# US 2018/0022036 A1 · Apparatus and system for electro-fusion of polyethylene pipeline

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- Number: US 2018/0022036 A1
- Document ID: US20180022036A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/521,012
- Filed: 2015-10-22
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-24
- Assignees: Shawcor Ltd.
- Applicants: Shawcor Ltd.
- Inventors: Pawel Boczkowski; Mark Brandon; Jeremy Joseph Ellis; Dilip Tailor; Pascal Laferriere
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022036A1

## CPC

- B29C 65/344: {being a woven or non-woven fabric or being a mesh}
- B29C 65/3468: {characterised by the means for supplying heat to said heated elements which remain in the join, e.g. special electrical connectors of windings (B29C65/3668 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/3476: {being metallic}
- B29C 65/5042: {covering both elements to be joined}
- B29C 65/5057: {positioned between the surfaces to be joined (B29C65/5035 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/72: by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching
- B29C 66/0242: {Heating, or preheating, e.g. drying (B29C66/3464 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/232: {said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines}
- B29C 66/5221: {for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other}
- B29C 66/53241: {said articles being tubular and said substantially annular single elements being of finite length relative to the infinite length of said tubular articles (making T-shaped pieces by joining tubular articles B29C66/52241)}
- B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/72321: {consisting of metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/727: {being porous, e.g. foam}
- B29C 66/73715: {heat-shrinkable}
- B29C 66/9121: {by measuring the temperature}
- B29C 66/91211: {with special temperature measurement means or methods}
- B29C 66/9141: {by controlling or regulating the temperature}
- B29C 66/91645: {by steps}
- B29C 66/91655: {by controlling or regulating the current intensity}
- B29C 66/961: {involving a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. comparison with a desired value}
- F16L 47/03: Welded joints with an electrical resistance incorporated in the joint
- F16L 59/20: for non-disconnectable joints
- B29C 63/42: using tubular layers or sheathings
- B29C 65/3432: {comprising several wires, e.g. in the form of several independent windings (B29C65/3436, B29C65/344 take precedence)}
- B29C 65/3444: {being a ribbon, band or strip}
- B29C 65/348: {with a polymer coating}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/73751: {the to-be-joined area of at least one of the parts to be joined being uncured, i.e. non cross-linked, non vulcanized}
- B29C 66/73753: {the to-be-joined area of at least one of the parts to be joined being partially cured, i.e. partially cross-linked, partially vulcanized}
- B29C 66/73755: {the to-be-joined area of at least one of the parts to be joined being fully cured, i.e. fully cross-linked, fully vulcanized}
- B29K 2023/06: {PE, i.e. polyethylene}
- B29K 2705/12: Iron
- B29L 2023/22: {Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004)}
- B29L 2023/225: {Insulated}
- F16L 47/22: using shrink-down material
- 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
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A method for forming a connection between two tubular sections having a polymeric outer surface jacket, using electrofusion to fusion bond a casing of similar, non-crosslinked polymer to the outer surface of the tubular sections.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of attaching a heat shrinkable casing to an outer surface jacket of a pipeline at a pipe joint, comprising:
a. wrapping or fitting the heat shrinkable casing around the pipe joint so that a side portion of the casing overlaps an end portion of the outer surface jacket on either side of the pipe joint, to form an interface region on each side of the pipe joint, said interface region defined as being between the end portion of the outer surface jacket and the side portion of the casing; said interface region, end portion, and/or side portion having an electric heating element around the pipe or casing circumference;
b. applying heat to at least said side portions to shrink the casing or at least the side portions thereof;
c. wrapping an adhesive tape around said side portions to provide pressure between the side portions arid the end portions at the interface region;
d. applying an electric current to said electric heating element of a sufficient energy to heat said electric heating element to a temperature sufficient to fuse said side portions to said end portions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the electric heating element is wrapped around the end portion of the outer surface jacket prior to wrapping or fitting the casing around the pipe joint.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive tape having an adhesive providing stickiness at room temperature and which stays adhesive to a temperature of at least about 240° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, on top of said tape and at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.

### Claim 5

A method of attaching a casing to an outer surface jacket of a pipeline at a pipe joint, comprising:
a. wrapping or fitting a casing around the pipe joint so that a side portion of the casing overlaps an end portion of the outer surface jacket on either side of the pipe joint, to form an interface region on each side of the pipe joint, said interface region defined as being between the end portion of the outer surface jacket and the side portion of the casing; said interface region, end portion, and/or side portion having both an electric heating element and an adhesive strip around its circumference;
b. applying an electric current to said electric heating element of a sufficient energy to heat said electric heating element to a temperature sufficient to fuse said side portions to said end portions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 further comprising, after step a) or after step b), applying heat to the side portion of the casing to melt the adhesive strip, resulting in a bonding of the outer surface jacket to the casing.

### Claim 7

A method of attaching a casing to an outer surface jacket of a pipeline at a pipe joint, comprising:
a. wrapping or fitting a casing around the pipe joint so that a side portion of the casing overlaps an end portion of the outer surface jacket on either side of the pipe joint, to form an interface region on each side of the pipe joint, said interface region defined as being between the end portion of the outer surface jacket and the side portion of the casing; said interface region, end portion, and/or side portion having an electric heating element around its circumference;
b. applying a first electric current to said electric heating element, said first electric current of insufficient energy to fuse said side portions to said end portions, but of sufficient energy to warm and render more uniform a temperature of the heating element;
c. applying a second electric current to said electric heating element of a sufficient energy to heat said electric heating element to a temperature sufficient to fuse said side portions to said end portions.

### Claim 8

A heating element for use in electrofusing a casing to an outer surface jacket of a pipeline at a pipe joint, said heating element comprising:
a. a wire mesh body and two ends, said body of sufficient length and flexibility to be capable of snugly wrapping around a circumference of said outer surface jacket in a manner that the two ends are proximate to one another but not touching;
b. each of said two ends having a labyrinth configuration and a lead extending therefrom for connection to a power source.

### Claim at position 9

9-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, on top of said tape and at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, on top of said tape and at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein, before the step of applying the electric current, a strap is fastened around the circumference of the interface region, at a lateral location such that it lies on top of the electric heating element, said strap being narrower in width than said electric heating element and being generally elongation-resistant.