METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING THERMOPLASTIC PIPES

摘要

A method and apparatus for moulding an assembly of a thermoplastics member with a fusion pad 2b such as a pipe tapping tee saddle or a pipe coupling. The fusion pad 2b has an element which is to be electrically heated to weld the assembly to a compatible thermoplastics material and this pad is mounted in the cavity 105, 106 of an injection moulding tool 100 by which the thermoplastics member is to be moulded over the fusion pad 2b. During this latter moulding a control system 111 electrically heats the element to assist in bonding the thermoplastics envelope of the fusion pad to the thermoplastics of the member which is being moulded. A wall part 103 of the moulding tool 100 on which the fusion pad 2b is mounted may be temperature controlled 122 to maintain the surface of the fusion pad in contact therewith substantially solid.