JP2005014233A - Rubber hose and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a rubber hose, which more certainly prevents the mutual adhesion of unvulcanized rubber hoses without bringing about a marked rise in equipment cost and production cost at the time of vulcanization of the unvulcanized rubber hose, and also to provide the unvulcanized rubber hose. <P>SOLUTION: Rubber layers are extruded on a mandrel A by extruders 1, 3 and 5 and reinforcing layers are formed to the gaps between the rubber layers by braiding machines 2 and 4 to form the unvulcanized rubber hose B of which the outermost layer is the rubber layer. The unvulcanized rubber hose B is irradiated with an electron beam by an electron beam irradiator 7 to semi-vulcanize or vulcanize only the surface part of the hose up to a depth of 0.05-1.0 mm. Thereafter, this unvulcanized rubber hose B' is taken up on a tray 8 and heated by steam in a vulcanizer 9 to vulcanize the whole of the hose. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vulcanization technique for an unvulcanized rubber hose when manufacturing a rubber hose.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a high-pressure hose used in, for example, an automobile brake system, a power steering system, an air conditioner system, etc., a rubber hose in which a reinforcing layer made of reinforcing fibers or reinforcing steel wires is provided between a plurality of rubber layers has been used. . This rubber hose is constituted by, for example, sequentially laminating an inner rubber layer, a first reinforcing layer, an intermediate rubber layer, a second reinforcing layer, and an outer rubber layer, and is manufactured by the following method, for example.
[0003]
[Prior art 1]
As shown in FIG. 3, the rubber material for the inner rubber layer is extruded on the mandrel A by the extruder 21 to form the inner rubber layer, and the reinforcing fiber is braided by the braiding machine 22 on the first reinforcing layer. Form. On this reinforcing layer, an intermediate rubber layer is formed by extruding a rubber material for the intermediate rubber layer by an extruder 23, and further, a second reinforcing layer is formed by braiding on the reinforcing layer by a braiding machine 24. Finally, a rubber material for the outer rubber layer is extruded as an outer layer by the extruder 25 to coat the outer rubber layer. Next, after the product type, lot number, etc. are printed on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose formed in this way by the printing machine 26, the product is immersed in the anti-adhesive solution tank 27 to cover the anti-adhesive D. Then, the unvulcanized rubber hose B coated with the anti-adhesive agent D is wound up on a tray 28 in a spiral shape, a plurality of the trays 28 are stacked in a vulcanizing can 29, and heated by steam for a predetermined time. Then, the rubber material constituting each layer is vulcanized. As a result, hardness and elasticity are imparted to the rubber by vulcanization, and a product rubber hose C having a predetermined strength and flexibility is obtained (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
As described above, the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B is covered with the adhesion-preventing material D in the pre-vulcanization process for the purpose of preventing the close contact between the unvulcanized rubber hoses B. However, even if the anti-adhesive agent D is applied, the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B is damaged by contact with the apparatus or the like during subsequent handling, or the anti-adhesive agent D peels off and is wound on the tray 28. In some cases, the unvulcanized rubber hose B may be closely adhered to each other, and it is inevitable that a certain number of defective products are generated due to poor hose appearance or unclear printing. It is possible to prevent the unvulcanized rubber hoses from sticking to each other even if a release agent such as silicon is applied instead of the anti-adhesive material, but the release agent remains on the surface of the hose after vulcanization. If the base for connecting the hose and other parts is fastened to the end of the hose in such a state, problems such as deterioration of the strength of the fastening portion may occur. Absent.
[0005]
[Prior Art 2]
In addition, after molding the unvulcanized rubber hose, instead of applying an anti-adhesive agent, cover the outer surface of the hose with a lead, wind it up with a take-up drum, put it in a vulcanizing can and steam vulcanize it, and after completion of vulcanization, lead There is also a method of peeling off to make a product (see Patent Document 2). According to this method, the adhesion between unvulcanized rubber hoses can be more reliably prevented, so that the occurrence of defective products can be reduced. However, it is not preferable to use lead because of environmental problems.
