Method of joining pipes and apparatus for facilitating the same
OwnerRobert J. Morrowinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.
Claims20
A method of forming a liquid tight seal between a distal end of a first pipe and a second pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
- cooling the distal end portion of the first pipe;
- heating the distal end of the first pipe and the second pipe with a heater until the distal end of the first pipe and the second pipe have reached a softening temperature;
- contacting the distal end of the first pipe to the second pipe;
- creating a negative pressure within a cavity of the first pipe after the contacting step so that the distal end of the first pipe is pushed into the second pipe;
- applying pressure about the circumference of the distal end of the first pipe onto the second pipe.
(canceled)
A pipe attaching machine for forming a liquid tight seal between a distal end of a first pipe and a second pipe, the pipe attaching machine comprising:
- a cooling sleeve for reducing a temperature of a distal end portion of the first pipe:
- a heater having:
- a plate having opposed first and second sides sized and configured to mate with the distal end of the first pipe and the second pipe, the plate being operative to provide heat to the distal end of the first pipe and the second pipe for raising its temperature to a softening temperature of the first and second pipes;
- a handle attached to the plate, the handle being insulated from the plate so that the handle can be gripped by a person to manipulate the heater plate even when the plate is heated;
- a cap sized and configured to provide a seal with an opposed distal end of the first pipe;
- a vacuum operative to create a negative pressure, the vacuum in fluid communication with the cap to create negative pressure within a cavity of the first pipe when the cap is mounted to the opposed distal end of the first pipe to hold the first pipe to the heater when heating the distal end of the first pipe and also to hold the distal end against the exterior surface of the second pipe when attaching the distal end of the first pipe to the second pipe.
A method for expediting fusion of a distal end of a first pipe to a contact surface of a second pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
- cooling a distal end portion of the first pipe below its normal temperature;
- heating the distal end of the first pipe so that a portion less than the distal end portion is heated to a softening temperature of a material of the first pipe;
- pushing the distal end of the first pipe onto the contact surface of the second pipe;
- directing heat away from the distal end of the first pipe since less than the distal end portion of the first pipe was heated and the entire distal end portion of the first pipe was cooled below its normal temperature.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.