EP2899439A1 - Flexible hose - Google Patents
Flexible hose Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2899439A1 EP2899439A1 EP13852368.3A EP13852368A EP2899439A1 EP 2899439 A1 EP2899439 A1 EP 2899439A1 EP 13852368 A EP13852368 A EP 13852368A EP 2899439 A1 EP2899439 A1 EP 2899439A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- main body
- flexible hose
- hose
- flexible
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/24—Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings
- A47L9/248—Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a flexible hose made of synthetic resin with excellent flexibility.
- the present invention relates to a flexible hose with a tube joined and integrated with the inside of the hose along the length direction of the hose.
- a tube-incorporated flexible hose with a tube joined and integrated with the inside of the hose is used, for example, as a vacuum cleaner hose.
- the tube disposed on the inside of the hose is used for purposes such as sending cleaning liquid or reflux air, or passing wires (lead wires) through the tube. If the tube is not fixed within the hose, the tube may move around inside the hose, thus wearing or damaging the hose. Thus, the tube is in many cases joined and integrated with the inner surface of the hose with an adhesive material and the like.
- the elasticity and/or flexibility of the hose tends to readily deteriorate due to the influence of the adhesive material.
- the tube is joined and integrated with the hose without adversely affecting the flexibility of the hose as much as possible.
- Patent Literature 1 discloses a tube-incorporated flexible hose in which a flexible tube is adhered and integrated within a bellows-like flexible hose.
- this tube-incorporated flexible hose grooves and protrusions are formed on an inner wall portion of the hose along the bellows shape as viewed from the hose inside.
- the tube is adhered and integrated with the inner wall portion of the hose at the protrusions.
- Patent Literature 1 discloses that such flexible hose can prevent inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the flexible hose where the tube is adhered.
- Patent Document 1 JP-A-2009-024750
- an object of the present invention is to suppress the inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of a tube-incorporated flexible hose at the location where the tube inserted in the hose is adhered.
- a flexible hose of the present invention includes: a flexible hose main body including a hose wall formed by spirally winding and integrating a flexible strip of a synthetic resin; and a flexible tube joined and integrated with an inner surface of the flexible hose main body along a length direction of the hose by an adhesive material, wherein: of the inner surface of the flexible hose main body, an inner peripheral part that is positioned at an inner-most periphery portion of the hose includes two alternately spirally disposed spiral regions; the two spiral regions respectively include surfaces with different adhesive properties with respect to the adhesive material; the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other in one of the spiral regions; and the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other in the other of the spiral regions (first invention).
- the adhesive material is preferably a thermoplastic adhesive material; and the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other preferably has a melting point lower than a melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other (second invention).
- the adhesive material is preferably a thermoplastic adhesive material;
- the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is preferably a thermoplastic resin compatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material;
- the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is preferably a thermoplastic resin incompatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material (third invention).
- the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is preferably surface-treated for enhancing adhesive property with the adhesive material (fourth invention).
- the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is preferably surface-treated to render the spiral region non-adhesive with respect to the adhesive material (fifth invention).
- the flexible hose (first invention) of the present invention in a tube-incorporated flexible hose, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the flexible hose at the location where the tube inserted in the hose is adhered can be suppressed.
- FIG. 1 is an exterior view of the vacuum cleaner as a whole.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 is connected at one end thereof to an intake opening of a cleaner main body 99 via a connecting tube (connecting member) 95.
- the other end of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 is connected to a hand operating portion 98. Continuously with the hand operating portion 98, there are connected an extension pipe 97 and then a floor nozzle 96.
- Such is the configuration of the vacuum cleaner.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 is provided with a plurality of conductive wires.
- the conductive wires are inserted through the tube of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1.
- the conductive wires enable transmission of an input signal from a switch on the hand operating portion 98 to the cleaner main body 99, and supply of electric power to a brush driving motor built inside the floor nozzle 96.
- the tube built inside the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 may be used for sending a liquid, such as cleaning liquid, or reflux air.
- FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the structure of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 an upper-left half of the hose is shown in a cross-sectional view, with the remainder shown in an exterior view.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing in enlargement a part where a hose wall and the tube are joined.
- the tube 3 is shown in exterior view rather than cross section. Illustration of the conductive wires inserted through the tube 3 in the drawings is omitted.
- a flexible hose main body 2 including a hose wall formed of a flexible synthetic resin in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the flexible tube 3 are joined and integrated with each other by an adhesive material 4.
- the tube 3 is disposed on an inner surface of the flexible hose main body 2 along the length direction of the hose, and is adhered and integrated therewith.
- FIG. 4 shows the structure of the flexible hose main body 2 in a cross section of a hose wall part.
- a hose wall 21 includes a spiral winding of a synthetic-resin flexible strip T, with adjacent side edge portions of the flexible strip T being integrated with each other.
- the flexible strip T includes, as shown in cross section in FIG. 5 , a part 21T with a substantially S-shaped cross section and forming the hose wall 21, and a part 22T forming a lip 22.
- the flexible hose main body 2 is a hose integrating the hose wall 21 and the lip 22.
- the hose wall 21 includes spiral grooves and protrusions on an inner surface thereof. Namely, the inner surface of the hose wall 21 is provided with grooves and protrusions disposed spirally, forming grooves or protrusions as viewed from the inside of the hose.
- the hose wall 21 is formed in a bellows shape by the S-shaped cross sectional part 21T of the flexible strip T.
- the grooved parts on the inner surface of the hose directly correspond to the protruding parts on the outer surface of the hose.
- the lip 22 is disposed spirally along the grooves in such a manner as to cover the grooves on the inner surface.
- the lip 22 and an inner peripheral portion 204 of the hose wall 21 are positioned on the inner-most periphery portion of the hose.
- the inner peripheral part of the hose main body that is positioned on the hose inner-most periphery portion includes the two spiral parts, i.e., the lip 22 and the inner peripheral portion 204.
- the inner peripheral part positioned at the inner-most periphery portion of the hose includes two spiral regions S1 and S2 that are alternately spirally disposed.
- the lip 22 corresponds to the first spiral region S1
- the inner peripheral portion 204 corresponds to the second spiral region S2.
- the tube 3 When the tube 3 is joined and integrated with the inner surface of the flexible hose main body 2 by the adhesive material 4, the tube 3 is disposed to face both the lip 22 and inner peripheral portion 204. Then, a gap between the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 is adhered by the adhesive material 4. As the adhesive material 4, an adhesive material with good adhesive property with respect to the tube 3 is selected.
- the lip 22 of the hose main body 2 and the inner peripheral portion 204 of the hose wall are formed of different resin materials.
