Patent ID: 6830076
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A method for forming a reinforced flexible duct assembly comprising the steps of:providing a duct member; determining a diameter of the duct member; selecting a reinforcement member and a reinforcement pitch based on the diameter of the duct member; and bonding the reinforcement member to an exterior surface of the duct member in a helix such that a pitch of the helix is equal to the reinforcement pitch, wherein the step of selecting the reinforcement member and the reinforcement pitch further includes the steps of: selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about 0.15 inch and setting the reinforcement pitch equal to about three-quarters (Â¾) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than seven and one-half (7Â½) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about one-eighth (&frac18;) inch and setting the reinforcement pitch equal to about three-quarters (Â¾) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than five and one-half (5Â½) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about 0.10 inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about seven-eighths (&frac78;) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than four (4) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about 0.10 inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about three-quarters (Â¾) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than about three and one-half (3Â½) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about three-thirty-seconds ({fraction (3/32)}) of an inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about three-quarters (Â¾) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than about two and one-half (2Â½) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about three-thirty-seconds ({fraction (3/32)}) of an inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about five-eighths (&frac58;) of an inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than about one and three-quarters (1Â¾) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about five-sixty-fourths ({fraction (5/64)}) of an inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about one-half (Â½) inch if the diameter of the duct member is greater than about one and one-quarter (1Â¼) inches; otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about one-sixteenth ({fraction (1/16)}) of an inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about seven-sixteenths ({fraction (7/16)}) if the diameter of the duct member is greater than about one (1) inch; and otherwise, selecting a reinforcing member having a diameter of about one-sixteenth ({fraction (1/16)}) of an inch and setting the reinforcing pitch equal to about three-eighths (&frac38;).