# US 8,540,835 B2 · Method for manufacturing tubes by welding

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,540,835 B2
- Document ID: US8540835B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/677,185
- Filed: 2008-07-26
- Published: 2010-08-05
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-13
- Assignees: AISAPACK HOLDINGS s.a.
- Applicants: Jacques Thomasset
- Inventors: Jacques Thomasset
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540835B2

## CPC

- B29C 53/20: of tubes
- B29C 53/50: using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels
- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 66/0324: {Reforming or reshaping the joint, e.g. folding over (reshaping the burr B29C66/326)}
- B29C 66/0342: {Cooling, e.g. transporting through welding and cooling zone}
- B29C 66/344: {Stretching or tensioning the joint area during joining}
- B29C 66/49: {Internally supporting the, e.g. tubular, article during joining (B29C66/63 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/92: {by measuring or controlling the pressure, the force, the mechanical power or the displacement of the joining tools}
- B29C 66/93431: {the speed being kept constant over time}
- B29C 66/93441: {the speed being non-constant over time}
- B29C 66/93451: {by controlling or regulating the rotational speed, i.e. the speed of revolution}
- F16L 9/17: obtained by bending a sheet longitudinally and connecting the edges
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/1142: {Single butt to butt joints}
- B29C 66/4322: {by joining a single sheet to itself (B29C66/4332 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/72321: {consisting of metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/9241: {by controlling or regulating the pressure, the force or the mechanical power}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29L 2009/00: Layered products
- B29L 2009/003: {comprising a metal layer}
- B29L 2023/001: {Tubular films, sleeves}
- B29L 2023/005: {Hoses, i.e. flexible}
- Y10T 156/1013: and edge-joining of one piece blank to form tube
- Y10T 156/1038: Hollow cylinder article
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention concerns a method of welding a laminate for the production of flexible tubular plastic bodies. The method comprises the following operations: a laminate is shaped around a welding tool, the ends of the laminate to be welded are heated, the ends are pressed together and at least partly cooled, the welded zone is deformed so as to increase its area, and the weld zone is cooled. The invention also concerns a device that is suitable for using the method mentioned above.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method of welding a laminate for the production of flexible tubular plastic bodies, which method comprises the following operations:
a laminate, having ends, is shaped around a welding rod;
the ends of the laminate to be welded are heated;
said ends are pressed together and at least partly cooled to form a welded zone;
the welded zone is deformed so as to increase its area; and
the welded zone is cooled after being deformed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein, between the step of pressing the ends together and the step of deforming the welded zone, the ends are cooled, without reaching an ambient temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the welded zone is elongated in a direction parallel to an axis of the tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the welded zone is elongated in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Method according to claim 4, wherein the welded zone is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube and in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, which includes a step, after the step of cooling the welded zone, of cutting the tubular body thus formed into several identical segments.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the deformation of the welded zone corresponds approximately to the shrinkage of said zone under the effect of the heating and cooling.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the laminate is tempered.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Method according to claim 8, wherein the laminate is tempered, during the step of deforming the welded zone, at a temperature between 50 and 95° C.

### Claim 10

Device for the production of a flexible tubular plastic body from a laminate having ends, wherein the device comprises a welding rod, heating means suitable for heating the ends of the laminate placed around said welding rod, and a set of(a) external rollers that are external to the welding rod and (b) internal rollers housed in the welding rod, and wherein the set of external rollers and internal rollers act together to elongate a welded zone of the laminate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

Device according to claim 10, wherein the external and internal rollers are designed to deform said welding zone in a direction parallel to an axis of the welding rod.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

Device according to claim 10, wherein the external and internal rollers are designed to deform said welding zone in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the welding rod.