GB2062190A - Sealing bellows - Google Patents

Sealing bellows Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2062190A
GB2062190A GB8031800A GB8031800A GB2062190A GB 2062190 A GB2062190 A GB 2062190A GB 8031800 A GB8031800 A GB 8031800A GB 8031800 A GB8031800 A GB 8031800A GB 2062190 A GB2062190 A GB 2062190A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
parts
bellows
resilient
sealing bellows
bonded
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
Application number
GB8031800A
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GB2062190B (en
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Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Original Assignee
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of GB2062190A publication Critical patent/GB2062190A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2062190B publication Critical patent/GB2062190B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C57/00—Shaping of tube ends, e.g. flanging, belling or closing; Apparatus therefor, e.g. collapsible mandrels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
    • B29C65/743—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc
    • B29C65/7441—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using the same tool for both joining and severing, said tool being monobloc or formed by several parts mounted together and forming a monobloc for making welds and cuts of other than simple rectilinear form
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
    • B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
    • B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
    • B29C66/5344—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/832—Reciprocating joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/8322—Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H59/00—Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
    • F16H59/02—Selector apparatus
    • F16H59/0213—Selector apparatus with sealing means, e.g. against entry of dust
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G25/00—Other details or appurtenances of control mechanisms, e.g. supporting intermediate members elastically
    • G05G25/04—Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/04—Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/08—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using ultrasonic vibrations
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
    • B29C66/131—Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/729—Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
    • B29C66/7292—Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics coated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2313/00—Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement
    • B29K2313/02—Use of textile products or fabrics as reinforcement coated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/703—Bellows

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Diaphragms And Bellows (AREA)
  • Sealing Devices (AREA)

