GB2330327A - Method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2330327A
GB2330327A GB9721905A GB9721905A GB2330327A GB 2330327 A GB2330327 A GB 2330327A GB 9721905 A GB9721905 A GB 9721905A GB 9721905 A GB9721905 A GB 9721905A GB 2330327 A GB2330327 A GB 2330327A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
disc
tubular member
mouth
wall
former
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9721905A
Other versions
GB2330327B (en
GB9721905D0 (en
Inventor
Edward Lewis Palmer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thesis Tech Products and Services Ltd
Original Assignee
Thesis Tech Products and Services Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thesis Tech Products and Services Ltd filed Critical Thesis Tech Products and Services Ltd
Priority to GB9721905A priority Critical patent/GB2330327B/en
Publication of GB9721905D0 publication Critical patent/GB9721905D0/en
Priority to FR9812968A priority patent/FR2769964B1/en
Publication of GB2330327A publication Critical patent/GB2330327A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2330327B publication Critical patent/GB2330327B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/004—Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/0042—Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined of the joining tool and the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/0044—Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined of the joining tool and the parts to be joined using a separating sheet, e.g. fixed on the joining tool
    • 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
    • B29C65/18—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated tools
    • 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
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • 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
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/114—Single butt joints
    • 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
    • B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
    • B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
    • B29C66/5344—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends
    • 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
    • B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
    • B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
    • B29C66/5346—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially flat
    • 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
    • B29C66/61—Joining from or joining on the inside
    • B29C66/612—Making circumferential joints
    • 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
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/814—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8145—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the constructional aspects of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/81457—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the design of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the constructional aspects of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps comprising a block or layer of deformable material, e.g. sponge, foam, rubber
    • 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
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • 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
    • B29C66/71—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 composition of the plastics material 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
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/812—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the composition, by the structure, by the intensive physical properties or by the optical properties of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8122—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the composition, by the structure, by the intensive physical properties or by the optical properties of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/26—Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/26—Sealing devices, e.g. packaging for pistons or pipe joints
    • B29L2031/265—Packings, Gaskets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/48—Wearing apparel
    • B29L2031/4842—Outerwear
    • B29L2031/4864—Gloves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/48—Wearing apparel
    • B29L2031/50—Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof
    • B29L2031/501—Boots
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/753—Medical equipment; Accessories therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/753—Medical equipment; Accessories therefor
    • B29L2031/7532—Artificial members, protheses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/768—Protective equipment

Landscapes

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

Abstract

Method and apparatus for making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc. The method comprises a first step of drawing an elastic disc over a tapered round former 22 to cause at least a peripheral portion of the disc to form a wall of material presenting an outer surface to be joined. The mouth of the tubular member 10 is drawn over the wall of material so as to overlay and fit the said mouth to the outer surface presented by the wall of elastic disc material. The former is expanded to press the wall of elastic disc material radially outwardly against the mouth of the tubular member and heat is applied to melt thermoplastic material in a ring of contact between the outer surface of the wall of material and the mouth of the tubular member. The thermoplastic material may be melted into thermoplastic cloth bonded to the surface of the elastic disc. The method is of particular application to joining the mouth of a tubular enclosure to a disc of elastic material in the manufacture of a waterproof cover for covering a dressing or plaster cast of the limb of a patient.

