Fabrication of hoses or other elongated articles

Abstract

Armouring tape ( 102 ) for wrapping around a hose ( 300 ) during its fabrication by a hose-wrapping machine ( 200; 400 ). The tape ( 102 ) is coiled into a roll ( 100 ) having a hollow core ( 109 ) from which the tape ( 102 ) is unwound to be wrapped onto the hose ( 300 ). The hose-wrapping machine ( 200; 400 ) rotatably mounts the roll ( 100 ) with the hose ( 300 ) passing through the roll core ( 109 ), the roll axis ( 108 ) being skewed to the hose axis ( 304 ) by the helix angle at which the tape ( 102 ) is to be wrapped onto and along the hose ( 300 ). The hose ( 300 ) is moved longitudinally through the longitudinally static roll ( 100 ) and at the same time, the roll ( 100 ) is rotated around the longitudinal axis ( 304 ) of the non-rotating hose ( 300 ). The armouring tape ( 102 ) unwinds from the inside ( 109 ) of the roll onto and along the hose ( 300 ) so as to wrap the hose ( 300 ) with a uniform helix of armouring tape ( 102 ). The use of a tape ( 102 ) containing an elastomer-embedded array of armouring cables ( 104 ) enables armouring wires and elastomer layers to be applied without a stabilising layer of fabric, and greatly simplifies setting-up of machinery for hose fabrication. The use of a tape roll ( 100 ) which can be unwound from its inside ( 109 ) enables hoses to be wrapped without having to orbit rolls that are very large and heavy.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) for helically wrapping a tape ( 102 ) of hose-sheathing material ( 104 + 106 ) onto a hose ( 300 ), the hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) comprising roll-mounting means ( 414 + 416 + 418 ) for rotatably mounting a roll ( 100 ) of the tape ( 102 ) around the hose ( 300 ) with the hose ( 300 ) passing through a hollow core ( 109 ) of the roll ( 100 ) and for wrapping the tape ( 102 ) onto the hose ( 300 ), and relative movement means ( 420 + 422 ) for effecting relative rotation of the roll ( 100 ) and the hose ( 300 ) and simultaneously effective relative longitudinal translation the hose ( 300 ) and the roll ( 100 ) so as helically to wrap the tape ( 102 ) of hose-sheathing material ( 104 + 106 ) onto and along the hose ( 300 ).  
   
   
       12 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ,  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the roll-mounting means ( 414 + 416 + 418 ) mounts the roll ( 100 ) such that the axis ( 108 ) of the roll ( 100 ) is skewed relative to the longitudinal axis ( 304 ) of the hose ( 300 ) by substantially the helix angle with which the hose-sheathing tape ( 102 ) is intended to be wrapped on the hose ( 300 ).  
   
   
       13 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the roll-mounting means ( 414 + 416 + 418 ) rotatably mounts the roll ( 100 ) for rotation about the longitudinal axis ( 304 ) of the hose ( 300 ).  
   
   
       14 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the roll-mounting means ( 414 + 416 + 418 ) rotatably mounts the roll ( 100 ) for rotation about its own axis ( 108 ).  
   
   
       15 . A hose wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the roll ( 100 ) is mounted for simultaneous rotation both about the axis ( 108 ) of the roll ( 100 ) and about the longitudinal axis ( 304 ) of the hose ( 300 ) being wrapped.  
   
   
       16 . A hose wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the roll-mounting means ( 414 + 416 + 418 ) rotatably mounts the roll ( 100 ) whilst simultaneously maintaining the hose ( 300 ) non-rotational about its longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       17 . A hose wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the hose ( 300 ) rotates about its longitudinal axis ( 304 ) whilst the roll ( 100 ) is simultaneously maintained non-rotational.  
   
   
       18 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the relative movement means is such that during operation of the hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ), the hose ( 300 ) moves longitudinally while the roll ( 100 ) of hose-sheathing tape ( 102 ) remains longitudinally static.  
   
   
       19 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the relative movement means is such that during operation of the hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ), the roll ( 100 ) of hose-sheathing tape ( 102 ) moves longitudinally while the hose ( 300 ) remains longitudinally static.  
   
   
       20 . A hose-wrapping machine ( 200 ;  400 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the tape ( 102 ) of hose-sheathing material ( 104 + 106 ) comprises an array of mutually parallel armouring wires or cables ( 104 ) extending along the length of the tape ( 102 ), the array of armouring wires or cables ( 104 ) being embedded in an elastomer ( 106 ).