METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING PIPES
Methods and apparatuses of joining a first pipe and a second pipe by injecting a pipe joining material into an interstitial space between abutting surfaces are provided. The methods and apparatuses may use a hollow fitting into which pipe ends may be inserted
1 . A method of joining a first end of a first pipe and a first end of a second pipe using a hollow fitting, the fitting having first and second opposed ends and an interior cavity extending from a first opening provided in the first opposed end to a second opening provided in the second opposed end, the method comprising:
(a) positioning each first end inside the fitting wherein a first groove is positioned proximate the first end of the first pipe and a second groove is provided proximate the first end of the second pipe and wherein each groove comprises an open annular region between an outer surface of the respective pipe and the inner surface of the fitting; and,
(b) utilizing at least one injection passage that extends from an outer surface of the fitting to an inner surface of the fitting wherein each groove is in flow communication with an outlet end of the at least one injection passage to inject joining material into the grooves.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises drilling the at least one injection passage in the fitting.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises:
(i) providing the first groove in the outer surface of the first pipe and providing the second groove in the outer surface of the second pipe; and
(ii) positioning the first end of each pipe inside the fitting with each groove in flow communication with the outlet end of the at least one injection passage.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises:
(i) providing the first groove in the interior surface of the fitting proximate the first opposed end of the fitting and providing the second groove in the interior surface of the fitting proximate the second opposed end of the fitting; and,
(ii) positioning the first end of each pipe inside the fitting.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first groove comprises a first recess in the outer surface of the first pipe and a first mating recess in the interior surface of the fitting proximate the first opposed end and the second groove comprises a second recess in the outer surface of the second pipe and a second mating recess in the interior surface of the fitting proximate the second opposed end; and wherein step (a) comprises positioning the first end of each pipe inside the fitting such that the first recess is generally aligned with the first mating recess and the second recess is generally aligned with the second mating recess.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one injection passage comprises a first injection passage having an first injection passage outlet and a second injection passage having a second injection passage outlet and the method further comprises positioning the first groove proximate the first injection passage outlet and positioning the second groove proximate the second injection passage outlet.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fitting has at least one vent passage extending between the inner surface of the fitting and the outer surface of the fitting and the method further comprises positioning an inlet of the at least one vent passage in flow communication with the first groove and providing a first sealing ring between the fitting and a portion of the first pipe positioned a further distance from the first end of the first pipe than the first groove.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one vent passage is also in flow communication with the second groove and the method further comprises providing a second sealing ring between the fitting and a portion of the second pipe positioned a further distance from the first end of the second pipe than the second groove.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising injecting the joining material until a signal is received that the first groove and a space between the first pipe and the fitting is filled with the joining material.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the signal comprises joining material exiting the vent passage.
11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the signal comprises joining material exiting a space between the fitting and the outer surface of one of the first and second pipes.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the joining material is injected at a temperature from 60-200° C.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the joining material is injected at a temperature from 100-150° C.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the joining material comprises from 5-100 wt % EVA and from 0-95 wt % PVC or CPVC, based on a total weight of the joining material.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the joining material comprises from 45-75 wt % EVA and from 25-55 wt % PVC or CPVC, based on a total weight of the joining material.
16 . A method of repairing a pipe comprising:
(a) removing a section of a pipe to be repaired and leaving a first and second spaced apart ends of the pipe to be repaired;
(b) providing a first hollow fitting on the first end of the pipe to be repaired, the first hollow fitting having first and second opposed ends and an interior cavity extending from a first opening provided in the first opposed end to a second opening provided in the second opposed end;
(c) providing a second hollow fitting on the second end of the pipe to be repaired, the second hollow fitting having first and second opposed ends and an interior cavity extending from a first opening provided in the first opposed end to a second opening provided in the second opposed end;
(d) positioning a replacement section of pipe between the first and second spaced apart ends of the pipe to be repaired, the replacement section of pipe having first and second opposed ends;
(e) positioning the first hollow fitting to overlie each of the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the first end of the pipe to be repaired wherein a first groove is positioned proximate the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and a second groove is provided proximate the first end of the pipe to be repaired and wherein each groove comprises an open annular region between an outer surface of the respective pipe and the inner surface of the first hollow fitting;
(f) utilizing at least one first hollow fitting injection passage that extends from an outer surface of the first hollow fitting to an inner surface of the first hollow fitting wherein the first and second grooves are in flow communication with an outlet end of the at least one first hollow fitting injection passage to inject joining material into the first and second grooves;
(g) positioning the second hollow fitting to overlie each of the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the second end of the pipe to be repaired wherein a third groove is positioned proximate the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and a fourth groove is provided proximate the second end of the pipe to be repaired and wherein each groove comprises an open annular region between an outer surface of the respective pipe and the inner surface of the second hollow fitting; and
(h) utilizing at least one second hollow fitting injection passage that extends from an outer surface of the second hollow fitting to an inner surface of the second hollow fitting wherein the third and fourth grooves are in flow communication with an outlet end of the at least one second hollow fitting injection passage to inject joining material into the third and fourth grooves.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein step (f) comprises drilling the at least one first hollow fitting injection passage in the first hollow fitting and step (h) comprises drilling the at least one second hollow fitting injection passage in the second hollow fitting.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein step (f) comprises drilling first and second first hollow fitting injection passages in the first hollow fitting and step (h) comprises drilling third and fourth second hollow fitting injection passages in the second hollow fitting, wherein each injection passage has an outlet proximate a groove.
