JP2012031954A - Bellows-like hose and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bellows-like hose having a pull relief strongly fixed to an end part of the hose by a simple method.SOLUTION: In the bellows-like hose including a bellows-like hose body 2 constituted of a synthetic resin and the pull relief 1 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body 2 along an inner wall of the hose body 2 and regulating elongation of the hose body 2, a non-elongation/contraction part 2b is formed at the end part 2a of the hose body 2 and the pull relief 1 is joined to an inner wall of the non-elongation/contraction part 2b. The bellows-like hose includes a tube 4 disposed in the longitudinal direction along the inner wall of the hose body 2 and housing a conductor 5 and the pull relief 1 is embedded in an adhesive layer 3 between the tube 4 and the hose body 2. The bellows-like hose is suitable for a hose for vacuum cleaner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bellows-like hose provided with a pull relief for regulating (or suppressing) the elongation of the hose and a method for manufacturing the same.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the hose A of the vacuum cleaner is formed in a bellows structure in order to bend or expand / contract appropriately as it is carried or cleaned. The bellows structure of the hose is a structure in which the wall surface of the hose is regularly and repeatedly folded back along the length of the hose into a hook shape (pleated shape). It has the feature that it can be easily expanded and contracted. Inside the bellows-like hose, a conductor for exchanging signals and electric power between the hand operating section 12 and the main body 10 may be inserted along the length of the hose, and is continuous with the hand operating section 12. The extension pipe 13 and then the floor nozzle 14 are connected. However, when the bellows-like hose is pulled in the length direction, the hose body can flexibly cope with the tensile deformation, whereas the lead wire cannot cope with the tensile deformation because of its low extensibility and easily breaks. In view of this, a method has been developed in which a “pull relief”, which is a line (or string) for regulating the elongation of the hose, is arranged in the longitudinal direction inside the hose. The pull relief is usually made of a material having a small tensile elongation (or is not easily stretched), and its length is adjusted to be equal to or longer than the length of the bellows portion in the non-stretched state. In order for such a pull relief to regulate the extension of the hose, it is usually necessary that the pull relief be fixed at least at both ends (or positions beyond both ends) of the hose.

  International Publication No. WO 98/17936 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method of providing a pull relief in the longitudinal direction of a primary hose, wherein a tip of the primary hose is attached to an inner member of a coupling member. The outer member of the member is attached to the inner member and the primary hose, the tip of the pull relief is taken into the inner cavity formed in such a form, and a liquid adhesive substance is injected into the inner cavity under pressure Thereafter, a method is disclosed that includes a pull relief that fixes the tip of the pull relief by cooling the adhesive substance. This document describes that the tip of the pull relief may be tied to the inner member of the coupling member and fixed with the adhesive substance (for example, resin). Further, it is also described that the surfaces of the primary hose, the inner member and the outer member of the coupling member are melted and bonded with the high-temperature adhesive substance to attach and fix (integrate) these members. Yes.

  However, in this method, since it is necessary to connect (or connect) the independent primary hose and the inner member and the outer member of the coupling member with an adhesive substance, the fixing (integration) operation is complicated. In addition, in order to stably fix the exposed wiring between the primary hose and the coupling member with an adhesive substance, it is necessary to attach a mold with a complicated structure to the inside of the hose. There is a possibility that the lead wire inserted into the pull relief or the hose may be damaged during the attachment / detachment. For this reason, the operability is inferior, and the production yield is reduced, and foreign matter adheres to burrs caused by molding defects. Further, since the lead wire and the pull relief are exposed between the primary hose and the coupling member and are not fixed, the injection pressure acts on the lead wire and the pull relief as the adhesive substance is injected. Then, it moves from a predetermined position in the inner cavity or is exposed (or protrudes) from the inner cavity to the surface. Therefore, the pull relief cannot be effectively protected, and the appearance of the hose to which the pull relief is fixed is also impaired.

  On the other hand, in the international publication WO2008 / 035484 (patent document 2), the present applicant is a method for manufacturing a flexible hose which is inserted into a hose and bonded and integrated. An adhesive nozzle capable of continuously performing a first step of applying an adhesive on the outer surface of the tube and a second step of pressing and bonding the tube to the hose inside the hose is introduced into the hose. A manufacturing method of a flexible hose with a built-in tube is proposed in which the tube is bonded to the hose while moving the bonding nozzle relative to the hose from one end to the other end of the hose.