- the resin material included in the lip 22 and the resin material included in the inner peripheral portion 204 have different adhesive properties with respect to the adhesive material 4. In other words, the adhesive properties of surfaces of the two spiral regions S1 and S2 disposed at the inner-most periphery of the hose main body are different from each other with respect to the adhesive material 4.
- the resin included in the lip 22 (first spiral region S1) is a resin with high adhesive property with respect to the adhesive material 4.
- the resin included in the inner peripheral portion 204 (second spiral region S2) of the hose wall has low adhesive property (substantially non-adhesive) with respect to the adhesive material 4.
- the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 (adhesive material 4) are substantially not adhered nor integrated with each other (substantially non-adhered) is not limited to the both being totally not adhered to each other. That the both being substantially not adhered includes a weak adhered state such that the adhesion between the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 (adhesive material 4) in the second spiral region S2 is eroded (destructed) by displacement or force applied during use of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1.
- An example of the synthetic resin included in the flexible hose main body 2 or the tube 3 is a relatively soft synthetic resin material, such as a polyolefin-based resin.
- a polyolefin-based resin examples include polypropylene resin (PP), polyethylene resin (PE), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA).
- Soft vinyl chloride resin (PVC resin) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may also be used.
- the flexible hose main body 2 or the tube 3 may include other resin materials.
- a hot-melt type adhesive material of the same type of resin as the flexible hose main body 2 or tube 3 may be used.
- Other adhesive materials, such as adhesives using solvent and reactive adhesives, may be used as the adhesive material 4.
- the tube 3 may include a thermoplastic resin. Thus the tube 3 can be adhered to the hose main body 2 by melting a part of a surface of the tube 3 and using the part as the adhesive material 4.
- the hose wall part 21 (the S-shaped part 21T of the strip T) of the flexible hose main body 2 includes an olefin resin with melting point of 110°C, specifically linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resin.
- the hose wall inner peripheral portion 204 located at the hose inner-most periphery (the second spiral region S2) also includes the same resin.
- the lip 22 (the lip part 22T of the strip T, and the second spiral region S2) of the flexible hose main body 2 includes an olefin resin with melting point of 90°C, specifically an EVA resin with high vinyl content.
- the adhesive material 4 a thermoplastic adhesive material (EVA resin) is used as the adhesive material 4.
- the flexible resin strip T By joining and integrating the hose wall part 21 and the lip 22 by coextrusion, the flexible resin strip T can be formed. Further, by appropriately adjusting the melting temperature or adhesion condition of the adhesive material 4, particularly by taking advantage of a melting point difference, the lip 22 and the adhesive material 4 can be adhered to each other while the hose wall inner peripheral portion 204 and the adhesive material 4 are substantially not adhered to each other.
- the surface adhesive property may be varied between the spiral regions S1 and S2.
- the difference in melting point may be utilized, as according to the present embodiment, or the degree of resin compatibility may be varied as according to an embodiment described below.
- one or both of the two regions may be subjected to surface treatment for increasing or decreasing adhesive property (i.e., make substantially non-adhesive), thus making the surface adhesive property different between the spiral regions S and S2.
- the tube 3 is manufactured by a well-known method, such as extrusion molding, or a so-called continuous blow molding process.
- the flexible strip T shown in FIG. 5 is fabricated.
- the strip T includes the substantially S-shaped part 21T, and the lip part (extension part) 22T.
- the substantially S-shaped part 21T includes an inward side edge portion 201, an outer peripheral portion 202, a rise portion 203, the inner peripheral portion 204, and an outward side edge portion 205 which are successively continuously disposed.
- the lip part (extension part) 22T is branched from a part where the inner peripheral portion 204 and the outward side edge portion 205 are connected.
- the substantially S-shaped part 21T is formed of LLDPE resin, and the lip part 22T is formed of EVA resin, both of which are formed by coextrusion.
- the extruded strip T is thereafter cooled so as to solidify its cross-sectional shape.
- the flexible hose main body 2 is manufactured from the flexible strip T by a so-called spiral molding method.
- the flexible strip T is spirally wound around a guide shaft of a well-known hose manufacturing apparatus.
- the strip T is wound in such a manner that the inward side edge portion 201 overlaps the outward side edge portion 205 of the strip that has previously been wound.
- an adhesive 30 is filled so as to adhere the portions, thereby joining and integrating the portions with each other.
- the substantially S-shaped part 21T is made into the hose wall 21 with the spiral grooves and protrusions, and the lip part 22T into the lip 22, while the flexible hose main body 2 is continuously manufactured.
- the adhesive 30 a hot-melt type adhesive material of the same type of resin as the substantially S-shaped part 21T of the strip T may be used.
- the resultant flexible hose main body 2 is cut to a predetermined length, and the tube 3 is inserted into the hose main body along the length direction of the hose. Then, the adhesive material 4 is used to join and integrate the tube 3 with the inner surface of the hose main body 2, whereby the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 is obtained.
- adhering steps may be performed according to well-known adhering steps disclosed in EP1011960 (B1 ), or WO2008/035484 , for example.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 By appropriately adjusting the selection of the adhesive material, the adhesive condition, and the like in the adhering steps, the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 according to the foregoing embodiment can be obtained.
- the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are joined (adhered) to each other, while in the other spiral region S2, the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are substantially not joined.
- the inner-most periphery part of the hose main body 2 at which the tube 3 and the hose main body 2 are disposed opposite each other so as to be adhered to each other includes the two spiral regions S1 and S2 with different adhesive properties of the adhesive material 4.
- the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are joined to each other.
- the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are substantially not joined.
- the adhered part of the hose wall is hardened by the influence of the adhesive material 4 or the tube 3, thus inhibiting ready deformation.
- the deformation of the hose main body is greatly restricted, and the flexibility or elasticity of the tube-incorporated flexible hose is inhibited.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 are intermittently adhered along the longitudinal direction of the tube.
- the hose wall 21 is permitted to be deformed at portions where the tube is substantially not adhered, so that the elasticity of the hose is not interfered with. Accordingly, in the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the flexible hose 1 at the location where the tube 3 inserted in the hose is adhered can be suppressed.
- the adhesive material 4 is a thermoplastic adhesive material represented by a hot-melt adhesive material.
- the melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region S1 in which the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are joined to each other is lower than the melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region S2 in which the inner peripheral part of the flexible hose main body 2 and the flexible tube 3 are substantially not joined to each other. In this way, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 can be readily controlled, thus allowing efficient manufacture of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1.
- the difference in melting point of the resin of the two spiral regions is 20°C.
- the melting point difference is 10 to 50°C and particularly preferably on the order of 15 to 30°C.
- the hose main body 2 is fitted with the lip 22 branching from the bellows-like hose wall 21, and the spiral region S1 in which the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 are adhered each other is formed at the lip 22.