Description

Method and Apparatus for Joining a Mouth of a Tubular Member to an Apertured Disc The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc.
The invention is of particular application in making a waterproof limb cover, as described in patent specification GB 9404563.0. Such a limb cover includes a waterproof tubular enclosure joined to an apertured elastic disc. The elastic disc constitutes a seal to be applied against the skin of a limb to be protected by the cover.
In the manufacture of such a limb cover it is important to choose material for the tubular enclosure which retains a satisfactory shape around a limb to be protected while being flexible and waterproof. The material of the tubular enclosure is relatively inelastic compared to the material of the sealing disc, the disc being elastic so as to form a satisfactory compliant seal against the skin of the limb being protected. A problem therefore arises in joining the mouth of the relatively inelastic tubular enclosure to the elastic disc while ensuring that the join is sufficiently strong to prevent parting of the join, in use, and ensuring that the join is waterproof.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the method comprising the steps of; drawing the disc over a former to cause at least a peripheral portion of the disc to form a wall of material presenting an outer surface to be joined, drawing the mouth of the tubular member over the wall of material so as to overlay and fit the said mouth to the outer surface presented by the wall of material, expanding the former to press the wall of material radially outwardly against the mouth of the tubular member, and applying heat to melt thermoplastic material in a ring of contact between the outer surface of the wall of material and the mouth of the tubular member.
Further according to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the apparatus comprising; a round former which includes a body of elastic material having a rim over which a peripheral portion of the disc can be turned to form a wall of material presenting an outer surface to be joined, the former being tapered so as to allow the mouth of the tubular member to be drawn to fit over the outer surface presented by the wall of material, means to compress the body of material in an axial direction to expand the body of elastic material radially, and means to apply heat to a ring of contact between the disc and the tubular member when fitted to the disc.
The invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a limb cover which has a tubular enclosure joined to an elastic seal by a method according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows a blank from which the tubular enclosure of the cover of Figure 1 is formed, Figure 3 shows a sleeve formed from the blank of Figure 2, and a disc to which the sleeve is to be joined, and Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams of apparatus according to the present invention for joining the sleeve and disc of Figure 3.
Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a waterproof limb cover which is of the type generally described in the patent specification GB 9404563.0. The cover is to be fitted, in use, over a medical dressing or plaster cast on the leg or arm of a patient. The cover includes a tubular enclosure 10, forming the main body of the cover. The tubular enclosure is formed from a sleeve closed at one end while the other end opens out into a mouth 12 incorporating a seal 13. The cover can be drawn over the limb of the patient, the seal being made of a flexible elastomeric waterproof material which is soft and compliant to the skin of the limb. The elastomeric material may be a synthetic or natural rubber and may in particular be a polymer or copolymer of chloroprene. Alternative materials are butyl, nitrile, ethylene propyl diomonomer, or latex rubbers.
Referring to Figure 2, the tubular enclosure 10 is formed from a blank 15 of waterproof thermoplastic material which may be any synthetic polymeric material suitable for retaining the limb of the patient. The edges 16a and 16b of the blank are brought together in overlapping relation as shown in Figure 3 and seam welded or adhesively bonded to form a sleeve 17 having a waterproof join 17a. The edges 16a and 16b are cut so that the sleeve 17 is slightly flared.
The seal 13 is made from a centrally apertured disc 14 of elastomeric material of a thickness of approximately 8 mm. which is precut into a disc shape from a flat sheet. The disc 14 has a woven thermoplastic cloth adhesively bonded to its upper surface to promote a thermoplastic join to the sleeve 17 in a manner to be described.
Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown the apparatus by means of which the sleeve 17 is joined to the elastomeric disc 14. The apparatus includes a support pedestal 20 including an upright column 21 onto which is mounted a round former generally represented by the reference numeral 22.
The former includes a dished base section 23 fixed to the column 21, an upper tapered frusto-conical section 24 and a compliant rubber ring 25 situated between the base section 23 and the upper section 24. The compliant ring is made of an elastomeric material such as a natural or synthetic rubber and is mounted onto a central hub 35 in the manner of a tyre on a wheel. A threaded shaft 26 passes axially through the former 22 and is coupled to the base section 23 by means of a lock washer 27 and a threaded end nut 28.
A compression nut 29 is threaded onto the upper part of the threaded shaft 26 and can be turned by a crossbar 30 connected to the compression nut 29 by a tube 31 holding the compression nut 29. Rotation of the crossbar brings the compression nut into engagement with a washer 29a to apply a compression force onto a bearing 32. The bearing 32 in turn bears on a dished washer 33. The compression force applied by the compression nut 29 through the dished washer 33 results in a downward force on the upper section 24 of the former 22. A counter force is exerted through the shaft 26 onto the base section 23 of the former. The ring 25 can therefore be compressed by the axial forces exerted by the base and upper sections 23 and 24.
The material of the ring 25 is soft enough that the uniform compression force applied through the base and upper sections 23 and 24 will cause the ring to expand outwardly from the hub 35 proportionately to the compression force while maintaining circularity of the ring 25. It will be apparent that the compression force applied to the ring 25 could be generated by a hydraulic or pneumatic means as an alternative to the threaded shaft and compression nut illustrated.
The tapered upper section 24 of the former 22 is shaped to allow the disc 14 to be drawn over the upper section 24 so as to bring an outer peripheral portion of the disc 14 into overlying relation with the outer rim of the ring 25. The outer peripheral portion of the disc 14 is thereby turned by means of the former 22 into a raised circular wall 36. The taper of the upper section 24 of the former 22 also allows the flared sleeve 17 to be drawn over the former 22 so as to bring the mouth 12 of the sleeve into overlying relation with the wall of material 36 formed from the disc 14.
A heating ring 37 is provided to encircle the compliant ring 25 and is used to heat an annular zone of contact between the wall 36 of material and the mouth 12 of the sleeve 17.
The heating ring is formed of strip stainless steel, copper or brass of approximately 0.008 in thickness such that it retains sufficient flexibility to conform to the expanding former 22 while remaining strong enough to resist the expansion force applied by the former 22.
The heating ring 37 has a heating element mounted on its outer surface and is provided with a non-stick lining such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) which may be in the form of a tape applied to the inner surface of the heating ring 37.
The non-stick lining allows easy removal of the heating ring 37 once a join has been made between the disc 14 and the sleeve 17. The heating element mounted on the ring 37 provides sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the heating ring above 160 OC. The heat applied to the heating ring 37 may be derived from a source, other than an electrical heating element, such as a gas heat source.
In operation, a sheet of thermoplastic material is cut to form the blank 15 as shown in Figure 2 and then welded along the join 17a to form the flared sleeve 17 having the mouth 12. The disc 14, having been cut from a sheet of material, is presented to the former 22 and drawn over the upper section 24 of the former 22 so as to present its layer of woven thermoplastic cloth outwardly of the former 22. The disc is drawn over the former 22 until the outer peripheral portion of the disc 14 has arrived at a position overlying the outer circumference of the compliant ring 25. In this position, the disc material is stretched over the compliant ring 25 to form the circular wall 36 which is held in place by the tension in the disc material.
The sleeve 17 is next drawn over the former 22 until its mouth is at the level of the circular wall 36 of disc material. It will not slide further because the mouth 12 is made the same as or slightly smaller than the combined diameter of the former ring 22 and disc material fitted over the ring 25. The sleeve 17 is slightly elastic and is pulled to stretch over the disc material so that it grips the disc material tightly around the circumference of the circular wall 36. The heating ring 37 is placed in position to encircle the zone of contact between the components to be joined and the crossbar 30 is turned to compress the compliant ring 25. The compliant ring 25 exerts a radially outward pressure to squeeze together the materials to be joined against the inner surface of the heating ring 37.
The heating element is electrically energised to raise the temperature of the materials encircled by the heating ring to a temperature above 160 OC.
At this temperature, the thermoplastic material of the sleeve 17 melts into the thermoplastic cloth layer of the disc material to form a waterproof join. The energisation of the heating element continues for a period sufficient to ensure proper melting of the thermoplastic materials and is then switched off by a timing device. The assembly is allowed to cool, the expanding former is released by turning the crossbar 30 in the reverse direction and the heat ring 37 is removed. The flared sleeve 17 is now removed from the former 22 with the seal joined to its mouth. The wider end of the sleeve 17 is finally sealed by seam welding or by adhesive bonding to form a closed end 18 of the cover as shown in Figure 1.