International Publication No. WO 98/17936 (Claim 1, page 3, lines 11 to 24 and page 5, line 30 to page 6, line 5) International Publication WO2008 / 035484 (Claim 1, Example)

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bellows-like hose in which the pull relief is firmly fixed to the end of the hose by a simple method and a method for manufacturing the same.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a bellows-like hose having a high reliability of fixing a pull relief and a hose end even when used for a long period of time, and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In order to fix the pull relief to the bellows-like hose by a simple method, the present inventors examined fixing the pull relief with an adhesive inside the hose by the method described in Patent Document 2 above. However, since the bellows-like hose is rich in flexibility, peeling easily occurs between the pull relief that is difficult to stretch and the hose that is easily stretched at the bonding portion, and the strength and reliability of bonding are insufficient. In particular, the present inventors have found that peeling of the pull relief is likely to occur at the end of the hose connected by the coupling member (connecting member or connecting pipe), and the cause is as follows. Estimated. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the coupling member 26 is attached to the end portion of the bellows-like hose integrated in the hose body 22 by embedding the pull relief 21 in the adhesive layer 23, it acts on the hose at the connecting portion. The force is transmitted in the order of coupling member, hose wall, and pull relief. At this time, since the hose wall has a bellows structure and is rich in elasticity, the hose wall is stretched and deformed when the hose tends to come out of the connecting member in the process of force transmission. On the other hand, since the pull relief has low elasticity, it is estimated that the hose wall and the adhesive layer are distorted (or the adhesive layer cannot follow the deformation of the hose wall) and peeling occurs. Therefore, as a result of intensive studies, the inventors joined the inner wall of the hose body and the pull relief at at least one end of the bellows-shaped hose body made of synthetic resin, and the end of the hose body. In addition, by forming a non-stretchable portion at least at the joint with the pull relief, even if the bellows portion expands and contracts, it is possible to suppress the transmission of strain due to expansion and contraction between the non-stretchable portion and the pull relief. Was found to be firmly fixed to the end of the hose by a simple method, and the present invention was completed.

  That is, the bellows-like hose of the present invention is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body along the inner wall of the bellows-like hose body made of synthetic resin and the hose body, and regulates the elongation of the hose body. A non-stretchable portion is formed at the end of the hose body, and a pull relief is joined to the inner wall of the non-stretchable portion. By joining the pull relief to the non-stretchable part formed at the end of the hose body, the elasticity of the hose body at the joint is suppressed, so the hose body and the pull relief can be peeled off by a simple method. Can be suppressed.

  The non-stretchable part may be formed in a part of the circumferential direction including the joint part with the pull relief in the end part of the hose body. By forming the non-stretchable portion in a part of the region, the non-stretchable portion can suppress separation from the pull relief, and in other regions other than the non-stretchable portion, the bellows structure has a connection with the coupling member. An anchor effect is expressed and it can join firmly. The non-stretchable part may be a substantially flat part. By adopting a substantially flat shape, the bonding area with the pull relief at the joint portion is increased, and separation between the hose body and the pull relief can be effectively suppressed.

  The hose body may be made of a thermoplastic resin. By configuring the hose body with a thermoplastic resin, the non-stretchable part can be easily formed at any stage such as after the hose body and the pull relief are joined.

  The pull relief may be joined to the hose body via an adhesive layer. Further, the pull relief may be embedded (embedded) in an adhesive layer made of a heat resistant fiber and made of a thermoplastic resin. The pull relief can be firmly fixed to the hose body through the adhesive layer. In particular, the pull relief can be firmly fixed to the hose body by being embedded in an adhesive layer made of a thermoplastic resin and pulled by heat. It can also suppress that the intensity | strength of a relief falls.

  The bellows-like hose of the present invention further includes a tube disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body along the inner wall of the hose body and accommodates a conductor, and a pull relief is formed between the tube and the hose body. It may be embedded in an adhesive layer interposed therebetween. By placing or interposing the pull relief between the tube and the inner wall of the hose body and joining with an adhesive layer, it is possible to firmly fix the pull relief by simply joining the end of the hose body and the pull relief. Handling becomes easy, and the bellows structure can be regulated by pull relief by a simple method.

  The bellows-like hose of the present invention may further include a coupling member that covers the non-stretchable portion of the hose body and can be integrated with the bellows-like hose. By covering the non-stretchable part with the coupling member, the hose body and the pull relief can be effectively peeled off at the connecting part with the coupling member, which is a part where the hose part is easily deformed and easily peeled off. Can be suppressed. Such a bellows-like hose can be used as, for example, a vacuum cleaner hose.