[0006]
In addition, a method using a sheath material such as a resin instead of lead is also employed. However, this method can reuse the resin, but it cannot avoid deterioration of the resin due to heating during vulcanization. There is a limit to the number of uses, and an increase in manufacturing cost due to the use of the sheath material itself cannot be avoided.
[0007]
[Prior Art 3]
In addition, the outer surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose is continuously covered with a sushi roll of a sheath material made of a belt-like heat-shrinkable film, the end portion of the sheath material is heat-sealed, and then the sheath material is heated. Has disclosed a method of heat shrinking and then vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber hose (see Patent Document 3). According to this method, since lead is not used, it is possible to prevent adhesion between unvulcanized rubber hoses without being affected by environmental problems. However, since the heat-shrink film peeled off after vulcanization cannot be reused, this method also has a manufacturing cost. There is a problem that becomes high.
[0008]
[Prior Art 4]
On the other hand, in order to prevent adhesion between the unvulcanized rubber hoses and to save labor and improve productivity by continuing the vulcanization process, instead of the batch-type vulcanization method using the vulcanization can, the following continuous Vulcanization methods have been developed and are currently being implemented. In this continuous vulcanization method, as shown in FIG. 4, an unvulcanized rubber hose is formed in the same process as in FIG. 3 and printed on the surface, and then a resin extruder 31 is used on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B. Extrude E to coat. Then, the vulcanizing cylinder 33 filled with the oil F is heated by the external heating type heater 32, and the hose B after the resin E coating is continuously passed through the vulcanizing cylinder 33 and heated for a predetermined time. Vulcanize. After the vulcanization is completed, the resin E is cut and removed by the resin removing device 34 to obtain the product rubber hose C. When this method is adopted, the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B is coated with the resin E, so that there is no problem of adhesion between the unvulcanized rubber hoses, and the occurrence of defective products is extremely reduced. However, since the process of coating and removing the resin E is required, the equipment cost is high. In addition, the removed resin E is pulverized by the pulverizer 35, heated and melted, and reused. Because of the rapid deterioration due to contact, the lifetime is short, resulting in high manufacturing costs, and there is room for improvement.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-90465 A (paragraphs [0002]-[0003], FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-225042 (paragraphs [0002]-[0005], FIG. 3)
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-225042 (paragraphs [0008]-[0024], FIG. 1-2)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present invention provides a rubber hose manufacturing method and an unvulcanized rubber hose that can more reliably prevent adhesion between unvulcanized rubber hoses without causing a significant increase in equipment cost and manufacturing cost during vulcanization of the unvulcanized rubber hose. An object is to provide a rubber hose.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the first aspect of the present invention, the unvulcanized rubber hose is irradiated with an electron beam to semi-vulcanize or vulcanize only the hose surface, and then the unvulcanized rubber hose is heated to vulcanize the entire hose. A method of manufacturing a rubber hose characterized by the following.
[0012]
Invention of Claim 2 is a manufacturing method of the rubber hose of Claim 1 which makes thickness of the hose surface part to vulcanize or vulcanize 0.05-1.0 mm.
[0013]
Invention of Claim 3 is a manufacturing method of the rubber hose of Claim 1 or 2 which dries and / or prints the stamp printed on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose by irradiation of the electron beam.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the entire hose is vulcanized without applying an anti-adhesive agent to the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose after only the hose surface portion is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized. The method for producing a rubber hose according to any one of Items 1 to 3.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 5 is an unvulcanized rubber hose in which only the hose surface portion is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized by electron beam irradiation.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 6 is the unvulcanized rubber hose according to claim 5, wherein the semi-vulcanized or vulcanized hose surface portion has a thickness of 0.05 to 1.0 mm.
