| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To permit the molding of a tubular body having a complicated configuration, by a method wherein a molding tool, consisting of a shape memory alloy into which the configuration of the tubular body itself in a bent condition is stored at the molding temperature of a flexible material and the configuration of the tubular body itself in a straight condition is stored at a normal temperature, is employed for the title molding. CONSTITUTION:A tubular body 2 in a straight condition, which is constituted of a flexible material such as synthetic rubber and the like, is fitted to a molding tool 1 at first at a normal temperature. Subsequently, the tubular body 2 is heated to a predetermined high-temperature condition, then, the molding tool 1 is deformed to a semi-S shape based on a configuration memory corresponding to the temperature of the molding tool 1. The tubular body 2 is vulcanized in this condition and the molding condition of the body 2 is stabilized in the shape of semi-S. When the temperature is reduced to a normal temperature by employing a cooling means or the like thereafter, the molding tool 1 is deformed gradually to the initially stored straight condition. When the molding tool 1 is returned to the straight condition substantially, the tubular body 2' is extracted from the molding tool 1, then, the tubular body 2' returns to the shape upon vulcanizing or the bent condition by the elastic restoring force of itself. |
