|
PatentVote.com: Vote on your favourite invention!
|
|
 |
Title: Sealing device for hot fluid curing units
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. Sealing device for hot fluid curing units used to cure elongated elements as tubes, structural shapes and the like, which comprises at the inlet and outlet opening of the curing unit at least two coaxial tubular bodies, one of said tubular bodies being secured to any opening of the curing unit and the other tubular body being tightly slidable in the first with an alternative telescopic movement, each of said tubular bodies being provided with an element for tightly locking the elongated element to be cured, whereby the passage of said elongated element in the curing unit takes place without rubbing against part of said curing unit. 2. A sealing device as in claim 1, wherein the means for tightly connecting the pair of tubular bodies with the curing unit are means which allow a tight relative sliding of said tubular bodies and in that means are provided for moving the two tubular bodies independently of each other with respect to the curing unit. 3. A sealing device as in claim 1, wherein the removable clamping means incorporated in each tubular body are pneumatic and comprise a rigid sleeve with associated means for tightly connecting it to the inner wall of the tubular body, a duct passing through the thickness of the rigid sleeve and opening at the outside of the tubular body, a flexible sleeve which can be radially enlarged and is longitudinally inextensible, permanently inserted inside the rigid sleeve and connected to the latter in order to create a hollow space between said two sleeves, and means for supplying through a duct a fluid under pressure in said hollow space and for discharging it therefrom. 4. A sealing device as in claim 3, wherein the means for tightly connecting the rigid sleeve to the inner wall of the tubular body consist of an annular member which embraces the rigid sleeve and constitutes a single piece with it, whilst the outer contour of said annular member is rigidly connected to the tubular body, and in that the radially enlargeable and longitudinally inextensible sleeve consists of a portion of tube of elastomeric material, in whose wall are incorporated longitudinal inextensible threads, said portion of tube having its ends turned up about the outer tubular surface of the rigid sleeve and secured to it. 5. A sealing device as in claim 1, wherein the means for moving and guiding each tubular body with respect to the curing unit comprise a carriage to which the tubular body is fast, guiding rails for the motion of the carriage, a clamp with actuation means, secured to the carriage, a motor-operated chain to which the clamp is engaged or disengaged, and an appendix fast with the carriage, which acts on the switches of an electric circuit controlling the operation of the device. 6. In an apparatus for curing an elongated elastomeric article, said apparatus having a container for hot fluid and an inlet opening and an outlet opening for passage of said elongated article through the container, means for sealing each of said openings comprising a first tubular member, a second tubular member coaxial with the first and connected at one end in a fluid tight seal to one of said openings and telescopically slidably disposed in a first end of the first tubular member, means for forming a fluid tight seal between the overlapping parts of the first and second tubular members, a means for slidably supporting the elongated article in the first tubular member comprising a rigid sleeve coaxially disposed in the first tubular member and having a bore which is of greater cross-section at one point spaced longitudinally from each end thereof than at either end, conduit means for introducing fluid under pressure into the bore at the point of greater cross-section, a flexible sleeve disposed within the bore of the rigid sleeve and forming a fluid tight liner for the bore of the rigid sleeve and over said conduit means, said liner having a cross-section which adapts it to contract under fluid pressure in the conduit means about an elongated article extending therethrough, a rigid tubular member coaxial with the first tubular member and attached to a second end of said first tubular member in a fluid tight seal, a third tubular member having an exit end for the elongated article and an opposite end telescopically slidably disposed about an end of said first tubular member, said third tubular member being coaxial with said first tubular member, means for sealing the overlapping portions of said first and third tubular members, a means for slidably supporting an elongated article in the third tubular member comprising a rigid sleeve coaxially disposed in the first tubular element and having a bore which is of greater cross-section at a point spaced longitudinally from each end thereof than at either end, conduit means for introducing fluid under pressure into the bore at the point of greater cross-section, a flexible sleeve disposed within the bore of the rigid sleeve and forming a fluid tight liner for the bore of the rigid sleeve and over said conduit means, said liner having a cross-section which adapts it to contract under fluid pressure in the conduit means about an elongated article therein, means for supporting said first tubular member and for moving it longitudinally to and from the second tubular member, and means for supporting the third tubular member and for moving it longitudinally to and from the first tubular member. Other info: Inventors: Previati, Augusto (Milan, IT) Application Number: 435492 Filing Date: 1974-01-22 Publication_date: 1976-07-06 Assignee: Industrie Pirelli S.p.A. (Milan, IT) Primary Class(es): 226/115 226/150, 226/162 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Schacher, Richard A. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher |
|