Patent ID: 6337044
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: B22C,B22D,B29C

Abstract:
A molding process for manufacturing a molded article, comprising the steps of:preparing a mold having a mold cavity that has a shape conforming to that of the molded article, and a positioning groove disposed externally of and in communication with said mold cavity; preparing a flexible and reusable tube and a flexible supporting wire; placing said tube in said mold cavity and positioning one end of said tube in said positioning groove; inserting said wire into said tube in said mold cavity in a manner that said wire extends into said tube along the length of said tube and is isolated from said mold cavity by said tube; closing said mold and introducing a molding raw material into said mold cavity around said tube to form a molded part that encloses a portion of said tube; removing said molded part together with said tube from said mold cavity; withdrawing said supporting wire from said tube in said molded part; and withdrawing said tube from said molded part to form a channel in said molded part without disintegrating said tube.