Abstract:
An apparatus and method for forming one or more grooves in a hose is disclosed. The groove forming device is comprised of a circular guide tube through which the hose is driven. The guide tube is rotated by a drive. The groove forming device is mounted at the exit end of the guide tube are rotated about the hose as the grooves are formed in the hose cover. The grooves of the hose are formed by at least one roller mounted on a chuck.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosed invention is directed toward a hose and hose manufacturing. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Textured hoses are known in the art, with a variety of methods to accomplish such hoses. A pattern may be generated on the outer surface of the hose due to an underlying reinforcement layer, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,792. Alternatively, by corrugated the hose material and applying a fabric layer as the outermost layer, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,754 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,967. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 1,749,207 discloses applying a spiny projection material on tubular articles to create a textured article. 
         [0003]    However, the texture on the hoses generally does not allow water or other chemicals to drain out from under the hose. Consequently, water or chemicals tend to pool, as the hose acts as a dam or barrier. Thus it is desired to have a hose that has an external configuration which allows the fluids to pass under the hose, so that the hose does not act as a dam. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an overview of the hose cover application manufacturing process; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the hose cover groove apparatus; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional side view of the hose cover groove apparatus; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the hose cover groove apparatus shown during the cutting operation; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the groove cutter mechanism; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a cross-sectional view and perspective view of one embodiment of a helical grooved hose; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a cross-sectional view and perspective view of a second embodiment of a helical grooved hose and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a cross-sectional view and perspective view of a third embodiment of a helical grooved hose. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an overview of the hose cover grooving process. The uncovered hose  1 , conventionally referred to as a hose carcass, is fed into a cover extruder A in the direction indicated by the arrow. The hose carcass  1  may be of any configuration depending upon the hose specification required. The cover extruder A applies an elastomeric or thermoplastic cover onto the hose carcass  1 . After extrusion, the covered hose  2  may be fed through a target system B. The target system B determines the outside diameter (OD) of the hose  2 , and automatically adjusts the thickness of the extruded cover to obtain the desired hose OD. If a target system B is not employed, a guide system may be positioned between the extruder A and the groove cutting device  10  to ensure that the centerline of the hose  2  is lined up with the centerline of the groove cutting device  10 . The covered hose  2  is then fed into the groove cutting device  10 . A conventional soft belt hose puller D for pulling the hose  1 ,  2 ,  3  through the cover application system may also be a part of the manufacturing process. The covered, grooved hose  3  is then fed into further processes such as labeling, cooling, or curing; the further processes, and the order in which they are accomplished, are dependent upon whether a rubber or plastic hose is being manufactured, and the usual order of manufacturing employed by the hose manufacturer. 
         [0014]    The grooved cutting device  10  is divided into two portions, the right hand portion, relative to the hose direction illustrated, is the drive base  12 , and the left hand portion is the chuck  14  with attached groove forming apparatus  16 . The groove forming apparatus  16  includes a roller  18  mounted on a chuck jaw  21 . The drive base  12  of the groove cutting device  10  is driven by a connected motor E, causing the guide tube  20  and chuck  14  to rotate as the hose  2  travels through the device  10 . As the hose  2  is moving through the rotating grooved cutting device  10 , the friction between the rollers  18  and the hose  2  act to rotate the rollers  18 , each roller cutting a helical groove into the hose  2  with the desired angle and spacing. The drive base  12  is enclosed inside a bearing housing frame  22  for mounting the groove cutting device  10  within the manufacturing line. 
         [0015]    The groove cutting device  10  may be sized to accommodate an unlimited diameter range. The maximum hose size is determined by the guide tube  20 . The guide tube  20 , extends the full width of the groove cutting device  10 , connecting the drive base  12  and the chuck  14 . The guide tube  20  has a constant internal diameter D I . A constant internal diameter enables simpler manufacturing of the guide tube, however, the tube is not limited to a constant internal diameter D I , but may vary the length of the tube  8 . The external diameter D O  of the guide tube is selected base upon the bored internal diameters of the differing components of the texturing device, discussed below. If a variable external diameter D O  is selected, the transition may occur at the extending ring plate  10  as illustrated. Alternatively, the outside diameter D O  may be substantially identical on both sides of the ring plate  17 . The extending ring plate  17  secures the chuck  14  to the guide tube  20 . 
