Abstract: A composite hose is constructed to have an outer peripheral portion and an inner peripheral portion. The outer peripheral portion includes an elastic layer and a reinforcing layer provided on an outer periphery of the elastic layer. The inner peripheral portion includes a corrugated metal tube which is provided with a corrugated portion formed with corrugation hills and corrugation valleys. A distance between the reinforcing layer and tops of the corrugation hills of the corrugated metal tube is designed 0.27 mm or less.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for corrugating a sheet-like material can comprise a support member, a feed mechanism, a bending member, a hold-down member, and a driving mechanism. The support member can comprise a support surface with corrugations. The feed mechanism can be configured to feed the support member in increments of one pitch of the support member corrugations. The bending member can be configured to reciprocate between a retracted position and an actuated position mating with a corrugation on the support surface so material laying on the support surface is bent along the support member corrugation. The hold-down member can be configured to be reciprocated between a retracted position and an actuated position holding the material against the support surface. The drive mechanism can be configured to sequentially reciprocate the bending member and the hold-down member so the hold-down member presses down the material and the bending member bends the material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an exhaust gas carrying device, in particular an exhaust gas purification device, and a tool provided therefor include segment-like jaws that are used to deform an outer housing. The jaws have indentations or projections adjacent to each other, and which are complementary to form a continuously surrounding indentation/projection. The reshaped outer housing is provided with one or more surrounding projections or indentations by the deformation.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a hollow rack shaft, and a hollow rack shaft, a tubular member (23) having a planar flat portion (22) that is formed in part of a tubular body portion (21) is sandwiched and held between a cope (25) and a drag (26) that has a tooth-shaped portion (29) substantially symmetrical with rack teeth (7) so that a surface (22a) of the flat portion (22) is in contact with the tooth-shaped portion (29). A back die (14) having a plurality of protrusions (15) is arranged so that the protrusions (15) face groove portions (29a) of the tooth-shaped portion (29) across the flat portion (22), and the back die (14) is pressed against the flat portion (22) to form the rack teeth (7) to thereby manufacture the rack shaft.

Abstract: A method of forming a cooler pipe includes filling a cavity of a workpiece with a backing material, roll-forming at least one helical groove along an axial length of the workpiece to define a cooling portion, and removing the backing material from the workpiece to provide a cooler pipe. The backing material may be an aggregate or granular material such as sand, which fills the cavity to provide a supportive force to the workpiece during roll-forming of the groove. The cooling portion of the cooler pipe includes an exterior recess and an interior protrusion defined by the groove which each increase the conductive surface area of the cooling portion relative to the workpiece surface area. The backing material is removable from the cooler pipe and may be recycled for use in forming a subsequent cooler pipe.

Abstract: A metal food can including a metal sidewall is provided. The diameter of the sidewall varies at different axial positions along the sidewall. The can includes a can end coupled to an end of the metal sidewall, and a plurality of circumferential beads formed in the metal sidewall. The shape of each circumferential bead varies based upon the diameter of the section of the sidewall in which the beads are formed.

Abstract: A metal food can including a metal sidewall is provided. The diameter of the sidewall varies at different axial positions along the sidewall. The can includes a can end coupled to an end of the metal sidewall, and a plurality of circumferential beads formed in the metal sidewall. The shape of each circumferential bead varies based upon the diameter of the section of the sidewall in which the beads are formed.

Abstract: A heat-insulated wound hose is formed by a process, in which a metal wound hose manufactured in the conventional manner is at first upset, such that turns, which are spaced apart by adjacent axial wall areas of individual turns, form at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. A ceramic-based coating is subsequently applied to the at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. The coating is then cured, and the wound hose thus formed is subsequently pulled apart, whereby adjacent axial wall areas of adjacent turns are detached from one another and thereby the coating is broken up at partitions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices for treating a target site within the body and associated methods for fabricating and delivering medical devices. According to one embodiment, a medical device includes a tubular structure having proximal and distal ends and a side wall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the side wall can have a corrugated surface. The side wall further includes at least one layer of a metallic fabric configured to be compressed and heat set to define the corrugated surface. The tubular structure may comprise an expanded shape, and may be configured to be constrained to a smaller diameter than the expanded shape for delivery within a catheter to a target site and to assume the expanded shape upon release from the catheter.