- the hose main body 2 and the tube 3 are adhered each other only at the lip part 22 branching from the hose wall 21.
- the bellows-like hose wall part 21 has no part that is adhered to the adhesive material 4.
- deformation or expansion/contraction of the hose wall part 21 is not inhibited. Inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 1 can be particularly effectively suppressed.
- the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented with various modifications.
- other embodiments of the present invention will be described.
- the following description will focus on different parts from the above embodiment, while omitting detailed description of similar parts.
- the following embodiments may be implemented with some parts thereof combined or substituted.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a tube-incorporated flexible hose 5 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the tube 3 is adhered to the flexible hose main body 55 by the adhesive material 4.
- the flexible hose main body 55 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the first embodiment.
- a coating portion 53 is disposed in contact with the hose inside at an inner peripheral portion 504 of the bellows-like hose wall 51.
- the S-shaped cross sectional part of the hose wall 51 and the lip portion 52 include the same resin material.
- the coating portion 53 includes a different resin material from the hose wall 51 and lip 52.
- the hose wall 51 and the lip 52 include a resin material which is incompatible (i.e., hard to be thermally welded) with the thermoplastic adhesive material 4.
- the coating portion 53 includes a resin material which is compatible (i.e., readily thermally welded) with the thermoplastic adhesive material 4.
- the part of the coating portion 53 disposed at the inner peripheral portion 504 of the hose wall 51 corresponds to a first spiral region S4 that is adhered to the adhesive material 4 (tube 3).
- the part of the lip 52 corresponds to a second spiral region S3 that is substantially not adhered to the adhesive material 4 (tube 3).
- the adhesive material 4 a hot-melt adhesive material mainly of EVA resin is used.
- the hose wall 51 and the lip 52 include a soft vinyl chloride resin (soft PVC resin) which is incompatible with the EVA resin.
- the coating portion 53 includes EVA resin.
- the inner peripheral portion 504 of the hose wall 51 and the coating portion 53 are integrated via an adhesive layer (not shown) of a modified EVA resin, for example.
- a hot-melt adhesive material of mainly a low density polyethylene (LDPE) resin may be used as the adhesive material 4.
- the hose wall 51 and the lip 52 may include a soft vinyl chloride resin (soft PVC resin) incompatible with LDPE resin, and the coating portion 53 may include LDPE resin.
- the inner peripheral portion 504 of the hose wall 51 and the coating portion 53 may be integrated by an adhesive layer of polyethylene resin grafted with vinyl chloride, for example.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 5 according to the present embodiment can also be manufactured by steps similar to those according to the first embodiment. In the tube-incorporated flexible hose 5 according to the present embodiment, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 5 can also be suppressed.
- the difference in adhesive property between the first spiral region and the second spiral region may be provided by utilizing a difference in compatibility with the synthetic resin of the thermoplastic adhesive material, as according to the present embodiment. In this way, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hose main body 55 and the tube 3 can be easily controlled. Thus, the tube-incorporated flexible hose 5 can be efficiently manufactured.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a tube-incorporated flexible hose 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that the tube 3 is adhered to a flexible hose main body 66 by the adhesive material 4.
- the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in the configuration of the flexible hose main body 66.
- a spiral reinforcing member 61 of the hose main body includes a spirally wound resin-coated metal wire which is a hard steel wire coated with hard resin.
- the flexible hose main body 66 includes a hose wall 62 overlapping the spiral reinforcing members 61 and 61, which are adhered and integrated with each other.
- the hose wall 62 is formed by spirally winding a strip of soft resin and integrating the strips.
- the flexible hose main body 66 is enabled to expand and contract through extension and warping of the soft resin hose wall 62 disposed between the spiral reinforcing members 61 and 61.
- the hose wall 62 of the flexible hose main body 66 is disposed at the inner-most periphery part of the hose between the spiral reinforcing members 61 and 61.
- the adhesive material 4 by which the tube 3 is joined and integrated is adhered to this part.
- the part between the spiral reinforcing members 61 and 61 of the hose wall 62 is divided into three spiral regions S5, S6, and S5 disposed in parallel with the spiral reinforcing member 61.
- the first spiral region S5 (parts in sections A in the hose wall cross section) that is adhered to the adhesive material 4
- the second spiral region S6 parts in sections B in the hose wall cross section
- these are disposed side by side, such as: the spiral reinforcing member 61, the first spiral region S5, the second spiral region S6, the first spiral region S5, the spiral reinforcing member 61, and so on.
- three or more spiral regions may be provided at the inner-most periphery of the hose.
- the hose wall 62 is formed of the soft resin flexible strip including homogeneous material.
- the second spiral region S6 is coated with a substance that interferes with its adhesive property with the adhesive material 4. Namely, this region is surface-treated so as to be non-adhesive with respect to the adhesive material.
- the adhesive material 4 and the hose wall 62 do not adhere to each other. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporated flexible hose 6 can also be suppressed.
- the hose wall 62 is formed of EVA resin
- the adhesive material 4 is also formed mainly of EVA resin.
- the hose wall 62 and the adhesive material 4 are adhered to each other.
- the part of the second spiral region S6 is coated with a treatment agent (non-adhesive coating agent) that does not adhere to the adhesive material 4 of mainly EVA resin, examples of the treatment agent being a fluorine-based release agent and a silicone-based oil repellant agent.
- the adhesive property between the adhesive material 4 and the hose wall is adjusted by the application of the coating material having non-adhesive property, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hose main body 66 and the tube 3 can be easily controlled.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose 6 can be efficiently manufactured.
- FIG. 8 illustrates a tube-incorporated flexible hose 7 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- the present embodiment is similar to the other embodiments in that the tube 3 is adhered to a flexible hose main body 77 by the adhesive material 4.
- the present embodiment differs from the other embodiments in the structure of the flexible hose main body 77.
- a bellows-like hose wall 72 includes a spirally wound strip of synthetic resin extrusion-molded with grooves and protrusions, with adjacent side edge portions of the strip adhered and integrated with each other.
- the bellows-like hose wall 72 includes two streams of spiral grooves and protrusions.
- the flexible hose main body 77 is enabled to expand or contract by deformation and expansion/contraction of the bellows-like hose wall 72.
- two streams of spiral regions S7 and S8 are disposed at the inner-most periphery part of the hose, the spiral regions being formed as protrusions when viewed from the hose inside.
- the adhesive material 4 by which the tube 3 is joined and integrated is adhered to this part.
- the hose wall 72 is formed of the synthetic-resin flexible strip including homogeneous material.
- the first spiral region S7 is coated with a substance that enhances its adhesive property with the adhesive material 4. Namely, a surface treatment for enhancing adhesive property with the adhesive material 4 is performed.
- the hose wall 62 is formed of a PP resin, and the adhesive material 4 is formed mainly of LDPE resin.
