Installation fittings for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling multi-layer pipe fluid distribution systems. Induction welding pipe connectors including a major central pipe connector section and a minor lateral pipe connector section pair having reduced thickness relative to the major central pipe connector section. Induction welding pipe connectors with 5 integral solder flow barrier for assembling fluid distribution systems. Electromagnetic induction coil reverse action pliers for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling fluid distribution systems.

Installation fittings for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling multi-layer pipe fluid distribution systems. Induction welding pipe connectors including a major central pipe connector section and a minor lateral pipe connector section pair having reduced thickness relative to the major central pipe connector section. Induction welding pipe connectors with 5 integral solder flow barrier for assembling fluid distribution systems. Electromagnetic induction coil reverse action pliers for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling fluid distribution systems.

A compression collar is manufactured for use in reinforcing an interference fit between an end of a pipe and a fitting. A precursor form is injection molded using a cold-expansion material. The precursor form has a tubular body with an initially closed axial end and a bore that is initially blind formed in the other axial end. Material is removed from the initially closed axial end of the tubular body of the precursor form to form an opening in the initially closed axial end that connects to the bore thereby forming the compression collar. The opening has an inner periphery with a profile in axial cross section that is different than any profile in axial cross section of an inner periphery of the bore. The collar formed may lack knitlines and may include tabs formed during the removal step which help to position the collar on a pipe.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-layered PEX pipe where the core layer or center layer is a cross-linked polyethylene PEX which is sandwiched between two stabilized Polyethylene layers that are not cross-linked. The core PEX-a layer is a major proportion of the pipe's cross sectional area and thus is the primary stress-bearing layer of the pipe product. The present disclosure also relates to a method of extruding all layers simultaneously to make a composite PEX pipe.

An expansion toolhead configured to enable the expansion of multiple different sized diameters of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing with a single expansion toolhead. The expansion toolhead including a cap operably coupled to an expansion tool, and a plurality of jaws forming a 360 degree jaw section operably coupled to the cap, each of the plurality of jaws including an expansion tool interface portion forming a conical recess enabling a cone-shaped wedge of the expansion tool to move the jaw section between an unexpanded position and an expanded position, and a PEX tubing interface portion having a distal end, a proximal end and a plurality of lands positioned therebetween configured to form a corresponding plurality of substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing m diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for the expansion of multiple different standard sized diameters of PEX tubing.

The present invention relates to a composite coating for an inner tube delimiting a passageway for a fluid for obtaining a pipe for conveying fluids in HVACR systems.

Various improved designs for expansion tool heads are disclosed herein that are structured (1) to provide improved and more-evenly distributed strain in the pipe during the expansion strokes of the tool head which can include more gradually inducing the strain in the pipe and/or (2) to avoid the induction of plastic deformation of the pipe in regions of seal formation between the radial-inwardly facing surface of the pipe and the radially-outward facing surface of the fittings (i.e., the ribs of the fitting) especially in instances in which the tool head is not rotated between separate expansion steps. This may be achieved, for example, by the use of convexly curved outer profiles that limit initial insertion depth of the tool in the pipe prior to expansions and/or by the use of a hybrid toothed profile.

An expansion toolhead configured to enable the expansion of multiple different sized diameters of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing with a single expansion toolhead. The expansion toolhead including a cap operably coupled to an expansion tool, and a plurality of jaws forming a 360 degree jaw section operably coupled to the cap, each of the plurality of jaws including an expansion tool interface portion forming a conical recess enabling a cone-shaped wedge of the expansion tool to move the jaw section between an unexpanded position and an expanded position, and a PEX tubing interface portion having a distal end, a proximal end and a plurality of lands positioned therebetween configured to form a corresponding plurality of substantially uniform diameter portions of the jaw section sequentially increasing in diameter between the distal end and the proximal end for the expansion of multiple different standard sized diameters of PEX tubing.

A tube expansion tool for expanding an end of a synthetic resin fluid pipe has a motor shaft rotated by an electric motor, a feed screw mechanism for converting rotation of the motor shaft into front-and-rear movement of an output shaft, a wedge provided on a front portion of the output shaft for pushing a plurality of jaws. The plurality of jaws mutually opens radially outward. The tube expansion tool further has a jaw rotation mechanism and a shaft. The shaft rotates around an axis in conjunction with the rotation of the motor shaft. The shaft rotates the plurality of jaws around its axis. The output shaft, the motor shaft, and the shaft of the jaw rotation mechanism are arranged in parallel with each other and overlap in the front-rear direction.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture is extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.