Exhaust connection member with braided cover and method of making the same
View Patent ↗An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.
1. A method of manufacturing an intertwined cover member for use in an exhaust system coupler, said method comprising the steps of:
intertwining a plurality of wire filaments to form a sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a body positioned between the first end and the second end,
positioning the sleeve on a male forming die,
inserting the male forming die and the sleeve into a female forming die, and
compressing the sleeve between the male forming die and the female forming die to form a circumferential neck portion and a shoulder of the cover member from the first end of the sleeve, the shoulder being generally perpendicular to the body of the sleeve.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the male forming die includes a body with a first cross-sectional area and a neck with a second cross-sectional area less than said first cross-sectional area.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the female forming die has a first cavity shaped for receiving at least a portion of said male forming die body and a second cavity shaped for receiving at least a portion of male forming die neck.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the male forming die and the female forming die are joined together in a press with a portion of said sleeve being captured therebetween.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wire filaments are braided onto a mandrel to form said sleeve.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing the sleeve between the male forming die and the female forming die further includes forming a second circumferential neck portion and a second shoulder of the cover member from the second end of the sleeve, the second shoulder being generally perpendicular to the body of the sleeve.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing the sleeve between the male forming die and the female forming die includes operating a press to apply force to the female forming die.