Assembly and method of coupling pipes

• US 9,415,542 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isco Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Isco Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Montgomery, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLIN, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/132,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 31/02 relating to soldering or welding dip or wave soldering in the manufacture of printed circuits H05K3/34
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/0533 external pipe alignment clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/342 comprising at least a single wire, e.g. in the form of a winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3424 said at least a single wire having the form of a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3432 comprising several wires, e.g. in the form of several independent windings B29C65/3436, B29C65/344 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3468 characterised by the means for supplying heat to said heated elements which remain in the join, e.g. special electrical connectors of windings B29C65/3668 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/565 involving interference fits, e.g. force-fits or press-fits B29C65/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/58 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7802 Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7835 by using stops B29C65/7823, B29C66/92651 take precedence; tongue and groove joints B29C66/124; tenon and mortise joints B29C66/126
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7841 Holding or clamping means for handling purposes clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1222 comprising at least a lapped joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1224 comprising at least a butt joint-segment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12241 the two joint-segments being butt
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5221 for forming coaxial connections, i.e. the tubular articles to be joined forming a zero angle relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5229 involving the use of a socket
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 : characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0633 : LDPE, i.e. low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/065 : HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 : ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/22 : Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/09 : for bringing two tubular members closer to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/10 : for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 47/03 : Welded joints with an electrical resistance incorporated in the joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49902 : by manipulating aligning means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5367 : Coupling to conduit

Abstract

A jig assembly and method of use are provided for positioning and re-rounding pipes for welding. The jig assembly comprises a first jaw assembly and a second jaw assembly which position and move a coupling onto one pipe then the second pipe for subsequent welding.

Claims

1. A method of coupling pipes, comprising:

connecting a first re-rounder to a first pipe;

connecting at least one linear actuator to said first re-rounder, said at least one actuator being movable in a first direction which is transverse to said first re-rounder;

connecting a second end of said at least one linear actuator to a backstop, said backstop being movable with said at least one linear actuator;

performing a first moving step comprising moving a coupling on to said first pipe with said backstop and said at least one linear actuator;

connecting a second re-rounder to a second pipe;

loosening said first re-rounder;

performing a second moving step comprising moving of said linear actuator to move said first re-rounder to engage said coupling and further move said coupling into engagement with said first and second pipes; and

, fusion welding said coupling to said first and second pipes.

2. The method of claim 1, said first moving step being a pull.

3. The method of claim 1, said first moving step being a push.

4. The method of claim 1, said second moving step being moving of said first pipe and said coupling.

5. The method of claim 1, said second moving step being moving of said first pipe.

6. The method of claim 1, said second moving step being moving of said coupling.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting electrodes to said coupling for said fusion welding.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising reversing orientation of said at least one linear actuator to connect to said second re-rounder before said second moving step.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising stopping said coupling against said second re-rounder.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging said coupling with both of said re-rounders.

11. A method of joining piping, comprising:

applying a first jaw assembly to a first pipe segment;

applying a second jaw assembly to a second pipe segment;

connecting a first end of a linear actuator to one of said first jaw assembly and said second jaw assembly;

connecting a second end of said linear actuator to the other of said first jaw assembly and said second jaw assembly;

actuating said linear actuator to move one of said pipe segments and a coupling;

loosening one of said first or second jaw assemblies;

positioning the coupling over adjacent ends of said first and second pipe segments by movement of said loosened one of said first and second jaw assemblies.

12. The method of claim 11, said positioning including movement of said coupling.

13. The method of claim 12, said positioning including moving one of said pipe segments into said coupling.

14. The method of claim 11, said positioning including movement of at least one of said first and second pipe segments.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising reversing orientation of said linear actuator before said positioning of the coupling by movement of said first jaw assembly.