  The present invention includes a step of joining a pull relief disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body to the inner wall of the bellows-like hose body made of synthetic resin and a step of forming a non-stretchable portion at the end. A method for manufacturing the bellows-like hose, which is a method for manufacturing a hose, wherein the step of joining the pull relief and the step of forming the non-stretchable part are performed simultaneously or before and after is included.

  In the manufacturing method, at least one end of a hose body made of thermoplastic resin, after joining a pull relief to the inner wall of the hose body via an adhesive layer, among the ends of the hose body, The non-stretchable part may be formed by pressing the heating member at the joint with the adhesive layer. In this method, since the hose body is made of a thermoplastic resin, the substantially flat portion can be formed by a simple operation of simply pressing the end portion of the bellows-like hose with the heating member, so that the productivity is high.

  The manufacturing method further includes fitting a coupling member to the end portion of the hose body and covering the non-stretchable portion of the hose body with the coupling member, and then inserting a thermoplastic resin at least between the hose body and the coupling member. The hose body, the pull relief, and the coupling member may be integrated by injection molding. Moreover, the said manufacturing method may further form the coupling member integrated with the hose main body and the pull relief by injection-molding a thermoplastic resin, covering the non-expandable part of the hose main body with the thermoplastic resin. In the present invention, the coupling member can be easily connected to the bellows-like hose by any method, and the deformation at the joint between the pull relief and the hose body can be suppressed without distortion even if the bellows portion expands and contracts. Therefore, peeling between the pull relief and the bellows-like hose can be further suppressed. Further, in order to cover the hose body by injection molding of the thermoplastic resin, for example, when the non-stretchable portion is formed by pressing and pressing with a heating member, the bellows portion and the non-stretchable portion are formed at the end of the hose body. Even when a gap or gap occurs at the boundary, the gap or gap can be sealed with the injection-molded thermoplastic resin, so that the airtightness at the end of the hose can be improved.

  In the present invention, the inner wall of the hose body and the pull relief are joined by the non-stretchable portion at the end, so that even if the hose body is stretched, the joint relief is not distorted or deformed. Can be firmly fixed to the end of the hose. In particular, when the pull relief is joined to the hose body via the adhesive layer and a substantially flat portion is formed at the end of the hose, the adhesive force between the hose body and the adhesive layer is increased, and the joining area of both is also large. Therefore, even if it is used as a hose for a vacuum cleaner for a long period of time, the pull relief and the end of the hose are fixed reliably without peeling.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a bellows-like hose of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the bellows-like hose of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side surface of the bellows-like hose of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side surface in a state where a coupling member is connected to the end of the bellows-shaped hose of FIG. 1 and overmolded. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the bellows-like hose of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the bellows-shaped hose of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a vacuum cleaner provided with a bellows-like hose. FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a side surface in a state where a coupling member is connected to an end portion of a conventional bellows-like hose.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as necessary.

  1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the bellows-like hose of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the bellows-like hose of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the bellows-like hose of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a side surface in a state where a coupling member is connected to the end of the bellows-shaped hose of FIG. 1 and overmolded.

  In this example, the bellows-like hose is a hose mainly used for a vacuum cleaner, and is joined to the bellows-like hose body 2 along the inner wall of the hose body 2 and in the longitudinal direction of the hose body 2. An extending flat (layered) adhesive layer 3, a pull relief 1 embedded or embedded in the adhesive layer 3, and a tube 4 fixed to the inner wall of the hose body 2 via the adhesive layer 3, The lead wire 5 is provided inside the tube 4 (note that the lead wire 5 in the tube 4 is omitted in FIGS. 3 and 4). That is, the adhesive layer 3 fixes the pull relief 1 inside thereof, and also serves as an adhesive between the inner wall of the hose body 2 and the tube 4, thereby pulling the pull relief 1 and the tube 4 to the inner wall of the hose body 2. It is fixed to. Furthermore, the end portion 2a of the bellows-like hose body 2 is a portion corresponding to a plurality of rows of convex portions (saddle-shaped concave portions) from the end portion among the convex portions constituting the bellows structure at the joint portion with the adhesive layer 3. The convex portion is crushed and formed as a flat portion (substantially flat portion) 2b extending in the longitudinal direction. By forming a flat portion 2b that functions as a non-stretchable portion or a stretch regulating portion at the end 2a of the hose body 2, the stretchability of the hose body in the flat portion 2b is limited, and the flat portion (non-recessed portion or Since the smooth surface has a smooth surface and a large bonding area between the hose body and the adhesive layer, peeling of the adhesive layer 3 is suppressed, and the pull relief 1 embedded in the adhesive layer 3 is firmly attached to the inner wall of the hose. Fixed. Moreover, since the pull relief 1 is completely covered with the flat adhesive layer 3, the adhesive layer is formed despite the fact that the hose body is composed of a resin component having low adhesion to the constituent material of the pull relief. 3 is firmly fixed to the inner wall of the hose body 2 via 3. In addition, the end where the non-stretchable part is formed is connected by a coupling member, and the end that becomes the connection part with the coupling member is likely to be locally locally distorted, causing separation between the adhesive layer and the hose body. Although it is easy to do, peeling of both can be suppressed effectively by forming a non-expandable part in an edge part.

