Apparatus for electrically heat welding thermoplastic fittings and method of using the same

A self-contained, easy-to-use apparatus for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a direct current power supply including batteries;
• controllable electronic devices connected between the direct current power supply and output lines capable of being electrically connected to the electrically resistive element embedded in the thermoplastic members, said controllable electronic devices controlling the polarity, level and frequency of voltage in each of the output lines at a level determined by a programmable electronic data processing means in the apparatus;
• and
• at least one measurement device electrically connected to the programmable electronic data processing means providing data useable by the programmable electronic data processing means to regulate the controllable electronic devices to produce a predetermined alternating current.

A method for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the method comprising the steps of;

• identifying the thermoplastic member having the electrically resistive element embedded therein by measuring the resistance of the electrically resistive element;
• comparing the resistance to a data table;
• sorting duplicate fittings by the most frequently-used fitting;
• generating an alternating current voltage from a direct current power supply;
• and
• transmitting the alternating current voltage to the electrically resistive element.

An apparatus for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying the thermoplastic member having the electrically resistive element embedded therein by measuring the resistance of the electrically resistive element;
• a programmable electronic data processing means for executing programmed and logical processes and storing data, wherein the data processing means compares the resistance to a data table stored in the data processing means, and sorts duplicate fittings by the most frequently-used fitting;
• means for generating an alternating current voltage from a direct current power supply;
• and
• means for transmitting the alternating current voltage to the electrically resistive element.

A method for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying the thermoplastic member having the electrically resistive element embedded therein by measuring the resistance of the electrically resistive element;
• comparing the resistance to a data table;
• generating a voltage from a power supply;
• and
• transmitting the voltage to the electrically resistive element.

An apparatus for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying the thermoplastic member having the electrically resistive element embedded therein by measuring the resistance of the electrically resistive element;
• a programmable electronic data processing means for executing programmed arithmetic and logical processes and storing data, wherein the data processing means compares the resistance to a data table stored in the data processing means, and sorts duplicate fittings by the most frequently-used fitting;
• means for generating a voltage from a power supply;
• and
• means for transmitting the voltage to the electrically resistive element.

A method for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• checking that sufficient energy is available in a direct current power supply to provide enough energy to the electrically resistive element to complete the electrofusion;
• preventing the electrofusion if sufficient energy is not available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• generating an alternating current voltage from the direct current power supply if sufficient energy is available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• and
• transmitting the alternating current voltage to the electrically resistive element if sufficient energy is available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion.

An apparatus for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a programmable electronic data processing means for executing programmed arithmetic and logical processes and storing data, wherein the data processing means checks that sufficient energy is available in a direct current power supply to provide enough energy to the electrically resistive element to complete the electrofusion;
• means for preventing the electrofusion if sufficient energy is not available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• means for generating an alternating current voltage from the direct current power supply if sufficient energy is available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• and
• means for transmitting the alternating current voltage to the electrically resistive element if sufficient energy is available in the direct current power supply to complete the electrofusion.

A method for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• checking that sufficient energy is available in a power supply to provide enough energy to the electrically resistive element to complete the electrofusion;
• preventing the electrofusion if sufficient energy is not available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• generating a voltage from the power supply if sufficient energy is available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• and
• transmitting the voltage to the electrically resistive element if sufficient energy is available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion.

An apparatus for creating an electrofusion between a plurality of thermoplastic members, wherein at least one of the members has an electrically resistive element embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a programmable electronic data processing means for executing programmed arithmetic and logical processes and storing data, wherein the data processing means checks that sufficient energy is available in a power supply to provide enough energy to the electrically resistive element to complete the electrofusion;
• preventing the electrofusion if sufficient energy is not available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• means for generating a voltage from the power supply if sufficient energy is available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion;
• and
• means for transmitting the voltage to the electrically resistive element if sufficient energy is available in the power supply to complete the electrofusion.