Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/06—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using friction, e.g. spin welding
  • B29C65/0672—Spin welding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
  • B29C65/06—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using friction, e.g. spin welding
  • B29C65/069—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using friction, e.g. spin welding the welding tool cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
  • B29C65/7841—Holding or clamping means for handling purposes
  • B29C65/7844—Holding or clamping means for handling purposes cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/122—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising only two joint-segments in the joint cross-section
  • B29C66/1222—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising only two joint-segments in the joint cross-section comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
  • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
  • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/12—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments; Tongue and groove joints; Tenon and mortise joints; Stepped joint cross-sections
  • B29C66/122—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising only two joint-segments in the joint cross-section
  • B29C66/1224—Joint cross-sections combining only two joint-segments, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising only two joint-segments in the joint cross-section comprising at least a butt joint-segment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/52—Joining tubular articles, bars or profiled elements
  • B29C66/522—Joining tubular articles
  • B29C66/5221—Joining tubular articles for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
  • B29C66/52—Joining tubular articles, bars or profiled elements
  • B29C66/522—Joining tubular articles
  • B29C66/5229—Joining tubular articles involving the use of a socket
  • B29C66/52291—Joining tubular articles involving the use of a socket said socket comprising a stop
  • B29C66/52292—Joining tubular articles involving the use of a socket said socket comprising a stop said stop being internal
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
  • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
  • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
  • B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
  • B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics

