Assembly of a tube and a part and apparatus and method of manufacture

Abstract

An apparatus for assembling a tube and a part has a polymeric tube with an axis along the longitude thereof. The part has a cross sectional shape and size to be near an inside surface of the tube when the part is at least partially therewithin. The part or tube is supported so that relative movement along the axis places the part at least partially within the tube located between the ends or in the tube near the distal or proximal end thereof. The part and/or the tube is a thermoplastic polymer made by a process that develops within the polymer a memory of the polymer prior to forming so that residual stresses remaining in the part can be relaxed by changing temperature causing expansion. A form of a relatively nonconductive material is positioned for relative movement along the axis and for placement about the tube. The form is shaped and sized to fit and contain the outside surface of the tube. A heater has an electrically resistive element wrapped about the form for changing the temperature of the tube and the part. A method of assembly of the tube has the steps of supporting it and/or the part for relative movement along the axis placing the part at least partially within the tube, positioning the form for relative movement along the axis for placement about the tube whereinside the part is located to thereby contain the outside surface, changing the temperature of the tube and the part sufficiently to relax residual stresses of the manufacturing processes used to make the tube and/or the part for causing engagement of the inside surface of the tube and the part.