Abstract

In a method of producing a sealing bellows (10) for a vehicle's gear lever or hand brake, two portions of a laminated material which is resilient in a preferred direction and which has a layer of thermoplastic synthetic material are arranged with the thermoplastic layers facing each other. They are bonded together along predetermined portions of peripheral lines of similarly shaped parts (11 and 12) of the bellows 10 in such a manner that those parts are resilient transversely of the main direction in which the bellows (10) extend. The two parts (11 and 12) are solidly connected, at one end of the bellows (10) intended to be positioned adjacent to an opening which is sealed by the bellows (10), by a frame (14) on which retaining means are provided. Apparatus for bonding and for punching out the portions from webs of the material are described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing bellows This invention relates to sealing bellows. More particularly, it relates to a method of and apparatus for producing a sealing bellows as well as the bellows itself.
It has already been proposed to form a sealing bellows by joining together two parts of like shape and made of leather or artificial leather. At one of its end portions, the sealing bellows is required to surround a smooth-surfaced operating lever in the manner of a collar and with a certain degree of prestress, in order to avoid the use of separate retaining means. This requires that the two parts should be joined together in a relatively dimensionally-precise manner. At its other end, the sealing bellows has to be secured in the edge zone of an opening in a wall through which an operatirg lever passes. For this purpose it is known to provide, in the opening in the wall, a separate frame having a retaining flange.The sealing bellows is fitted to skirt this retaining flange, and its retention thereon is reinforced by a resilient means, for example a rubber cord, joined to the bellows.
This sealing bellows can be expensive to produce. A further disadvantage resides in the fact that the seams whereby the two parts are joined are not particularly soundproof, and a separate seal involves additional expense.
It has also been propsed to produce a sealing bellows for covering a gear lever or handbrake lever from a single piece of rubber or thermoplastic material by an injection-moulding process, but after a certain period of use, such a sealing bellows disadvantageously develops cracks at the stress-affected areas; Althou# this disadvantage could be removed with the aid of a moulded core of fabric material, this results in a sealing bellows which is very costly to produce.
An aim of the present invention is a sealing bellows and the production of such a bellows which is more economical, without a reduction resulting in the service-life of the bellows.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is therefore provided a method of producing a sealing bellows, particularly but not exclusively for covering a gear lever or a handbrake lever in an automobile, which bellows comprises two parts of similar shape made of a flexible material and, in an end portion, a retaining means for securing it, when it is in use, at an opening in a wall through which a lever passes, the material of one of the two parts being laid upon the material of the other and being firmly joined thereto along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the two parts, in which method:: (a) the parts are made of a laminated material which is resilient in a preferred direction and has a layer of thermoplastic synthetic material; (b) the material of one of the two parts is laid upon the material of the other with the layers of synthetic material facing each other, and the material of one of the two parts is bonded to the material of the other along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the two parts; (c) the peripheral lines of the two parts are each secured, in relation to the resilient direction of the laminated material, in such manner that the bonded parts are resilient transversely of the main direction in which the sealing bellows extends, and (d) the two parts are solidly connected, at an end portion of the bellows which is intended to be positioned adjacent to the opening, by a frame on which the retaining means is arranged.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for performing the method set out in the immediately preceding paragraph, comprising: (a) a device for receiving two rolls of web; (b) a feed device for the webs to feed the latter off the rolls with one laid upon the other; (c) a welding machine, to which the webs are passed; (d) a stamping device for stamping out the bonded parts; and (e) a former for turning over the edges of the parts for firmly connecting them to the frame provided with the retaining means.
Such apparatus lends itself to fully automatic production.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a sealing bellows, particularly but not exclusively for covering a gear lever or a handbrake lever in an automobile, which bellows comprises two parts of similar shape made of a flexible material and, in an end portion, a retaining means for securing it, when it is in use, at an opening in a wall through which a lever passes, the parts being firmly joined to each other along predetermined portions of their peripheral lines, in which:: (a) the parts are made of a laminated material which is resilient in a preferred direction and has a layer of thermoplastic synthetic material; (b) the parts are bonded together along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines where the layers of synthetic material face each other; (c) the peripheral lines of the two parts are each secured in relation to the resilient direction of the laminated material, in such manner that the bonded parts are resilient transversely of the main direction in which the sealing bellows extends, and (d) the two parts are solidly connected, at an end portion of the bellows which is intended to be positioned adjacent to the opening, by a frame on which the retaining means is arranged.
A method in accordance with the present invention may offer the considerable advantage of economical partial or fully automatic production of a sealing bellows formed by a plurality of parts.
Automatic production can also be accompanied by the advantage of high dimensional precision in those zones of the bellows that are provided for securing it to an operating lever or to an opening through which an operating lever passes. The present invention also enables a stylish shape of sealing bellows to be obtained. Thus, for example, the parts can be bonded together at closely adjacent points. This results in an advantageous seam effect without the bonded joint permitting noise to pass through it.
Preferably, the parts are made of a PVC-coated fabric, for example artificial facing leather, and are bonded together in a high-frequency welding machine. This affords the possibility of a fully automatic production of the sealing bellows involving short cycles. The frame may comprise plastics material, with firmly secured resilient retaining tongues, the same being bonded to edges of the parts of the bellows. As a result, the retaining means for securing the sealing bellows to an opening through a wall are made integral with the bellows. Thus, a rapid and efficient assembly of the sealing bellows at the opening is possible, without special training of the fitter.
An example of a sealing bellows and a method of making it, in accordance with the present invention, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which.~ Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cut-away view of a sealing bellows covering a gear lever; Figure 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view of apparatus for bonding and for punching out the parts from webs of material laid on upon the other; Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of a former for turning over edges of the sealing bellows; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a frame with resilient retaining tongues for use as part of the sealing bellows; and Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of the former shown in Figure 3 with further components used for bonding the frame to the edges of the sealing bellows.
The sealing bellows 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is made up of two parts 1 1 and 12 of like shape. The parts 11 and 12 are made of artificial facing leather consisting of a fabric coated with a layer of PVC. Furthermore, the artificial facing leather is particularly resilient in a preferred direction. For the purpose of producing a sealing bellows, the parts 1 1 and 12, or webs from which these parts are cut, are laid one upon the other with their PVC coatings facing each other. The parts 1 1 and 12, or the webs, are then bonded together along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the parts 1 1 and 12, by means of a high-frequency welding machine.
When producing each of the parts 1 1 and 12, care must be taken to ensure that the peripheral line of each of them is so determined in relation to the resilient direction of the artificial facing leather that the bonded parts 1 1 and 12 are resilient tranversely of the main direction in which the sealing bellows 10 extends.
A frame 14 made of a synthetic plastics material is then firmly attached, by means of an adhesive or by fusing, to the parts 1 1 and 12 in a lower end portion 13 of the sealing bellows 10.
Resilient retaining tongues 15 are solidly secured to the frame 14. The frame 14, as shown in Figure 1, has an angled cross-section, whereas another frame 140, shown in Figure 4, is of a flat or thin rectangular cross-section.
The parts 11 and 12, or webs from which these parts are cut, are spot-welded together at closely adjoining points. When the bellows 10 is turned inside out, this achieves to some extent, a seam effect 16 in the outwardly facing PVC layer of the parts 11 and 12, and the sealing bellows 10 is fitted in this way on a gear lever 17.
At it upper end portion 18, the sealing bellows 10 surrounds the gear lever 17 in the manner of a collar. At its lower end portion 13, the sealing bellows 10 is secured by means of the retaining tongues 1 5, which engage the rear of the edge of an opening 19, through which the gear lever 17 extends and which is formed in a mounting 20 (not shown in detail).
The arrangement whereby the parts 11 and 12 are resilient tranversely of the longitudinal direction in which the sealing bellows 10 extends results in a wrinkle-free, shapely transition from the end portion 13, connected to the frame 14 or 140, to the upper end portion 18 of the bellows 10 that surrounds the gear lever 17 in the manner of a collar.
For the purpose of producing the sealing bellows 10 economically, its parts 11 and 12 of like shape are preferably made from superposed webs. To this end, apparatus 21, illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 2, comprises a means (not shown) for carrying two rolls 22 and 23 of web material. A web 220 and 230 respectively is paid out from rolls 22 and 23. Each of the webs 220 and 230 consists of artificial facing leather, and they are laid one upon the other with their PVC coatings facing each other. A feed device 24 passes the superposed webs 220 and 230 to a high-frequency welding machine 25.
The high-frequency welding machine 25 comprises shaping electrodes 26 and 260, shaped to correspond to predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the parts 11 and 12 to be cut out from the webs. The shaping electrodes 26 and 260 are so designed that they produce a series of closely adjoining weld points 27 and 270 whereby the two webs 220 and 230 are bonded together by the PVC coatings.
A stamping machine 28 is arranged at a predetermined distance from the high-frequency welding machine 25. The bonded parts 11 and 12 are cut out from the webs 220 and 230 by the stamping machine 28. The bonded and stampedout parts 11 and 12 are then passed into a former 29 shown in Figure 3. In a first operation, the edges at the lower end portion 13 of the sealing bellows 10 are turned over. In a second operation, the frame 140, carrying retaining tongues 150, is fitted into the turned-over edges. In a further operation, the edges are connected to the frame 140 by ultrasonic welding and by means of electrodes 30 and 300 shown in Figure 5. The bellows 10 are then turned inside-out so that the tongues 150 project downwardly from the lower end of the bellows 10, and the welded edges of the parts 11 and 12 are on the inside of the bellows 10.

