US4549752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector for tubular members
Assignee: Brooklyn Union Gas Co
•
Filing: 1984-05-25
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Granted: 1985-10-29
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Expires: 2004-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A connecting device for connecting together tubular members is comprised of a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces. The inner diameter of the sheet member coil is less than the outer diameter of the members to be joined. A layer of heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided over the inner surface and subsequently after the formation of the connection on the outer surface of the sheet member coil. The sheet member coil is expanded to a larger diameter against the resiliently inwardly directed force of the sheet member and held in the expanded condition by heat sensitive adhesive bonding material. The expanded larger diameter is of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of the members to be joined. Once the members to be joined are inserted into the coil, the sheet member coil may be heated whereby the heat sensitive adhesive bonding material melts allowing the sheet member to contract inwardly forming a tight bond between the inner surface of the sheet member and the members being joined. The connecting device may be utilized to connect a tubular member and an expandable tubular member. The connection formed by heating in such case results in the sheet member coil assuming a minimal degree of frustro-conical shape with a limited flow of the adhesive bonding material from the area over the expandable unit to the area over the tubular member. After application of the second layer of heat sensitive adhesive bonding material on the outer surface of the sheet member coil, the joined expandable unit to the tubular member is provided as an assembled unit ready for field application.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut E. Nimke
- 👤 William R. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L13/00; F16L13/10; F16L13/103; F16L21/00; F16L21/002; F16L21/005; F16L47/00; F16L47/20; F16L47/22; F16L55/00; F16L55/16; F16L55/162; F16L55/163; F16L55/168; F16L55/17; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/909; Y10S285/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A device for connecting together tubular members, comprising: a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces, the inner diameter of said sheet member coil being less than the outer diameters of the members to be joined; a first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the inner surface of said sheet member coil; said sheet member coil being expanded to a larger diameter against a resiliently inwardly directed force of said sheet member and held in said expanded condition by said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material, the expanded larger diameter being of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of said members to be joined, whereby said ends may be easily inserted into said coiled sheet member, said coiled sheet member being heatable whereby said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material holding said coil expanded melts allowing said sheet member to contract inwardly forming a tight bond between the inner surface of said sheet member and said members to be joined to form a strong bond upon cooling of said first heat sensitive bonding material between said inner surface of said coil and said tubular member being joined with said resilient sheet member coil providing support; and a second heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the outer surface of said sheet member coil after cooling of said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
A device for connecting together tubular members, comprising: a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces, the inner diameter of said sheet member coil being less than the outer diameters of the members to be joined; a first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the inner surface of said sheet member coil; said sheet member coil being expanded to a larger diameter against a resiliently inwardly directed force of said sheet member and held in said expanded condition by said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material, the expanded larger diameter being of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of said members to be joined, whereby said ends may be easily inserted into said coiled sheet member, said coiled sheet member being heatable whereby said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material holding said coil expanded melts allowing said sheet member to contract inwardly forming a tight bond between the inner surface of said sheet member and said members to be joined to form a strong bond upon cooling of said first heat sensitive bonding material between said inner surface of said coil and said tubular member being joined with said resilient sheet member coil providing support; and a second heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the outer surface of said sheet member coil after cooling of said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided at least partially between the overlapping surfaces of said coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided between the entire overlapping surfaces of said coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said members to be joined is a member which expands upon heating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said members to be joined are provided with a male and female chamfer whereby flow of said heat sensitive adhesive bonding material into said tubular members may be impeded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a sheet closure is provided over the junction of the tubular members to be joined prior to the formation of the connection whereby flow of said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material into said tubular members may be avoided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said sheet closure is a polyester tape.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
248 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion, comprising: a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces, the diameter of said sheet member coil being less than the outer diameters of the expandable unit and the tubular member to be joined; a first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the inner surface of said sheet member coil; said sheet member coil being expanded to a larger diameter against a resiliently inwardly directed force of said sheet member and held in said expanded condition by said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material, the expanded larger diameter being of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of said expandable unit and said tubular member to be joined, whereby, said ends may be easily inserted into said sheet member coil, said sheet member coil being heatable whereby said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material holding said coil expanded melts allowing said sheet member coil to contract inwardly forming a tight bond between the inner surface of said sheet member and said expandable unit and said tubular member to be joined to form a strong bond; and upon subsequent heating of said expandable unit, said expandable unit expands causing said resilient sheet member to assume a minimal degree of frustro-conical shape with a limited flow of said adhesive bonding material from the area over said expandable unit to the area over said tubular member.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
248 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion, comprising: a resilient sheet member in the form of a coil having at least partially overlapping surfaces, the diameter of said sheet member coil being less than the outer diameters of the expandable unit and the tubular member to be joined; a first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the inner surface of said sheet member coil; said sheet member coil being expanded to a larger diameter against a resiliently inwardly directed force of said sheet member and held in said expanded condition by said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material, the expanded larger diameter being of a sufficient diameter to receive the ends of said expandable unit and said tubular member to be joined, whereby, said ends may be easily inserted into said sheet member coil, said sheet member coil being heatable whereby said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material holding said coil expanded melts allowing said sheet member coil to contract inwardly forming a tight bond between the inner surface of said sheet member and said expandable unit and said tubular member to be joined to form a strong bond; and upon subsequent heating of said expandable unit, said expandable unit expands causing said resilient sheet member to assume a minimal degree of frustro-conical shape with a limited flow of said adhesive bonding material from the area over said expandable unit to the area over said tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A devide for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 8 including a second heat sensitive adhesive bonding material applied to the outer surface of said sheet member coil subsequent to the cooling of said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided at least partially between the overlapping surfaces of said coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material is provided between the entire overlapping surfaces of said coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 8 wherein a sheet member is provided over the junction of the tubular members to be joined prior to the formation of the connection whereby flow of said first heat sensitive adhesive bonding material into said tubular members may be avoided.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 12 wherein said sheet member is a polyester tape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device for forming a connection between a tubular member and a tubular unit adapted for expansion in accordance with claim 9 wherein said second heat sensitive adhesive bonding material bonds to the internal surface of a pipewall upon expansion of said expandable unit in a pipe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said tubular member is comprised of a predetermined length of straight section, which is adapted at its free end to be connected to a free end of a coil of tubular material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said predetermined length of straight tubular member is selected to be within the range of one foot to four feet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-28 | 1989-04-29 | 1989-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-28 | 1993-04-29 | 1993-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-28 | 1997-04-29 | 1997-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |