Method and apparatus for bonding reinforced hdpe pipes
OwnerRobert David Jones, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of heat welding a length of pipe with a coupling is disclosed. The coupling and the length of pipe are of a thermoplastic material. The method includes preparing a first end of the length of pipe; preparing a first groove of the coupling, wherein the first groove is configured to mechanically interface to an inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) of the length of pipe; heating the first and the first groove to a weldable temperature; joining the first end to the first groove; and permitting the first end and the first groove to cool sufficiently long to form a thermoplastic weld.
Claims24
1-67. (canceled)
A method of heat welding a length of pipe with a coupling, wherein the coupling and the length of pipe are of a thermoplastic material, the method comprising:
- preparing a first end of the length of pipe;
- preparing a first groove of the coupling, wherein the first groove is configured to mechanically interface to an inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) of the length of pipe;
- heating the first end and the first groove to a weldable temperature;
- joining the first end to the first groove;
- and
- permitting the first end and the first groove to cool sufficiently long to form a thermoplastic weld.
A thermoplastic coupler, comprising:
- an outer diameter (OD);
- an inner diameter (ID);
- and
- a raceway disposed between the OD and the ID, wherein the raceway has an outer surface configured to mate to an outer sidewall of a thermoplastic pipe, and an inner surface configured to mate to an inner sidewall of the thermoplastic pipe.
A heater for a welding a thermoplastic pipe to a thermoplastic coupler, comprising a first face and a second face, wherein the heater is to heat the first face and the second face to one or more temperatures sufficient to heat weld the thermoplastic, and wherein the first face has a grooved surface to receive an end of the thermoplastic pipe, and the second face has a protrusion to receive a groove of the thermoplastic coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.