Patent ID: 6029727
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for joining thermoplastic pipes, comprising:a clamp means for holding a pair of thermoplastic pipes coaxially,a pressurizing means for bringing into contact, under pressure, end faces of the pair of thermoplastic pipes held by said clamp means, andvibration generator means attached to at least one of said pair of thermoplastic pipes adjacent to the respective end face of said at least one pipe for producing vibration of said end face sufficient to cause said end faces to be joined together,said vibration generator means including a hydraulic servo-motor, a servo-valve operating said hydraulic servo-motor, an actuator connected to said hydraulic servo-motor for performing rectilinear reciprocating movement in response to output from said hydraulic servo-motor, and a rectilinear vibration clamp connected to said actuator and holding said at least one pipe,said clamp means having three settable states consisting of an on state, an off state and a state in which the respective pipe is slightly clamped, anda protruding length of said thermoplastic pipes from said clamp means or said vibration clamp being set by an inching movement of said pressurizing means.