Process and connection component using an electrical resistor for the welding of plastic elements
First Claim
1. A process for joining a connection component together with at least one other component by welding, each of said connection component and said at least one other component comprising a body made of a heat-fusing plastic, said process comprising:
- placing opposite one another contiguous surfaces of said connection component and said at least one other component, said contiguous surfaces defining a welding zone;
providing said connection component with a resistive foil of electrically conductive material for the circulation of a current in said welding zone, said resistive foil being embedded in said connection component and being capable of splitting at a temperature substantially equal to a predetermined welding temperature;
circulating an electrical current through said resistive foil for heating said components to said welding temperature;
splitting said resistive foil in response to said temperature, said splitting of said resistive foil causing an interruption of said electrical current, whereby said electric current is terminated when said welding temperature exists in said welding zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to the welding of components made of heat-fusing plastic, using an electrical heating resistor arranged in the thickness of a connection component.
According to the invention, the resistor is a thin electrically conductive layer advantageously formed on a supporting film made of heat-fusing plastic and capable of causing the tearing of the layer at a specific temperature corresponding to the welding temperature of the components.
The invention is used particularly for the thermal welding of polyethylene pipes used in the gas industry.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for joining a connection component together with at least one other component by welding, each of said connection component and said at least one other component comprising a body made of a heat-fusing plastic, said process comprising:
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placing opposite one another contiguous surfaces of said connection component and said at least one other component, said contiguous surfaces defining a welding zone; providing said connection component with a resistive foil of electrically conductive material for the circulation of a current in said welding zone, said resistive foil being embedded in said connection component and being capable of splitting at a temperature substantially equal to a predetermined welding temperature; circulating an electrical current through said resistive foil for heating said components to said welding temperature; splitting said resistive foil in response to said temperature, said splitting of said resistive foil causing an interruption of said electrical current, whereby said electric current is terminated when said welding temperature exists in said welding zone. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A connection component of heat-fusing plastic, comprising;
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said heat-fusing plastic having a front surface for connecting said component to a corresponding front surface of an element; said component including a resistive foil of electrically conductive material embedded proximately to said front surface thereof for fusing said heat-fusing plastic surrounding it at said front surface and thereby for causing welding between said component and said element; and said resistive foil having a thickness such that it breaks due to expansion of said heat-fusing plastic at a temperature between a fusion temperature of the plastic of said component and of said element and a maximum temperature of thermal damage of said component and said element. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A Connection component for tubes made of heat-fusing plastic;
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said component consisting at least partially of heat-fusing material compatible with said plastic of said tubes; said component having an inner welding surface for overlapping a corresponding outer welding surface of said tubes; said component including a cylindrical resistive foil of electrically conductive material arranged in the vicinity of said inner surface thereof for fusing material surrounding said resistive foil and causing welding between said component and said overlapping surfaces; and said resistive foil having a thickness permitting it to break at a temperature between a fusion temperature of said heat-fusing material and of said plastic and a maximum temperature of thermal damage to said heat-fusing material and to said plastic. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification