US 6,663,808 B2Granted

Method of producing textile reinforced thermoplastic or thermoset pipes utilizing modified dorn structures

AssigneeMilliken & Company

InventorWilly DeMeyer

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Abstract

Novel thermoplastic pipes which can withstand extremely high internally generated and/or applied pressures for utilization within, primarily, high pressure underground liquid and gas transport systems are provided. Such pipes are improvements over standard metal (i.e., steel, lead, and the like) pipes due to construction costs, shipping costs, implementation costs (particularly underground), modulus strength allowances to compensate for underground movements (i.e., earthquakes and tremors), non-rusting characteristics, and ease in manufacture. Such pipes are preferably reinforced with specific fabric articles which permit a lower thickness of plastic to be utilized than is generally required to withstand high pressure situations. A simplified, potentially on-site production method for producing more uniform, better-performing pipes as well as a specific molding dorn for such a purpose are also contemplated within this invention.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method of producing a resinous pipe comprising at least one layer of thermally manipulated polymeric material, wherein said method comprises the steps of

a) providing a thermally manipulated polymeric material;
b) heating said thermally manipulated polymeric material;
c) applying said heated thermally manipulated polymeric material around a first end of a molding dorn having a first end and a second end, a length, and a width, measured as the diameter of said second end;
wherein said dorn exhibits a greater surface area at said first end than at said second end;
wherein the greater surface area of said first end is provided through a plurality of indentations therein;
wherein said second end is round in shape;
and wherein the longest diameter of said first end of said dorn, measured as the greatest distance between the greatest area of extension between the indentations therein, is substantially the same as the diameter of said second end of said dorn;
d) subsequently moving said heated thermally manipulated polymeric material along the length of said dorn to said second end of said dorn to form a molded tubular shape from said thermally manipulated polymeric material;
and
e) cooling said thermally manipulated polymeric material in its molded shape to form a tube exhibiting substantially the same diameter throughout.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.