PORTABLE SYSTEM FOR BONDING PIPES

摘要

A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

主权项

1. A portable device for fusing thermoplastic piping using a fitting having a susceptor layer, the portable device comprising:
a control unit for providing a current at high frequency; and a wand connected to the control unit, the wand including:
a handle for gripping by a user, the handle having a proximal end connected to the control unit and a distal end;a lever system coupled to the distal end, the lever system including: a bracket; a pivot arm rotatably mounted on the bracket on a first end and having a roller on a second end; a lever containing a spring cage, the lever being rotatably mounted on a second end of the bracket and contacting the roller; and a spring mounted in the spring cage;a fixed jaw mounted on the distal end, the fixed arm including a first arcuate conductor;a pivot jaw rotatably coupled to the distal end for selectively contacting the fixed jaw, the pivot jaw also including a second arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact;
wherein:the spring: i) biases the lever away from the handle by applying a force to the roller and, in turn, biases the pivot jaw open away from the fixed jaw; ii) upon application of a force by the user to the lever to overcome the spring and rotate the lever towards the handle, the spring applies a preload force to the pivot jaw to allow the lever system to operate smoothly while the user applies additional force to bring the jaws into contact to form the circular inner diameter; and iii) in a latched closed position with the jaws closed and the lever adjacent the handle, the spring applies the preload force and a bias to the lever system so the lever system remains latched when the user removes the force against the lever; andcircuitry in the handle and control unit, the circuitry for determining when the jaws are latched about the fitting and providing the current to the arcuate conductors and, in turn, creating a magnetic field in the fitting such that a pipe therein is fused to the fitting.