  The pull relief 1 is made of, for example, a stainless steel wire having an average wire diameter of about 0.5 mm (for example, 12 stranded wires), and is less stretchable than the bellows-like hose body 2. By being fixed at the portion, the elongation of the hose body can be regulated or suppressed. In this example, the pull relief 1 is fixed to the inner wall of the hose body 2 over the entire length of the hose body 2 via the adhesive layer 3.

  In the present embodiment, the hose body 2, the adhesive layer 3 and the tube 4 all have predetermined elasticity such as polyethylene resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA resin), or a mixture of these resins. Since they are made of a thermoplastic resin and are made of the same kind of thermoplastic resin, they are firmly bonded to each other. Furthermore, since the hose body 2 is made of a thermoplastic resin, the flat portion 2b of the hose body can be easily formed by pressing with a heating member.

  Such a bellows-like hose is, for example, the step of joining the inner wall of the hose body 2 and the tube 4 via the adhesive layer 3 having the pull relief 1 therein, and the adhesive layer among the ends of the hose body 2. It can manufacture by passing the process of pressing a heating member to the junction part with 3, and forming the flat part 2b.

  In the step of joining the hose body and the tube, as a method of joining the hose body and the tube via the adhesive layer having a pull relief inside, for example, after laminating the molten adhesive layer on the surface of the tube The hose body may be bonded to the inner wall. This step may be performed as a continuous step, and for example, a method described in International Publication WO2008 / 035484 and European Patent EP1 011 960B1 may be used.

  As a method for producing an adhesive layer having a pull relief 1 inside, the thermoplastic resin is formed by a coextrusion method or the like so that the pull relief is covered (wrapped) with a thermoplastic resin constituting the adhesive layer. The pull relief may be laminated on the tube surface while being covered with resin from both the upper and lower surfaces. Specifically, the thermoplastic resin may be coextruded into the die in a molten state so that the pull relief is located at the center of the thermoplastic resin while supplying the pull relief into the die using an extruder. . Furthermore, in order to adhere | attach firmly with a tube and a hose main body, you may press from a tube using a press means.

  In the step of forming the flat portion, a flat surface corresponding to the shape of the heating member is formed by pressing the joining portion with the pull relief from the outer surface of the hose body using a heating member (hot plate) having a substantially flat surface. Can be formed. By thermocompression bonding using the heating member, the flat portion can be formed by a simple method, and the hose body and the adhesive layer are pressure-bonded. The heating temperature when pressing with the heating member is higher than the softening point or melting point of the thermoplastic resin constituting the hose body, for example, about 150 to 250 ° C.

  In the obtained bellows-like hose, as shown in FIG. 4, the coupling member 6 is fitted to the end 2a of the hose body 2, and the flat portion (non-stretchable portion) 2b of the hose body 2 is coupled. Over cover for integrating the hose body 2, the pull relief 1 and the coupling member 6 by injection molding a thermoplastic resin in at least the space between the hose body and the coupling member in a state covered with the member 6. A molding part (or molding part) 7 may be formed and the coupling member 6 may be connected. In the present invention, the pull relief 1 is easily fixed to the hose body 2 by the adhesive layer 3, so that it is not necessary to fix the pull relief to the coupling member or the like in connection with the coupling member 6, thereby increasing productivity. Can be improved. Furthermore, by forming an overmold part between the coupling member and the bellows-like hose, for example, in the step of forming a flat part by pressing with a heating member, a gap or a gap is formed near the boundary between the flat part and the bellows part. Even when the gap is generated, the gap or gap can be sealed with the overmold portion.

  In the bellows-like hose of the present invention, the bellows-like hose body can be a conventional bellows-like hose used depending on the application. The bellows-like hose body is obtained by being molded by a conventional method such as spiral molding, continuous extrusion molding, continuous blow molding, injection molding or the like, and then cut into a predetermined length.