Claims (10)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A method of making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the method comprising the steps of; drawing the disc over a former to cause at least a peripheral portion of the disc to form a wall of material presenting an outer surface to be joined, drawing the mouth of the tubular member over the wall of material so as to overlay and fit the said mouth to the outer surface presented by the wall of material, expanding the former to press the wall of material radially outwardly against the mouth of the tubular member, and applying heat to melt thermoplastic material in a ring of contact between the outer surface of the wall of material and the mouth of the tubular member.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, applied to making a join between a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc in which the tubular member is made of thermoplastic material and the elastic disc has a thermoplastic cloth bonded thereto.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, applied to making a join between a tubular member and an apertured disc in which the tubular member is in the form of a flared sleeve.
  4. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, comprising the further step of closing the end of the sleeve remote from the join to the apertured disc.
  5. 5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the step of applying heat to melt thermoplastic material is effected by means of a heating means which include a heating ring which encircles the tubular member and disc and against which the tubular member and disc are pressed during the step of expanding the former.
  6. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the step of expanding the former to press the wall of material radially outwardly against the mouth of the tubular member is effected by the axial compression of an elastic ring constituting part of the former.
  7. 7. Apparatus for making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the apparatus comprising; a round former which includes a body of elastic material having a rim over which a peripheral portion of the disc can be turned to form a wall of material presenting an outer surface to be joined, the former being tapered so as to allow the mouth of the tubular member to be drawn to fit over the outer surface presented by the wall of material, means to compress the body of material in an axial direction to expand the body of elastic material radially, and means to apply heat to a ring of contact between the disc and the tubular member when fitted to the disc.
  8. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the body of elastic material is in the form of a ring disposed between upper and lower sections of the former, the means to compress the body of material comprising a threaded shaft to close the upper and lower sections together.
  9. 9. A method of making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  10. 10. Apparatus for making a thermoplastic join between a mouth of a tubular member and an apertured elastic disc, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9721905A 1997-10-17 1997-10-17 Method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc Expired - Lifetime GB2330327B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9721905A GB2330327B (en) 1997-10-17 1997-10-17 Method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc
FR9812968A FR2769964B1 (en) 1997-10-17 1998-10-14 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING A TUBULAR ELEMENT MOUTH TO A DISK WITH OPENING

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9721905A GB2330327B (en) 1997-10-17 1997-10-17 Method and apparatus for joining a mouth of a tubular member to an apertured disc

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GB9721905D0 GB9721905D0 (en) 1997-12-17
GB2330327A true GB2330327A (en) 1999-04-21
GB2330327B GB2330327B (en) 2001-07-18

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CN105455972B (en) * 2014-07-06 2019-05-24 白汝梅 A method of it improving medical physiotherapeutic and pastes pharmacological property

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2769964B1 (en) 2005-01-07
FR2769964A1 (en) 1999-04-23
GB2330327B (en) 2001-07-18
GB9721905D0 (en) 1997-12-17

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