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US 11,541,578 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for heating pipes made of thermoplastic material
AssigneeSica S.P.A.
InventorGiorgio Tabanelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for internal heating of end portions of pipes made of thermoplastic material having a central axis including a heating element, designed to be inserted at least partially inside an end portion of a pipe made of thermoplastic material for heating an inner cylindrical surface of the portion, the heating element including an infra-red radiation unit designed to face at least partially the inner cylindrical surface.
Claims17
An apparatus for internal heating of end portions of pipes made of thermoplastic material having a central axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame,
- a holding mechanism configured for holding a pipe made of thermoplastic material with respect to the frame,
- a rotatable member rotatably connected to the frame about the central axis,
- a bearing ecentrically mounted to the rotatable member,
- a heating element rotatably connected to the rotatable member via the bearing such that rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the heating element about the central axis and such that an angular orientation of the heating element with respect to the rotatable member is changeable as the rotatable member rotates, the heating element configured to be inserted at least partially inside an end portion of the pipe for heating an inner cylindrical surface of the end portion, the heating element comprising an infrared radiating element configured to face at least partially the inner cylindrical surface, the radiating element having an axis of longitudinal extension,
- a movement device, including a linkage member, connected between the frame and the rotatable member and configured for moving the radiating element inside the pipe according to a motion path including:
- a movement of revolution with a trajectory which is concentric relative to a central axis of the pipe, and
- a movement of rotation of the radiating element about the axis of longitudinal extension,
- wherein the radiating element has a non-circular transversal cross section having a predetermined axis of symmetry at right angles to the axis of longitudinal extension, and also
- wherein the movement of rotation of the radiating element is such that the axis of symmetry always remains parallel with itself during the movement of revolution.
7 more elements
A method for internal heating of end portions of pipes made of thermoplastic material having a central axis, comprising the following steps:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- a frame,
- a holding mechanism configured for holding a pipe made of thermoplastic material with respect to the frame,
- a rotatable member rotatably connected to the frame about the central axis,
- a bearing ecentrically mounted to the rotatable member,
- a heating element rotatably connected to the rotatable member via the bearing such that rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the heating element about the central axis and such that an angular orientation of the heating element with respect to the rotatable member is changeable as the rotatable member rotates, the heating element configured to be inserted at least partially inside an end portion of the pipe for heating an inner cylindrical surface of the end portion, the heating element comprising an infrared radiating element configured to face at least partially the inner cylindrical surface, the radiating element having an axis of longitudinal extension,
- a movement device, including a linkage member, connected between the frame and the rotatable member and configured for moving the radiating element inside the pipe according to a motion path including:
- a movement of revolution with a trajectory which is concentric relative to a central axis of the pipe, and
- a movement of rotation of the radiating element about the axis of longitudinal extension,
- wherein the radiating element has a non-circular transversal cross section having a predetermined axis of symmetry at right angles to the axis of longitudinal extension, and also
- wherein the movement of rotation of the radiating element is such that the axis of symmetry always remains parallel with itself during the movement of revolution,
- inserting at least partially the heating element inside the end portion of the pipe for heating the inner cylindrical surface of the end portion,
- moving the radiating element inside the pipe according to the motion path.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.