[0017]
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the unvulcanized rubber hose according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the print printed on the hose surface is dried and / or baked by the irradiation of the electron beam.
[0018]
Invention of Claim 8 was obtained by vulcanizing the whole hose, without applying an anti-adhesive agent on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose hose according to any one of Claims 5-7. It is a rubber hose.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line for a rubber hose according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an extruder for extruding an inner rubber layer, and 2 is a braided first reinforcing layer on the inner rubber layer. A braiding machine, 3 is an extruder for extruding an intermediate rubber layer on the first reinforcing layer, 4 is a braiding machine for braiding the second reinforcing layer on the intermediate rubber layer, and 5 is an outer surface on the second reinforcing layer. An extruder for extruding a rubber layer is shown, and an unvulcanized rubber hose B is formed by 1-5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printing machine for printing on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B.
[0021]
In the embodiment of the present invention, an electron beam irradiation device 7 for irradiating an electron beam to the unvulcanized rubber hose B is installed behind the stamping machine 6 and only the surface portion of the hose is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized by electron beam irradiation. After the unvulcanized rubber hose B ′ is wound on the tray 8, the entire tray 8 is supplied to the vulcanizing can 9, and the entire hose B ′ is vulcanized to obtain a product rubber hose C.
[0022]
When an electron beam is irradiated onto the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B for a certain period of time, molecules constituting the rubber near the irradiated hose surface are activated and the vulcanization reaction is promoted. However, since the transmission power of the electron beam in the substance is not so large, only the surface portion that has entered the inside from the outermost surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B only half-vulcanized or vulcanized depending on the amount of irradiation of the electron beam. Sulfurated. As a result, only the hose surface portion is cured and the adhesiveness is lost, so that even if it comes into contact with the apparatus or the like, it will not be damaged, and the unvulcanized rubber hose B ′ will not be in close contact with each other. In addition, since the surface of the hose is heated by electron beam irradiation and the print applied by the stamping machine is dried and / or baked and fixed, the subsequent handling and vulcanization treatment also prevents the print from becoming unclear. is there. Therefore, after the electron beam irradiation, it is possible to immediately wrap it on the tray 8 and perform vulcanization without requiring treatment such as coating of an anti-adhesive agent or coating of lead as in the prior art.
[0023]
If the thickness of the hose surface portion to be semi-vulcanized or vulcanized is too thin, the effect of preventing scratches and adhesion will be small, while if too thick, the electron beam irradiation amount near the outermost surface of the hose will be excessive and vulcanize. On the other hand, cracks are likely to occur due to excessive curing caused by over-treatment. For this reason, the thickness of the hose surface portion to be semi-vulcanized or vulcanized is preferably 0.05 to 1.0 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably 0.2 to 0.3 mm. .
[0024]
The irradiation condition of the electron beam is not particularly limited as long as it is appropriately determined in consideration of the type of the outer surface rubber layer, the thickness of the surface portion to be semi-vulcanized or vulcanized, and the like. Furthermore, it is preferable to set it as 200-500 kV, irradiation dose 100-500 kGy, and also 200-300 kGy.
[0025]
[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rubber hose production line according to another embodiment of the present invention. The process from forming unvulcanized rubber hoses on the mandrel A by the extruders 11, 13, 15 and braiding machines 12, 14 and printing on the surface by the stamping machine 16 is the same as in FIG. Description is omitted. In the present embodiment, an electron beam irradiation device 17 that irradiates an electron beam to the unvulcanized rubber hose B is installed behind the stamping machine 16, and only the hose surface portion is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized by electron beam irradiation. The vulcanized rubber hose B ′ is subsequently passed through the vulcanizing cylinder 19 filled with the oil F. The vulcanizing cylinder 19 is heated by an externally heated heater 18, and the unvulcanized rubber hose B ′ is heated with oil while passing through the vulcanizing cylinder 19 to be vulcanized as a whole. According to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since only the surface portion of the vulcanized rubber hose B ′ is vulcanized and cured by electron beam irradiation, there is no risk of scratching or adhesion, and the resin is not coated. Vulcanization can be performed immediately. Therefore, the resin coating step and the removal step are not necessary, and the equipment cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0026]
In the first and second embodiments, in order to irradiate the entire surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose B with the electron beam as uniformly as possible, a plurality of electron beam irradiation devices 7 and 17 are installed so as to surround the unvulcanized rubber hose B. May be.
