Patent ID: 6289912
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
The method of fabricating a valve element for a contractible tube valve with the contractible portion having a pair of opposing fluoropolymer collapsible sides defining a fluid flow conduit and two open ends, a pair of fluoropolymer tubular end portions, each tubular end portion sized to conform to one another, the method comprising the steps of:a) positioning a mandrel within the pair of tubular end portions to be welded;b) abutting the tubular end portions to to define a juncture to be welded;c) covering the juncture to be welded by wrapping around the juncture a layer of flexible impervious film, said impervious film having a melting temperature greater than that of the pair of fluoropolymer tubular end portions and greater than that of the fluoropolymer collapsible sides;d) heating the juncture to be welded in a conduction heater sufficient to fuse the tubular end portion to the contractible portion; ande) removing the impervious film from the juncture.