US3633599A — Plastic service fitting and method and apparatus …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 202 words

The method of friction welding a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore and a frustoconical end portion carrying a cutter to a plastic pipe comprising the steps of: positioning said fitting generally transverse of the longitudinal axis of said pipe with said end portion engaging the exterior surface of said pipe, applying a load along the longitudinal axis of said fitting to press said tubular fitting against said pipe, rotating said tubular fitting about its longitudinal axis at a high speed relative to said pipe while applying said load to develop frictional heat between the areas of said end portion in contact with said surface of said pipe to soften the contacting materials of said end portion and said pipe so that said end portion will move through the softened material to thereby increase the area of surface contact between said pipe and said end portion, cutting a hole through said surface of said pipe as said rotating end portion is pressed into said pipe surface, discontinuing said rotation upon completing said hole cutting, and discontinuing application of said load to said tubular fitting when said contacting plastic materials of said end portion and said pipe have become bonded to one another.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 202 words

The method of friction welding a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore and a frustoconical end portion carrying a cutter to a plastic pipe comprising the steps of: positioning said fitting generally transverse of the longitudinal axis of said pipe with said end portion engaging the exterior surface of said pipe, applying a load along the longitudinal axis of said fitting to press said tubular fitting against said pipe, rotating said tubular fitting about its longitudinal axis at a high speed relative to said pipe while applying said load to develop frictional heat between the areas of said end portion in contact with said surface of said pipe to soften the contacting materials of said end portion and said pipe so that said end portion will move through the softened material to thereby increase the area of surface contact between said pipe and said end portion, cutting a hole through said surface of said pipe as said rotating end portion is pressed into said pipe surface, discontinuing said rotation upon completing said hole cutting, and discontinuing application of said load to said tubular fitting when said contacting plastic materials of said end portion and said pipe have become bonded to one another.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 334 words

The method of friction welding to a plastic main a plastic member having a frustoconical end portion and a through-bore with a cutter disposed at one end of said bore and simultaneously welding to said member a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore comprising the steps of: mounting said member at one end of said fitting with the bore of said member in alignment with the bore of said fitting and with a portion of the surface of said member in contact with a portion of the surface of said end of said fitting, positioning said member and said fitting generally transverse of the longitudinal axis of said pipe with the end of said member proximate said cutter engaging the exterior surface of said pipe, applying force along the longitudinal axis of said fitting to maintain the surface of the end portion of said fitting in intimate contact with the surface of said member and the end portion of said member in intimate contact with the surface of said pipe, rotating said member about the longitudinal axis of its bore at a high speed while maintaining said fitting and said pipe substantially stationary relative to said rotating member to develop frictional heat between the surface of said member in contact with the surface of said fitting and the surface of said member in contact with the surface of said pipe to thereby soften the material of said contacting surfaces so that the end of said member will move through the softened material to thereby increase the area of surface contact between said pipe and said end of said member, cutting a hole through said surface of said pipe as said rotating member moves into said pipe surface, discontinuing rotation of said member upon completing said hole cutting, and discontinuing the application of force when the plastic material of said contacting surfaces of said member and said fitting and said end portion of said member and said pipe has become securely bonded to one another.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 334 words

The method of friction welding to a plastic main a plastic member having a frustoconical end portion and a through-bore with a cutter disposed at one end of said bore and simultaneously welding to said member a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore comprising the steps of: mounting said member at one end of said fitting with the bore of said member in alignment with the bore of said fitting and with a portion of the surface of said member in contact with a portion of the surface of said end of said fitting, positioning said member and said fitting generally transverse of the longitudinal axis of said pipe with the end of said member proximate said cutter engaging the exterior surface of said pipe, applying force along the longitudinal axis of said fitting to maintain the surface of the end portion of said fitting in intimate contact with the surface of said member and the end portion of said member in intimate contact with the surface of said pipe, rotating said member about the longitudinal axis of its bore at a high speed while maintaining said fitting and said pipe substantially stationary relative to said rotating member to develop frictional heat between the surface of said member in contact with the surface of said fitting and the surface of said member in contact with the surface of said pipe to thereby soften the material of said contacting surfaces so that the end of said member will move through the softened material to thereby increase the area of surface contact between said pipe and said end of said member, cutting a hole through said surface of said pipe as said rotating member moves into said pipe surface, discontinuing rotation of said member upon completing said hole cutting, and discontinuing the application of force when the plastic material of said contacting surfaces of said member and said fitting and said end portion of said member and said pipe has become securely bonded to one another.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 2 including the step of applying a predetermined force to said member along its longitudinal axis in addition to the force transmitted to said member through said fitting so that the resultant contact pressure between the end of said member and said pipe will be greater than the contact pressure between the end portion of said fitting and said member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 243 words

APparatus for friction welding a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore to a plastic member having a surface portion for engaging the surface portion of one end of said fitting, said member having a through-bore alignable with said bore of said fitting and a frustoconical end portion, said member having a tapping plug disposed in and detachably connected to said bore of said member including a cutting element carried by said plug and located adjacent the end portion of said member, substantially simultaneously friction welding said end portion of said member to a plastic pipe while cutting a perforation in said pipe, said apparatus comprising: support means for said tubular fitting including means for detachably engaging a portion of said fitting to restrict relative movement between said fitting and said support means, first means detachably engageable with said tapping plug for moving said member connected to said plug into and out of contact with said surface portion of said fitting, second means engageable with said tapping plug for rotating said plug and said member connected to said plug about the axis of the bore of said member so that frictional heat will be developed to form a bond between the surface of said fitting in contact with the surface of said member and between the end portion of said member in contact with the surface of said pipe and substantially simultaneously a perforation will be formed in said pipe by said cutting element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 243 words

APparatus for friction welding a plastic tubular fitting having a through-bore to a plastic member having a surface portion for engaging the surface portion of one end of said fitting, said member having a through-bore alignable with said bore of said fitting and a frustoconical end portion, said member having a tapping plug disposed in and detachably connected to said bore of said member including a cutting element carried by said plug and located adjacent the end portion of said member, substantially simultaneously friction welding said end portion of said member to a plastic pipe while cutting a perforation in said pipe, said apparatus comprising: support means for said tubular fitting including means for detachably engaging a portion of said fitting to restrict relative movement between said fitting and said support means, first means detachably engageable with said tapping plug for moving said member connected to said plug into and out of contact with said surface portion of said fitting, second means engageable with said tapping plug for rotating said plug and said member connected to said plug about the axis of the bore of said member so that frictional heat will be developed to form a bond between the surface of said fitting in contact with the surface of said member and between the end portion of said member in contact with the surface of said pipe and substantially simultaneously a perforation will be formed in said pipe by said cutting element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said support means comprises a cylindrical housing having a through-bore for receiving said tubular fitting and an annular shoulder for engaging the other end of said tubular fitting.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said housing is provided at one end with a rotatable collar carrying said shoulder and a threaded surface portion disposed about the interior wall of said collar adjacent said shoulder for engaging the external threads of a tubular fitting.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said housing is provided on its exterior with a handle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tubular fitting is provided with a lateral outlet and said housing is provided with a slot in its sidewall for receiving said lateral outlet.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first means comprises a shaft disposed for rotation relative to said housing about the longitudinal axis of said housing and having one end extending beyond said housing and its other end provided with means for engaging said tapping plug.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one end of said shaft is rotatably supported by a driving head, said driving head being rotatably disposed on said housing whereby said shaft is rotatable independently of the rotation of said driving head.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the end of said shaft is threaded for engaging a centrally disposed threaded bore in said tapping plug.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second means comprises a hollow cylindrical tube disposed for rotation relative to said housing about the longitudinal axis of said housing and having one end extending beyond said housing and its other end provided with means for engaging said tapping plug so that rotation of said hollow cylindrical tube will effect rotation of said tapping plug and said member connected to aid plug.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said one end of said hollow cylindrical tube is disposed in a driving head and said driving head is rotatably disposed on said housing so that rotation of said driving head will effect rotation of said hollow cylindrical tube relative to said housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said tapping plug is provided at its end opposite said cutting element with a plurality of grooves and said other end of said hollow cylindrical tube is provided with a plurality of mating lugs locatable in said grOoves whereby rotation of said hollow cylindrical tube will effect rotation of said plug when said lugs are disposed in said grooves.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 426 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said housing is provided at one end with a collar disposed for rotation relative to said housing about the longitudinal axis of said housing and means are provided for locking said collar against said rotation, said housing being formed at said one end with a counterbore for receiving a bottom portion of said collar, the interior sidewall of said bottom portion of said collar being threaded for engaging the external threads of a tubular fitting, said collar being provided with a radially extending interior flange adjacent said bottom portion forming an abutment surface for the other end of said tubular fitting, the side of said flange opposite said abutment surface having located thereon bearing means spaced radially inwardly of the wall of said collar, said bearing means comprising a lower circular member disposed on said flange radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of said housing an an upper circular member disposed for rotation relative to said lower circular member, about said longitudinal axis, said collar extending beyond said upper circular member and carrying an annular bushing element disposed about the interior circumference of said collar, a driving head having a lower portion positionable in said collar adjacent said bushing element with one end engaging said upper circular bearing member, said lower portion of said driving head having a central bore alignable with the bore of said housing, said bore of said driving head having diametrically opposed key slots formed longitudinally therein, said driving head having a centrally disposed threaded bore in its upper portion with a threaded bushing disposed in said threaded counterbore, a spring member disposed in said bore with one end in engagement with the lower end of said threaded bushing, a driving shaft having key means proximate one end thereof and a through-bore, said driving shaft being disposed along the longitudinal axis of said housing with said key means engaging said key slots in said bore of said driving head, said driving shaft being formed at the other end thereof with lugs for engaging grooves in said opposite end of said tapping plug, a central shaft disposed in the bore of said driving shaft and extending beyond both ends of said driving shaft, the lower end of said central shaft having threads for engaging a centrally disposed threaded bore in said tapping plug, means engaging said one end of said driving shaft for retaining said central shaft in the bore of said driving shaft, the other end of said spring member engaging said retaining means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 93 words