Abstract: Methods of forming a lined tubular member are described herein. A method includes forming at least one corrugated portion in a conduit having at least one substantially tapered end to form a corrugated conduit, providing the corrugated conduit to a tubular member; and expanding the corrugated conduit while the corrugated conduit is inside the tubular member.

Abstract: The present invention includes a bar having a maximum cross section region smaller than a minimum cross section region of a hollow portion of a pipe P, and projected portions mounted along an axial direction of the bar and including a projected portion with maximum extent Hb, extent Ha of the projected portion positioned at a leading end side of the bar is set to be smaller than extent Hb of the projected portion positioned at a center side in the axial direction, and extent Hc of the projected portion positioned at a base end side of the bar is set to be less than or equal to extent Hb of the projected portion.

Abstract: A method of forming a housing which includes roll forming a steel tube radially inwardly with a plurality of rollers each having a rolling axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rollers compressing the tube and forming reduced diameter portions and enlarged diameter portions. The method then includes cutting the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal axis generally midway through an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, forming a plurality of mirror image preforms. Finally, the method includes cold working the preforms into the desired shape of the housing and increasing the strength of the steel at least 15% and forming a housing member having enlarged diameter open end and a reduced diameter open end.

Abstract: A spring for use in downhole tools delivers a high force over a long deflection in a relatively uniform fashion. The spring is a tubular shape that is preferably metallic and is preferably plastically deformed into an undulating walled tube either before assembly into a downhole tool or downhole after assembly to the downhole tool. Alternatively the shape can be machined. Spacer rings are used inside and outside the tube as it is compressed to obtain the desired corrugated wall pattern and to prevent localized buckling that can cause wall failure. The spring can conduct pressurized fluids and be rotationally locked to transmit torque and to facilitate milling out. Some machining internally and/or externally can assist in forming the desired corrugated wall shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a tube for a telescopic device. The method includes the step of cutting a section from tubular raw material to provide a semi-product of the tube with a desired value of length, the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a first time to make cavities on an external side of the wall of the semi-product of the tube, and the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a second time to deepen the cavities so that the tube is made with a desired depth.

Abstract: A method of forming a housing which includes roll forming a steel tube radially inwardly with a plurality of rollers each having a rolling axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rollers compressing the tube and forming reduced diameter portions and enlarged diameter portions. The method then includes cutting the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal axis generally midway through an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced diameter portion, forming a plurality of minor image preforms. Finally, the method includes cold working the preforms into the desired shape of the housing and increasing the strength of the steel at least 15% and forming a housing member having enlarged diameter open end and a reduced diameter open end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a tube for a telescopic device. The method includes the step of cutting a section from tubular raw material to provide a semi-product of the tube with a desired value of length, the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a first time to make cavities on an external side of the wall of the semi-product of the tube, and the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a second time to deepen the cavities so that the tube is made with a desired depth.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a hollow rack shaft, and a hollow rack shaft, a tubular member (23) having a planar flat portion (22) that is formed in part of a tubular body portion (21) is sandwiched and held between a cope (25) and a drag (26) that has a tooth-shaped portion (29) substantially symmetrical with rack teeth (7) so that a surface (22a) of the flat portion (22) is in contact with the tooth-shaped portion (29). A back die (14) having a plurality of protrusions (15) is arranged so that the protrusions (15) face groove portions (29a) of the tooth-shaped portion (29) across the flat portion (22), and the back die (14) is pressed against the flat portion (22) to form the rack teeth (7) to thereby manufacture the rack shaft.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering rack for a vehicle rack and pinion steering system. The rack comprises gear teeth and a shank that has a constant outside diameter and constant wall thickness over the majority of its length. The method comprises performing a forging operation on a tubular member with an elongate member positioned in the bore of a thickened region of the tubular member. The forging operation forms the gear teeth on the thickened region, and the elongate member is retained within the tubular member. The tubular member is made by performing a forming operation on a length of tube stock such that the outside diameter of the thickened region is smaller than the outside diameter of the shank, and the wall thickness of the thickened region is larger than the wall thickness of the shank.