Claims (9)

1. A method of producing a sealing bellows, particularly but not exclusively for covering a gear lever or a handbrake lever in an automobile, which bellows comprise two parts of similar shape made of a flexible material and, in an end portion, a retaining means for securing it, when it is in use, at an opening in a wall through which a lever passes, the material of one of the two parts being laid upon the material of the other and being firmly joined thereto along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the two parts in which method:: (a) the parts are made of a laminated material which is resilient in a preferred direction and has a layer of thermoplastic synthetic material; (b) the material of one of the two parts is laid upon the material of the other with the layers of synthetic material facing each other, and the material of one of the two parts is bonded to the material of the other along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines of the two parts; (c) the peripheral lines of the two parts are each secured, in relation to the resilient direction of the laminated material, in such a manner that the bonded parts are resilient transversely of the main direction in which the sealing bellows extends, and (d) the two parts are solidly connected, at an end portion of the bellows which is intended to be positioned adjacent to the opening, by a frame on which the retaining means is arranged.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which the parts are made from superposed webs of a laminated material, the webs being bonded together in portions of the intended peripheral line of the parts in a first operation, and the bonded parts being stamped out in subsequent operation.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the parts are made of a PVC-coated fabric, for example artificial facing leather, and are bonded together in a high frequency welding machine.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, in which the frame comprises plastics material, has firmly secured resilient retaining tongues, and is bonded to edges of the parts.
5. Apparatus for performing a method in accordance with claim 1, comprising: (a) a device for receiving two rolls of web; (b) a feed device for the webs to feed the latter off the rolls with one laid upon the other; (c) a welding machine, to which the webs are passed; (d) a stamping device for stamping out the bonded parts; and (e) a former for turning over the edges of the parts for firmly connecting them to the frame provided with the retaining means.
6. A sealing bellows, particularly but not exclusively for covering a gear lever or a handbrake lever in an automobile, which bellows comprises two parts of similar shape made of a flexible material and, in an end portion, a retaining means for securing it, when it is in use, at an opening in a wall through which a lever passes, the parts being firmly joined to each other along predetermined portions of their peripheral lines, in which:: (a) the parts are made of a laminated material which is resilient in a preferred direction and has a layer of thermoplastic synthetic material; (b) the parts are bonded together along predetermined portions of the peripheral lines, where the layers of synthetic material face each other; (c) the peripheral lines of the two parts are each secured in relation to the resilient direction of the laminated material, in such manner that the bonded parts are resilient transversely of the main direction in which the sealing bellows extends; and (d) the two parts are solidly connected, at an end portion of the bellows which is intended to be positioned adjacent to the opening, by a frame on which the retaining means is arranged.
7. A method of producing a sealing bellows, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 or Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
8. Apparatus for producing a sealing bellows, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 or Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
9. A sealing bellows substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 with or without the modification shown in Figure 4.
GB8031800A 1979-10-03 1980-10-02 Sealing bellows Expired GB2062190B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2940012A DE2940012C2 (en) 1979-10-03 1979-10-03 Method and device for producing a gearshift or handbrake lever cover in motor vehicles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2062190A true GB2062190A (en) 1981-05-20
GB2062190B GB2062190B (en) 1983-03-16

