Method to repair deformations in elastomeric hoses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616624-B1
Application number	US-201313946444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2013
Priority date	Jul 19, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A system to repair a hose made from deformable material includes an elongated container for holding a liquid heated sufficiently for softening the hose. A heater can be positioned in the container. A plurality of restraining members can be positioned to retain the hose immersed in the liquid within the container. A gas supply is used to pressurize the hose prior to immersion, and a support is provided for holding the hose before and after immersion. A method includes filling an elongated container with a heated liquid and pressurizing the hose with a gas. The pressurized hose is immersed in the liquid and maintained immersed by retaining members to soften the hose. The hose is removed from the liquid, depressurized and allowed to cool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for repairing deformations in a hose made from deformable material, comprising:
providing an elongated container for holding a liquid;
filling said container with said liquid;
heating said liquid to a predetermined temperature sufficient for softening said deformable material;
providing the hose with at least one air fitting;
introducing compressed gas into said hose by way of said at least one air fitting;
immersing at least a portion of the hose into said elongated container;
maintaining the hose immersed in said liquid in said elongated container by using restraining members engaging with an exterior of the hose for a time duration sufficient to soften the deformable material of the hose while the hose is filled with compressed air;
removing the hose portion from the elongated container; and
allowing the hose to cool before allowing pressurized gas within the hose to escape.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
allowing the hose to cool further after allowing pressurized gas within the hose to escape;
filling the hose with compressed gas a second time;
measuring a diameter of the hose at a plurality of locations; and
determining if the measured diameter at the plurality of locations is within a predetermined range of acceptable diameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing at least one cover for said container, said cover having restraining members mounted thereto; and
utilizing said cover and restraining members to urge the hose into said liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
placing at least one rolling structure parallel to said container;
positioning the hose on said at least one rolling structure prior to the step of immersing; and
positioning the hose on said at least one rolling structure after the step of removing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of heating said liquid comprises heating said liquid within said elongated container.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of heating said liquid further comprises heating said liquid before said step of filling.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of immersing is performed by positioning a plurality of restraining members in said elongated container on top of the hose, said restraining members having sufficient weight and density to immerse the pressurized hose in said liquid.

Assignees

• Blier Darren J
• Sansone Louis E
• Vartanian Michael A
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Blier Darren J
• Sansone Louis E
• Vartanian Michael A

Classifications

• B29C73/30 Primary

  for local pressing or local heating · CPC title

• B29C73/00 Primary

  Repairing of articles made from plastics or substances in a plastic state, e.g. of articles shaped or produced by using techniques covered by this subclass or subclass B29D ({linings for tyres acting locally B60C5/142;} retreading tyres B29D30/54; devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses F16L55/16) · CPC title

• F16L11/00

  Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes · CPC title

• B29C53/20

  of tubes · CPC title

• F16L55/18 Primary

  Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) · CPC title