# US 2014/0150516 A1 · Fluid conduit cover installation devices, systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150516 A1 - Document ID: US20140150516A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/091,982 - Filed: 2013-11-27 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-14 - Assignees: The Gates Corporation - Applicants: The Gates Corporation - Inventors: Yelena Gray; Martin K. Bauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150516A1 ## CPC - B21D 39/046: {Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings} - B21J 5/06: for performing particular operations - B29C 67/0014: {for shaping tubes or blown tubular films} - F16L 11/042: {formed by bending a sheet and connecting the edges} - F16L 55/18: Appliances for use in repairing pipes (F16L55/10 takes precedence) - F16L 57/005: {specially adapted for the ends of pipes} - B29C 53/086: {bending radially, i.e. deformig the cross-section of the tube} - Y10T 29/49908: Joining by deforming - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An embodiment for disposing a sleeve on a fluid conduit includes positioning a sleeve through lead rollers, pressing sleeve edges to flatten the sleeve against its normal geometry, aligning the flattened sleeve with opposing guide channels defined in an passage through a sleeve guide, feeding the sleeve through the passage, and compressing the sleeve in the passage, letting the edges of the sleeve ride against the guide channels to open the sleeve. A length of the compressed sleeve exiting the guide may be cut using a heated device that fuses the sleeve material, leaving the sleeve clear to receive a fluid conduit. A collar may be disposed around an end of the cut sleeve and over the conduit, then compressed, with an end of the sleeve captured between the collar and end of the conduit. This compressing may define at least one raised portion in the collar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide for a sleeve, said guide comprising a body defining a generally symmetrical sleeve receptive passage therethrough, said passage comprising a transverse elongated slot with guide channels defined in a top and a bottom of said passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1 wherein said passage is flared at an entrance opening of said guide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide of claim 1 wherein said passage is tapered from an entrance of said guide to an outlet of said guide. ### Claim 4 A method comprising: flattening sleeve stock; aligning the flattened sleeve stock with an opening in a sleeve guide, said aligning comprising aligning flattened edges of said sleeve stock with guide channels defined in the top and bottom of a passage through a body of said sleeve guide; feeding said sleeve stock into said opening of said sleeve guide, compressing said sleeve stock and allowing said edges of the sleeve stock to ride against the guide channels; and cutting compressed sleeve exiting said sleeve guide using a heated device that fuses the material comprising said sleeve stock. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: running said sleeve stock through a set of lead rollers prior to flattening said sleeve stock to aid in aligning said sleeve stock with said sleeve guide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: inserting a ball inside said sleeve stock prior to said flattening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein said aligning comprises pressing edges of said sleeve stock together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal seam of said sleeve stock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal fold or crease of said sleeve stock. ### Claim 10 A system for installing a fluid conduit cover, comprising: a sleeve guide comprising a body defining a generally symmetrical sleeve receptive passage therethrough, said passage comprising a transverse elongated slot with opposing guide channels defined in said passage; a plurality of lead rollers positioned at predetermined distances from said guide, aligning said sleeve, with edges of said sleeve indexed with said guide channels, opening said sleeve as said sleeve is passed through said guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: a ball disposed inside said sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said slot is flared at an entrance opening of said guide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said slot is tapered from an entrance of said guide to an outlet of said guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said guide presses edges of said sleeve together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal seam of said sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal fold or crease of said sleeve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising a heated device that cuts a length of said sleeve and fuses the material comprising said sleeve that has exited said guide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising a press for compressing a collar with an end of said sleeve captured between said collar and said conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein said press employs complementary dies which define at least one raised portion in said collar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising a press for compressing a collar with an end of said sleeve captured between said collar and a coupling disposed on an end of said conduit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein said press employs complementary dies which define at least one raised portion in said collar. ### Claim 22 A method comprising: positioning a sleeve through lead rollers; pressing sleeve edges to flatten said sleeve against its normal geometry aligning the flattened sleeve with said edges aligned with opposing guide channels defined in a passage through a sleeve guide; feeding said sleeve stock through said lead rollers and said passage of said sleeve guide; compressing said sleeve in said passage, letting the edges of the sleeve ride against the guide channels, said compressing opening said sleeve; cutting a length of the compressed sleeve exiting said guide using a heated device that fuses the material comprising said sleeve stock around a circumference of said sleeve, leaving an inside of said sleeve clear to receive a fluid conduit; and compressing a collar with an end of said sleeve captured between said collar and an end of said conduit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: inserting a ball inside said sleeve stock prior to said feeding. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal seam of said sleeve. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein at least one of said edges is a longitudinal fold or crease of said sleeve. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein said compressing defines at least one raised portion in said collar.