A jig assembly and method of use are provided for positioning and re-rounding pipes for welding. The jig assembly comprises a first jaw assembly and a second jaw assembly which position and move a coupling onto one pipe then the second pipe for subsequent welding.

A liner bridge for a lined pipeline has bores extending through a tubular wall and terminals fitted in the bores, each terminal being exposed to an inward side of the wall for conducting electricity to an electrofusion element. A sealing interface between each terminal and its surrounding bore has one or more projecting formations of the terminal and at least one complementary formation of the bore engaged with the or each of the projecting formations. The interface can also include a sealing mass in the bore.

A liner bridge for a lined pipeline has bores extending through a tubular wall and terminals fitted in the bores, each terminal being exposed to an inward side of the wall for conducting electricity to an electrofusion element. A sealing interface between each terminal and its surrounding bore has one or more projecting formations of the terminal and at least one complementary formation of the bore engaged with the or each of the projecting formations. The interface can also include a sealing mass in the bore.

A portable assembly for securing a plastic fitting to a plastic pipe by employing fusion or thermal sealing is disclosed. The assembly is secured to the outer circumference of a plastic pipe at a desired location. The assembly can be secured at any longitudinal and lateral position along a plastic pipe. A heater heats both the pipe and the fitting to the point where they begin to melt. The heater is then removed and the fitting is pressed onto the surface of the pipe, thus fusing the fitting to the pipe. After cooling, the assembly is removed and the surface of the pipe within the interior of the fitting is drilled or removed. This now enables fluid within the pipe to be sent to the fitting and onto distribution lines which are connected to the fitting.

A portable assembly for securing a plastic fitting to a plastic pipe by employing fusion or thermal sealing is disclosed. The assembly is secured to the outer circumference of a plastic pipe at a desired location. The assembly can be secured at any longitudinal and lateral position along a plastic pipe. A heater heats both the pipe and the fitting to the point where they begin to melt. The heater is then removed and the fitting is pressed onto the surface of the pipe, thus fusing the fitting to the pipe. After cooling, the assembly is removed and the surface of the pipe within the interior of the fitting is drilled or removed. This now enables fluid within the pipe to be sent to the fitting and onto distribution lines which are connected to the fitting.

A method of connecting together two unit elements (4, 4) of a fluid transport pipe, each unit pipe element being covered in an outer insulating coating (6, 6) made of a thermoplastic material, with the exception of an end portion that does not have an outer insulating coating. The method includes: a step of welding together two abutting unit pipe elements; a step of positioning an annular sleeve (14) around a cut-back and in part around the outer insulating coatings of the two unit pipe elements, the sleeve being made of a thermoplastic material; a step of fastening the sleeve in sealed manner by weld bonding on the outer insulating coatings; and a step of applying an external pressure on the sleeve to enable it to be deformed elastically and match the shape of the respective end portions of the two unit pipe elements.

A method of connecting together two unit elements (4, 4) of a fluid transport pipe, each unit pipe element being covered in an outer insulating coating (6, 6) made of a thermoplastic material, with the exception of an end portion that does not have an outer insulating coating. The method includes: a step of welding together two abutting unit pipe elements; a step of positioning an annular sleeve (14) around a cut-back and in part around the outer insulating coatings of the two unit pipe elements, the sleeve being made of a thermoplastic material; a step of fastening the sleeve in sealed manner by weld bonding on the outer insulating coatings; and a step of applying an external pressure on the sleeve to enable it to be deformed elastically and match the shape of the respective end portions of the two unit pipe elements.

A jig assembly and method of use are provided for positioning and re-rounding pipes for welding. The jig assembly comprises a first jaw assembly and a second jaw assembly which position and move a coupling onto one pipe then the second pipe for subsequent welding.

A jig assembly and method of use are provided for positioning and re-rounding pipes for welding. The jig assembly comprises a first jaw assembly and a second jaw assembly which position and move a coupling onto one pipe then the second pipe for subsequent welding.

The invention provides a carbon fiber reinforced plastic electrofusion fitting and a self-monitoring method of strain for the fitting. Carbon fiber filled polymer is used to fabricate the fitting to improve the mechanical strength of the fitting. The fitting comprises an electrofusion fitting body embedded with a resistance heating wire and two terminals arranged on the electrofusion fitting body and connected to the two ends of the resistance heating wire respectively. For the self-monitoring of strain, at least one pair of electrodes are set on the surface of the electrofusion fitting. The resistance change between electrodes caused by fitting deformation due to temperature change or mechanical loading during operation can be measured, and could be further used for structural health monitoring of the electrofusion fitting. The combination of mechanical enhancement and strain sensing of the electrofusion fitting can improve the performance and reliability of plastic pipelines.