Granted Patent B2

US 7,060,151 · App. 10/401,218 · Granted Jun 13, 2006

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A method of manufacturing a hose comprising the steps of:

extruding a tube assembly comprising (i) a first inner non-foamed layer, (ii) a first outer non-foamed layer positioned around said first inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a first foamed layer interposed between said first inner non-foamed layer and said first outer non-foamed layer;

positioning a textile reinforcement on said tube assembly; and

extruding a cover assembly over said textile reinforcement, said cover assembly comprising (i) a second inner non-foamed layer, (ii) a second outer non-foamed layer positioned around said second inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a second foamed layer interposed between said second inner non-foamed layer and said second outer non-foamed layer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said textile reinforcement defines a number of interstices; and

said cover assembly extruding step includes the step of advancing said second inner non-foamed layer into contact with said first outer non-foamed layer through said number of interstices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

each layer of said tube assembly comprises PVC; and

each layer of said cover assembly comprises PVC.

4. A method of manufacturing a hose comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a tube assembly including simultaneously creating in a first extrusion machine (i) a first inner non-foamed layer, (ii) a first outer non-foamed layer positioned around said first inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a first foamed layer interposed between said first inner non-foamed layer and said first outer non-foamed layer;

(b) positioning a textile reinforcement on said tube assembly; and

(c) forming a cover assembly including simultaneously creating in a second extrusion machine (i) a second inner non-foamed layer around said textile reinforcement, (ii) a second outer non-foamed layer positioned around said second inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a second foamed layer interposed between said second inner non-foamed layer and said second outer non-foamed layer.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:

said textile reinforcement defines a number of interstices; and

step (c) includes the step of advancing said second inner non-foamed layer into contact with said first outer non-foamed layer said through said number of interstices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

each layer of said tube assembly comprises PVC; and

each layer of said cover assembly comprises PVC.

7. A method of manufacturing a hose comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a tube assembly including simultaneously creating in an extrusion machine (i) a first inner non-foamed layer, (ii) a first outer non-foamed layer positioned around said first inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a first foamed layer interposed between said first inner non-foamed layer and said first outer non-foamed layer;

(b) positioning a textile reinforcement on said tube assembly; and

(c) forming a cover assembly including simultaneously creating in said extrusion machine (i) a second inner non-foamed layer over said textile reinforcement, (ii) a second outer non-foamed layer positioned around said second inner non-foamed layer, and (iii) a second foamed layer interposed between said second inner non-foamed layer and said second outer non-foamed layer.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

said textile reinforcement defines a number of interstices; and

step (c) includes the step of advancing said second inner non-foamed layer into contact with said first outer non-foamed layer through said number of interstices.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

each layer of said tube assembly comprises PVC; and

each layer of said cover assembly comprises PVC.

Assignments (8)