Thin wall copper sleeve for all plastic conduit
OwnerWilliam Rowleyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A unitary molded crosslinked polyethylene tubular connector in a metallic sleeve and method for forming the connector with various end configurations (e.g., molded, belled) is described. The process combines the ease of thermoplastic processing combined with the desirable physical properties of a thermoset. The connector is suitable as a replacement for copper tubes with associated fittings as well as polybutylene tubing.
Claims44
A process for forming a connector from a hollow tube, said connector comprising at least one integrally molded end cap at one end of the connector, said end cap having an aperture therethrough and having an end cap internal diameter, and
- a tubular segment having a tubular segment internal diameter equal to that of the end cap internal diameter and a tubular segment outer diameter, said tubular segment having a thickness as measured by a difference between the internal diameter and the outer diameter of the tubular segment, the tubular segment originating from the end cap, the connector being formed from a uniform thickness hollow cylindrical tube of the same thickness as the tubular segment, comprising the steps, without regard to order of:
- (A) molding an end cap on one end of a hollow tube;
- (B) inserting a metallic sleeve around the tubular segment of the hollow tube;
- and
- (C) at least partially crosslinking the hollow tube with a crosslinking agent.
A process for forming at least one belled tubular end without wall thinning from a constant thickness portion of a hollow cylindrical tube comprising the steps, without regard to order of:
- (a) molding a belled end on one end of the tube;
- (b) inserting a metallic sleeve around the tube;
- and
- (c) crosslinking the tube with a crosslinking agent.
A process for the preparation of the plastic tube which is encased by a metallic sleeve comprising the steps of:
- heating an extruded polyolefin tube to a first temperature sufficient to enable the tube to be reduced in outer diameter;
- reducing an outer diameter of the tube from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter;
- inserting a metallic sleeve which has an internal diameter which is greater than the second diameter of the tube over at least a portion of the tube;
- and
- reheating at least a portion of the tube to a second temperature sufficient to cause the tube to expand from the second diameter to the inner diameter of the metallic sleeve to reduce any annular flow that may occur between the tube and metallic sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.