Bunnell Plastics, Inc.

Other

Donald G Curran

Edward P Anderson

Robert A Anderson

A safety shield for containing and deflecting a fluid leaking from a flanged pipe coupling in the form of an arcuate strip of transparent fluoropolymer. The strip has a flange along each circumferential edge which is integral with the strip and extends radially inwardly thereof. The strip is of sufficient length to encase the circumference of the pipe coupling flange to which it is applied with the opposing ends overlapping and fastened together. The flanges closely engage the radial surfaces of the coupling flanges. The safety shield is obtained by heat-shrinking a heat-shrinkable tube of fluoropolymer while restricting radial shrinkage thereof except the marginal edge portions which become the flanges.

Method of manufacturing a safety shield for flanged pipe couplings

Safety shield for flanged pipe couplings

A laminated tubular structure is obtained by a process in which a fabric sleeve is applied about a tube of thermoplastic polymer, following which plugs are inserted into the opposing ends of the liner. A liquid, such as water, is then introduced to the liner, and the liner is rotated about a horizontal axis while heat is applied to the exterior surface of the liner, causing the surface to become molten. The heat also causes vaporization of some of the liquid in the liner and the resulting vapor pressure causes the molten surface of the liner to expand radially into the interstices of the fabric sleeve. The inner surface of the liner remains solid and form-maintaining by reason of the liquid within the liner and heat absorbed on vaporization of liquid. Upon cooling there is obtained a good mechanical bond between the liner and sleeve. The liner-sleeve composite can be further reinforced by a surrounding layer of a thermosetting resin containing reinforcing fibers, the resin layer being bonded to the composite by means of the sleeve.

Process for forming laminated pipe

Surfaces of thermally conductive substrates are covered with thermoplastic polymers, particularly certain fluorocarbon polymers by bonding said polymeric materials directly to surfaces of said substrates. Adhesives, etchants, or the like are not used as bonding elements. The process involves treating the surfaces to make them wettable by water and then cleaning the surfaces, if necessary, followed by heating the substrate to a temperature at which the polymer melts, gels or softens (herein called the softening point), then placing the polymeric material into contact with the prepared surfaces and applying pressure on the polymeric material to force it into fusing and bonding contact with the heated surface and then cooling the substrate to a temperature below the softening point of the polymer. The products produced are preferably rolls. In their covered form as produced by this invention they are useful as processing rolls in office copier's fusing systems, rolls used in food cooking processes, and the like.

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Norwood, PA, United States of America

Donald G Curran