Braided sleeve, tubular article and method of manufacturing the tubular article
US6148865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD10B2505/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sleeve, a method of manufacturing a rigid, tubular article manufactured from the sleeve and an article made according to the method. The sleeve has elastic crisscrossing first and second filaments which enable the sleeve to be expandable in a radial direction and longitudinally extending filaments of a reinforcing non-elastic material such as carbon, kevlar or fiberglass to reinforce the sleeve. The sleeve is placed over a mandrel having alternating larger and small cross-sections. The sleeve is subjected to heat and pressure causing the individual filaments to fuse together forming a tubular part. Upon having cooled, the article is removed and a rigid tubular article, for example, a rifle scope tube is thereby formed. In an alternative embodiment, a sleeve is provided which in its relaxed state is contracted longitudinally and expanded radially. The sleeve is slipped into a pipe joint, for example, when in its stretched state and is then released. The sleeve is heated to fuse the sleeve and thereby reinforce the joint.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.