Method for connecting plastic pipes and structure for connecting the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and structure for connecting first (110) and second (120) plastic pipes to each other. The structure includes: an arch-shaped heating element (130) which is made of conductive plastic material and has an arch cross-sectional shape to cover the connection hole (111), with an opening (131) formed in a central portion of the arch-shaped heating element (130); an electricity supply assembly including a plurality of unit electricity supplies disposed around the opening (131) in different directions, each of the unit electricity supplies including a pair of electric connection terminals (140) disposed parallel to each other in the arch-shaped heating element (130) on opposite sides of the opening (131); and the second plastic pipe (120) provided on the end thereof with a cover (121) covering at least an outer surface of the arch-shaped heating element (130).

Claims

1. A method for connecting first and second plastic pipes to each other in such a way that an end of the second plastic pipe is connected to an arcuate side surface of the first plastic pipe to communicate the first plastic pipe with the second plastic pipe, the first plastic pipe having a connection hole, the method comprising: providing an arch-shaped heating element made of conductive plastic material on an end of the second plastic pipe, the heating element conforming in shape to the arcuate side surface of the first plastic pipe, the heating element having an opening therein corresponding to the connection hole in the first plastic pipe, the heating element generating heat when electricity is applied thereto; a plurality of separate electric supplies for the heating element disposed around the opening perpendicularly to each other, each of the electric supplies having a pair of electric connection terminals disposed parallel to each other in the heating element on opposite sides of the opening: placing the heating element on the arcuate surface of the first plastic pipe so that the opening is aligned with the connection hole in the first plastic pipe; and supplying power to the electric connection terminals in one of the supplies and then, alternately, supplying power to the electric connection terminals in another supply to thereby heat the arch-shaped heating element so that the second plastic pipe is fused to the first plastic pipe.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electric connection terminals are in line contact with the arch-shaped heating element, and shortest distances between the electric connection terminals at all points of any one of the electric connection terminals are equal to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first plastic pipe that is just before being placed on a second plastic pipe according to a comparative example of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first plastic pipe placed on the second plastic pipe of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an arch-shaped heating element used in the comparative example of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing conditions in which power is applied to the arch-shaped heating element of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first plastic pipe that is just before being placed on a second plastic pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the first plastic pipe placed on the second plastic pipe of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an arch-shaped heating element used in the embodiment of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a conceptual view showing conditions in which power is applied to the arch-shaped heating element of FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10, but showing a cover having no inner cover part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(15) Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, such that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention is realized in various manners and is not limited to the following embodiment. Furthermore, in the drawings, portions which are not related to the present invention should be omitted to explain the present invention more clearly. Reference should be made to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate similar components.

(16) In the specification, when the explanatory phrase a part includes a component is used, this means that the part may further include other components rather than excluding the components unless special explanation is given.

(17) A comparative example introduced by the inventor of the present invention will be explained, and problems thereof will be described.

(18) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first plastic pipe that is just before being placed on a second plastic pipe according to a comparative example of the present invention;

(19) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first plastic pipe placed on the second plastic pipe of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an arch-shaped heating element used in the comparative example of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing conditions in which power is applied to the arch-shaped heating element of FIG. 5.

(20) The first plastic pipe 110 has a tubular shape and is open on opposite ends thereof. A connection hole 111 is formed in a medial portion of the first plastic pipe 110. Of course, another plastic pipe, a seamed pipe or other kind of piping substance can be connected to each end of the first plastic pipe 110. The first plastic pipe 110 is in a state of being already installed on a site. The second plastic pipe 120 is to be connected to the first plastic pipe 110.

(21) The connection hole 111 is used to communicate the first plastic pipe 110 with the second plastic pipe 120. The connection hole 111 may be formed before fusion of the second plastic pipe 120 to the first plastic pipe 110 or, alternatively, it may be formed after the fusion.

(22) A separate structure for connection to another plastic pipe may be provided on each of opposite ends of the first plastic pipe 110, but this is irrelevant to the core of the present invention, so further explanation thereof will be omitted.

(23) The second plastic pipe 120 is connected to the first plastic pipe 110.

(24) The second plastic pipe 120 also has a tubular structure which is open on opposite ends thereof.

(25) A first end of the opposite ends of the second plastic pipe 120 is placed on the first plastic pipe 110 such that the second plastic pipe 120 communicates with the connection hole 111 of the first plastic pipe 110.

