Electromagnetic induction welding of plastic pipe distribution systems

A method for electromagnetic induction welding an induction weldable pipe connector to a plastic pipe, the plastic pipe having a pipe end with an external diameter D1, the induction weldable pipe connector including:

• i) at least one induction weldable pipe socket, each induction weldable pipe socket having a longitudinal axis and a plastic solder lining having a patterned external solder lining surface, an internal solder lining surface and at least one solder lining end face, the internal solder lining surface having an internal diameter D2 wherein D1>D2 thereby requiring forced sliding insertion of the pipe end into the pipe socket for preloading same, and
• ii) a solid metal susceptor sleeve entirely peripherally enveloping the plastic solder lining, the susceptor sleeve having an external susceptor sleeve surface, a patterned internal susceptor sleeve surface and at least one susceptor sleeve end face, the patterned internal susceptor sleeve surface being in intimate complementary interlocking contact with the patterned external solder lining surface,
• wherein said solder lining end face and said susceptor sleeve end face are exposed, annular, and transverse to the longitudinal axis, and said susceptor sleeve end face is overlying said solder lining end face,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) forced sliding insertion of the pipe end into the pipe socket for preloading the pipe socket;
• and
• (b) inducing electromagnetic induction in the pipe socket for heating the susceptor sleeve for melting the solder lining for welding the pipe socket to the pipe end,
• wherein the preloading and the interlocking cause melted solder lining to exude along the longitudinal axis beyond said susceptor sleeve end face to form an annular plastic extrusion.