         [0016]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3  is the groove cutting device  10 . The drive base  12  employs an outer locking ring  30 , two self-aligning bearings  32 , and a gear belt pulley  36 . The locking ring  30 , bearings  32 , and pulley  36  are aligned about the guide tube  20 . A belting  38  (see  FIG. 1 ) wraps about the gear belt pulley  36  and the motor E. As the belting  38  is driven by the motor E, the drive base  12  rotates the guide tube  20 , rotating with it the chuck  14 . The device C may be driven by other conventional systems such as chain drive system instead of the illustrated belting drive system. 
         [0017]    Adjacent to the drive base  12  is the chuck  14 . The chuck  14  is mounted on the extending ring plate  17  of the guide tube  20 . The chuck  14  employs a gear (not shown) which operates to adjust and vary the locations of the chuck jaws  21 , moving the chuck jaws  21 , see  FIG. 1  and further discussion below, radially inward and outward with respect to the centerline of the guide tube  20 . Movement of the chuck jaws  21  is accomplished by the use of a chuck jaw wrench (not shown) inserted into a turning key  23 . Turning keys  23  are located at opposing points on the outside of the chuck  14 . Rotation of the turnkey  23  by means of the wrench rotates the internal gear to feed the chuck jaws  21  in and out by means of the gear. The chuck jaws  21  are inserted into the chuck jaw housings  34 , with the first groove  36  resting adjacent the gear. As the gear is rotated, the chuck jaw  21  is threaded onto the chuck  14  by means of the chuck jaw teeth  38 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates the front view of the groove cutting device  10 . Mounted on the chuck  14  is a set of chuck jaws  21  in the manner described above. For applying the desired grooves to the hose  2 , a groove forming apparatus  16  is mounted onto each chuck jaw  21 . Each groove forming apparatus  16  has a roller  18 . The roller  18  may be optionally spring loaded via compression spring  43 . The chuck jaws  21  are mounted at equal intervals about the chuck  14 . The axis of rotation of the roller  18  is about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube  20  and the hose  2  traveling through the groove cutting device  10 . As described above, the chuck jaws  21  are moved in and out, relative to the centerline of the guide tube  20 , by means of the internal gear. Varying the distance of the chuck jaws  21  permit the device to accommodate a range of hose diameters. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the rollers  18 . The roller  18  is mounted at one end of the chuck jaw  21 . The underside of the chuck jaw  21  is provided with a series of teeth  38  for mounting the chuck jaw  21  onto the chuck  14 . The roller  18  is rotatably mounted on the chuck jaw permitting the roller  18  to freely rotate on the chuck jaw  21  as the chuck  14  rotates about the hose  2  being fed through the groove cutting device  10 . When in operation, the hose  2  is subject to a double rotation, the first rotation of the guide tube  20  and attached chuck  14 , and the rotation of each individual roller  18 , creating a complete helical groove  40  on the hose  2 . The angle of the helix may vary depending upon the speed of the machine. The faster the machine, the deeper the depth of the groove and the higher the angle. The angle of the helix may vary, but it is preferably in the range of about 20 to about 45 degrees. The depth of the groove may vary, but it is preferably in the range of about 0.015 to about 0.05 inches. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 6-11  illustrate three embodiments of the resulting grooved hose  50 ,  60  and  70 . The hose  3  is a multi-layered laminate with an outermost cover layer that has grooves formed therein. The angle of the groove helix, the depth of the grooves varies depending on the speed of the machine. 
         [0021]    Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention.