GB1318594A - Inflation apparatus for metal strip or panels having inflatable fluid passageways - Google Patents

Abstract

1318594 Making panels with inflated passageways OLIN CORP 18 Sept 1970 [12 Nov 1969] 44659/70 Heading B3A A metal strip or panel 1, Fig. 1C containing at least one inflatable passageway 5, the or each of which has a preformed open end 7, has the passageway inflated in a pressure chamber in which the strip is partially inserted with the chamber sealingly engaging the wall of the or each open end so as to crimp, but not close, the open end. As shown, Fig. 3, a pressure chamber comprises a reciprocable plate 35, in which a cavity 36 is surrounded by a resilient O ring 37, and a fixed plate 30 in which a cavity 32 is surrounded by a resilient O ring 33. Several strips 1 are disposed partly in one cavity 32 so that when the plate 35 has been lowered until the ring 37 sealingly engages the ring 33 the open ends 7 of the passages 5 have been crimped but not closed. A switch 41, 42 controls the travel of the plate 35. Air or water, at a pressure of 100 to 3000 p.s.i., is introduced through a line 39. An alternative apparatus (Fig. 2, not shown), for use with a single strip 1, comprises circular plates, with sealing rings, screwed together to form a pressure chamber, an edge of each plate being shaped to correspond to the contour of the open ends 7. Suitable materials for the strip 1 are aluminium, copper, alloys of either, and steel. The strip is initially formed by applying to a first strip of metal strip material corresponding to the passageways to be formed and pressurewelding a second strip to the first strip by rolling. The ends of the passageways so formed are opened by conventional means such as a vibrating chisel or mandrel.