- the second spiral region S8 that is not subjected to the coating process, the hose wall 62 and the adhesive material 4 do not substantially adhere to each other.
- the part of the first spiral region S7 is coated with a primer that enables adhesion with the adhesive material 4.
- the adhesive material 4 and the hose wall 72 are adhered each other.
- the spiral region S7 that adheres to the adhesive material 4 and the region S8 that does not substantially adhere to the adhesive material 4 do not have to be disposed directly adjacent to each other.
- the surface treatment for enhancing the adhesive property between the adhesive material 4 and the hose wall is performed by applying the primer and the like, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hose main body 77 and the tube 3 can be easily controlled.
- the surface treatment for enhancing the adhesive property is not limited to the primer, and may involve other processes, such as the application of a coupling agent or plasma treatment and other treatments.
- the adhesive property of the two spiral regions may also be adjusted by using the primer according to the present embodiment and the non-adhesive coating material according to the third embodiment in combination.
- the combination of the resin and the treatment agent and the like for causing the adhesive material 4 and the hose main body 2, 55, 66, or 77 to adhere or substantially not adhere to each other is not limited to the combination described in the foregoing embodiments by way of example.
- the resin, the treatment agent, or the adhesion condition may be selected or adjusted such that, based on well-known expertise, the adhesive material and the hose main body can adhere or substantially not adhere to each other.
- the concrete shape or structure of the flexible hose main body is also not limited to the foregoing embodiments.
- Various hoses may be used as the flexible hose main body.
- the two spiral regions that are alternately spirally disposed and that have different adhesive properties can be easily provided at the time of manufacture of the hose main body. Thus, manufacturing efficiency can be increased.
- the tube 3 may be of a linear tubular shape obtained by extrusion molding as described with reference to the foregoing embodiments by way of example, or it may be of other configurations.
- the tube 3 may have a bellows-like tube wall obtained by continuous blow molding.
- Such tube is flexible and does not interfere with the hose flexibility, and is particularly preferable.
- the cross section of the tube may be circular or other shapes, such as elliptic, semicircular, or polygonal.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose for vacuum cleaners has been described by way of example.
- the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the present invention may be applied to fields of technology other than vacuum cleaners, such as industrial hoses for sending a primary liquid and an auxiliary liquid.
- the uses of the tube-incorporated flexible hose are not particularly limited.
- the flexible hose according to the present invention includes the tube integrated on the inner surface of the hose.
- the flexible hose according to the present invention permits insertion of a conductive wire or a flow of another fluid within the tube, thus providing high industrial utility value.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a flexible hose made of synthetic resin with excellent flexibility. In particular, the present invention relates to a flexible hose with a tube joined and integrated with the inside of the hose along the length direction of the hose.
- A tube-incorporated flexible hose with a tube joined and integrated with the inside of the hose is used, for example, as a vacuum cleaner hose. In the vacuum cleaner, the tube disposed on the inside of the hose is used for purposes such as sending cleaning liquid or reflux air, or passing wires (lead wires) through the tube. If the tube is not fixed within the hose, the tube may move around inside the hose, thus wearing or damaging the hose. Thus, the tube is in many cases joined and integrated with the inner surface of the hose with an adhesive material and the like.
- At the part where the tube is adhered and integrated with the inner surface of the hose, the elasticity and/or flexibility of the hose tends to readily deteriorate due to the influence of the adhesive material. Thus, there is an anticipation that the tube is joined and integrated with the hose without adversely affecting the flexibility of the hose as much as possible.
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Patent Literature 1 discloses a tube-incorporated flexible hose in which a flexible tube is adhered and integrated within a bellows-like flexible hose. In this tube-incorporated flexible hose, grooves and protrusions are formed on an inner wall portion of the hose along the bellows shape as viewed from the hose inside. At the same time, the tube is adhered and integrated with the inner wall portion of the hose at the protrusions.Patent Literature 1 discloses that such flexible hose can prevent inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the flexible hose where the tube is adhered. - Patent Document 1:
JP-A-2009-024750 - The inventors attempted to improve the flexibility of the tube-incorporated flexible hose by a technology different from the technology disclosed in
Patent Literature 1. Namely, an object of the present invention is to suppress the inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of a tube-incorporated flexible hose at the location where the tube inserted in the hose is adhered. - As a result of detailed analysis, the inventors learned that the problem can be solved as follows, and completed the present invention. Namely, on an inner surface of a hose to which a tube can be joined by an adhesive material, two spiral regions are disposed alternately and spirally. The two spiral regions have surfaces with different adhesive properties with respect to the adhesive material. In one region, the tube is joined; in the other region, the tube is substantially not joined. Thus, the tube and the hose can be intermittently joined.
- A flexible hose of the present invention includes: a flexible hose main body including a hose wall formed by spirally winding and integrating a flexible strip of a synthetic resin; and a flexible tube joined and integrated with an inner surface of the flexible hose main body along a length direction of the hose by an adhesive material, wherein: of the inner surface of the flexible hose main body, an inner peripheral part that is positioned at an inner-most periphery portion of the hose includes two alternately spirally disposed spiral regions; the two spiral regions respectively include surfaces with different adhesive properties with respect to the adhesive material; the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other in one of the spiral regions; and the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other in the other of the spiral regions (first invention).
- In the flexible hose of the present invention, the adhesive material is preferably a thermoplastic adhesive material; and the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other preferably has a melting point lower than a melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other (second invention).
- In addition, the flexible hose of the present invention, the adhesive material is preferably a thermoplastic adhesive material; the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is preferably a thermoplastic resin compatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material; and the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is preferably a thermoplastic resin incompatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material (third invention).
- Moreover, in the flexible hose of the present invention, the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is preferably surface-treated for enhancing adhesive property with the adhesive material (fourth invention).
- Furthermore, in the flexible hose of the present invention, the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is preferably surface-treated to render the spiral region non-adhesive with respect to the adhesive material (fifth invention).
- According to the flexible hose (first invention) of the present invention, in a tube-incorporated flexible hose, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the flexible hose at the location where the tube inserted in the hose is adhered can be suppressed.
- Further, by adopting the configuration of second through fifth inventions, the effect that the tube-incorporated flexible hose can be manufactured efficiently can be obtained.
