The invention described herein relates to a method by which a reservoir having desired end connection profiles may be made using shape memory characteristics of crosslinking to compressively seal the connection profiles into the reservoir.
대표청구항▼
1. A process for making a reservoir comprising the steps of: a) positioning a pliable hollow extrudate into a mold with a cavity at a first temperature, said extrudate having a profile in cross-section, said cavity having at least one cavity dimension which is larger than a corresponding dimension o
1. A process for making a reservoir comprising the steps of: a) positioning a pliable hollow extrudate into a mold with a cavity at a first temperature, said extrudate having a profile in cross-section, said cavity having at least one cavity dimension which is larger than a corresponding dimension of said extrudate profile;said extrudate having a first and second opening, each opening positioned at an end of said extrudate;b) inserting one end of a hollow first polymeric profile at a second temperature, said second temperature being less than said first temperature, into said first opening of said extrudate, said end of said first profile being dimensionally smaller than said first opening of said extrudate;c) inserting one end of a hollow second polymeric profile at a third temperature, said third temperature being less than said first temperature, into said second opening of said extrudate, said end of said second profile being dimensionally smaller than said second opening of said extrudate;d) affixing at least one source of pressurized gas to at least one non-inserted end of either said first or second profile;e) closing said mold and pressurizing said hollow extrudate by the application of pressure through said other non-inserted end having at least one source of pressurized gas affixed thereto so that said hollow extrudate expands to fill said at least one cavity dimension, to form at least one expanded section in said extrudate, andf) compressively sealing an exterior surface of said two inserted ends of said first and second hollow profiles with an interior surface of said ends of said extrudate using said latent heat within said extrudate at said first temperature and forming a reservoir, wherein said reservoir includes said first and second polymeric profiles. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said latent heat from said extrudate is sufficient to permit positioning of said hollow extrudate profile into said mold without the application of external heat. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the cavity is a serpentine cavity, and said serpentine cavity having at least two essentially parallel expanded middle sections and at least a pair of oppositely necked regions, each necked region interconnected by generally U-shaped bends. 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said extrudate and said first and second profiles are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic polyurethane. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein said extrudate and said first and second profiles are polyethylene. 6. The process of claim 1 which further comprises a step of crosslinking said extrudate. 7. The process of claim 6 wherein said step of crosslinking is effected by exposure to an electron beam. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said hollow extrudate is at least partially crosslinked before insertion of said first and second profiles. 9. A process for making a reservoir comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a pliable hollow cylindrical extrudate into a mold with a cavity at an elevated temperature, said extrudate having a profile in cross-section, said cavity having at least one cavity dimension which is larger than a corresponding dimension of said extrudate profile;said extrudate having a first and second opening, each opening positioned at an end of said extrudate;(b) affixing at least one source of pressurized gas to at least one of said first and second opening;(c) closing said mold and pressurizing said hollow extrudate by the application of pressure through said at least one end so that said hollow extrudate expands to fill said at least one cavity dimension forming at least one expanded section in said extrudate, and forming said first opening to a desired internal opening diameter;(d) releasing said pressure and removing said reservoir from said mold;(e) crosslinking at least a portion of said extrudate to set the internal opening diameter of said extrudate and shape memory characteristics in said first opening;(f) forcibly enlarging said first opening;(g) inserting an end of a first connection profile into said enlarged first opening of said extrudate, said end of said first connection profile being dimensionally greater than said desired internal opening diameter and smaller than said enlarged first opening diameter of said extrudate; and(h) applying an external or internal stimulus to said first opening to contract said opening compressively sealing an exterior surface of said first connection profile with an interior surface of said first end of said extrudate, thereby forming a reservoir, wherein said reservoir includes said connection profile. 10. The process of claim 9, wherein the step of closing said mold and pressurizing said hollow extrudate further comprises forming said second opening to a desired internal opening diameter, the process further comprising: forcibly enlarging said second opening;inserting one end of a second connection profile into said second opening of said extrudate, said end of said second connection profile being dimensionally greater than said desired internal opening diameter and smaller than said enlarged second opening diameter of said extrudate; andapplying an external or internal stimulus to said second opening to contract said opening compressively sealing an exterior surface of said second connection profile with an interior surface of said second end of said extrudate. 11. The process of claim 9 wherein said one end of the first connection profile comprises a hose barb. 12. The process of claim 9 wherein the step of forcibly enlarging said first opening is accomplished by forcibly inserting said end of the first connection profile into said opening. 13. The process of claim 10 wherein said one end of the second connection profile comprises a hose barb. 14. The process of claim 10 wherein the step of forcibly enlarging said second opening is accomplished by forcibly inserting said end of the second connection profile into said opening. 15. The process of claim 9 wherein the cavity is a serpentine cavity, and said serpentine cavity having at least two essentially parallel expanded middle sections and at least a pair of oppositely necked regions, each necked region interconnected by generally U-shaped bends. 16. The process of claim 9 wherein said extrudate and said first connection profile are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic polyurethane. 17. The process of claim 10 wherein said extrudate and said second connection profile are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic polyurethane. 18. The process of claim 9 wherein said step of crosslinking is effected by exposure to an electron beam. 19. The process of claim 9 wherein said first connection profile is at least partially crosslinked before insertion into said first opening. 20. The process of claim 10 wherein said second connection profile is at least partially crosslinked before insertion into said second opening.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Lee Chang B. (Suweon KRX), Cooling water storage tank of a refrigerator.
Hortin Gregory G. (Center Township ; Vanderburgh County) Fisher Michael H. (Princeton) Coleman Joseph L. (Evansville IN) Adams Scott D. (Evansville IN), Water reservoir for a refrigerator.
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