Butt fusion apparatus with constant pressure accumulator

摘要

An apparatus for attaching abutting ends of first and second coaxial pipe sections together. The apparatus includes a support frame, a fixed pipe clamping jaw having upper and lower jaw halves carried by the support frame for positioning the first pipe section in a fixed position, a movable pipe clamping jaw having upper and lower jaw halves carried by the support frame for translating movement of the second pipe section relative to the fixed clamping jaw and into aligned abutment with the first pipe section, heating means for heating adjacent pipe ends to a butt fusion temperature and a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pressure pump for supplying pressure to hydraulic movement means to translate the movable pipe clamping jaws towards fixed pipe clamping jaws to the join the first and second heated pipe sections together under pressure. The apparatus also includes supplemental hydraulic pressure means for supplying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic joining means upon loss of pressure from the hydraulic pressure pump.