Apparatus for forming field joints on plastic coated pipe

A system for sealing an uncoated portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe, comprising:

• a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the uncoated portion and overlap the pipe coating at an interface surrounding the uncoated portion, said piece including a heat-generating trace affixed to said piece adjacent its edges, said heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads extending therefrom;
• and
• a clamp for applying a radial compression force to said interface,
• wherein said clamp includes at least two compression bands and a cross member, each of said compression bands including a plurality of power leads, each of said power leads corresponding to one of said trace leads.

A system for sealing an uncoated portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe comprising:

• a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the uncoated portion and overlap the pipe coating at an interface surrounding the uncoated portion, said piece including a heat-generating trace affixed to said piece adjacent its edges, said heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads extending therefrom;
• and
• a clamp for applying a radial compression force to said interface,
• wherein said clamp comprises at least one compression band, said at least one compression band supporting an even number of lower leads, adjacent power leads on said compression band being of opposite polarity.

A system for sealing an uncoated portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe, comprising:

• a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the uncoated portion and overlap the pipe coating at an interface surrounding the uncoated portion, said piece including a heat-generating trace affixed to said piece adjacent its edges, said heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads extending therefrom;
• and
• a clamp for applying a radial compression force to said interface, said clamp comprising at least two compression bands,
• wherein each of said compression bands supports at least four power leads.

A system for sealing an uncoated portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe comprising:

• a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the uncoated portion and overlap the pipe coating at an interface surrounding the uncoated portion, said piece including a heat-generating trace affixed to said piece adjacent its edges, said heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads extending therefrom;
• and
• a clamp for applying a radial compression force to said interface,
• wherein said clamp has an outer surface and an inner surface and said inner surface includes electrical power contacts that electrically contact said trace leads automatically when said clamp applies pressure to said interface.

A system for scaling an uncoated portion of a length of plastic-coated pipe, comprising:

• a thermoplastic piece shaped to conform to the uncoated portion and overlap the pipe coating at an interface surrounding the uncoated portion, said piece including a heat-generating trace affixed to said piece adjacent its edges, said heat-generating trace including a plurality of trace leads extending therefrom;
• and
• a clamp for applying a radial compression force to said interface,
• wherein said clamp is fastened with a releasable latch.