Sealing apparatus for manufacturing roller coverings,vessel liners and the like

Abstract

Abstract THE APPLICATION IS DIRECTED TO A BAR SEALER APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELONGATED HEAT-FUSED SEAMS BETWEEN TWO SECTIONS OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT, HIGH VISOCITY MATERIALS SUCH AS FLUORINATED ETHYLENE POLYMERS (E.G., TEFLON FEP). THE APPARATUS OF THE INVENTION IS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF HEAT SHRINKABEL TUBULAR ROLLER COVERINGS, VESSEL LINERS, AND THE LIKE BY SECURING TOGETHER, BY HEAT FUSION, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF WEBS OF THERMOPLASTIC COVERING MATERIAL. THE HEAT-FUSED JOINTS REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSES CONTEMPLATED ARE OF GREAT LENGTH AND ARE REQUIRED TO BE OF EXCEPTIONAL UNIFORMITY THROUGHOUT. THE NEW APPARATUS ACCOMMODATES THESE SEVERE REQUIREMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, INCORPORATING SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR THE APPLICATION OF UNIFORM PRESSURES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AREA OF FUSION. NOVEL ARRANGEMENTS ARE POVIDED FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION IN CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY THE HEATING ELEMENT. THE BASIC FEATURES OF THE NEW APPARATUS MAY BE INCORPORATED TO ADVANTAGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN INPLANT SEALING APPARATUS, OR IN AN IN SITU APPARATUS WHICH ENABLES THE FUSION TO BE MADE WHILE THE COVERING MATERIAL IS INSTALLED ON THE ROLLER TO BE COVERED. THE INVENTION IS USEFUL TO GREAT ADVANTAGE IN THE JOINING OF WEBS OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS (E.G., 20 MILS).

Inventors

• 👤 Robert Roberts

Bibliographic Details