Abstract: A corrugated conduit and method of expanding to form a lined tubular member are described. In some embodiments, a corrugated conduit may be expandable. The corrugated conduit may be inserted into a tubular member and hydraulically or otherwise expanded against walls of the tubular member to strengthen and/or seal the tubular member when the corrugated conduit is expanded in the tubular member. In certain embodiments, the tubular member is a drill stem.

Abstract: A gripping surface is provided on an outer surface of a needle shield as incorporated into an intravenous catheter assembly. The gripping surface provides a gripping position nearer the catheter adapter, catheter and needle tip for improved balance and control of the catheter assembly during insertion of the catheter. Additionally, the gripping surfaces include a guard feature to prevent a user's unintended contact with various components of the catheter assembly whereby the contact may result in an undesirable “over the bevel” condition.

Abstract: A double-wall pipe includes an outer pipe, and an inner pipe disposed inside the outer pipe. An outer wall of the inner pipe has thereon a ridge portion, which defines a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe. The outer pipe and the inner pipe are bent to have a straight portion extending straightly, and a bend portion bent from the straight portion. In the straight portion, the outer pipe has an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of an imaginary cylinder defined by an outer surface of the ridge portion of the inner pipe. Furthermore, the ridge portion of the inner pipe contacts an inside surface of the outer pipe to be readially squeezed and held by the outer pipe, in the bend portion. The double-wall pipe can be suitably used for a refrigerant cycle device.

Abstract: A roll forming apparatus and a method thereof form a composite panel by simultaneously roll forming upper and lower plates with different thicknesses and a zigzag-shaped core panel, and welding them together. A bumper beam is manufactured by using the composite panel.

Abstract: A lined conduit formed by decorrugating a corrugated liner conduit inside a first conduit is described. A method and apparatus for forming the lined conduit are also described. The corrugated liner conduit may be positioned inside the first conduit. Each end portion of the corrugated liner conduit may be coupled to a hydraulic expander. Each hydraulic expander may include a hydraulic cylinder. Each hydraulic cylinder may include a piston rod with an opening along the length of the piston rod. The corrugated liner conduit may be evacuated through a valve assembly coupled to the passageway in one of the piston rods. The evacuated corrugated liner conduit may be pressurized with fluid from a fluid source coupled to the valve assembly. Pressurizing the corrugated liner conduit may expand corrugations in the corrugated liner conduit to form a decorrugated liner in the first conduit.

Abstract: Arrangements including pressing arrangements of dies are provided as well as processes for pressing a contour into tubular material. Handrails and docks having a handrail thereon are provided. Processes for disembarking/embarking between a floating vessel and a dock are provided.

Abstract: A crimping fixture for crimping a stent onto a balloon of a catheter is disclosed. The crimping fixture includes a flexible elastomeric body having a crimping lumen and one or more inflation lumens extending through the flexible elastomeric body. The flexible elastomeric body is elastically stretched such that a pre-crimped stent may be placed in the crimping lumen. The inflation lumens are then pressurized with a fluid to impart an inward crimping force onto the stent to crimp the stent to a balloon.

