portion of the tube. This structure is then mounted between mold sections which have an expanded interior cavity when closed. The mold sections are then closed and the end between the middle core member and the opposing inner surface of the mold sections are compressed and formed. After that, the tube is expanded in the mold to conform the tube to the cavity surface by introducing pressurized fluid into the interior of the tube. The conformed tube is removed from the mold sections as a hose with expanded and compression formed portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a tube-like preform having a longitudinal wall with a variable cross-section for blow molding of a hollow body from a thermoplastic material, includes a tubular die having a variable exit opening, and a collar die having a recess and movable into engagement with and away from the tubular die, the preform being produced by ejecting of the thermoplastic material from the exit opening of the tubular die into the recess of the collar die while moving tubular die, with controlling a speed of movement of the collar die and a cross-section of the exit opening of the tubular die in such a manner that larger and smaller cross-section of the exit opening correspond to speed rate of the collar die, so that a thickness of the wall of the producible preform changes from peaks to valleys in a wave-like manner to form the variable cross-section of the wall.

Abstract: In general, it is difficult to mold properly sized automotive boots without flash to be removed from the top end thereof. In accordance with the present invention, such molding is achieved placing a tubular parison between a pair of mold halves, moving a blow pin assembly downwardly partly into the top end of the parison, closing the mold by moving the mold halves together, using fingers to stretch the open bottom end of the parison, moving a sizing mandrel into the bottom end of the parison, closing inserts on the bottom of the mold around the bottom end of the parison to size the latter, blowing the parison using air under pressure discharged from the blow pin, moving the blow pin assembly farther down into the parison to size and cut the top end of the parison, opening the inserts and removing the lower sizing mandrel, opening the mold, closing the stretching fingers, and removing the blow pin assembly from the boot, which is stripped from the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming tubular tile, including an endless trackway having at least two substantially straight portions defining first and second molding sections, a plurality of mold blocks supported for movement about the trackway, and a plurality of mating mold blocks supported for mating with the first mold blocks along each molding section to form a segment of a corrugated molding tunnel. Extruders introduce moldable material at the beginning of each molding section, and the material is conformed to the molding tunnel along the molding sections for forming the tile, with the mold blocks being separated when they move past the end of each molding section. The extruders are mounted for movement toward the beginning of the two molding sections when initiating tile formation therein.

Abstract: A method of injection blow molding a synthetic resin bellows product having root portions and crest portions, each of which has the axially sectional form of a circular arc, and incline portions therebetween, for example, a plastic bellows product such as a constant-velocity joint boot, a steering boot or the like. The method is capable of molding a product having a thickness uniform throughout, and particularly, root portions having little dimensional variations. The method involves firstly molding the parison root portions or the root portions plus their adjacent areas into substantially the same shape as those of a final product by injection molding during molding of a parison, and then blow molding only the crest portions and the incline portions to obtain the shape of the final product.

Abstract: Automobile panels and body parts are manufactured using a core element (10, 10'). The core element (10, 10') may be blow molded into a hollow core member for use in liquid resin molding. The core element (10') may include molded channels (26) extending longitudinally therealong to facilitate the flow of liquid about the core element (10') during the molding process. The core element (10') may also or alternatively include a corrugated portion (32) to allow bending of the rigid core (10') during placement within the mold (34). After placement in a mold (34), a liquid molding process is initiated to form the automobile panels and body parts.

Abstract: A corrugated elastomeric tube having a smooth interior surface (28) generally free from nipples is produced. A first step in the process is carried out by positioning an unvulcanized elastomeric tubing (14) over a mandrel (12) having a corrugated outer surface (13). The mandrel (12) has an exterior surface (30) which is free from holes. Next, each end of the tubing (14) is clamped to the mandrel (12). The tubing (14) and the mandrel (12) are heated to soften and vulcanizing the tubing (14). Also, pressure is provided to cause the tubing (14) to conform with the corrugated outer surface (13) of the mandrel (12). The vulcanized corrugated tube is then removed from the mandrel (12).

