Insert for pipe assembly and method for forming pipe assembly
AssigneeTicona LLC
InventorDavid Michael Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insert, a pipe assembly, and a method for forming a pipe assembly are disclosed. The pipe assembly includes a hollow body and an insert bonded to the hollow body. The insert spans a knit line defined in the hollow body. The insert is formed from a fiber reinforced polymer material. The fibers are generally anisotropic, and preferably unidirectional, and the insert is oriented such that the fibers extend at an angle to the knit line and thus span the knit line. Preferably, the fibers extend perpendicularly to the knit line. The use of an insert having such an orientation reinforces the hollow body, particularly at the knit line. Thus, the use of such an insert bonded to a hollow body according to the present disclosure produces a pipe assembly having increased pressure ratings.
Claims20
A fiber reinforced polymer insert for a pipe assembly, comprising:
- an insert having a front side and an opposing back side, the front side and opposing back side defining a thickness therebetween,
- the insert formed from a polymer material having a plurality of fibers dispersed therein, the fibers having an anisotropic orientation,
- the insert configured for bonding in the pipe assembly such that the fibers of the insert span a knit line of the pipe assembly.
A pipe assembly, comprising:
- a hollow body formed from a polymer material having a plurality of fibers dispersed therein, the hollow body defining a knit line;
- and
- an insert bonded to the hollow body, the insert formed from a polymer material having a plurality of fibers dispersed therein, the fibers of the insert having an anisotropic orientation and spanning the knit line of the hollow body.
A method for forming a pipe assembly, the method comprising:
- forming an insert from a polymer material and a plurality of fibers such that the fibers are dispersed in the polymer material in an anisotropic orientation;
- forming a hollow body from a polymer material and a plurality of fibers such that the fibers are dispersed in the polymer material;
- and
- bonding the insert to the hollow body during forming of the hollow body such that the fibers of the insert span a knit line of the hollow body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.