| 摘要 |
A method for manufacturing a curved tubular article wherein said tubular article is composed of a thermoplastic, thermosetting, elastomeric, or a hybrid construction of an elastomer and a thermoplastic or thermosetting material, the tubular article having a predetermined three-dimensional serpentine configuration wherein the article exhibits a circular cross-section uniformly throughout the length of the article, the method comprising: providing a formable thermoplastic tubular preform; securing the ends of the preform to respective coupling members such that the preform is longitudinally interposed between the coupling members which are tensionally mounted on opposite sides of a base such that elongational tension is capable of being placed on the preform; filling the hollow interior of the preform with a heated fluid, the fluid being at a pressure sufficient to support the preform; applying mechanical pressure to the exterior surface of the fluid-containing preform at one or more predetermined areas along the length of the fluid-containing preform such that the preform is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional serpentine configuration; replacing the heated fluid in the preform with a cooled fluid whereby the predetermined three-dimensional serpentine configuration of the preform is set; and removing the cooled fluid from the preform such that it is completely removed.
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