# US 8,857,485 B2 · Apparatus for welding together thermoplastic hoses

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- Number: US 8,857,485 B2
- Document ID: US8857485B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/264,572
- Filed: 2010-04-12
- Published: 2012-06-07
- Granted: 2014-10-14
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-14
- Assignees: Reed Electronics AG
- Applicants: Peter Bühler; Willy Fluder
- Inventors: Peter Bühler; Willy Fluder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8857485B2

## CPC

- B29C 65/7841: {Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04)}
- A61M 39/146: {by cutting and welding}
- B29C 65/2046: {using a welding mirror which also cuts the parts to be joined, e.g. for sterile welding}
- B29C 65/2084: {by pivoting}
- B29C 65/7802: {Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring}
- B29C 66/0018: {being sterile}
- B29C 66/1142: {Single butt to butt joints}
- B29C 66/5221: {for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/80: {General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof}
- B29C 66/857: {Medical tube welding machines}
- B29C 66/65: {with a relative motion between the article and the welding tool (B29C65/10, B29C65/12 take precedence)}
- B29L 2023/007: {Medical tubes other than catheters (catheters B29L2031/7542)}
- Y10T 156/12: Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
- 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)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus for welding together thermoplastic hoses comprising two clamping units which in part can be rotated and displaced relative to each other. The two clamping units each have two clamping jaws which comprise through-passages between the clamping jaws in which the hoses can be inserted continuously parallel to each other and squeezed transversely to each other. The apparatus further comprises a heatable blade for severing the hoses and melting the cut edges thereof between the clamping units. An intermediate piece is disposed between the clamping jaws of the clamping units, thereby separating the clamped hoses from each other, and at least one of the two clamping units has inner and outer clamping jaws, wherein the inner clamping jaws are held by the outer clamping jaws and can be adjusted together. In a closed position, the inner clamping jaws and the intermediate piece can be rotated with each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for welding together at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses, said apparatus having an open position and a closed position, said apparatus comprising:
a first clamping unit having:
two first clamping jaws; and
a first intermediate piece being positioned between said first clamping jaws and being configured to define first through-passages, said first through-passages being located between said respective first clamping jaws and said first intermediate piece;
said first clamping jaws being capable of being linearly shifted relative to each other from and to the open and closed position, wherein said first through-passages are provided for inserting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses parallel to each other in said first through-passages in the open position, and wherein said two first clamping jaws are provided for squeezing the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses transverse to each other in the direction of their common positional plane in the closed position, said first intermediate piece being provided for separating the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses from each other in the closed position;
a second clamping unit being aligned with said first clamping unit, said second clamping unit having:
two second clamping jaws; and
a second intermediate piece being positioned between said second clamping jaws and being configured to define second through-passages, said second through-passages being located between said respective second clamping jaws and said second intermediate piece;
said second clamping jaws being capable of being linearly shifted relative to each other from and to the open and closed position, wherein said second through-passages are provided for inserting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses parallel to each other in said second through-passages in the open position, and wherein said two second clamping jaws are provided for squeezing the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses transverse to each other in the direction of their common positional plane in the closed position, said second intermediate piece being provided for separating the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses from each other in the closed position;
a heatable blade for cutting through the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses at a location between said first clamping unit and said second clamping unit and for creating at least two pairs of cut thermoplastic hoses having respective melted edges, wherein at least one pair of said cut thermoplastic hoses is located in said first clamping unit and at least one pair of said cut thermoplastic hoses is located in said second clamping, unit;
wherein each one of said two first clamping jaws comprises an inner and an outer clamping jaw, said inner clamping jaws being respectively held by said outer clamping jaws; and
wherein said inner clamping jaws and said first intermediate piece are capable of being turned together inside of and in relation to said outer clamping jaws during the closed position for transposing locations of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses in said first clamping unit, and for effecting the welding of said respective melted edges of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses located in said first clamping unit with said respective melted edges of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses located in said second clamping unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first through-passages include first squeezing zones and said second through-passages include second squeezing zones, each of said first squeezing zones having a first rectangular cross section and each of said second squeezing zones having a second rectangular cross section, and wherein said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section both have a length and a width, the length having longer rectangular sides and the width having shorter rectangular sides, and wherein the longer rectangular sides are oriented side-by-side parallel to each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first intermediate piece further comprises a first web being arranged centrally between said first through-passages in said first squeezing zones in the closed position, said first web being one of said longer rectangular sides of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first web further comprises two projections forming a dual T-shaped profile, said projections forming the shorter rectangular sides of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section and determining a length of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic hoses have a wall thickness in the unsqueezed state, wherein the width of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section is 50-70% of two times said wall thickness.