Methods and devices for the production of a pipe from biaxially oriented thermoplastic material having an integrated socket

摘要

A method for applying an integral socket to a pre-fabricated pipe (50) made from biaxially oriented thermoplastic material. The socket is formed by fixing both axial ends of the unheated end part of the pipe with a socket-forming device(51, 53, 54), heating the fixed end part to a suitable socket-forming temperature (e.g. by circulating hot water around the end) and expanding the axially fixed end part with the aid of a fluid pressure in the interior of the end part and/or a vacuum on the outer side of the end part. The expansion can start as early as during the heating stage. When the correct socket shape has been formed, the end can be cooled to set.