US 2025/0115007 A1 · PIPE FUSION APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND INDEXER, STRIPPER, BRAKE, AND HEATER RETENTION MECHANISM THEREFOR

Abstract

A pipe fusion apparatus and method which (a) provide an indexer carriage for the facer and heater and a brake which automatically holds the indexer at predetermined locations, (b) operate to automatically strip the heater from the molten ends of the pipe, (c) also operate to automatically return the heater to its retracted position, and (d) provide a heater retention mechanism for holding the heater at desired downward intermediate positions, so that the operator will have both hands free for cleaning or taking temperature readings, without interfering with the subsequent return of the heater from the fusion zone to the fully retracted position of the heater.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for pipe fusion comprising;

a fixed pipe jaw;
a movable pipe jaw which is longitudinally movable toward the fixed pipe jaw and away from the fixed pipe jaw;
a fusion zone between the fixed pipe jaw and movable pipe jaw;
an indexer carriage which is longitudinally movable;
a heater held by a heater linkage assembly which is carried by the indexer carriage, the heater being downwardly pivotable to an operating position in the fusion zone and upwardly pivotable to a fully retracted position outside of the fusion zone;
and
the heater linkage assembly being biased by one or more biasing elements to continuously urge the heater upwardly toward the fully retracted position of the heater.

4 more elements

A method of fusing an end of a first pipe segment and an end of a second pipe segment together using a pipe fusion apparatus, the first pipe segment being held by one or more fixed pipe jaws of the pipe fusion apparatus and the second pipe segment being held by one or more movable pipe jaws of the pipe fusion apparatus, the moveable pipe jaws being longitudinally movable toward and away from the fixed pipe jaws, and the method comprising:

a step (a) of pivoting a heater downwardly to an operating position of the heater in a fusion zone between the end of the first pipe segment and the end of the second pipe segment, the heater being held by and pivoted using a heater linkage assembly which is carried by an indexer carriage;
the indexer carriage also including a carriage brake;
the carriage brake being automatically engaged, to prevent the indexer carriage and the heater from moving longitudinally, when the heater is entering the fusion zone;
and
the carriage brake being automatically disengaged, to permit the indexer carriage and the heater to move longitudinally, when the heater is in the operating position of the heater in the fusion zone.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/910,115Filed 9 Oct 2024

Priority

9 Oct 2023

Published

10 Apr 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B29C 65/2092
With direct contact, e.g. using "mirror": and involving the use of a facer
B29C 66/5221
Joining tubular articles: for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
B29C 65/02
Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor: by heating, with or without pressure
B29C 65/2061
Characterised by special ways of bringing the welding mirrors into position: by sliding

Pipe fusion apparatus and method, and indexer, stripper, brake, and heater retention mechanism therefor

Life of this patent

Pipe fusion apparatus and method, and indexer, stripper, brake, and heater retention mechanism therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22