Barbed metal insert overmolding using crosslinked polymers
View Patent ↗The invention described herein relates to method by which a leak-proof connection may be made to a refrigeration device using shape memory characteristics of crosslinking and overmolding to affect the leak-proof connection.
1. A process for securing a water conduit to another water conduit comprising the steps of:
overmolding a polymeric attachment means having a bore onto a tube at or adjacent one end of said tube;
crosslinking at least a portion of said tube and said attachment means setting a permanent internal diameter of said bore and shape memory characteristics in said portion;
inserting a shaft of a connector into said bore, an inside diameter of said bore being equal to or smaller than an outside diameter of said shaft; and
applying an external or internal stimulus to at least said portion to contract said bore about said shaft.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein
said external stimulus is a temperature in excess of a transition temperature (T trans ).
3. The process of claim 1 wherein
said internal stimulus is time.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein
said step of crosslinking said tube is between 20-98% crosslinking.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein
said step of crosslinking said tube is between 40-90% crosslinking.
6. The process of claim 3 wherein
said step of crosslinking said tube is between 65-89% crosslinking.
7. The process of claim 1 wherein
said shaft of said connector is metallic and further comprises raised retention means.
8. The process of claim 7 wherein
said shaft is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and brass; and
said retention means is selected from the group of laterally-extending ribs and raised barbs.
9. A process for securing a fitting into a polymeric profile comprising the steps of:
overmolding a polymeric attachment means having a bore onto a profile at or adjacent one end of said profile;
crosslinking at least a portion of said profile and said attachment means setting a permanent internal diameter of said bore and shape memory characteristics in said portion;
inserting a shaft of a connector into said bore, an inside diameter of said bore being equal to or smaller than an outside diameter of said shaft; and
applying an external or internal stimulus to at least said portion to contract said bore about said shaft.
10. The process of claim 9 wherein
said external stimulus is a temperature in excess of a transition temperature (T trans ).
11. The process of claim 9 wherein
said internal stimulus is time.
12. The process of claim 9 wherein
said step of crosslinking said profile is between 20-98% crosslinking.
13. The process of claim 12 wherein
said step of crosslinking said profile is between 40-90% crosslinking.
14. The process of claim 13 wherein
said step of crosslinking said profile is between 65-89% crosslinking.
15. The process of claim 9 wherein
said shaft of said connector is metallic and further comprises raised retention means.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein
said shaft is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and brass; and
said retention means is selected from the group of laterally-extending ribs and raised barbs.
17. The process of claim 9 wherein
said profile is a tube.