  The size and structure of the bellows-like hose body can be selected according to the application. In the case of a vacuum cleaner hose, the inner diameter of the hose body is, for example, 10 to 100 mm, preferably 15 to 50 mm, and more preferably 20 to 40 mm. (Especially 25 to 35 mm). The height of each convex part which comprises a bellows structure is 1-10 mm, for example, Preferably it is 1.5-8 mm, More preferably, it is about 2-5 mm (especially 2.5-4 mm). The pitch (distance between adjacent convex parts) between each convex part is 1-10 mm, for example, Preferably it is 2-8 mm, More preferably, it is about 3-7 mm (especially 4-6 mm). The thickness of the wall surface forming the bellows structure is, for example, about 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably about 0.2 to 3 mm, and more preferably about 0.3 to 2 mm (particularly about 0.5 to 1.5 mm).

  The shape of the non-stretchable portion may be a shape that does not easily stretch in the length direction of the hose body, and is not limited to a flat shape (a shape with a smooth surface), the surface is an uneven shape, and the back surface is smooth. It may be a shape or the like. Among these shapes, a flat shape or a smooth shape is preferable because it can be easily produced and does not easily expand or contract in the length direction of the hose body even if it is thin. Furthermore, the thickness of the flat portion (or non-stretchable portion) is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a thickness that is the same height as the height of the convex portion constituting the bellows structure. The thickness obtained by pressing the bellows-shaped end portion with a heating member (that is, substantially the same thickness as the wall surface of the bellows portion) may be used. In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the flat portion (the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the length direction of the hose body) when the bellows-like end portion is pressed by the heating member is a substantially U-shaped concave shape. In the present invention, the flat shape (or substantially flat shape) of the bellows-like hose body means a structure having a substantially smooth surface, and includes a smooth curved surface shape along the outer periphery of the hose body.

  The non-stretchable part is not limited to an aspect formed in a region including the joint part with the pull relief (for example, the joint part with the adhesive layer) in the circumferential direction of the hose body, and may be another aspect.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the bellows-like hose of the present invention in which a non-stretchable portion is formed not only in the vicinity of the joint with the pull relief but also over the entire circumference. FIG. It is a schematic front view of a bellows-like hose. In this example, the flat portion 2 c is formed not only at the joint portion with the adhesive layer 3 but also around the entire circumference including the joint portion, and the tube is not joined to the adhesive layer 3. This is similar to the bellows-shaped hose. When the flat portion 2c is formed over the entire circumference of the end portion of the hose body, there is no gap that is likely to occur when the flat portion is partially formed, and overfilling between the coupling members is performed. Since the mold resin easily follows the flat portion, the airtightness can be improved.

  Among these aspects, the pull relief can be fixed at the bonding region with the adhesive layer, and in other regions, the non-expandable portion is formed from the fact that the convex portion of the bellows structure can exhibit the anchor effect in connection with the coupling member. In the circumferential direction of the hose body, an aspect formed by a part of the region including the joint portion with the pull relief (particularly, the joint portion with the adhesive layer) is preferable. The specific length (width) of the non-stretchable portion in the circumferential direction of the hose body can be selected in accordance with the diameter of the hose body, the width of the adhesive layer, etc., for example, 3 to 20 mm, preferably 5 to 15 mm, Preferably it is about 8-12 mm. Further, the width of the non-stretchable part is, for example, 1/1 to 1/10 times, preferably 1 / 1.5 to 1/8 times, more preferably 1/2 to 1 times the outer diameter of the hose body. / 6 times (especially 1/3 to 1/5 times) may be sufficient. When the width of the non-stretchable part is adjusted at such a ratio, the pull relief can be firmly fixed to the hose body at the non-stretchable part even if the hose body is bent or stretched.

  The non-stretchable part is a part or region in which expansion and contraction is restricted in the longitudinal direction of the hose body, and is limited to an aspect formed from the end part to a part corresponding to a plurality of rows of convex parts constituting the bellows structure. It can be selected according to the application. For example, the length of the non-stretchable part in the longitudinal direction of the hose body is such that when the non-stretchable part is formed in a part of the hose body in the circumferential direction (for example, a joint with the adhesive layer), the pull relief and the hose body In order to improve the adhesion with the hose body, a non-stretchable part may be formed over the entire length of the hose body. In some areas, especially in the case of hoses for vacuum cleaners, etc., it is formed in the area covered by the coupling member (the largest area covered by the coupling member), that is, at the connecting portion with the coupling member. preferable.

