Electrofusion marker
First Claim
1. A device for coupling two elongated members and electronically marking the coupled joint, comprising:
- a hollow, thermoplastic fitting member having an inner wall;
resistance means for heating said fitting member when said resistance means is connected to an external power supply, whereby said fitting member becomes fused around the elongated members; and
means connected to said resistance means for creating a resonant circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrofusion marker which fuses two pipe sections together and acts as a passive electronic marker. The electrofusion marker includes a tubular thermoplastic fitting having a coil therein, which is temporarily energized by a power supply. This heats the fitting, causing it to fuse with the pipe sections. The coil doubles as an inductor, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the coil creates a resonant LC circuit. After the pipe sections have been fused together and buried the joint may be thereafter located by emitting a signal into the ground, which is picked up by the resonant circuit and re-radiated. The radiated signal is detected by a receiver, indicating location of the electrofusion marker and joint.
35 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for coupling two elongated members and electronically marking the coupled joint, comprising:
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a hollow, thermoplastic fitting member having an inner wall; resistance means for heating said fitting member when said resistance means is connected to an external power supply, whereby said fitting member becomes fused around the elongated members; and means connected to said resistance means for creating a resonant circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrofusion marker for coupling two pipes and electronically marking the coupled joint, comprising:
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a tubular, thermoplastic fitting having an inner wall, an outer surface, and first and second terminals attached to said outer surface; a coil of electrically conductive wire having first and second ends, said coil being attached to said fitting proximate said inner wall thereof, and said first and second ends of said coil being electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively; and reactor means connected in parallel to said coil for creating a resonant circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An adaptor for modifying a tubular electro-fusion coupler into an electronic marker, the electrofusion coupler having first and second terminals connected to first and second ends of a coil within the coupler, comprising:
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a housing; first and second plugs attached to said housing, for mating with the first and second terminals of the coupler; and a capacitor located within said housing, electrically connected between said first and second plugs whereby, when said plugs are united with said terminals, a resonant LC circuit is created. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification