A pipe processing apparatus, for forming branches on pipes made of thermoplastic material, including a base adapted to be fastened to the outer wall of a pipe and a supporting structure which extends from the base; a support member is slidingly associated with the supporting structure and is adapted to receive an interchangeable processing/handling means configured to interact with the pipe; the apparatus also includes a movement means which engages the support member in order to move it on command along a processing axis. The supporting structure includes a single elongated structural element.

A joined body includes: a first member having a hole; and a second member that is press-fitted to the hole. The second member has a second abutment surface abutting against a first abutment surface which is an inner wall of the first member forming the hole. A groove portion is defined on one of an inner wall of the first member and an outer wall of the second member, and has a groove formed to extend in a press-fitting direction of the second member to the first member. An insertion portion is formed to protrude in a radial direction from the other of the inner wall of the first member and the outer wall of the second member, and is inserted in the groove. The groove portion has an engagement portion that is able to be engaged with an end portion of the insertion portion in the press-fitting direction.

A method of connecting together two unit elements (4, 4′) of a fluid transport pipe, each unit pipe element being made of metal alloy and 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 comprising a step of butt-welding together two unit pipe elements at their end portions having no outer insulating coating, a step of mechanically assembling at least two rigid shells (14, 16) made of a thermoplastic material on the end portions of the unit pipe elements not having an outer insulating coating, and a step of keeping the shells sealed against the outer insulating coating of the two unit pipe elements.

An intravenous delivery system may have a liquid source containing a liquid, tubing, and an anti-run-dry membrane positioned such that the liquid, flowing form the liquid source to the tubing, passes through the anti-run-dry membrane. The anti-run-dry membrane may be positioned within an exterior wall of a drip unit, and may be secured to a seat of the exterior wall by an attachment component. The attachment component may have various forms, such as a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define a drip chamber, a washer positioned such that the anti-run-dry membrane is between the washer and the seat, and an adhesive ring formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive and secured to the anti-run-dry membrane and the seat via compression. Interference features may protrude inward from the exterior wall or outward from the anti-run-dry membrane to help keep the anti-run-dry membrane in place.

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 joining together liner sections within a polymer-lined pipe energises an induction coil inside the pipe to spot-heat part of a circumferential interface between the liner sections. This melts and fuses the polymer material locally. The induction coil is then moved along the interface to heat other parts of the interface successively above the melting temperature. An apparatus for performing the method has a power supply for energising the induction coil and a drive system for moving the energised induction coil relative to a body of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configured as a carriage that is movable along the pipe.

A stabilizer adhesive bearing for a vehicle stabilizer may comprise an annular sleeve having a resilient inner contour for coaxial arrangement on the vehicle stabilizer. The resilient inner contour of the annular sleeve may comprise on a side facing the vehicle stabilizer a three-dimensionally structured surface with an adhesive receiving volume. The three-dimensionally structured surface has a maximum roughness depth (R.sub.max) greater than 45 m and a core roughness depth (R.sub.K) of at least 65% relative to the maximum roughness depth (R.sub.max) of the three-dimensionally structured surface. The maximum roughness depth (R.sub.max) is a total of the reduced tip height (R.sub.pk) and the reduced groove depth (R.sub.vk). Further, the reduced tip height (R.sub.pk), the reduced groove depth (R.sub.vk), and the core roughness depth (R.sub.K) may be determined in accordance with EN ISO 13565-2: December 1997.

An intravenous delivery system may have a liquid source containing a liquid, tubing, and an anti-run-dry membrane positioned such that the liquid, flowing form the liquid source to the tubing, passes through the anti-run-dry membrane. The anti-run-dry membrane may be positioned within an exterior wall of a drip unit, and may be secured to a seat of the exterior wall by an attachment component. The attachment component may have various forms, such as a secondary exterior wall that cooperates with the exterior wall to define a drip chamber, a washer positioned such that the anti-run-dry membrane is between the washer and the seat, and an adhesive ring formed of a pressure sensitive adhesive and secured to the anti-run-dry membrane and the seat via compression. Interference features may protrude inward from the exterior wall or outward from the anti-run-dry membrane to help keep the anti-run-dry membrane in place.

A method for producing a metal-plastic-hybrid component comprises: providing a metal shaped piece, and providing a stiff plastics shaped piece made of a rigid thermoplastic. The geometry of the shape of the plastics shaped piece is at least partially adapted to that of the metal shaped piece. The method further comprises mechanically connecting the plastics shaped piece to the metal shaped piece in a manner such that the plastics shaped piece and the metal shaped piece are held against one another by intrinsic stress, and such that there is a substantial area of surface-contact between the plastics shaped piece and the metal shaped piece at at least one interface. The method further comprises inductively welding the plastics shaped piece to the metal shaped piece at the at least one interface.

The relates to a method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object and includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object with a generally flat sheet portion having an edge, positioning the first object relative to the second object and bringing the first object and the second object to a relative movement to each other. The relative movement includes a rotational movement, such that a melting zone including flowable thermoplastic material is formed and such that thermoplastic material of the melting zone flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. The invention further concerns a connector that is suitable for being used in a method according to the invention.