Connecting Assembly and Method for Manufacturing Thereof

Abstract

A connecting assembly and method for manufacturing thereof, said assembly being intended for a fluid conduit facility, comprising at the least a tubular member made of flexible plastic material intended for the circulation of a fluid through it, at the least a substrate that surrounds the tubular member having a braided mesh configuration and a connecting member attached in at least one of the ends of the tubular member, wherein said connecting member is made up of a plastic material moldable by injection, being encapsulated at the end of a set formed by the tubular member and the substrate.

Claims

1. A connecting assembly, intended for a fluid conduit facility, comprising at the least a tubular member (1) made of flexible plastic material intended to the circulation of a fluid through it, at the least a substrate (2) that surrounds the tubular member having a braided mesh configuration and a connecting member (3) attached in at least one of the ends of the tubular member (1), characterized in that the connecting member (3) is made up of a plastic material moldable by injection, being encapsulated at the end of a set formed by the tubular member (1) and the substrate (2).

2. The connecting assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the braided mesh defines a plurality of interstices, such that each interstice has a minimum surface area of 0.04 mm2.

3. The connecting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braid mesh is formed by a plurality of wires (21) with a minimum diameter of 0.10 mm.

4. The connecting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting member (3) is formed by a substantially cylindrical-shaped elongated body provided with a through hole (34), the hole being gradually widened at its end facing outwardly, and including a fixing means.

5. The connecting assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing means comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped flanges (31), such flanges being arranged radially around the body forming the connecting member (3).

6. A method for manufacturing a connecting assembly, wherein it comprises a tubular member of flexible material intended for the circulation of a fluid through it, a substrate that surrounds the tubular member having a braided mesh configuration and a connecting member attached in at least one of the ends of the tubular member, characterized in that it comprises: placing the tubular member and the substrate in a mold intended for injection molding; encapsulating an injection-moldable plastic material onto an end portion of the assembly formed by the tubular member and the substrate for forming the connecting member, such that the tubular member and the substrate are partially inserted tightly into a through hole located in the connecting member.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the tubular member has a protruding portion that is not surrounded by the substrate, so that the protruding portion is covered by a region of plastic material that is a part of the connecting member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the connecting assembly according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a portion of the connecting assembly;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a detailed elevation view wherein the connecting member has been deleted for sakes of clarity; and

[0024] FIG. 4 is a detailed elevation view of the circle shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] In view of the aforementioned figures and, in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the connecting assembly of the invention, being intended to a fluid conduit facility, comprises a tubular member (1) as a conduit made of plastic and flexible material intended to the circulation of a fluid through it, a substrate (2) that surrounds the tubular member (1) having a braided mesh configuration and a connecting member (3) attached in at least one of the ends of the tubular member (3) intended to be coupled, for example, to the inlet of a conventional tap (not shown).

[0027] The tubular member (1) can be, for example, made up of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer).

[0028] Advantageously, the braided mesh formed in the substrate (2) is essentially defined by a plurality of interstices (see FIGS. 3 and 4), such that each interstice (20) has a minimum surface area of 0.04 mm2. In addition, the braid mesh is formed by a plurality of wires (21) with a minimum diameter of 0.10 mm.

[0029] The outermost substrate (2) guarantees the maintenance of the geometry of the tubular member (1) even under pressure and temperature conditions since it provides a radial reinforcement without limiting the flexibility of the tubular member (1).

[0030] Now with particular reference to the connecting member (3), it is made up of an injection moldable plastic material, being encapsulated at the end of a set formed by the tubular member (3) and the substrate (2). For the encapsulation, techniques and means currently known in the state of the art are used in the field of molding by encapsulation, for this reason it is not going to do a more detailed description.

[0031] More particularly, it is formed by an elongated body (30) of substantially cylindrical shape provided with a through hole (34), the hole being gradually widened at its end facing outwardly, and including a fixing means (which are described below) that facilitates a snap-fit connection with the connection arranged in the conventional taps.

[0032] In this embodiment by way of non-limiting example, the fixing means has a plurality of wedge-shaped flanges (31), such flanges being arranged radially around the body forming the connecting member and defining a coupling region (32) delimited by such flanges (31) and a circumferential protrusion (33) projecting perimetrally outwardly from the side wall of the connecting member (3).

[0033] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory members used to manufacture the connecting assembly of the invention may be suitably substituted for others which do not diverge from the scope defined by the claims included below.