Importance

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Abstract

Mandrel for making a coupling which coupling comprises a body of fiber glass reinforced plastic which has a rubber sleeve embedded therein. The rubber sleeve is a one piece unit which includes specially shaped sealing gaskets on either end and has a rubber liner spanning the area between these sealing gaskets. This rubber sleeve is stretched onto a steel and plastic molding mandrel. This stretching places the rubber liner under tension which reduces the cross-sectional area of the liner and compensates for thermal expansion of the liner during curing. The mandrel/sleeve combination is rotated in order to wind a thermosetting resin impregnated fiber glass roving around the outer circumference of the mandrel/sleeve combination, thus embedding the sleeve in the fiber glass reinforced resin matrix. The thermosetting resin is cured at elevated temperatures, hardening into a rigid coupling with the embedded rubber sleeve integral therewith. Thereafter the hardened coupling is stripped from the steel and plastic mandrel and subjected to a further curing and finishing operation.

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First Claim