Abstract A process and apparatus for slitting sheet metal having a plurality of inflatable fluid passageways therein into strips, each having at least one inflatable fluid passageway which comprises providing sheet metal having at least two sheets pressure welded together in some areas and having a plurality of unwelded areas corresponding to inflatable passageways. The sheet metal contains at least one unwelded area extending within it in a predetermined fixed relationship to the remaining unwelded area, this one unwelded area being a control tube for use in aligning the sheet metal for slitting. The aligning of the sheet metal is achieved by passing it about a locater mandrel which plows open the control tube and fixes the position of the sheet as it enters the slitting assembly. The sheet metal as thus aligned then proceeds into a conventional slitting assembly wherein it is cut into strips. The locater mandrel may be fixed or may be provided with means for adjusting its position relative to the slitting assembly. A second slitting assembly may be employed ahead of the locater mandrel whose purpose is to remove a portion of the strip containing part of the control tube.
A process of slitting sheet metal having a plurality of inflatable fluid passageways therein into strips each having at least one inflatable fluid passageway, comprising: providing sheet metal comprising at least two sheets of metal bonded together in some areas and having a plurality of unwelded areas corresponding to inflatable fluid passageways, said sheet metal containing at least one unwelded area extending within it in a predetermined fixed relationship to the remaining unwelded areas, said at least one unwelded area being a control tube for use in aligning said sheet metal for slitting; passing said sheet metal about a locater mandrel so that said mandrel plows open the control tube and aligns said sheet metal for slitting; and slitting said aligned sheet metal into a plurality of strips, with each strip containing at least one inflatable fluid passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A process of slitting sheet metal having a plurality of inflatable fluid passageways therein into strips each having at least one inflatable fluid passageway, comprising: providing sheet metal comprising at least two sheets of metal bonded together in some areas and having a plurality of unwelded areas corresponding to inflatable fluid passageways, said sheet metal containing at least one unwelded area extending within it in a predetermined fixed relationship to the remaining unwelded areas, said at least one unwelded area being a control tube for use in aligning said sheet metal for slitting; passing said sheet metal about a locater mandrel so that said mandrel plows open the control tube and aligns said sheet metal for slitting; and slitting said aligned sheet metal into a plurality of strips, with each strip containing at least one inflatable fluid passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein each strip contains a plurality of inflatable fluid passageways.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein prior to passing said sheet metal about said mandrel, a portion of said control tube is removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein each strip contains a plurality of inflatable fluid passageways.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein pressure is applied to said sheet of metal as it passes about said locater mandrel so that the mandrel plows open the control tube substantially up the the limit of its unwelded area.