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according claim 2, the thermoplastic hoses having a diameter, wherein the length of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section is 120-140% of the diameter of the thermoplastic hoses.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first through-passages include first holding zones, each having a first holding zone cross section, said first holding zone cross section being wider in comparison to said first rectangular cross section of said first squeezing zones, said first holding zone cross section being wider a direction away from said first intermediate piece, and
said second through-passages include second holding zones, each having a second holding zone cross section, said second holding zone cross section being wider in comparison to said second rectangular cross section of said second squeezing zones, said second holding zone cross section being wider a direction away from said second intermediate piece.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first intermediate piece and said second intermediate piece comprise dual C-shaped profiles in the holding zone for admitting and pre-securing the thermoplastic hoses.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said inner clamping jaws have a flat contact surface for contacting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses in the first holding zones, and wherein said second clamping jaws have a flat contact surface for contacting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses in the second holding zones.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an interval between said first squeezing zones and said second squeezing zones during cutting through the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses is 3-6 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said interval is reduced for welding the thermoplastic hoses.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner clamping jaws are secured against rotational motion in said outer clamping jaws when the first clamping jaws are in the open position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first holder for holding said first intermediate piece and a second holder for holding said second intermediate piece where the apparatus is in the open position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of one of said first clamping jaws and said second clamping jaws is mounted to be stationary with respect to a second portion of the other of said first clamping jaws and said second clamping jaws for insertion and removal of the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses from said first through-passages and said second through-passages, and wherein said second portion of the other of said first clamping jaws and said second clamping jaws, said first intermediate piece and said second intermediate piece are movably mounted on linear guides.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner clamping jaws and said first intermediate piece are rotationally symmetrical relative to half turns of said outer clamping jaws.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for welding together thermoplastic hoses, said apparatus having an open position and a closed position, said apparatus comprising:
a first clamping unit having two first clamping jaws with first through-passages;
a second clamping unit having two second clamping jaws with second through-passages, said first through-passages and said second through-passages for inserting the thermoplastic hoses parallel to each other and squeezing the thermoplastic hoses transverse to each other;
said first clamping jaws and said second clamping jaws being capable of being shifted relative to each other from and to the open position and the closed position;
a heatable blade for cutting through the thermoplastic hoses and creating cut edges of the respective thermoplastic hoses, said heatable blade melting the respective cut edges of the thermoplastic hoses between said first clamping unit and said second clamping unit;
a first intermediate piece being attachable between said first clamping jaws, and a second intermediate piece being attachable between said second clamping jaws, said respective intermediate pieces separating the thermoplastic hoses from each other in the closed position;
wherein at least one of said first clamping unit and said second clamping unit further comprise inner clamping jaws and outer clamping jaws, said inner clamping jaws being held by said outer clamping jaws;
wherein said inner clamping jaws and said respective intermediate piece are capable of being turned inside of said outer clamping jaws during the closed position;
wherein said first through-passages include a first squeezing zone and said second through-passages include a second squeezing zone, said first squeezing zone having a first rectangular cross section and said second squeezing zone having a second rectangular cross section, and wherein said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section both comprise a length and a width, the length having longer rectangular sides and the width having shorter rectangular sides; and
wherein said first intermediate piece further comprises a first web being arranged centrally between said first through-passages in said first squeezing zone in the closed position, said first web being one of said longer rectangular sides of said first rectangular cross section and said second rectangular cross section.