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FIG. 1 is an exterior view of a vacuum cleaner including a tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to a first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing, in enlargement, a part where a hose main body and a tube are joined. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing, in enlargement, a hose wall part of the hose main body of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible strip used for manufacturing the hose main body of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing in enlargement a part where the hose main body and the tube are joined. -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing in enlargement a part where the hose main body and the tube are joined. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing in enlargement a part where the hose main body and the tube are joined. - In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the individual embodiments below. The present invention may be implemented by modifying the configuration or uses of the embodiments. According to a first embodiment, a tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 embodied in a household vacuum cleaner will be described.FIG. 1 is an exterior view of the vacuum cleaner as a whole. The tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 is connected at one end thereof to an intake opening of a cleanermain body 99 via a connecting tube (connecting member) 95. The other end of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 is connected to ahand operating portion 98. Continuously with thehand operating portion 98, there are connected anextension pipe 97 and then afloor nozzle 96. Such is the configuration of the vacuum cleaner. - The tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 is provided with a plurality of conductive wires. The conductive wires are inserted through the tube of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1. The conductive wires enable transmission of an input signal from a switch on thehand operating portion 98 to the cleanermain body 99, and supply of electric power to a brush driving motor built inside thefloor nozzle 96. In the vacuum cleaner, the tube built inside the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 may be used for sending a liquid, such as cleaning liquid, or reflux air. -
FIGS. 2 and3 illustrate the structure of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 2 , an upper-left half of the hose is shown in a cross-sectional view, with the remainder shown in an exterior view.FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing in enlargement a part where a hose wall and the tube are joined. In these figures, thetube 3 is shown in exterior view rather than cross section. Illustration of the conductive wires inserted through thetube 3 in the drawings is omitted. - In the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1, a flexible hosemain body 2 including a hose wall formed of a flexible synthetic resin in a substantially cylindrical shape, and theflexible tube 3 are joined and integrated with each other by anadhesive material 4. Thetube 3 is disposed on an inner surface of the flexible hosemain body 2 along the length direction of the hose, and is adhered and integrated therewith. -
FIG. 4 shows the structure of the flexible hosemain body 2 in a cross section of a hose wall part. In the flexible hosemain body 2, ahose wall 21 includes a spiral winding of a synthetic-resin flexible strip T, with adjacent side edge portions of the flexible strip T being integrated with each other. According to the present embodiment, the flexible strip T includes, as shown in cross section inFIG. 5 , apart 21T with a substantially S-shaped cross section and forming thehose wall 21, and apart 22T forming alip 22. - Thus, according to the present embodiment, the flexible hose
main body 2 is a hose integrating thehose wall 21 and thelip 22. Thehose wall 21 includes spiral grooves and protrusions on an inner surface thereof. Namely, the inner surface of thehose wall 21 is provided with grooves and protrusions disposed spirally, forming grooves or protrusions as viewed from the inside of the hose. Thehose wall 21 is formed in a bellows shape by the S-shaped crosssectional part 21T of the flexible strip T. The grooved parts on the inner surface of the hose directly correspond to the protruding parts on the outer surface of the hose. - On the inner surface of the
hose wall 21, thelip 22 is disposed spirally along the grooves in such a manner as to cover the grooves on the inner surface. In the flexible hosemain body 2, thelip 22 and an innerperipheral portion 204 of thehose wall 21 are positioned on the inner-most periphery portion of the hose. To the inside of the hose, only thelip 22 and the innerperipheral portion 204 of the hose wall are exposed. Namely, in the flexible hosemain body 2, the inner peripheral part of the hose main body that is positioned on the hose inner-most periphery portion includes the two spiral parts, i.e., thelip 22 and the innerperipheral portion 204. In other words, of the inner surface of the flexible hose main body, the inner peripheral part positioned at the inner-most periphery portion of the hose includes two spiral regions S1 and S2 that are alternately spirally disposed. According to the present embodiment, thelip 22 corresponds to the first spiral region S1, and the innerperipheral portion 204 corresponds to the second spiral region S2. - When the
tube 3 is joined and integrated with the inner surface of the flexible hosemain body 2 by theadhesive material 4, thetube 3 is disposed to face both thelip 22 and innerperipheral portion 204. Then, a gap between the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 is adhered by theadhesive material 4. As theadhesive material 4, an adhesive material with good adhesive property with respect to thetube 3 is selected. - The
lip 22 of the hosemain body 2 and the innerperipheral portion 204 of the hose wall are formed of different resin materials. The resin material included in thelip 22 and the resin material included in the innerperipheral portion 204 have different adhesive properties with respect to theadhesive material 4. In other words, the adhesive properties of surfaces of the two spiral regions S1 and S2 disposed at the inner-most periphery of the hose main body are different from each other with respect to theadhesive material 4. - According to the present embodiment, the resin included in the lip 22 (first spiral region S1) is a resin with high adhesive property with respect to the
adhesive material 4. The resin included in the inner peripheral portion 204 (second spiral region S2) of the hose wall has low adhesive property (substantially non-adhesive) with respect to theadhesive material 4. As a result, at the lip 22 (first spiral region S1) of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1, thetube 3 and the flexible hosemain body 2 are adhered (joined) and integrated by theadhesive material 4. On the other hand, at the inner peripheral portion 204 (second spiral region S2) of the hose wall, thetube 3 and the flexible hosemain body 2 are substantially not adhered (joined) nor integrated. - That in the second spiral region S2 the hose
main body 2 and the tube 3 (adhesive material 4) are substantially not adhered nor integrated with each other (substantially non-adhered) is not limited to the both being totally not adhered to each other. That the both being substantially not adhered includes a weak adhered state such that the adhesion between the hosemain body 2 and the tube 3 (adhesive material 4) in the second spiral region S2 is eroded (destructed) by displacement or force applied during use of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1. - An example of the synthetic resin included in the flexible hose
main body 2 or thetube 3 is a relatively soft synthetic resin material, such as a polyolefin-based resin. Examples of the polyolefin-based resin include polypropylene resin (PP), polyethylene resin (PE), and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA). Soft vinyl chloride resin (PVC resin) or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) may also be used. The flexible hosemain body 2 or thetube 3 may include other resin materials. - As the
adhesive material 4, a hot-melt type adhesive material of the same type of resin as the flexible hosemain body 2 ortube 3 may be used. Other adhesive materials, such as adhesives using solvent and reactive adhesives, may be used as theadhesive material 4. Thetube 3 may include a thermoplastic resin. Thus thetube 3 can be adhered to the hosemain body 2 by melting a part of a surface of thetube 3 and using the part as theadhesive material 4. - According to the present embodiment, the hose wall part 21 (the S-shaped