  As such a region, for example, 1 to 10 rows, preferably 2 to 8 rows, more preferably 2 to 6 rows (in particular, from the end in the longitudinal direction among the convex portions constituting the bellows structure (particularly You may form in the site | part corresponded to a convex part about 3-5 rows). Moreover, although the length of the specific non-expandable part in the length direction of a hose main body can be selected according to the magnitude | size of a coupling member, for example, 5-50 mm, Preferably it is 8-40 mm, More preferably, it is 10-10. It is about 30 mm (especially 15-25 mm). As described above, since peeling is likely to occur at the connecting portion with the coupling member, peeling can be effectively suppressed by forming a non-stretchable portion at such a connecting portion.

  The material of the hose body is not limited to an olefin resin or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and various synthetic resins can be used. The synthetic resin may be a thermosetting resin such as polyurethane or rubber, but is preferably a thermoplastic resin because a non-stretchable portion can be easily formed even after the bellows-like hose body is molded. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include olefin resins, rubber-containing styrene resins, soft vinyl chloride resins, acrylic resins, polyesters, polyamides, thermoplastic elastomers (olefin elastomers, styrene elastomers, polyester elastomers, polyamide resins). Elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, etc.). These thermoplastic resins can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Of these thermoplastic resins, a thermoplastic elastomer or a soft resin, particularly an olefin resin such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is preferable because it is excellent in hot melt adhesion and moldability.

  The hose body is made of conventional additives such as colorants, reinforcing fillers (inorganic fibers such as carbon fibers, particulate fillers such as mica and talc), and stabilizers (phenolic, thioether-based, phosphorus-based antioxidants, etc.) Agents, UV stabilizers and other light stabilizers, heat stabilizers, weathering agents, etc.), flame retardants, lubricants, dispersants, foaming agents, crosslinking agents, colorants, mineral oil-based softeners and the like. Furthermore, the bellows structure of the hose body may be reinforced with a metal wire or the like.

  The average wire diameter of the pull relief can be selected from a range of about 0.01 to 5 mm (especially 0.05 to 3 mm) depending on the size and material of the hose body. When the heat resistant fiber is used, it is, for example, about 0.01 to 3 mm, preferably about 0.05 to 2 mm, and more preferably about 0.1 to 1.5 mm (particularly about 0.5 to 1.0 mm).

  The pull relief may be a single yarn (strand) or a single wire, but with a surface structure that increases the adhesive strength with the resin component such as the adhesive layer, and has a slight elasticity and follows the expansion and contraction of the hose to some extent. From the viewpoint of increasing the adhesive strength with the resin component, a composite yarn (composite wire) such as a twisted wire, a knitted wire, or a twisted yarn in which a plurality of single yarns are combined is preferable. The number of single yarns or single wires constituting the composite yarn or the composite wire may be two or more, for example, 2 to 100, preferably 3 to 50, more preferably 5 to 30 (particularly 10). ~ 20). In the case of the composite yarn or the composite wire, the average wire diameter of the single yarn or the single wire may be such that, for example, the wire diameter as the composite yarn or the composite wire falls within the above range. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of a single yarn or a single wire is not specifically limited, Usually, it is a substantially circular shape. The pull relief may be surface-treated with a primer (for example, a silane coupling agent or the like) in order to improve adhesion with the resin component.

  The length of the pull relief may be equal to or longer than the length of the hose body. When the non-stretchable portions are formed at both end portions of the hose body, the length is generally the same as that of the hose body. In the present invention, since the pull relief can be fixed at the end of the hose, there is no need to fix the pull relief extending from the hose body to the connecting member or the like, and a bellows-like hose having the pull relief inside the hose can be easily produced.

  The material of the pull relief is not limited to stainless steel wires, and may be natural yarn such as cellulose yarn, synthetic yarn such as polyolefin yarn, polyester yarn, polyvinyl chloride yarn, polyamide yarn, etc., but has high strength and From the point that deterioration does not occur due to the heat history in the hose manufacturing process, heat resistant fibers, for example, metal wires such as stainless steel wires, steel wires, copper wires, nickel wires, chromium wires, inorganic fibers such as glass fibers and carbon fibers, Heat-resistant synthetic fibers such as aramid fibers are preferred.

  The pull relief may be fixed to the hose body only with the non-stretchable part, or may be discontinuously (intermittently with a certain interval) fixed to the hose body, but the pull relief is loosened inside the hose. The aspect which fixes a pull relief to a hose main body over the full length of a hose main body from the point which does not do (it does not flutter) is preferable.