A service T for connecting a service pipe to a plastic main comprising a first plastic member having a tubular body portion with a through-bore and a lateral outlet, said body portion having at one end exterior and interior threads, a second plastic member having a through-bore and a frustoconical end portion formed to be friction welded to the plastic main, said second plastic member having an annular shoulder spaced from said end portion and formed to be friction welded to the other end of said body portion of said first plastic member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 93 words

A service T for connecting a service pipe to a plastic main comprising a first plastic member having a tubular body portion with a through-bore and a lateral outlet, said body portion having at one end exterior and interior threads, a second plastic member having a through-bore and a frustoconical end portion formed to be friction welded to the plastic main, said second plastic member having an annular shoulder spaced from said end portion and formed to be friction welded to the other end of said body portion of said first plastic member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

A service T as claimed in claim 16 wherein a circumferential groove is formed in the wall of said first plastic member between said interior threads and said one end of said body portion and an O-ring is disposed in said groove.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 50 words

A service T as claimed in claim 16 including a tapping plug having an exteriorly threaded lower portion, said bore of said second plastic member having interior threads for receiving the exterior threads of said tapping plug, said tapping plug having a circular cutter fixed to the lower portion thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

A service T as claimed in claim 18 wherein said tapping plug is provided with an exteriorly threaded upper portion for engaging the interior threads of said body of said firSt plastic member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 54 words

A service T as claimed in claim 18 wherein aid tapping plug is provided with a needle for impaling and retaining a coupon cut by said circular cutter, one end of said needle being rigidly embedded in said plug, the other end of said needle extending beyond the cutting edge of said circular cutter.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 105 words

A service T as claimed in claim 18 wherein said second plastic member is provided with a neck portion insertable within the bore of said first plastic member, said neck portion extending from said annular shoulder and having an inwardly tapered annular end portion; and said tapping plug is provided exteriorly thereof with a tapered annular shoulder between said upper and lower threaded portions, said tapered annular shoulder of said plug being engageable with said tapered annular end portion of said neck portion to form a fluidtight seal when the lower portion of said plug is threaded into the bore of said second plastic member.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

A service T as claimed in claim 18 wherein said tapping plug is provided at its upper end with first means for engaging a tool to effect rotation of said plug relative to said second plastic member and second means at its upper end for engaging a tool to effect rotation of said plug and said second plastic member relative to said first plastic member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-10	1975-07-12	1976-01-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-10	1979-07-12	1980-01-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-10	1983-07-12	1984-01-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Plastic service fitting and method and apparatus for attaching same

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