Abstract: A process for obscuring corrugations in a window well employing painting on a metal surface a solid variegated pattern using perspective to create a three-dimensional effect on the face. Preferably, such painting occurs prior to the forming of the window well. In a preferred continuous process, a roll of metal is cut prior to the forming into a piece having such dimensions as to permit the piece to be formed into a single window well. The preferred metal is steel. And the solid variegated pattern using perspective to create a three-dimensional effect on the face can be a pattern of brick, stone, or the like, with granite being the preferred pattern.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the invention provides a refining chamber for glass production, made of platinum group metal materials, with improved refining effectiveness. The refining chamber according has the shape of a tube with a cross section (1), with the cross section of the tube being shaped, in at least one segment, so that in the operating position the length (10) of a horizontal line (12) which divides the surface of the cross section into essentially a lower and an upper segment of the surface, both of which have essentially the same area, is greater than twice the maximum vertical extent (30) of the lower segment of the surface. The cross section of the refining chamber can, for example, have the shape of an oval, an ellipse, a slot, a rounded triangle or a polygon, and the stiffness of the shape of the refining chamber can be increased by forming radially peripheral creases, corners, waves or folds.

Abstract: A method for forming a smooth cylindrical inside wall of a tube is described. The tube is heated and a shaped arbor is inserted into the tube. The tube is forced against the arbor to shape the interior of the tube in general conformity to the arbor and the arbor is removed. The tube may be cut into several sections shaped to be useful as tapered roller bearing cups.

Abstract: A cylindrical pipe which is excellent in heat transfer characteristic and has no accumulation of liquid, wherein a flat-shaped portion (2) along the pipe axis (L) is formed inside the cylindrical pipe (1) formed in corrugated shape. As a method for manufacturing said pipe, the present invention provides a pipe manufacturing method, wherein a thin-wall blank cylindrical pipe (P) is fed in increments of a prescribed distance, while being rotated at a definite speed, a roller die (85) being pressed against the outer periphery of the cylindrical pipe, the roller die being advanced and retracted in accordance with the feed of the cylindrical pipe, for forming a spiral corrugation such that the groove depth thereof is gradually increased, starting from the flat portion of the cylindrical pipe, and reaches a maximum in the portion opposed to the flat one.

Abstract: A method for producing longitudinally welded helically corrugated metal tubing, wherein a metal strip pulled from a strip supply is formed into tubing with a longitudinal slit, the longitudinal slit is sealed by welding and the corrugation is produced by a corrugation tool that is supported eccentrically and at an angle to the tubing axis, is freely rotatable in a rotationally driven corrugator head, and rolls off the surface of the tubing. The metal strip as well as the uncorrugated metal tubing are advanced by a feed device that is provided between the welding point and the corrugation unit. A second feed device (8) engages the corrugated tubing (7) directly behind the corrugation unit (6), and the feed rate of the second feed device is slower than the forward feed rate of the corrugated tubing (7) which results from the pitch of the corrugator disk and the rotational speed of the corrugator head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming the free end of a length of metal foil wrap corrugated tubing, in which a free end of the tubing is first crimped against a mandrel, then folded to extend radially inwardly, then folded further to extend axially inwardly within the inside diameter of the tubing end, and then compacted axially to bring the corrugations into facing abutment with each other and tighten the formed end of the tubing against unwrapping of the metal foil. The crimping operation involves closure of a plurality of jaws around the free end of the tubing and deforming the tubing end against a tapering surface on an internal mandrel. The tubing is then gripped between jaws that form a radially indented channel in the periphery of the tubing, both to enhance the clamping action of the jaws and to isolate the formed end of the tubing from the remainder of the tubing.

Abstract: An improved proton exchange membrane fuel cell assembly and fuel cell stack assembly are provided for the economical and efficient production of electricity. The present invention comprises improved flow fields, which provide improved and more efficient mass transport of the reactants in the fuel cell and the fuel cell stack assembly. The improved flow fields comprise three-dimensional open-cell foamed metals that are preferably plated with gold. The improved reactant supply system comprises an improved distribution frame to house fuel cells wherein the reactants are directly connected to the improved flow fields.

Abstract: A method for producing a, in particular thin-walled, pipe conduit element with a surface structure reinforcing the pipe conduit element is proposed wherein the pipe conduit element continuously passes by at least one embossing element guided about the periphery of the jacket thereof and the surface structure is embossed onto the jacket of the pipe conduit element by the embossing element using pure mechanical pressure. For embossing the surface structure onto the pipe conduit element, an arrangement of preferably several embossing elements, in particular balls or rollers are used which are distributed about the periphery of the pipe conduit element jacket. The invention also concerns a device for producing a surface structured pipe conduit element using a guidance having embossing elements and which can be rotated about the periphery of the jacket of a pipe conduit element continuously supplied to the device.