  Moreover, the aspect which is embedded in the wall of a tube and fixed to a hose main body may be sufficient as a pull relief. In this aspect, the pull relief is fixed to the hose body by adhering the tube in which the pull relief is embedded and integrated to the inner peripheral surface of the hose body.

  The shape of the pull relief in the joined state (joined part) is usually linear. In particular, the shape of the pull relief of the joint at the end of the hose body may be linear, and it is non-linear (for example, bent, curved, looped, etc.) in order to increase joint strength and prevent disconnection. Etc.).

  The adhesive layer does not necessarily have to be provided, and a mode in which the molten hose body and the pull relief are bonded using a pull relief partially containing a thermoplastic resin, or the molten hose body is made of metal. However, the pull relief may be firmly fixed to the hose body and the adhesiveness between the tube and the hose body can be improved. An embodiment in which a pull relief is embedded in the slab is preferred.

  The shape of the adhesive layer is not particularly limited as long as the pull relief can be adhered to the end of the hose. However, the adhesive layer and the inner wall of the hose body can be improved without reducing the space inside the hose. A flat (or layered) shape is preferred. In particular, when the hose body and the tube are joined, the adhesion between the hose body inner wall and the tube can be improved.

  The average thickness of the flat adhesive layer may be any thickness that can embed the pull relief inside, for example, can be selected from a range of about 0.1 to 10 mm, but when using a pull relief composed of a metal wire, For example, it is about 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably about 0.3 to 3 mm, and more preferably about 0.5 to 2 mm. The average width of the flat adhesive layer can be selected from a range of about 1 to 30 mm according to the diameter of the hose or tube. In the case of a vacuum cleaner hose, for example, 1 to 20 mm, preferably 2 to 15 mm, more preferably It is about 3 to 10 mm (particularly 4 to 8 mm).

  The adhesive layer is not limited to an aspect formed over the entire length of the hose body, but may be an aspect formed only on a non-stretchable part, an aspect formed discontinuously (intermittently at a constant interval), and the like. The aspect which forms over the full length of a hose main body from the point that a pull relief (and a tube) does not move inside a hose is preferable.

  In addition, although the figure demonstrates the joining aspect in one edge part, joining of the pull relief in the other edge part and a hose main body is not limited to joining via the adhesive layer in a non-stretching part, but is common. The pull relief may be fixed by this method, but it is preferable to join the pull relief at the other end portion via the adhesive layer at the non-stretchable portion as described above from the viewpoint of simplicity and the like.

  When embedding a pull relief in the adhesive layer, it is preferable that the pull relief is embedded in a substantially central portion (center portion) of the adhesive layer from the viewpoint of firmly fixing the pull relief. In this case, it is particularly preferable that a pull relief is embedded in a substantially central portion (substantially central portion) in the thickness direction and the width direction.

  The material of the adhesive layer can be composed of the same synthetic resin as the hose body, but as the adhesive resin having hot melt adhesiveness, a thermoplastic resin similar to the hose body is preferable, from the viewpoint of adhesiveness with the hose body, It is preferable to comprise the same kind or the same thermoplastic resin as the resin constituting the hose body. The adhesive layer may also contain conventional additives exemplified in the hose body.

  The tube only needs to have an inner diameter that can accommodate a conducting wire (for example, a stainless steel wire, a steel wire, a copper wire, a nickel wire, a coated conducting wire, etc.) inside the hollow, and the average inner diameter is, for example, 3 to 20 mm, preferably The thickness of the wall surface is, for example, about 0.1 to 1 mm, preferably about 0.2 to 0.8 mm, and more preferably about 0.3 to 0.6 mm. . The material of the tube can be made of the same synthetic resin as that of the hose body, and is preferably made of the same kind or the same thermoplastic resin as that of the adhesive layer from the viewpoint of adhesiveness with the adhesive layer.

  The manufacturing method of the bellows-like hose is not limited to the above manufacturing method, and when a tube is not provided, a molten adhesive layer in which a pull relief is embedded may be laminated on the inner wall surface of the hose body. In addition, when a tube is provided, after joining the adhesive layer in which the pull relief has been embedded in advance and the tube, the inner wall of the hose body and the adhesive layer are brought into contact with each other to form an electromagnetic wave or pull relief. The adhesive layer may be heated and melt bonded by a method of energizing a metal wire to be performed.