part 21T of the strip T) of the flexible hosemain body 2 includes an olefin resin with melting point of 110°C, specifically linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resin. The hose wall innerperipheral portion 204 located at the hose inner-most periphery (the second spiral region S2) also includes the same resin. On the other hand, the lip 22 (thelip part 22T of the strip T, and the second spiral region S2) of the flexible hosemain body 2 includes an olefin resin with melting point of 90°C, specifically an EVA resin with high vinyl content. As theadhesive material 4, a thermoplastic adhesive material (EVA resin) is used. - By selecting such materials, the following can be realized. By joining and integrating the
hose wall part 21 and thelip 22 by coextrusion, the flexible resin strip T can be formed. Further, by appropriately adjusting the melting temperature or adhesion condition of theadhesive material 4, particularly by taking advantage of a melting point difference, thelip 22 and theadhesive material 4 can be adhered to each other while the hose wall innerperipheral portion 204 and theadhesive material 4 are substantially not adhered to each other. - As a means by which one of the two spiral regions S1 and S2 is caused to adhere to the
adhesive material 4 and the other is caused to substantially not adhere to theadhesive material 4, the surface adhesive property may be varied between the spiral regions S1 and S2. In order to vary the adhesive property, the difference in melting point may be utilized, as according to the present embodiment, or the degree of resin compatibility may be varied as according to an embodiment described below. Alternatively, one or both of the two regions may be subjected to surface treatment for increasing or decreasing adhesive property (i.e., make substantially non-adhesive), thus making the surface adhesive property different between the spiral regions S and S2. - A method of manufacturing the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 will be described. Thetube 3 is manufactured by a well-known method, such as extrusion molding, or a so-called continuous blow molding process. - When the flexible hose
main body 2 is manufactured, first, two types of resin material are supplied to an extruder, and the resin materials are coextruded in a semi-molten state. Thus, the flexible strip T shown inFIG. 5 is fabricated. The strip T includes the substantially S-shapedpart 21T, and the lip part (extension part) 22T. The substantially S-shapedpart 21T includes an inwardside edge portion 201, an outerperipheral portion 202, arise portion 203, the innerperipheral portion 204, and an outwardside edge portion 205 which are successively continuously disposed. The lip part (extension part) 22T is branched from a part where the innerperipheral portion 204 and the outwardside edge portion 205 are connected. The substantially S-shapedpart 21T is formed of LLDPE resin, and thelip part 22T is formed of EVA resin, both of which are formed by coextrusion. The extruded strip T is thereafter cooled so as to solidify its cross-sectional shape. - Thereafter, the flexible hose
main body 2 is manufactured from the flexible strip T by a so-called spiral molding method. The flexible strip T is spirally wound around a guide shaft of a well-known hose manufacturing apparatus. The strip T is wound in such a manner that the inwardside edge portion 201 overlaps the outwardside edge portion 205 of the strip that has previously been wound. Between the inwardside edge portion 201 and the outwardside edge portion 205 overlapping each other, an adhesive 30 is filled so as to adhere the portions, thereby joining and integrating the portions with each other. In this way, the substantially S-shapedpart 21T is made into thehose wall 21 with the spiral grooves and protrusions, and thelip part 22T into thelip 22, while the flexible hosemain body 2 is continuously manufactured. As the adhesive 30, a hot-melt type adhesive material of the same type of resin as the substantially S-shapedpart 21T of the strip T may be used. - The resultant flexible hose
main body 2 is cut to a predetermined length, and thetube 3 is inserted into the hose main body along the length direction of the hose. Then, theadhesive material 4 is used to join and integrate thetube 3 with the inner surface of the hosemain body 2, whereby the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 is obtained. Such adhering steps may be performed according to well-known adhering steps disclosed inEP1011960 (B1 ), orWO2008/035484 , for example. - By appropriately adjusting the selection of the adhesive material, the adhesive condition, and the like in the adhering steps, the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 according to the foregoing embodiment can be obtained. In the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1, in one spiral region S1, the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are joined (adhered) to each other, while in the other spiral region S2, the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are substantially not joined. - The operation and effect of the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 will be described. In the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1, the inner-most periphery part of the hosemain body 2 at which thetube 3 and the hosemain body 2 are disposed opposite each other so as to be adhered to each other includes the two spiral regions S1 and S2 with different adhesive properties of theadhesive material 4. In one spiral region S1, the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are joined to each other. In the other spiral region S2, the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are substantially not joined. Thus, the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 are adhered to each other intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the tube. - If the hose
main body 2 and thetube 3 are continuously adhered to each other, the adhered part of the hose wall is hardened by the influence of theadhesive material 4 or thetube 3, thus inhibiting ready deformation. As a result, the deformation of the hose main body is greatly restricted, and the flexibility or elasticity of the tube-incorporated flexible hose is inhibited. On the other hand, in the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1, the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 are intermittently adhered along the longitudinal direction of the tube. Thus, thehose wall 21 is permitted to be deformed at portions where the tube is substantially not adhered, so that the elasticity of the hose is not interfered with. Accordingly, in the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of theflexible hose 1 at the location where thetube 3 inserted in the hose is adhered can be suppressed. - Particularly, in the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 according to the present embodiment, theadhesive material 4 is a thermoplastic adhesive material represented by a hot-melt adhesive material. Further, the melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region S1 in which the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are joined to each other is lower than the melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region S2 in which the inner peripheral part of the flexible hosemain body 2 and theflexible tube 3 are substantially not joined to each other. In this way, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 can be readily controlled, thus allowing efficient manufacture of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1. - According to the present embodiment, the difference in melting point of the resin of the two spiral regions is 20°C. Preferably, the melting point difference is 10 to 50°C and particularly preferably on the order of 15 to 30°C.
- Preferably, as in the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 1 according to the present embodiment, the hosemain body 2 is fitted with thelip 22 branching from the bellows-likehose wall 21, and the spiral region S1 in which the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 are adhered each other is formed at thelip 22. In this way, the hosemain body 2 and thetube 3 are adhered each other only at thelip part 22 branching from thehose wall 21. The bellows-likehose wall part 21 has no part that is adhered to theadhesive material 4. Thus, deformation or expansion/contraction of thehose wall part 21 is not inhibited. Inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 1 can be particularly effectively suppressed. - The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented with various modifications. In the following, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following description will focus on different parts from the above embodiment, while omitting detailed description of similar parts. The following embodiments may be implemented with some parts thereof combined or substituted.
