The invention relates to a modification process for modifying a biaxially oriented pipe, comprising a) providing a biaxially oriented pipe made by stretching a tube made of a thermoplastic polymer composition in the axial direction and in the peripheral direction, b) placing an insert within an end portion of the pipe, wherein the outer periphery of the cross section of the insert substantially matches the inner periphery of the cross section of the pipe and c) heating the end portion such that the end portion axially shrinks while the inner periphery of the cross section of the end portion is substantially maintained, to obtain a modified biaxially oriented pipe with a thickened end portion

In an aspect, a biaxially oriented pipe has a thickened end portion. The end portion has the same inner diameter as the biaxially oriented pipe and has a larger thickness than the biaxially oriented pipe. The end portion is made of the same thermoplastic polymer composition as the biaxially oriented pipe.

A sleeve is provided for covering a pipe joint formed between two pipes that are coupled to one another to form a tube. The sleeve comprises a heat-shrinkable material that is configured to conform to the first and second pipes when heated to cover the pipe joint.

A hybrid fluid-flow assembly having a base fitting that has been formed by axial load bulge forming from a sheet of metal, and a custom fitting that has been machined from a shaped-memory alloy. The input port of the custom fitting is connected to the output port of the base fitting by an interference fit. The interference fit may be formed by cooling the custom fitting to a temperature below its transition temperature, deforming the custom fitting so that the diameter of an inlet port is slightly larger than an output port on the base fitting, installing the input port of the custom fitting on the output port of the base fitting, and allowing the custom fitting to warm to room temperature. The shaped-memory alloy swages and coins the outer surface of the base fitting at the interface of the ports, thereby forming a compressive, interference fit.

An external sleeve arrangement for repairing a defective length of pipe has top and bottom segments for substantially encircling the pipe, where the bottom segment in addition has connector plates welded on either side. When the pipe and sleeve segments are made of a similar material, the sleeve segments are made thicker than the pipe wall, up to three times as thick or more, so that upon heating the sleeve segments for a given time they stretch relative to the pipe. After joining the stretched sleeve segments with the connector plates to form a continuous circumferential sleeve, the sleeve is cooled to provide an enhanced interference fit to reinforce the defective length of pipe. Prior to heating, the sleeve segments are clamped about the pipe using a clamping mechanism employing lugs connected to the segments and screw jacks engaging those lugs to draw the segments tight to the pipe.

The present application refers to a connection for connecting hydraulic tubing as used by subsea devices, by using a shaped memory alloy material. The sleeve connection made of a shaped memory alloy material, is originally manufactured with an internal diameter shorter than the external diameter of the tubing, internally has a cover material made of dielectric material and, most internally, has a layer of an anti-corrosive material which is contiguous to the external face of said tubing The layer of an anti-corrosive material internally has protruding portions designed to grasp the external surface of the tubing, forming streaks.

Ducting and/or duct couplings can be formed from shape memory polymer material, with the material for example being additively manufactured. The use of shape memory polymer material for one or more of the duct portions may allow for easier installation of the ducting, for example allowing the ducting to be warped and/or bent to fit into or through places that are hard to reach or hard to maneuver through, with the ducting then heated to cause it to return to a predetermined memory shape. The coupling of duct portions together may be accomplished by the duct portions including a shape memory polymer material, with for example ends of the duct portions fitted together, and then heated to use a shape memory property of the material to effect coupling. Heating of the shape memory polymer material also softens the material, allowing it to move to a previously set shape.

Two adjacent pipe flanges are secured by a plurality of clamp units, where each clamp unit, in order to receive the adjacent flanges in its receptacle, is thermally expanded.

An adapter assembly is disclosed. The adapter assembly includes a tapered tube adapter configured to couple to a vacuum hose and a heat shrink tube formed from a heat shrink material and coupled to the tapered tube adapter. The tapered tube adapter is configured to receive the vacuum hose, and the heat shrink tube is configured to be coupled to an exhaust port of a power tool.

A method of joining dissimilar material pipes includes inserting an end portion of a first pipe into a heat shrink tube, performing heat treatment on the first pipe joined to the heat shrink tube to shrink the heat shrink tube, press-inserting the end portion of the first pipe to which the heat shrink tube is joined into a second pipe, and plastic deforming and joining a plastic deformation portion where the first pipe, the second pipe, and the heat shrink tube overlap. The joined dissimilar material pipes have improved airtightness and can operate at a high pressure and an extremely low temperature.