Patent ID: 8431855
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: A61M,B23K,F16J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a bellows made up of a stack of a predetermined number of ring-convolutions and having an intermediate plate supported within said stack, said method comprising the steps of: a) supplying a plurality of metal rings, each ring having a first outer diameter defining a first outer edge and a first inner diameter, defining a first inner edge; b) positioning a pair of said metal rings in contiguous relation to each other, c) welding said first inner edges of said pair of metal rings to each other to form a ring-convolution; d) repeating steps (a) through (c) until said predetermined number of ring-convolutions are made; e) supplying a support ring, said support ring having a second outer diameter that is equal to said first outer diameter of said metal rings and adapted to hold an intermediate plate; f) supplying said intermediate plate having a predetermined thickness and a third inside diameter that is less than said first inside diameter of said metal rings; g) welding said intermediate plate to said support ring; h) positioning said support ring between a pair of ring-convolutions in contiguous relation to each other; i) welding said second outer edge of said support ring to said first outer edges of said respective adjacent ring-convolutions to form a support plate convolution; j) positioning said ring-convolutions of (c) and said support plate convolution of step (i) in a prescribed stacked order in contiguous relation to each other; and k) welding all not-yet welded adjacent outside edges of said ring-convolutions and said support plate convolution to form said bellows.