Definitions

• This invention relates to pipe couplings and is particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of plastics pipes.
• plastics pipes for the supply of gas or water, or along which appropriate cables, wires, carbon fibres or the like can pass, has many advantages in combining long life, strength and flexibility, but plastics pipes are produced in finite lengths, with the attendant problem of connecting one pipe length to another, and with one pipe length at least already laid in a trench.
• the supply of gas there is the essential need for a gas-tight joint between one pipe length and the next, and which has led to the development of portable equipment enabling the butt welding of one pipe end to the next. Whilst not involving the same degree of danger to the public there is the need to prevent the ingress of water at a joint between cables and where pipes are used as trunking for other services, the need to have a joint able to prevent ingress of water and soil.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a method and equipment for the welding of one pipe end to another that, whilst perhaps not able to meet those most exacting requirements for the supply of gas, is more than sufficient to provide a welded connection for pipes for use as trunking, or even the supply of water.
• a method of securing the end of one plastics pipe length to the adjacent end of a next plastics pipe length comprises locating over the adjacent ends of the pipe lengths, a coupling sleeve of a compatible plastics material, the internal diameter of the coupling sleeve and the external diameters of the pipes being such that the coupling sleeve is a close sliding fit on the ends of the pipes, applying an external drive to the coupling sleeve to rotate the coupling sleeve on the pipe ends at a rate such that heat generated by friction melts the interface between the coupling sleeve and the pipe ends, and whereby following cessation of rotation, and on cooling, an effective weld is formed between the coupling sleeve and each pipe end.
• equipment for effecting the method first above defined comprises a portable motor, a drive means attached to the motor shaft and formed such as to be able to engage co-operating formations externally of the coupling sleeve and whereby with the drive means applied against one side of the coupling sleeve, the coupling sleeve is caused to rotate.
• the coupling sleeve can be formed with axial gear tooth formations, and the motor provided with a gear tooth drive member having an axis at parallel to the motor drive shaft, and whereby the gear tooth drive can be held against the toothed coupling sleeve to cause its rotation.
• an intermediary drive member may be provided to encircle the coupling sleeve, there being a positive means of connection as between the drive member and the coupling sleeve such as by providing ribs and slots respectively on the outer periphery of the coupling member and in a bore of the drive member, the outer periphery of the drive member being formed with axial gear tooth formations for engagement with a gear tooth drive member.
• equipment for carrying out the method first above defined comprises a portable motor, a gear tooth drive member on the motor drive shaft, two arms pivotally secured with respect to the motor, and with freely rotatable rollers at the opposite ends thereof, and a toothed belt wrapped around the drive member and the freely rotatable rollers such that the teeth of the belt are in engagement with the drive member and the plain face of the belt in contact with the freely rotatating rollers, and when the length of belt extends across the outermost rollers has the teeth outermost and for presentation to and engagement with transverse teeth formed on the coupling member.
• Such an arrangement may have the lengths of the two pivotal arms to suit a particular diameter of coupling sleeve and when in position, locate the outermost rollers beyond the top and bottom dead-centres of the coupling sleeve.
• each arm can be both slidable and pivotally mounted, and spring-loaded rearwardly of the drive means.
• the pivotal arms are in a rearward position the extended length between each rearmost roller and the drive member taking up a considerable part of the length of the belt and holding the belt relatively taut between the outermost rollers.
• the equipment of the invention On presentation of the equipment to a toothed coupling sleeve, it is urged against the sleeve and when the force applied to the belt is transmitted by the belt through the outermost rollers to the innermost rollers to cause the arms to slide in relation to the motor until the outermost rollers are beyond the dead- centre of the coupling sleeve, and when the arms are closed on to the sleeve to put the toothed belt in contact with the toothed sleeve over a substantial proportion of its periphery.
• the equipment of the invention can simply be drawn from the sleeve and transported with ease to its next point of use.
• the invention also embraces a coupling sleeve formed with external transverse teeth for use with the equipment of the invention.
• Figure 1 is a part-sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows a second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3 is a side elevation of an alternative construction of drive mechanism according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the mechanism of Figure 3 in use.
• connection between the gear tooth drive member 6 and the axial gear tooth formations 5 causes the coupling member 3 to rotate at high speed and when the friction at the interface as between the coupling member and the pipe ends causes the melting of the inside face of the coupling member and the outer face of the pipe ends. Following the cessation of rotation immediate and relatively rapid cooling takes place and with the consequent generation of a most effective weld as between the coupling member and the pipe ends.
• FIG 2 a similar arrangement is displayed, where again the ends of respective pipes 1, 2, are an interference fir within a coupling member 2. the pipe ends being mserte-:; into the coupling member 2 to butt against an internal member 4.
• the outer periphery of the coupling member is provided with a series of parallel slots 8.
• Encircling the coupling member is a two-piece intermediary drive member 9, the two halves being detachably secured together by connecting elements 10, the bore of which is provided with a series of parallel ribs 11 to engage with the series of parallel slots 8 on the coupling sleeve.
• On the outer periphery of the intermediary drive member are formed parallel axial gear tooth formations 11 for engagement by the gear tooth drive member 6.
• the coupling member 3 can be caused to rotate at high speed with the melting of plastics material at the interface between the coupling member and the pipe ends and which, on cooling, generates an effective weld.
• pipe ends are provided as an interference fit in a coupling member, and either the coupling member formed with axial tooth formations as in Figure 1, or provided with an encircling intermediary drive member on which the tooth formations are provided, and as is shown in Figure 2.
• the rotational force is derived from a toothed drive belt 12 that wraps around a substantial proportion of the periphery of the coupling sleeve or the intermediary drive member, and whereby to avoid side loading applied to the area of the welded coupling.
• a mounting block 13 is provided with a support arm 14 for attachment to the casing of the drive motor, the mounting block supporting pivotal arms 15, 16 having end rollers 17 and intermediary rollers 18. Supported on the block 13 is a toothed drive roller 19 on which a drive gear 20 is provided, to be driven by the motor.
• the belt is wrapped around the end rollers 17, and the intermediary rollers 18 such that it wraps around the drive roller with its teeth in contact with the teeth of the drive roller 19, and in the run of the belt extending between the end rollers 17, the teeth of the belt are exposed.
• the urging of the belt against it causes the arms to swing until lateral movement carries the outer rollers 17 beyond the dead centre of the coupling sleeve and when further lateral movement causes a force to act through the belt and on to the pivotal arms to draw the end rollers inwardly, and results in the belt wrapping around the coupling sleeve or the intermediary drive member over more than 50% of its periphery.
• Activation of the motor then causes the belt to drive the coupling member or the intermediary drive member to a degree to cause melting of the interface between the coupling sleeve and the pipe ends as previously described, but in the absence of side loadings on the coupling sleeve or on the intermediary drive member during rotation.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10692400

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1991
  • 1991-03-28 GB GB919106701A patent/GB9106701D0/en active Pending
• 1992
  • 1992-03-24 EP EP92906908A patent/EP0577651A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-03-24 WO PCT/GB1992/000535 patent/WO1992017328A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-03-24 JP JP4506558A patent/JPH06508305A/ja active Pending
  • 1992-03-24 AU AU14228/92A patent/AU1422892A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events