Abstract: A machine and method for corrugating a metal foil strip utilizes an enclosure defining a chamber and a controllable heat source for heating the chamber. The chamber may optionally include at least one gas that is also heated by the heat source. At least one tool set received in the chamber forms corrugations in the metal foil strip. Foil entry feeder elements supply and guide the metal foil strip from outside the chamber into the chamber and to the tool set. A drive for the tool set is mounted outside the chamber and coupled to the tool set to actuate the tool set. Foil exit delivery elements guide the strip from the tool set and out of the chamber. Where required to prevent oxidation of the foil strip, a source supplying an inert gas to the chamber at a controlled rate is used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming annularly-corrugated tubes and cables utilizing a multiple gear corrugating head which is rotated about the tube or cable, to be corrugated as the tube or cable is drawn through the head. Two or more of the gears each have a different prime number of gear teeth which form the corrugation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for diametrically expanding a desired part of a metal shaft which can be a rod or a pipe, wherein the apparatus includes a driving rotary section (4) and a driven rotary section (6) arranged at a predetermined distance (D), each of the rotary sections (4) and (6) including a holder for holding a work, a pressing device (8) for pressing the work held by the holders along the length of the apparatus, and a biasing device (7) for declining the axis of the work, so that the work held by the holders at the distance (D) is rotated around its axis, and one of the holders is forced by the pressing device toward the other to carry out the diametral expansion, and then the work is bent back and straightened up.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing annularly corrugated metal tubes, particularly the outer conductor of coaxial high-frequency cables, using at least one pressure roller revolving around a plain tube. The corrugations are formed in the plain tube by the teeth of the pressure roller, which is rotatable about an axis at a 90° angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and the axis of rotation of the pressure roller, itself in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube, revolves around the plain tube being fed to the pressure roller as the corrugations are produced. The plain tube in turn rotates the pressure roller by its feed. The tips of the teeth are substantially flat, the tube is tightly guided in a guide bushing (12) in front of and behind the engagement with the pressure roller (13), and the number of teeth (Z) ranges between 7 and 11, preferably between 8 and 10.

Abstract: A method of making a folded metal bellows wherein an n-sided mandrel is positioned within a metal tube at an initial position. A convolution is formed by: axially moving and turning the mandrel with respect to and within the tube from the initial position to a second position. The mandrel is then fixed to the tube and driven towards the initial position while turning the mandrel (and the tube).

Abstract: In order to produce a metal bellows of a length of “Ls” for use in a heated atmosphere, the following steps take place. First, a blank of the bellows is prepared, which is a metal pipe having a plurality of bulges formed therearound. The blank has a length of “L” that is longer than the length “Ls”. Then, the blank is axially compressed by a length of “a”, so that the compressed blank has a length of “L−a” that is shorter than the length “Ls”. Then, the compressed blank is axially expanded so that the expanded blank has a length of “L−a+b” that is longer than the length “Ls”. Then, the force that has been applied to the blank is removed, and then the treated blank is left in room temperature until the time when the treated blank becomes to have the length of “Ls” due to the spring-back phenomenon.

Abstract: In order to produce a metal bellows of a length of “Ls” for use in a heated atmosphere, the following steps take place. First, a blank of the bellows is prepared, which is a metal pipe having a plurality of bulges formed therearound. The blank has a length of “L” that is longer than the length “Ls”. Then, the blank is axially compressed by a length of “a”, so that the compressed blank has a length of “L−a” that is shorter than the length “Ls”. Then, the compressed blank is axially expanded so that the expanded blank has a length of “L−a+b” that is longer than the length “Ls”. Then, the force that has been applied to the blank is removed, and then the treated blank is left in room temperature until the time when the treated blank becomes to have the length of “Ls” due to the spring-back phenomenon.