HELICALLY WOUND FLUID-FLOW HOSE

摘要

A fluid supply hose having one or more support ribs, such as a helical support rib that forms a coil and/or individual support rings, of a relatively stiff thermoplastic material, and a thin web or wall of thermoplastic material that extends between the inside, outside or both of the ribs. The hose is exposed to an annealing process comprising: bringing the hose to a fully compressed position where the ribs are brought close together; heating the hose; while the hose is hot, extending the hose axially to a partially extended position where the distance between adjacent winds of the rib or rings of the hose when the hose is in the partially extended position is between about 20%-95% of the distance between adjacent winds of rib 20 or rings 40 of the hose when the hose is in the fully extended position; and allowing the hose to cool in the partially extended position.

主权项

1. A flexible, stretchable, axially compressible fluid-carrying hose, the hose including one or more relatively rigid thermoplastic support ribs disposed about a periphery of the hose, the hose also including a thermoplastic web extending between and connected in abutting relation to adjacent winds of the one or more support ribs, the annealing process comprising:
bringing the hose to a fully compressed position such that the winds of the rib are brought close together; heating the hose; while the hose is hot, extending the hose axially to a partially extended position; allowing the hose to cool in the partially extended position; wherein the distance between adjacent winds of the rib when the hose is in the partially extended position is between about 20%-95% of the distance between adjacent winds of the rib when the hose is in a fully extended position.