APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURE OF REINFORCED HOSE

Automatic apparatus for continuously coating a tubular or sleeve-shaped reinforcing carcass for a reinforced hose product with a polymeric material by passing the sleeve uniformly through an extruder, is disclosed. A mandrel extends rearwardly from the extruder to the supply station of the sleeve and is adapted to support the latter internally for longitudinal advancing movement toward the extruder. Two stationary clamping members are located between the supply station and the extruder and are adapted to be closed alternatingly into engagement with the mandrel for selectively inhibiting movement of the sleeve along the mandrel at those locations. Two traveling sleeve accumulators, one arranged for reciprocal linear movement intermediate the two stationary clamping members and one for like movement intermediate the second such member and the extruder, are adapted alternatingly to contact respectively juxtaposed portions of the sleeve and push the same along the mandrel, the first accumulator when the first stationary clamping member is opened and the second one closed, and the second accumulator when the second stationary clamping member is open and the first one closed. Two reciprocally traveling clamping members are located between the extruder and the hose takeup station and are adapted alternatingly to contact respective juxtaposed portions of the reinforced hose product, so that the same is at all times being pulled uniformly from the extruder and toward the takeup station. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.