Abstract: A method for providing a dust-proof boot for a protruding equipment shaft of the type including a pair of spaced apart annular grooves. The boot includes an expandable central belly portion, a pair of restricted diameter attachment ring portions adapted to be received in the shaft grooves, and a pair of connecting portions connecting the attachment ring portions to the belly portion. It is formed by first forming a parison on a male die. The parison includes preformed attachment ring portions and connecting portions, at least one of which includes an inwardly protruding annular ridge member which is received in a mating recess in the die. The parison and the male die are inserted into a female blow-molding, die, with the preformed attachment ring portions and connecting portions caught and supported between the male and female dies.

Abstract: A tube or hollow body of a plastic material having memory characteristics is formed in a mold body having interior undulations or grooves. Pressure is applied to the interior of the plastic tube, while the tube is at a temperature above its softening point, to expand the tube into the configuration of the interior of the mold body. The pressure is maintained while the tube is cooled. After cooling, the tube is extracted axially from the mold body, and is reheated to cause the tube, by virtue of its memory characteristics, to return to the shape it had while in the mold, thereby eliminating the distortion and stretching occurring during removal from the mold. The mold body can be a tubular corrugated casing or stainless steel with a relatively thin wall, which cannot be taken apart. End assemblies are provided to hold and seal the tube ends while the tube is expanded in the mold body, by pressure applied through one of the end assemblies. The preferred plastic material is PTFE (TEFLON).

Abstract: An improved array of spring units. In a preferred embodiment, the spring units are composed of polyurethane which are blow molded such that a string of bellows-like springs are provided, with the axial ends of each spring being free for axial compression, while the sides of the springs are left attached to each other during the blow molding process. In another embodiment, the blow molded springs each include a vent hole which affects the dynamic cushioning properties of the springs. In another embodiment, extruded tubes of particular configurations are slotted at spaced-apart intervals such that independent spring units are provided, with the axial ends of each spring being free for axial compression. The array of spring units does not require a fabric covering as do strings of pocketed coils, but may be as easily handled, and may be connected in side-to-side abutting relationship to provide a mattress, cushion, or box spring inner construction.

Abstract: A pneumatic system (10) is shown in its most preferred use in a spray gun (12) to remotely control a pressure washer. The system (10) generally includes an integrally formed, homogenous squeeze box (40) including a location ear (52), a nose tube (46), a bellows (44), and a discharge tube (48). Bellows (44) is generally rectangular in cross section and includes a flat top (62) and bottom (63) and accordion sides (64) having generally longitudinal fold lines (72, 74, 76, 78, 80) which are generally parallel to the mold part line (93) and the tubes (46, 48) but include a 2.degree. draft for ease in mold removal. A valve and spring tube (42) is loosely received on the nose tube (46) for sealing a vent hole (60) provided therein when the bellows (44) is compressed by a trigger (30) of gun (12) and for biasing the trigger (30) to an uncompressed bellows condition.

Abstract: Plastic dust-proof boots which are made of thermoplastic resin by means of blow molding and provided at least on one end of a bellows with a stationary ring to be fitted to an engaging groove formed on an attaching shaft and methods for manufacturing the plastic boots. In the boots, an inner circumference base upright wall of the stationary ring is formed at a nearly vertical state, and the inner circumference base upright wall of the stationary ring is connected through a sleeve having an inner diameter so that the attaching shaft can be loosely fitted. In manufacturing the boots, the stationary ring and the sleeve are molded during the parison molding previously or during mold tightening at the blow molding stage, and the blow molding is performed while the stationary ring and the sleeve are grasped between molds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for producing various materials and products of a thermoplastic nature. In the method, thermoplastic material is subjected to a high intensity mixing and melting step to form a material which is a non-flowable and self-sustaining mass, having a temperature low enough to prevent it from being readily flowable, in a subsequent step, the method involves placing the material between a fixed rigid surface and a moving rigid surface to force air from the mass and to densify, compress and convert it to a flowable form whereafter it is passed through a restricted opening. There is provided a combination of a high intensity mixer and melter in which the product produced is then fed into a gear-pump where the material is passed between a fixed rigid surface and a moving surface.