19 . The method of claim 16 wherein step (e) comprises providing the first groove in the outer surface of the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and providing the second groove in the outer surface of the first spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired; and wherein step (g) comprises providing the third groove in the outer surface of the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and providing the fourth groove in the outer surface of the second spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired.
20 . The method of claim 16 wherein step (e) comprises providing the first groove in the interior surface of the first hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the first hollow fitting and providing the second groove in the interior surface of the first hollow fitting proximate the second opposed end of the first hollow fitting; and wherein step (g) comprises providing the third groove in the interior surface of the second hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the second hollow fitting and providing the fourth groove in the interior surface of the second hollow fitting proximate the second opposed end of the second hollow fitting.
21 . The method of claim 16 wherein step (e) comprises providing the first groove in the interior surface of the first hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the first hollow fitting and providing the second groove in the outer surface of the first spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired; and wherein step (g) comprises providing the third groove in the interior surface of the second hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the second hollow fitting and providing the fourth groove providing in the outer surface of the second spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired.
22 . The method of claim 16 wherein
(i) the first groove comprises a first recess in the outer surface of the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and a first mating recess in the interior surface of the first hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the first hollow fitting and the second groove comprises a second recess in the outer surface of the first spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired and a second mating recess in the interior surface of the first hollow fitting proximate the second opposed end of the first hollow fitting and wherein step (e) comprises positioning the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the first spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired inside the first hollow fitting such that the first recess is generally aligned with the first mating recess and the second recess is generally aligned with the second mating recess; and
(ii) the third groove comprises a third recess in the outer surface of the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and a third mating recess in the interior surface of the second hollow fitting proximate the first opposed end of the second hollow fitting and the fourth groove comprises a fourth recess in the outer surface of the second spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired and a fourth mating recess in the interior surface of the second hollow fitting proximate the second opposed end of the second hollow fitting and wherein step (g) comprises positioning the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the second spaced apart end of the pipe to be repaired inside the second hollow fitting such that the third recess is generally aligned with the third mating recess and the fourth recess is generally aligned with the fourth mating recess.
23 . The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one injection passage of the first hollow fitting comprises a first injection passage having a first injection passage outlet and a second injection passage having a second injection passage outlet, wherein the at least one injection passage of the second hollow fitting comprises a third injection passage having a third injection passage outlet and a fourth injection passage having a fourth injection passage outlet, and the method further comprises positioning the first groove proximate the first injection passage outlet, positioning the second groove proximate the second injection passage outlet, positioning the third groove proximate the third injection passage outlet, and positioning the fourth groove proximate the fourth injection passage outlet.
24 . The method of claim 16 further comprising injecting the joining material through the at least one first hollow fitting injection passage until a first signal is received that the first groove and the second groove are filled with the joining material, and further comprising injecting the joining material through the at least one second hollow fitting injection passage until a second signal is received that the third groove and the fourth groove are filled with the joining material.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein the first signal comprises joining material exiting a space between the first hollow fitting and the outer surface of one of the first opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the first end of the pipe to be repaired and the second signal comprises joining material exiting a space between the second hollow fitting and the outer surface of one of the second opposed end of the replacement section of pipe and the second end of the pipe to be repaired.
26 . The method of claim 16 wherein the joining material is injected at a temperature from 60-200° C.
27 . The method of claim 16 wherein the joining material is injected at a temperature from 100-150° C.
28 . The method of claim 16 wherein the joining material comprises from 5-100 wt % EVA and from 0-95 wt % PVC or CPVC, based on a total weight of the joining material.
29 . The method of claim 16 wherein the joining material comprises from 45-75 wt % EVA and from 25-55 wt % PVC or CPVC, based on a total weight of the joining material.
30 . A hollow fitting for repairing a pipe comprising at least one injection passage that extends from an outer surface of the fitting to an inner surface of the fitting, the fitting having first and second opposed ends and an interior cavity extending from a first opening provided in the first opposed end to a second opening in the second opposed and a first annular recess provided in the inner surface proximate the first opposed end and a second annular recess provided in the inner surface proximate the second opposed end.
31 . The hollow fitting of claim 30 further comprising a first injection passage that extends from an outer surface of the hollow fitting to an inner surface of the hollow fitting.
32 . The hollow fitting of claim 31 wherein an outlet end of the first injection passage is provided in the first annular recess and an outlet end of the second injection passage is provided in the second annular recess.