Tdw Delaware, Inc.

Connectra Fusion Technologies, LLC

Bill Dean Andrew

Richard L Goswick

Paul Michael Hatch

Michael Wilson

Eric N Freeman

Gene R Ralls

Buddy A Wilson

Coy D Osburn

Edward W Levy

William D Duwe

David L Blevins

William Joseph Tefet

William Joseph Tefft

An indexer system for a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine of the type having a machine super-structure, parallel horizontal support shafts affixed to the super-structure, a first clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a second length of plastic pipe and an actuator system for moving the plastic pipes toward and away from each other, the indexing system having an indexer shaft mounted on the super-structure spaced from and parallel to the support shafts, an indexer carriage slidable on the indexer shaft, a facer and a heater pivotally secured to the indexer carriage, a translation mechanism for laterally positioning the indexer carriage to thereby locate the facer and heater between lengths of plastic pipe and a structural beam secured to the super-structure and parallel to the indexer shaft, the indexer carriage being slidably secured to the structural beam so that it is retained in predetermined orientation relative to the horizontal support shafts.

Indexer system for use with a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine

An assembly is provided for butt fusing lengths of plastic pipe in axial relationship. The assembly includes a cart having a chassis and wheels, the chassis having a longitudinal axis defined by the direction of movement of the cart in a straight line. A butt fusion machine having a frame, a first clamp and a second clamp thereon, is removably positioned on the cart. Each clamp is adapted to releasably secure the end portion of a length of thermoplastic pipe so that thereby the frame has a plane of orientation along which lengths of pipe extend when secured by the clamps. An actuator is manually used to move the moveable clamp towards and away from the fixed clamp, the fusion machine being selectably mountable upon the cart chassis so that in one operating position the machine butt fuses lengths of pipe held in axial relationship, the axii of the pipe being substantially coincident with the axis of the cart and, in another position, the butt fusion machine is positioned so that the axii of the lengths of pipe being joined are perpendicular to the cart axis permitting the butt fusion machine to be mounted on the cart in the mode that most readily accommodates the working conditions wherein thermoplastic pipe is being butt welded.

Plastic pipe butt fusion machine and cart assembly

A method for butt welding first and second thermoplastic pipes to each other including the steps of locating the end portions of first and second pipes to be joined in clamps that are moveable towards and away from each other by the application of hydraulic pressure, the pipe end portions being moveable against a facer for trimming the pipe ends at a first predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, moveable against a heater for heating the pipe ends to a molten state at a second predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure and moveable towards each other while the ends are in a molten state to fuse the pipes at a third predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, determining the hydraulic pressure required to move the pipe end portions towards each to determine a drag force hydraulic pressure, adding the drag force hydraulic pressure to each predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure to obtain first, second and third operating hydraulic pressures, and butt welding the pipes to each other using the first, second and third determined operating hydraulic pressures.

Method for butt welding thermoplastic pipe including automatic drag

A machine for use in butt fusing in axial alignment plastic pipe having a selected maximum diameter is adaptable by the use of specially designed inserts secured in the lower portions of fixed and moveable clamps, the inserts serving to elevationally raise segments of pipes to be joined when the machine is used to manufacture a segmented pipe turn. In addition to the employment of inserts providing increased height of support for pipe segments, the pivotal upper portions for the fixed and moveable clamps are replaced by specially designed upper clamp portions that have contacting surfaces configured to accept inclined and elevationally upwardly supported pipe segments. By the use of such specially designed inserts and replacement upper clamp portions a butt fusion machine can be employed to manufacture segmented pipe turns of the maximum pipe diameter for which the machine is designed.

Butt fusion machine for manufacturing full size segemented pipe turns

A facer for use with a plastic pipe butt fusion machine, the machine being of the type that supports two lengths of plastic pipe in spaced apart, end-to-end relationship. The facer has a housing supportable to a butt fusion machine that includes a driven gear rotatably with first and second paralleled facer plates affixed to opposed surfaces of the driven gear. Each facer plate has shapers that, when forced against the ends of plastic pipe shave off portion of the pipe so that the ends become uniform and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. A motor is supposed to the housing and includes a drive shaft having a drive gear that is coupled to the driven gear by a chain. An overriding clutch connects the motor drive shaft to the drive gear. A crank is removably connectable to the drive gear so that the drive gear can be rotated manually by means of the crank and when so rotated, the drive gear freely rotates upon the motor shaft as permitted by the overriding clutch so that the motor shaft is not rotated thus permitting use of the facer when electricity is not available, or under conditions wherein the possibility of a potentially explosion igniting spark must be avoided.

Plastic pipe facer for butt fusion application

A method of inserting a sensor into a pipeline including the steps of securing a fitting onto the pipeline, tapping an opening in the pipeline through the fitting, installing a housing on the fitting, the housing having a nipple extending at an angle to the pipeline, attaching a sensor insertion assembly to the nipple, the insertion assembly having a launch tube movable axially between the insertion assembly and the pipeline, extending the launch tube from the insertion assembly and through the pipeline opening into the pipeline, the launch tube intersecting the pipeline at an acute angle and providing communication between the sensor insertion assembly and the interior of the pipeline, and passing a sensor from the insertion assembly and through the launch tube into the pipeline.

Method of inserting a sensor into a pipeline

An apparatus for plugging the interior of a pipe that is penetrated by an axis opening including an upright tubular plugger housing attachable at its lower end to have communication with the interior of the pipe through the opening. An elongated vertical cylindrical control bar is provided with a plugger at its lower end, the plugger being positioned through the opening into the interior of the pipe to close against further flow of fluid through the pipe. A jack is affixed to the plugger housing upper end and telescopically receives the control bar, the jack being pivotally affixed to the housing so that the control bar, having a plugger on the lower end thereof, can be pivoted relative to the housing and thereby relative to the pipe for proper positioning of the plugger in the pipe. The jack serving to axially downwardly or upwardly advance the control bar so that a plugger can be installed or removed from a pipe, the jack providing force to expand a sealing cup on the plugging head to seal the inside of the pipe. A control bar clamp and latch are used for locking the plugger head in the plugging position.

Device for plugging the interior of a pipe

An apparatus for tapping an opening into an existing pipeline that is under internal pressure including an elongated tapping machine body having means on one end for attachment to a pipeline, a boring bar having a rotatable feed screw therein by which the boring bar is axially positioned, and a pressure responsive valve actuated by differential pressure between the interior of a pipeline and the interior of the tapping machine body to control hydraulic pressure inside the tapping machine body to thereby counterbalance the hydraulic force applied to the boring bar.

Growing community of inventors

Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Bill Dean Andrew