Production method for a semi-rigid conduit for conveying a gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conduits for gas conveyance in air conditioning assemblies have internal walls shaped like truncated cones due to adhesive gluing, allowing airflow in one direction only and suffering from adhesive crystallization, which limits flexibility and increases load losses.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a three- or four-layer ribbon of thermoplastic and insulating materials, with optional elastic wire, wound helically and heat-sealed using hot air to create a continuous inner wall, allowing bidirectional airflow and enhanced flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive products are used to constrain adjacent portions of ribbon, then the conduit is formed with a tubular structure, but the internal wall becomes shaped like truncated cones creating steps that cause load losses and limit airflow direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive layer from the conduit structure, extracting the harmful element that causes stepped internal walls. Instead of using adhesive to join ribbon portions, the invention uses heat sealing of thermoplastic materials to create a smooth continuous internal surface, eliminating the truncated cone shapes that cause energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical adhesive bonding system with a thermal sealing system. By using heat to seal thermoplastic ribbon portions together, the invention achieves structural integrity without the mechanical adhesive layers that create problematic internal geometry, thus eliminating load losses while maintaining strength.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adhesive products are used to join ribbon portions, then the conduit maintains structural form, but the adhesives crystallize and limit conduit flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from adhesive-based bonding to thermoplastic-based sealing. By selecting thermoplastic materials with appropriate melting and sealing characteristics, the invention achieves both structural stability and flexibility, as the thermoplastic seals can deform with the conduit without crystallizing like adhesives.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a microwave sealing machine is used to seal ribbons, then the conduit can be produced without adhesive, but the machine is expensive, complex and difficult to set
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive hot air sealing apparatus instead of complex microwave sealing equipment. The hot air sealing method uses readily available components and straightforward operation, making the sealing device simple, economical, and easy to set up while still achieving effective adhesive-free sealing of the thermoplastic ribbon portions.
4Shape
If the conduit is made with adhesive gluing, then the internal wall maintains a fixed conformed shape, but the conduit cannot convey airflow in opposite directions without excessive load losses
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the adhesive layer that creates fixed truncated cone shapes, the invention enables the internal wall to maintain a smooth continuous conformation that allows airflow in both directions without the directional restrictions imposed by adhesive-based stepped structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables conduits to convey gas in both directions without load losses, maintains flexibility, and can be compressed for storage, while being structurally reinforced and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
heating the ribbon so as to heat seal the superposed portions of the ribbon
Implementation Method 2
heating the ribbon through a flow of hot air
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is described for producing a conduit (1), being semi-rigid, for conveying a gas, and the thus realized conduit (1), being semi-rigid, is also described, the method comprising the steps of: - arranging a mandrel, a first tape (20) made of thermoplastic material, a second tape (25) made of thermoplastic material and a third tape (30) made of insulating material, - forming a ribbon, comprising three layers and continuous, by superposing the second tape (25) with the first tape (20) and interposing the third tape (30) between the two, - winding the ribbon in a helical fashion onto the mandrel partially superposing the portions (40, 45), adjacent to one another, of the ribbon itself, so as to realize a tubular body wherein the first tape (20) faces towards the inside of the tubular body itself, - heating the ribbon so as to heat seal the portions that are superposed of the ribbon.