Stretch hose and hose production method

摘要

An extruded bead of thermoplastics material and an extruded tape-like web of thermoplastics material are wrapped in a coordinated manner around a rotating mandrel to continuously form a corrugated, helically reinforced, uniquely constructed “stretch hose” having a thread-like exterior appearance dominated by the web extending in an inclined spiral as it bridges from an outer diameter of each reinforcing coil to an inner diameter of the next-formed reinforcing coil. When the hose is axially compressed, the thin web-defined wall that connects each adjacent pair of reinforcing coils advantageously has one portion that bends or folds radially outwardly, and another portion that bends or folds radially inwardly. Discrete lengths of the hose are treated to minimize stress, to reset memory, and to greatly enhance hose flexibility.

主权项

1. A extensible and retractable, helically reinforced hose, comprising:
a) a continuous axially extending helix of extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length forming axially spaced reinforcing coils of the hose; b) a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section continuously bridging between and continuously connected to an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils forming a continuous, helically extending sidewall of the hose; and, c) with the web having opposed, substantially equally spaced edge regions, one of which is bonded continuously to an outer diameter region of one of the adjacent reinforcing coils, and the other of which is bonded continuously to an inner diameter region of the adjacent reinforcing coil.