Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany Gmbh

Brett Arnold Kimball

David Edgar Hauber

Michael James Pasanen

Disclosed embodiments provide an electrofusion pipe coupler with mechanical support. The electrofusion pipe coupler comprises a coupler housing. A wire is configured and disposed within the housing. Electrodes are affixed to the coupler housing and in electrical contact with the wire. A threaded pattern is formed in an outer surface of the coupler housing. Gripping wedges are affixed to the coupler housing. Each gripping wedge extends from the coupler housing. A nut is attached to the coupler housing, engaging with the threaded pattern, and compressing the wedges against the connecting pipes. This serves to provide axial load transfer from the connecting pipes to the coupler housing via the wedges, thereby providing improved mechanical stability for such pipe assemblies.

Continuous fiber reinforced composite and metal electrofusion coupler

A dual-direction piston-based actuator housing assembly has a housing disposed over a hollow cylindrical liner configured to accept within a movable piston. A compression block having a pin engagement hole is disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the liner. A tension strap is disposed over the compression block, the tension strap starting from a first end near the proximal end of the liner, extending around the engagement hole and back to a second end near the proximal end of the liner. An overwind extends over the first and second ends of the tension strap, over the compression block, and over the proximal end of the housing. A tension clip is disposed at the distal end of the liner and embedded within the housing. The housing, tension strap and overwind may be a continuous fiber reinforced plastic composite and the compression block may be a chopped fiber filled thermoplastic composite.

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Loudonville, NY, United States of America

Brett Arnold Kimball