-
FIG. 6 illustrates a tube-incorporatedflexible hose 5 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment, thetube 3 is adhered to the flexible hosemain body 55 by theadhesive material 4. The flexible hosemain body 55 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, acoating portion 53 is disposed in contact with the hose inside at an innerperipheral portion 504 of the bellows-likehose wall 51. - Further, according to the present embodiment, the S-shaped cross sectional part of the
hose wall 51 and thelip portion 52 include the same resin material. Meanwhile, thecoating portion 53 includes a different resin material from thehose wall 51 andlip 52. Specifically, thehose wall 51 and thelip 52 include a resin material which is incompatible (i.e., hard to be thermally welded) with the thermoplasticadhesive material 4. Thecoating portion 53 includes a resin material which is compatible (i.e., readily thermally welded) with the thermoplasticadhesive material 4. - Namely, according to the present embodiment, the part of the
coating portion 53 disposed at the innerperipheral portion 504 of thehose wall 51 corresponds to a first spiral region S4 that is adhered to the adhesive material 4 (tube 3). The part of thelip 52 corresponds to a second spiral region S3 that is substantially not adhered to the adhesive material 4 (tube 3). - More specifically, according to the present embodiment, as the
adhesive material 4, a hot-melt adhesive material mainly of EVA resin is used. Thehose wall 51 and thelip 52 include a soft vinyl chloride resin (soft PVC resin) which is incompatible with the EVA resin. Thecoating portion 53 includes EVA resin. The innerperipheral portion 504 of thehose wall 51 and thecoating portion 53 are integrated via an adhesive layer (not shown) of a modified EVA resin, for example. - Alternatively, in the tube-incorporated
flexible hose 5 according to the present embodiment, as theadhesive material 4, a hot-melt adhesive material of mainly a low density polyethylene (LDPE) resin may be used. Further, thehose wall 51 and thelip 52 may include a soft vinyl chloride resin (soft PVC resin) incompatible with LDPE resin, and thecoating portion 53 may include LDPE resin. In this case, the innerperipheral portion 504 of thehose wall 51 and thecoating portion 53 may be integrated by an adhesive layer of polyethylene resin grafted with vinyl chloride, for example. - The tube-incorporated
flexible hose 5 according to the present embodiment can also be manufactured by steps similar to those according to the first embodiment. In the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 5 according to the present embodiment, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 5 can also be suppressed. - When the two spiral regions are disposed alternately in the inner peripheral part at the inner-most periphery of the hose at which the hose and the tube are disposed opposite each other so as to be adhered, it is a discretionary matter which of the spiral regions should be able to adhere to the adhesive material and which of the spiral regions should be substantially not adhere to the adhesive material.
- The difference in adhesive property between the first spiral region and the second spiral region may be provided by utilizing a difference in compatibility with the synthetic resin of the thermoplastic adhesive material, as according to the present embodiment. In this way, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hose
main body 55 and thetube 3 can be easily controlled. Thus, the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 5 can be efficiently manufactured. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a tube-incorporatedflexible hose 6 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that thetube 3 is adhered to a flexible hosemain body 66 by theadhesive material 4. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in the configuration of the flexible hosemain body 66. In the flexible hosemain body 66, aspiral reinforcing member 61 of the hose main body includes a spirally wound resin-coated metal wire which is a hard steel wire coated with hard resin. Further, the flexible hosemain body 66 includes ahose wall 62 overlapping thespiral reinforcing members hose wall 62 is formed by spirally winding a strip of soft resin and integrating the strips. - The flexible hose
main body 66 is enabled to expand and contract through extension and warping of the softresin hose wall 62 disposed between thespiral reinforcing members hose wall 62 of the flexible hosemain body 66 is disposed at the inner-most periphery part of the hose between thespiral reinforcing members adhesive material 4 by which thetube 3 is joined and integrated is adhered to this part. - The part between the
spiral reinforcing members hose wall 62 is divided into three spiral regions S5, S6, and S5 disposed in parallel with thespiral reinforcing member 61. In these spiral regions, the first spiral region S5 (parts in sections A in the hose wall cross section) that is adhered to theadhesive material 4, and the second spiral region S6 (parts in sections B in the hose wall cross section) that is substantially not adhered to theadhesive material 4 are alternately disposed. As viewed from the hose inside, these are disposed side by side, such as: thespiral reinforcing member 61, the first spiral region S5, the second spiral region S6, the first spiral region S5, thespiral reinforcing member 61, and so on. Thus, three or more spiral regions may be provided at the inner-most periphery of the hose. - According to the present embodiment, the
hose wall 62 is formed of the soft resin flexible strip including homogeneous material. Meanwhile, the second spiral region S6 is coated with a substance that interferes with its adhesive property with theadhesive material 4. Namely, this region is surface-treated so as to be non-adhesive with respect to the adhesive material. Thus, theadhesive material 4 and thehose wall 62 do not adhere to each other. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 6 can also be suppressed. - Specifically, the
hose wall 62 is formed of EVA resin, and theadhesive material 4 is also formed mainly of EVA resin. In the first spiral region S5 that is not subjected to coating process, thehose wall 62 and theadhesive material 4 are adhered to each other. On the other hand, the part of the second spiral region S6 is coated with a treatment agent (non-adhesive coating agent) that does not adhere to theadhesive material 4 of mainly EVA resin, examples of the treatment agent being a fluorine-based release agent and a silicone-based oil repellant agent. - As in the present embodiment, when the adhesive property between the
adhesive material 4 and the hose wall is adjusted by the application of the coating material having non-adhesive property, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hosemain body 66 and thetube 3 can be easily controlled. Thus, the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 6 can be efficiently manufactured. -
FIG. 8 illustrates a tube-incorporatedflexible hose 7 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is similar to the other embodiments in that thetube 3 is adhered to a flexible hosemain body 77 by theadhesive material 4. The present embodiment differs from the other embodiments in the structure of the flexible hosemain body 77. In the flexible hosemain body 77, a bellows-like hose wall 72 includes a spirally wound strip of synthetic resin extrusion-molded with grooves and protrusions, with adjacent side edge portions of the strip adhered and integrated with each other. The bellows-likehose wall 72 includes two streams of spiral grooves and protrusions. - The flexible hose
main body 77 is enabled to expand or contract by deformation and expansion/contraction of the bellows-likehose wall 72. According to the present embodiment, in the bellows-likehose wall 72, two streams of spiral regions S7 and S8 are disposed at the inner-most periphery part of the hose, the spiral regions being formed as protrusions when viewed from the hose inside. Theadhesive material 4 by which thetube 3 is joined and integrated is adhered to this part. - According to the present embodiment, the
hose wall 72 is formed of the synthetic-resin flexible strip including homogeneous material. However, the first spiral region S7 is coated with a substance that enhances its adhesive property with theadhesive material 4. Namely, a surface treatment for enhancing adhesive property with theadhesive material 4 is performed. Specifically, thehose wall 62 is formed of a PP resin, and theadhesive material 4 is formed mainly of LDPE resin. In the second spiral region S8 that is not subjected to the coating process, thehose wall 62 and theadhesive material 4 do not substantially adhere to each other. - On the other hand, the part of the first spiral region S7 is coated with a primer that enables adhesion with the
adhesive material 4. In this part, theadhesive material 4 and thehose wall 72 are adhered each other. Thus, according to the present embodiment, inhibition of the elasticity or bendability of the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 6 can also be suppressed. - As indicated by the present embodiment, the spiral region S7 that adheres to the
adhesive material 4 and the region S8 that does not substantially adhere to theadhesive material 4 do not have to be disposed directly adjacent to each other. - As according to the present embodiment, when the surface treatment for enhancing the adhesive property between the
adhesive material 4 and the hose wall is performed by applying the primer and the like, adhesion or non-adhesion between the hosemain body 77 and thetube 3 can be easily controlled. Thus, the tube-incorporatedflexible hose 7 can be efficiently manufactured. The surface treatment for enhancing the adhesive property is not limited to the primer, and may involve other processes, such as the application of a coupling agent or plasma treatment and other treatments. The adhesive property of the two spiral regions may also be adjusted by using the primer according to the present embodiment and the non-adhesive coating material according to the third embodiment in combination. - The combination of the resin and the treatment agent and the like for causing the
adhesive material 4 and the hosemain body - The concrete shape or structure of the flexible hose main body is also not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Various hoses may be used as the flexible hose main body. Among others, when a flexible hose having a hose wall formed by spirally winding and integrating a synthetic-resin flexible strip is adopted, the two spiral regions that are alternately spirally disposed and that have different adhesive properties can be easily provided at the time of manufacture of the hose main body. Thus, manufacturing efficiency can be increased.
