Rotating-Base Multi-Articulable Machine for Fusing Polyolefin Pipe

A pipe fusion machine comprising:

• a horizontal chassis mounted on independently reversible drive tracks, said chassis being symmetrical with respect to an X-Z plane centered between said tracks;
• a horizontal platform mounted above said chassis for reversible rotation about a Y-axis of said X-Z plane;
• and
• a boom comprising left and right parallel linkages mirrored on opposite sides of and equidistant from said Y-axis, rear portions of said linkages being pivotally mounted on the platform for rotation on a first common X-axis rearward of said Y-axis, said left and right linkages being configured to simultaneously adjust elevations and distances of free ends thereof with said free ends aligned on a second common X-axis forward of said Y-axis and extending beyond a footprint of said tracks and chassis.

An indexer enabling detachable connection of a carriage to the boom of a pipe fusion machine, the indexer comprising:

• rear adapters configured for removable connection of the indexer on a free end of the boom, said adapters permitting articulation of the indexer on the free end of the boom about a horizontal axis extending perpendicular to the boom;
• a center support rod extending transversely across the indexer forward of said rear adapters and between end plates of the indexer;
• an upper indexer rod extending between said end plates and parallel to said center support rod;
• a lower indexer rod extending inwardly from one of said end plates and parallel to said center support rod;
• a pipe end facer and a pipe heater hanging from said upper indexer rod for independent rotation in spaced-apart parallel planes;
• and
• front adapters configured for removable rigid connection of the carriage to the indexer.

A jaw for gripping a pipe comprising:

• an upper half jaw with a semi-cylindrical inner surface;
• lower left and right quarter jaws each with an inner surface of radius equal to a radius of said semi-cylindrical inner surface;
• and
• left and right links, each said link being pivotally engaged at an upper end thereof to a corresponding lower portion of said upper half jaw and pivotally engageable at a lower end thereof with a corresponding quarter jaw;
• whereby said upper jaw inner surface and said corresponding lower quarter jaw inner surfaces cooperate to conform to the outer surface of a pipe having an outer surface of radius equal to said half jaw radius as the pipe is being gripped thereby.

A machine for fusing polyolefin pipe that includes a hydraulic generator, comprising:

• a heater adapted for fusing two opposing ends of polyolefin pipe;
• a hydraulic generator motor adapted to actuate a generator;
• a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a hydraulic pump adapted to receive said supply of hydraulic fluid at a first flow and distribute said supply of hydraulic fluid at a second flow;
• a generator valve adapted to receive said hydraulic fluid at said second flow and meter said fluid at a hydraulic fluid flow sufficient to run said hydraulic generator motor at a constant desired speed;
• a generator adapted to be actuated by said hydraulic generator motor in order to produce sufficient electric energy to maintain said heater at least at a temperature sufficient to fuse said two opposing ends of said polyolefin pipe.

A method to provide constant electrical energy from a hydraulic generator to maintain a polyolefin pipe fusion heater at least at a temperature sufficient to fuse two opposing ends of polyolefin pipe from a hydraulic system on a machine having multiple hydraulic systems powered by a single engine having an output and a PTO, the method comprising the steps:

• providing a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• mounting a hydraulic pump to the PTO of the engine;
• adapting said hydraulic pump to receive said supply of hydraulic fluid at a first flow and distribute said supply of hydraulic fluid at a second flow;
• adapting a generator valve to receive said hydraulic fluid at said second flow and meter said fluid at a hydraulic fluid flow sufficient to run said hydraulic generator motor at a constant desired speed;
• mounting said hydraulic generator motor to a generator;
• adapting said generator to be actuated by said hydraulic generator motor;
• actuating said generator in order to produce sufficient electric energy to maintain the heater at least at a temperature sufficient to fuse two opposing ends of polyolefin pipe.