Family

ID=6082533

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8031800A Expired GB2062190B (en) 1979-10-03 1980-10-02 Sealing bellows

Country Status (4)

Country Link
DE (1) DE2940012C2 (en)
FR (1) FR2466331A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2062190B (en)
IT (1) IT1132768B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2258520A (en) * 1991-08-08 1993-02-10 Rover Group Gear selector cover.
GB2335258A (en) * 1998-03-14 1999-09-15 Rover Group A gaiter arrangement for a gear lever
GB2335970A (en) * 1998-03-14 1999-10-06 Rover Group A gaiter for a handbrake or gear lever in a motor vehicle
FR2873631A1 (en) * 2004-07-30 2006-02-03 Cera Gearshift lever bellow for motor vehicle, has layers made of flexible and porous material and associated on back side of side layers to form double wall complex unit having acoustic protection properties

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3737702C1 (en) * 1987-11-06 1989-01-26 Opel Adam Ag Bracket with a clamping frame for attaching a gear lever bellows
GB9021467D0 (en) * 1990-10-03 1990-11-14 Cmi Trimmings Ltd A method of forming a gaiter
USD775288S1 (en) * 2011-07-20 2016-12-27 Virberu L.L.C. Training ball
DE102017010496A1 (en) * 2017-11-14 2019-05-16 Psa Automobiles Sa gearshift
FR3099432B1 (en) * 2019-08-02 2021-12-17 Tesca France Automotive vehicle interior trim bellows

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3028576A (en) * 1958-06-02 1962-04-03 Ethicon Inc Methods and apparatus for making thin plastic gloves
GB897508A (en) * 1959-09-12 1962-05-30 Continental Gummi Werke Ag Improvements in or relating to the welding of plastic materials
US3132348A (en) * 1960-12-19 1964-05-12 Advance Glove Mfg Company Hand coverings
US3128473A (en) * 1961-04-26 1964-04-14 Mark Clark Inc Method for forming gloves from vinyl film or sheeting

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2258520A (en) * 1991-08-08 1993-02-10 Rover Group Gear selector cover.
GB2335258A (en) * 1998-03-14 1999-09-15 Rover Group A gaiter arrangement for a gear lever
GB2335970A (en) * 1998-03-14 1999-10-06 Rover Group A gaiter for a handbrake or gear lever in a motor vehicle
GB2335970B (en) * 1998-03-14 2001-12-12 Rover Group Motor vehicle gaiter
FR2873631A1 (en) * 2004-07-30 2006-02-03 Cera Gearshift lever bellow for motor vehicle, has layers made of flexible and porous material and associated on back side of side layers to form double wall complex unit having acoustic protection properties

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2466331A1 (en) 1981-04-10
IT1132768B (en) 1986-07-02
FR2466331B1 (en) 1985-03-22
IT8024936A0 (en) 1980-09-26
DE2940012A1 (en) 1981-04-16
DE2940012C2 (en) 1985-02-07
GB2062190B (en) 1983-03-16

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