Abstract: A reformable, shape retentive hose having a precured tube located in a hose sidewall, and a reformable rod inserted in the precured tube. A method for making hose by placing at least one precured tube in the sidewall of a hose during the time that the hose sidewall is formed, curing the hose assembly with the precured tube in the sidewall, and inserting a reformable rod in a portion of the precured tube.

Abstract: A blow-molded bellows of a thermoplastic elastomeric material has a generally cylindrical hollow accordion-type convolution section and ends integral therewith. The ends has axial protrusions extending outwardly from the central areas of respective ends. Each protrusion is connected to an adjacent convolution by an integral shoulder which has inwardly concave portions and outwardly convex portions. The concave portions are adjacent to the parting line, whereas the convex portions are remote from the parting line. By this feature of the bellows, the outermost convolutions of the accordion-type convolution section of the bellows can be molded into circumferentially substantially uniform wall thickness to assure improved operability and heat-resistant property of the bellows.

Abstract: A method for making flexible, corrugated rubber tubing of dual composition from two extruded sleeves of uncured rubber. The inner diameter of one of the sleeves is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the other sleeve. The first sleeve is slid axially onto an elongated internal forming member, after which the second sleeve is slid over the first sleeve. An external forming means is then placed around the assembled sleeve and used to form corrugations in the pair of sleeves simultaneously, and thus intermittently interlock the two sleeves in a preshaped condition to form a unitary corrugated product. The resulting product is then heat-treated to set the corrugations and form a flexible corrugated tube length of dual composition.

Abstract: Conduits, fittings, end closures, and couplers, particularly adapted for use as drain tile, are prepared by molding the items in a suitable mold with their respective ends closed. The ends can then be severed along cut lines directly molded, where desired. The items produced in accordance herewith are formed with helical threads to permit threaded interengagement therebetween.

Abstract: Air conduits or ducts, including convoluted or bellows-type ducts, are prepared by molding a resinous mixture consisting essentially of a polypropylene and a polystyrene-polyolefin block copolymer. Inert fillers can be present in the mixture.

Abstract: A picture frame and method of making the same from a rising tube of fluent extruded plastic. The rising tube collapses inwardly to form the frame body as a ring of interfolded wrinkly sinuous corrugations. A stepped annular ring on the face of the extruder die is shaped to form a flat back for the frame along with a rabbeted inner rim edge suitable to seat a picture, mat and a backing plate.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing an improved collapse-resistant corrugated hose of flexible elastomeric material including a tubular structure which preferably includes a single layer of textile reinforcement which may be of a knit construction. The tubular structure is formed to an outside diameter essentially that of the maximum diameter of the mold cavity then placed therein and vulcanized under heat and pressure to mold form cylindrical end portions and a corrugated central portion. A preformed wire insert is then placed in the troughs of the internal corrugations to provide resistance against collapsing when the hose is subjected to a vacuum or bending. The hose is particularly useful in automotive vehicle cooling systems.This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 504,228; Sept. 9, 1974, abandoned; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 353,151; Apr. 20, 1973, abandoned; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 166,138; July 26, 1971, abandoned.

Abstract: A composite reinforced vulcanized elastomeric hose is disclosed including a tube, an outer cover, an interlayer interposed between the tube and cover, and a reinforcement embedded in the hose wall. The outer cover and inner tube are composed of dissimilar polymers not readily bondable to one another, one of which is an EPDM type, and the interlayer is composed of halogenated butyl which securely bonds the dissimilar polymers together and provides a low permeability internal fluid barrier for the hose article with protection to the embedded reinforcement.