[0027]
Alternatively, in order to save the installation cost of the electron beam irradiation devices 7 and 17, only one electron beam irradiation device 7 is installed, and a metal reflector such as titanium or tungsten is provided on the opposite side of the unvulcanized rubber hose B, Of the electron beams irradiated from the electron beam irradiation devices 7 and 17, the electron beam that has passed through without being irradiated on the front side of the unvulcanized rubber hose B is reflected by this reflector and irradiated on the back side of the hose B. You may comprise.
[0028]
In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the rubber hose is provided with two fiber reinforcing layers and one intermediate rubber layer provided therebetween, but is not limited thereto, and the outermost layer is a rubber layer. Of course, the present invention can be applied to any configuration as long as it is present.
[0029]
Incidentally, as a prior art of a rubber hose (high pressure hose) to which a method of vulcanizing rubber by electron beam irradiation is applied, an intermediate rubber layer using a rubber sheet that has been semi-cured by electron beam irradiation in advance is disclosed. (See JP 2003-90465 A). This prior art is characterized in that the entire thickness of the rubber sheet is in a semi-vulcanized state, thereby suppressing the flow of the unvulcanized rubber during the vulcanization of the rubber hose and preventing the turbulence of the reinforcing layer. Accordingly, the present invention has been completed based on a technical idea completely different from this prior art, and has the effect of preventing the rubber hose surface from being scratched and the unvulcanized rubber hoses from being adhered to each other. Let me add that.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber hose, a method for producing a rubber hose that can more reliably prevent adhesion between unvulcanized rubber hoses without causing a significant increase in equipment cost and production cost. And an unvulcanized rubber hose.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rubber hose production line according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rubber hose production line according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line for a rubber hose according to prior art 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a production line for a rubber hose according to prior art 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 3, 5 ... Extruder 2, 4 ... Braiding machine 6 ... Stamping machine 7 ... Electron beam irradiation apparatus 8 ... Basin 9 ... Vulcanization can 16 ... Stamping machine 17 ... Electron beam irradiation apparatus 18 ... Heater 19 ... Vulcanizing cylinder A ... Mandrel B ... Unvulcanized rubber hose B '... Semi-vulcanized or vulcanized unvulcanized rubber hose C ... Product rubber hose F ... Oil

Claims (8)

A method for producing a rubber hose comprising irradiating an electron beam to an unvulcanized rubber hose to semi-vulcanize or vulcanize only the hose surface portion, and then heating the unvulcanized rubber hose to vulcanize the entire hose. The method for producing a rubber hose according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the surface portion of the hose to be semi-vulcanized or vulcanized is 0.05 to 1.0 mm. The method for producing a rubber hose according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the print printed on the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose is dried and / or baked by irradiation with the electron beam. The vulcanization of the whole hose is performed without applying an anti-adhesive agent to the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose after only the hose surface portion is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized. A method for producing a rubber hose described in 1. An unvulcanized rubber hose in which only the hose surface is semi-vulcanized or vulcanized by electron beam irradiation. The unvulcanized rubber hose according to claim 5, wherein the semi-vulcanized or vulcanized hose surface portion has a thickness of 0.05 to 1.0 mm. The unvulcanized rubber hose according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the print printed on the hose surface is dried and / or baked by irradiation with the electron beam. A rubber hose obtained by vulcanizing the entire hose without applying an anti-adhesive to the surface of the unvulcanized rubber hose hose according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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