Patent GB-754526-A (GB)
Title: Improved method and apparatus for the manufacture of tubes from thermoplastic material
IPC: B29C53/50
Filed: 1954-11-29
Abstract: 754,526. Moulding thermoplastic tubes. AKTIEBOLAGET TUDOR. Nov. 29, 1954 [Sept. 4, 1954; Oct. 29, 1954], No. 34577/54. Class 87(2) A tape or strip 4 of thermoplastic material, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, is wrapped round a mandrel and its longitudinal edges joined to form a tube, the tape having been preformed in a die 8 so that it bends round the mandrel due to its inherent elasticity. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 a glass wool sleeve 24 is interposed between the tape and the mandrel and forms a lining to the tube. The mandrel, the ends of which are indicated by 13a, 13b, is bent at right angles at the end 13a where it is retained between pulleys 14, 15 rotating in opposite directions (the pulley 14 may be dispensed with). The glass wool sleeve, drawn from the supply reel 3, is guided on to the end 13a of the mandrel and the preformed tape 4a is bent over a pulley 27 situated close to the mandrel so that the tube is split open and flattened out. On its way to the die 8 the tape 4, which may be perforated, is passed through hot water or other liquid in a container 6 and is then guided into the die by a mandrel 9. The die is surrounded by an outer tube 10 and into the space between the die and outer tube compressed air is blown to form a cooling jacket. An enlarged cylinder 12 is attached to the cooling tube 10 and, admitting the compressed air through the nipple 11, forms a drying cylinder in which the formed tube 4a is subjected to the air stream. After being spread out over the pulley 27 the tube tends to close again, due to the elasticity of the material, and encloses the mandrel and the glass wool sleeve thereon. The main part of the mandrel is positioned between two cheeks 16, 17 each having a semi-cylindrical groove in the surface facing the-other cheek. Endless belts 18, 19, driven by pulleys 20-23, run in the grooves and draw the tube and sleeve over the mandrel between the cheeks, which are kept pressed against the composite tube by spring means, not shown,' and are heated electrically or by other means. The width of the tape is such that its edges overlap, and at 4b a solvent for the plastic material, e.g. cyclohexanon, cyclohexanol or xylol, is spread on the edges of the tape,.. e.g...by wicks (not shown). When the :composite tube passes between the cheeks 16, 17 the solvent-evaporates quickly and at the same time pressure is applied so that the edges of the tape are joined. The die 8, container 6 and other auxiliaries may be duplicated to preform two semi-circular plastic tapes which are applied to opposite sides of the glass wool sleeve and their edges stuck on passing between the cheeks, as for the single tube. In a modification there may be a container common to two dies, or one die with two orifices. The edges of the tapes may be folded outwards so as to form longitudinal flanges which are pressed against each other and joined, the cheeks then having a cross-section as in Fig. 5. There may be a combination of flanged and overlapping joints, in which case three cheeks, may be necessary, two to apply pressure on the flanged joint and the third to apply pressure on the overlapping joint. In another modification the preformed tape may be spit .open over the pulley 15 and the pulley 27 omitted. The tape may preformed in a separate operation and stored on a reel,. from which it is wound off as required and tends to fold into a tube. The tube may be formed from more than two tapes. The machine can be combined with a device for cutting the tube into lengths and a pasting device for spraying paste for binding the glass wool sleeve to the outer plastic tube. Tubes made according to the invention are used as covers for electrode rods in electric accumulators.