- Further, the
tube 3 may be of a linear tubular shape obtained by extrusion molding as described with reference to the foregoing embodiments by way of example, or it may be of other configurations. For example, thetube 3 may have a bellows-like tube wall obtained by continuous blow molding. Such tube is flexible and does not interfere with the hose flexibility, and is particularly preferable. The cross section of the tube may be circular or other shapes, such as elliptic, semicircular, or polygonal. - According to the foregoing embodiments, the tube-incorporated flexible hose for vacuum cleaners has been described by way of example. However, the tube-incorporated flexible hose according to the present invention may be applied to fields of technology other than vacuum cleaners, such as industrial hoses for sending a primary liquid and an auxiliary liquid. Namely, the uses of the tube-incorporated flexible hose are not particularly limited.
- The flexible hose according to the present invention includes the tube integrated on the inner surface of the hose. The flexible hose according to the present invention permits insertion of a conductive wire or a flow of another fluid within the tube, thus providing high industrial utility value.
-
- 1
- Tube-incorporated flexible hose
- 2
- Flexible hose main body
- 21
- Hose wall
- 204
- Inner peripheral portion
- 22
- Lip
- S1
- First spiral region
- S2
- Second spiral region
- T
- Flexible strip
- 21T
- S-shaped part
- 22T
- Lip part
- 3
- Tube
- 4
- Adhesive material
- 5, 6, 7
- Tube-incorporated flexible hose
- 55, 66, 77
- Flexible hose main body
- 51, 62, 72
- Hose wall
- 52
- Lip
- 61
- Spiral reinforcing member
- S4, S5, S7
- First spiral region
- S3, S6, S8
- Second spiral region
- 99
- Cleaner main body
- 98
- Hand operating portion
- 97
- Extension pipe
- 96
- Floor nozzle
- 95
- Connecting tube
Claims (5)
- A flexible hose comprising:a flexible hose main body including a hose wall formed by spirally winding and integrating a flexible strip of a synthetic resin; anda flexible tube joined and integrated with an inner surface of the flexible hose main body along a length direction of the hose by an adhesive material,wherein:of the inner surface of the flexible hose main body, an inner peripheral part that is positioned at an inner-most periphery portion of the hose includes two alternately spirally disposed spiral regions;the two spiral regions respectively include surfaces with different adhesive properties with respect to the adhesive material;the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other in one of the spiral regions; andthe flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other in the other of the spiral regions.
- The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein:the adhesive material is a thermoplastic adhesive material; andthe synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other has a melting point lower than a melting point of the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other.
- The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein:the adhesive material is a thermoplastic adhesive material;the synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is a thermoplastic resin compatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material; andthe synthetic resin forming the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is a thermoplastic resin incompatible with the thermoplastic adhesive material.
- The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are joined to each other is surface-treated for enhancing adhesive property with the adhesive material.
- The flexible hose according to claim 1, wherein the spiral region in which the flexible hose main body inner peripheral part and the flexible tube are substantially not joined to each other is surface-treated to render the spiral region non-adhesive with respect to the adhesive material.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2013/007299 WO2015087367A1 (en) | 2013-12-11 | 2013-12-11 | Flexible hose |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2899439A1 true EP2899439A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 |
EP2899439A4 EP2899439A4 (en) | 2015-11-04 |
EP2899439B1 EP2899439B1 (en) | 2016-04-27 |
Family
ID=53370716
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13852368.3A Not-in-force EP2899439B1 (en) | 2013-12-11 | 2013-12-11 | Flexible hose |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2899439B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN104822302B (en) |
MY (1) | MY167339A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015087367A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NO340897B1 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2017-07-10 | Udp Goller | Dusting and dust collecting device |
JP6293185B2 (en) * | 2016-03-09 | 2018-03-14 | タイガースポリマー株式会社 | How to connect the vacuum cleaner hose |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE1005892A5 (en) * | 1992-06-04 | 1994-03-01 | Plastiflex Europ N V | Flexible hose. |
JPH1043102A (en) * | 1996-08-06 | 1998-02-17 | Hitachi Ltd | Electric cleaner |
BE1010676A3 (en) * | 1996-10-10 | 1998-11-03 | Plastiflex Europ N V | Method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible hose combination. |
JP2002223999A (en) * | 2001-01-31 | 2002-08-13 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Vacuum cleaner and hose for the same |
WO2008035484A1 (en) | 2006-09-21 | 2008-03-27 | Tigers Polymer Corporation | Process, and apparatus, for producing flexible hose with tube disposed thereinside |
JP2009024750A (en) * | 2007-07-18 | 2009-02-05 | Tigers Polymer Corp | Flexible hose with built-in tube |
JP5363249B2 (en) * | 2009-09-07 | 2013-12-11 | タイガースポリマー株式会社 | Hose for vacuum cleaner |
JP5426610B2 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2014-02-26 | タイガースポリマー株式会社 | Manufacturing method of hose assembly |
-
2013
- 2013-12-11 CN CN201380003981.9A patent/CN104822302B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2013-12-11 EP EP13852368.3A patent/EP2899439B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2013-12-11 WO PCT/JP2013/007299 patent/WO2015087367A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-12-11 MY MYPI2014001401A patent/MY167339A/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN104822302B (en) | 2016-05-25 |
MY167339A (en) | 2018-08-16 |
WO2015087367A1 (en) | 2015-06-18 |
EP2899439A4 (en) | 2015-11-04 |
CN104822302A (en) | 2015-08-05 |
EP2899439B1 (en) | 2016-04-27 |
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