  The method of forming the flat portion is not limited to the method of pressing with the heating member after the joining process of the hose body and the pull relief, for example, the method of forming with the heating member simultaneously with the joining process or before the joining process. May be. Moreover, it is not limited to the method of pressing with a heating member, In forming the bellows-like hose body, the non-stretchable part may be formed simultaneously with the bellows part by continuous blow molding or the like.

  The method of pressing with the heating member is not particularly limited as long as it can be formed by crushing the convex portion forming the bellows structure of the hose body by thermocompression bonding, etc., but as the heating member, a metal plate or the like can be used, Although heating temperature can be selected according to the kind of synthetic resin which comprises a hose main body, for example, in the case of an olefin resin, it is 100-250 degreeC, for example, Preferably it is 120-200 degreeC, More preferably, it is about 130-180 degreeC. It may be.

  The method of integrating with the coupling member is not limited to the method of integrating the coupling member and the bellows-shaped hose by forming the overmold part, and the coupling member itself is injection molded (or inserted) simultaneously with the integration step. Molding). That is, a thermoplastic resin may be injection molded to cover the non-stretchable portion of the hose body with the thermoplastic resin, thereby forming a coupling member integrated with the hose body and the pull relief. Specifically, an inner mold and an outer mold are attached to the connection portion between the bellows-like hose and the coupling member and the bellows-like hose, and a thermoplastic resin is injected into the mold cavity and filled. Alternatively, it may be a method of cooling and solidifying and then integrally molding (secondary molding). In any method, productivity can be improved and voids and gaps in the hose body can be effectively sealed.

  The present invention is used as a bellows-like hose that needs to regulate extreme expansion and contraction and bending, for example, a hose having a lead wire or a cable inside, a hose for transporting heavy objects such as pachinko balls, Useful as a vacuum cleaner hose.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,21 ... Pull relief 2,22 ... Hose body 2a ... Hose end 2b, 2b ... Substantially flat part 3, 23 ... Adhesive layer 4 ... Tube 5 ... Conductor 6, 26 ... Coupling member 7 ... Overmold part 10 ... Main body of vacuum cleaner 11 ... Connection pipe 12 ... Hand control part 13 ... Extension pipe 14 ... Nozzle for floor A ... Bellows hose

Claims (13)

  A bellows-like shape comprising a bellows-like hose body made of a synthetic resin, and a pull relief disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body along the inner wall of the hose body and for restricting the extension of the hose body A hose having a non-stretchable portion formed at an end of the hose body, and a pull relief joined to an inner wall of the non-stretchable portion.   The bellows-like hose according to claim 1, wherein the non-stretchable portion is formed in a part of the circumferential direction including the joint portion with the pull relief in the end portion of the hose body.   The bellows-like hose according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-stretchable portion is a substantially flat portion.   The bellows-like hose according to claim 1, wherein the hose body is made of a thermoplastic resin.   The bellows-like hose according to claim 1, wherein a pull relief is joined to the hose body via an adhesive layer.   The bellows-like hose according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pull relief is made of a heat-resistant fiber and embedded in an adhesive layer made of a thermoplastic resin.   Furthermore, a tube is provided in the longitudinal direction of the hose main body along the inner wall of the hose main body and accommodates the conducting wire, and a pull relief is in an adhesive layer interposed between the tube and the hose main body. The bellows-shaped hose according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is buried.   The bellows-like hose according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling member that covers the non-stretchable portion of the hose body and can be integrated with the bellows-like hose.   It is a hose for vacuum cleaners, The bellows-like hose in any one of Claims 1-8.   A method of manufacturing a bellows-like hose comprising a step of joining a pull relief disposed in the longitudinal direction of the hose body to the inner wall of the bellows-like hose body made of synthetic resin and a step of forming a non-stretchable portion at the end. The method for manufacturing a bellows-shaped hose according to claim 1, wherein the step of joining the pull relief and the step of forming the non-stretchable portion are performed simultaneously or before and after.   After joining a pull relief to the inner wall of the hose body via an adhesive layer at at least one end of the hose body made of thermoplastic resin, joining the adhesive layer among the ends of the hose body The manufacturing method of Claim 10 which presses a heating member to a part and forms a non-expandable part.   A coupling member is fitted to the end of the hose body and the non-stretchable portion of the hose body is covered with the coupling member, and then the thermoplastic resin is injection molded at least between the hose body and the coupling member. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the pull relief and the coupling member are integrated.   The manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a thermoplastic resin is injection-molded to cover a non-stretchable portion of the hose body with the thermoplastic resin to form a coupling member integrated with the hose body and the pull relief.

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