APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUSION JOINING PLASTIC PIPE

摘要

Apparatus and method are disclosed for fusion joining first and second axially abutted thermo-plastic piping system component connection ends that are in axial and circumferential alignment. The joining apparatus includes apparatus for enabling the heating of a melt region in the proximity of the interface of the first and second piping system component connection ends at least to the material softening point of the thermo-plastic material of the melt region, and further includes vacuummetric apparatus for vacuummetrically inducing outward translation of the melted material of the melt region. The method includes the steps of (a) heating a melt region in the proximity of the interface of the first and second piping system component connection ends at least to the material softening point of the thermo-plastic material of the melt region, and (b) vacuummetrically inducing outward translation of the melted material of the melt region.