Apparatus and method for solvent adhesion of coiled tubing, and product produced thereby

A method for manufacturing coiled tubing having adjacent turns thereof detachably adhered together, comprising:

• winding a length of tubing about an axis to form a generally cylindrical coil of tubing having individual turns positioned generally adjacent to each other, said individual turns being detached from each other along their adjacent sides;
• automatically and simultaneously tracking and dispensing a narrow stream of solvent onto the coil of tubing generally along a path connecting adjacent turns of said coil of tubing, said dispensing providing a substantially uninterrupted narrow stream of said solvent while said tracking is proceeding, said tracking and dispensing having an automatic synchronizing feature whereby the dispensing step and the tracking step are carried out by mechanical means for applying pressure to dispense solvent while simultaneously moving said narrow stream of solvent through said tracking path, whereby said solvent is applied in an amount that is uniform per turn of tubing, said automatic synchronization of the tracking and dispensing steps including providing a plurality of rotation points operatively interconnected with each other;
• and
• permitting the path of solvent to spread by capillary action to a portion of the adjacent sides of the individual turns of the coil and to dry thereat in order to detachably adhere together said portions of the adjacent sides.

A coiled tubing product having adjacent turns thereof detachably adhered together, made by the process comprising:

• winding a length of flexible and stretchable tubing about an axis to form a generally cylindrical coil of tubing having individual turns positioned generally adjacent to each other, said individual turns being detached from each other along their adjacent sides;
• automatically and simultaneously tracking and dispensing a narrow stream of solvent onto the coil of tubing generally along a path connecting adjacent turns of said coil of tubing, said dispensing providing a substantially uninterrupted narrow stream of said solvent while said tracking is proceeding, said tracking and dispensing having an automatic synchronizing feature whereby the dispensing step and the tracking step are carried out by a single mechanical means for applying pressure to dispense solvent while simultaneously moving said narrow stream of solvent through said tracking path, whereby said solvent is applied in an amount that is uniform per turn of tubing, said automatic synchronization of the tracking and dispensing steps including providing a plurality of rotation points operatively interconnected with each other;
• and
• permitting the path of solvent to spread by capillary action to a portion of the adjacent sides of the individual turns of the coil and to dry thereat in order to detachably adhere together said portions of the adjacent sides, said individual turns of the product being detached from each other along their said adjacent sides except that said product individual turns are detachably adhered to each other at said portions of their said adjacent sides, said detachably adhered portions having been formed by solvent spread through capillary action between the individual turns of the flexible and stretchable tubing.