Thermoplastic Induction-Welding Systems
AssigneeMagnum Magnetics Corporation
InventorsJerry L. King, Charles Furr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible ferromagnetic strip is used to induction-weld seams in polymer pipes. The strip is a blend of strontium ferrite, a surfactant, and an LDPE binder. A process to produce the profile is to mix the ingredients together followed by granulation and extrusion or calendering. The strip is used in conjunction with an induction coil sized to fit over a polymer pipe coupling containing the strip and separate segments of polymer pipe. The strip is heated by induction current induced by an electromagnetic field generated by the coil. The heated strip causes the polymer pipe segments to be thermoplastically welded together.
Claims33
A system for thermoplastic induction welding of polymer pipes, comprising:
- a flexible ferromagnetic strip configured to fit within a coupling of a polymer pipe;
- an electromagnetic induction coil configured to surround said coupling;
- and
- a power supply electrically connectable to said electromagnetic induction coil and configured to cause said coil to generate an electromagnetic field upon energizing thereof by said power supply;
- whereby a flow of current is induced in said ferromagnetic strip to heat said strip, resulting in thermoplastic welding of separate polymer pipe segments located within said coupling.
A flexible ferromagnetic strip configured to fit within a coupling of a polymer pipe to cause thermoplastic induction welding of separate polymer pipe segments within said coupling upon heating of said strip by electromagnetic induction current, said ferromagnetic strip comprising a polymer binder combined with at least one ferromagnetic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.