Method of joining components made of cross-linked polymers
First Claim
1. A method of joining at least two components made of cross-linked polymers that possess a memory effect and are heat expandable or heat shrinkable, the first of said components being a tube and the second having an opening into which an end of the tube can be inserted, the original size of said opening being no greater than the original external size of said tube end, comprising the steps ofa. adjusting at least one of said original sizes so as to enable insertion of the tube end into said opening, whereby at least one of said components is imparted with the memory effect;
- b. inserting said tube end into said opening to form a joint location;
c. heating said joint location to a temperature, which as a result of the memory effect causes said components to return to their original sizes and to form a joint and to fuse together over said joint.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method of joining components made of cross-linked polymers, at least one of the components being a tube, which method comprises deforming at least one of the components so as to deviate from the cross-linking shape, inserting an end of the tube into the other component, and heating the joint location to the temperature where the deformed components tend to return to the cross-linking shape, the heating being maintained for a time sufficient to produce fusing together over the joint location.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of joining at least two components made of cross-linked polymers that possess a memory effect and are heat expandable or heat shrinkable, the first of said components being a tube and the second having an opening into which an end of the tube can be inserted, the original size of said opening being no greater than the original external size of said tube end, comprising the steps of
a. adjusting at least one of said original sizes so as to enable insertion of the tube end into said opening, whereby at least one of said components is imparted with the memory effect; -
b. inserting said tube end into said opening to form a joint location; c. heating said joint location to a temperature, which as a result of the memory effect causes said components to return to their original sizes and to form a joint and to fuse together over said joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification