A device for welding electrofusion fittings, the device including a welding power supply with a communications interface, at least one connection cable connected to the welding power supply for connecting and heating a heating wire of an electrofusion fitting, and at least one removable extension cable is arranged on the at least one connection cable. The device is configured to provide a current or a voltage such that the current or the voltage is remains constant despite an increase in a resistance due to the connected extension cable.

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 heat-seal band is provided that incorporates voltage sensing wires, such as signal wires or conductors that are separate from current load carrying wires or conductors. This provides two discrete electrical paths: a voltage sensing path, and a current transmission path. The voltage signal conductor(s) in the voltage sensing path may be insulated to mitigate any non-desired influence by means of the voltage signal conductor's exposure to thermal or electrical influences from the current transmission path, including current transmission paths defined through conductive tabs that connect the heat-seal band to the current load conductors. The voltage signal conductor may connect at a node to the tab to band (tab/band) junction, which is defined at an intersection of the heat-seal band's conductive tab and the band that directs heat into a workpiece. Additional or a second set of voltage sensing conductors may be electrically connected to the heat-seal band at a location that is spaced from or in a subset of the first set of voltage sensing conductors. The second set of voltage sensing conductors may provide a secondary voltage sensing arrangement as a verification tool for evaluating temperature discrepancies between their locations and those of the first set, indicative of heating non-uniformity about the heat-seal band.

The present invention sufficiently heats a repairing material while preventing change in quality of a base material provided with the repairing material so as to securely bond the repairing material to a repair target portion. The repair method of the present invention, in order to repair a repair target portion 14 existing in an outer panel 1, includes: a repairing material disposing step of disposing a repairing patch 21 including a resistance heating element 23 and a carbon fiber reinforced resin, and an adhesive 22A including a thermosetting resin before being hardened for bonding the repairing patch 21 on the repair target portion 14; and a heating-hardening step of heating and hardening the thermosetting resin of the adhesive 22A by causing the resistance heating element 23 to generate heat through supply of electricity thereto.

The invention provides improvements to electrofusion fitting methods that allow for continuity and repeatability of welds between an electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining (or stand-alone pipe). An electrofusion fitting for joining sections of lined pipe has heating elements configured to create at least one weld between the electrofusion fitting and a pipe lining, however prior to the weld step taking place the electrofusion fitting is heated and expands accordingly to ensure contact with the pipe lining. Preheating the electrofusion fitting also provides a predetermined starting temperature for the fitting and the lining which results in improved fusion cycle reliability. Furthermore, the need for clamps or support frames to support the electrofusion fitting in situ is removed, with corresponding reductions in cycle times, complexity, and hence cost.

A method and an annular integral gasket are provided for forming a sealing connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The integral gasket comprises at least one flexible sealing portion adapted to form a sealing connection between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The integral gasket further comprises a bonding layer adapted to be fixedly attached to a tubular member by a joining process. The integral gasket also comprises a body region adapted for supporting the flexible sealing portion and the bonding layer.

A pipe coupler (30) comprises: an axis (500); a body portion (70) surrounding the axis; a circumferentially segmented collar (72) extending from a first axial end of the body portion and having an inner diameter surface (80) and an outer diameter surface (82); and a plurality of fingers (90) projecting from a second axial end of the body portion, axially opposite the first end and having inward radial projections (96).

A pipeline system is enclosed including unlined or plastic lined pipes. A mechanical metal to metal connection is employed that can provide a fluid tight seal. A pipe coupling may be employed to span the connection. Plastic lined pipes can have their plastic liners connected to form a fluid tight bladder. Electro fusion may be employed.

A surface cleaning apparatus, which in one embodiment is a hand held vacuum cleaner, comprises a cyclone and a suction motor wherein the cyclone air outlet and the suction motor inlet are positioned towards the same end of the surface cleaning apparatus whereby air exiting the cyclone travels laterally and then axially to the suction motor inlet. A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone and a suction motor wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone and the cyclone air outlet is positioned at a lower end of the cyclone whereby air exiting the cyclone travels laterally and then axially towards the suction motor inlet.

Pipe joint, which comprises at least one first pipe section (2), and a sleeve part 5, into which the butt end part of the pipe section (2) is disposed in such a way that the sleeve part (5) extends a distance on top of the pipe section (2) from the butt end of the pipe section that is inside the sleeve, and heating means (7), such as resistance wires. For forming the joint, a joint component (3) is arranged between the outer surface (16) of at least one pipe section (2) and the inside surface (15) of the sleeve part (5), which joint component is configured to form a joint with the sleeve part (5) when the joint area is warmed with the heating means (7), and that a collar (6) is arranged on the pipe section (2), which collar comprises a detent surface (10) for the joint component (3). The invention also relates to a method for forming a pipe joint.