Patent ID: 7064300

Claim:
A method comprising a surface-analysis determination precedent to electrofusion welding, in which a pipe or pipes to-welded to an electrofusion fitting are prescribed to meet a passing surface-quality condition, comprising the steps of: supplying an electrofusion fitting and an electrofusion processor for completing electrofusion welding of said electrofusion fitting to an applicable section of pipe stock if such is passable for the purpose; providing at least one signal-outputting device for inspecting at least a portion of the applicable section of the pipe stock contemporaneously prior to operation of the electrofusion processor; feeding the output of the at least one signal-outputting device to control circuitry to determine alternately a “pass” condition which enables operation of the electrofusion processor, and hence welding, or alternatively disables operation of the electrofusion processor so that presumptively an operator would disassemble and then re-assemble the at least one signal-outputting device or fitting or both for a successive measurement, whereby during the interim the operator is afforded opportunity to skin, scrape or otherwise clean the applicable pipe section in order to obtain a “pass” condition.