Portable system for bonding pipes

A kit for fusing thermoplastic piping comprising:

• a coupling having a susceptor concentric with a weld zone;
• a control unit for providing a current at high frequency;
• and
• a wand connected to the control unit, the wand including:
• a handle for gripping by a user, the handle having a proximal end connected to the control unit and a distal end;
• opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact;
• a lever system coupled to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws,
• wherein:
• the coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone;
• and when the jaws close about the weld zone and the current passes through the acruate connectors, the arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor, wherein the coupling has an inner diameter that forms a shoulder so that when a second coupling is inserted therein until the second coupling makes contact with the respective shoulder, the second coupling is positioned correctly with respect to the weld zone for fusing.

A method for fusing thermoplastic piping comprising the steps of:

• selecting a coupling from the group consisting of T couplings, elbows, end caps, and straights, each coupling having a susceptor concentric with a weld zone;
• providing a control unit for providing a current at high frequency, the control unit having:
• a wand having opposing jaws mounted on a distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact;
• and a system coupled to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws;
• inserting a pipe end into the selected coupling;
• closing the jaws about the weld zone using the system;
• and
• passing the current passes through the arcuate conductors until the coupling and the pipe are fused together,
• wherein the coupling has an inner diameter that forms a shoulder and further comprising the step of inserting the pipe into the coupling until the pipe makes contact with the shoulder for aligning the susceptor with the jaws.