The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
David Earl Ufford, Benton, AR (US);
A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of assembling a pipe and a flanged pipe fitting. The pipe includes an end, an inner surface having an inner diameter, and an outer surface having an outer diameter. The fitting includes an inner surface defining a bore with a portion having an inner diameter larger than the pipe outer diameter. The fitting also includes a flange at least partially surrounding the bore. The method comprises the steps of applying adhesive to at least one of the pipe outer surface and the fitting inner surface, inserting the end of the pipe into the bore such that the adhesive is between the pipe outer surface and the fitting inner surface, placing at least a portion of a heating plug inside the pipe at the end of the pipe, the heating plug including a heating element, a heat transfer media substantially surrounding the heating element, and an insulating handle connected to at least one of the heating element and the heat transfer media to facilitate handling of the plug by a user, and then heating the adhesive with the heating plug, thereby curing the adhesive and forming a bond between the pipe and the fitting.