(26) Although the second plastic pipe 120 is illustrated as having a typical pipe shape, it may have a seamed pipe shape.

(27) To achieve the above-mentioned placement of the second plastic pipe 120, as shown in this comparative example, the second plastic pipe 120 may be oriented perpendicular to the first plastic pipe 110. Alternatively, the second plastic pipe 120 may be inclined to the first plastic pipe 110.

(28) Meanwhile, a cover 121 is provided on the first end of the second plastic pipe 120. The cover 121 has a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110. The cover 121 is placed on the first plastic pipe 110 in such a way that the cover 121 partially covers the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110.

(29) Furthermore, the cover 121 has a shape in which it radially extends from the first open end of the second plastic pipe 120.

(30) To correspond to the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-section of the cover 121 must have an arch shape because the first plastic pipe 110 is cylindrical.

(31) Of course, the central portion of the cover 121 is open.

(32) An arch-shaped heating element 130 is provided in the cover 121 of the second plastic pipe 120.

(33) The arch-shaped heating element 130 must have a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110 and, as shown in FIG. 3 or 5, has an arch-shaped cross-section.

(34) Also, the arch-shaped heating element 130 is disposed in such a way that it encloses the connection hole 111 of the first plastic pipe 110. As shown in FIG. 4, corresponding to the connection hole 111 of the first plastic pipe 110, an opening 131 is formed in a central portion of the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(35) Furthermore, the arch-shaped heating element 130 is made of conductive plastic material which generates heat when electricity is supplied thereto. Such conductive plastic material has been stated in the description of the conventional art, and further explanation thereof is deemed unnecessary.

(36) The cover 121 of the second plastic pipe 120 encloses both inner and outer surfaces of the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(37) The cover 121 of the second plastic pipe 120 includes an outer cover part 121a which is provided on the outer surface of the arch-shaped heating element 130, and an inner cover part 121b which is provided on the inner surface of the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(38) When the arch-shaped heating element 130 generates heat, the inner cover part 121b is melted and thus integrated with the outer surface of the first plastic pipe 110.

(39) To supply electricity to the arch-shaped heating element 130, a pair of electric connection terminals 140 are provided in the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(40) In this comparative example, facing each other, the electric connection terminals 140 are disposed on opposite sides of the opening 131 and oriented parallel to each other.

(41) By virtue of the above-mentioned disposition of the electric connection terminals 140, the shortest distance between the electric connection terminals 140 disposed in the arch-shaped heating element 130 can be easily maintained constant at all points of the electric connection terminals 140.

(42) To connect the electric connection terminals 140 linearly disposed in the arch-shaped heating element 130 to an external power supply, an auxiliary connection terminal 141 extends from each electric connection terminal 140 to the outside of the arch-shaped heating element 130. The shape and location of the auxiliary connection terminal 141 can be changed in various ways depending on embodiments.

(43) After the elements have been disposed as described above, the electric connection terminals 141 are connected to the power supply (not shown) and power is applied to the electric connection terminals 140 for a predetermined time. Then, the arch-shaped heating element 130 is heated by current that flows along the electric connection terminals 140. The arch-shaped heating element 130 and the cover 121, particularly, the inner cover part 121b, are fused to the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110 by heat generated from the arch-shaped heating element 130 and are thus integrated therewith.

(44) FIG. 6 is a conceptual plan view showing the structure of the electric connection terminals 140 and the arch-shaped heating element 130 having the opening 131.

(45) As shown in the drawing, in the case of portions other than the opening 131, current can linearly flow along the shortest distance between the electric connection terminals 140.

(46) However, in the case of a portion defining the opening 131, current flows along the shortest distance around the opening 131 between the electric connection terminals 140.

(47) Therefore, much more current flows in portion A, while little current flows in portion B.

(48) Meanwhile, in the arch-shaped heating element 130 that is made of conductive plastic material, at an initial stage of a heating process, as the temperature of the heating element increases, the matrix-phase polymer of the heating element 130 expands. Thereby as the distances between conductive particles connected to the polymer are increased, resistance is increased, so that the heating element 130 has PTC (positive temperature coefficient) characteristics.

(49) Furthermore, as the temperature of the heating element 130 increases, while the temperature passes through the melting point at which the matrix-phase polymer of the heating element 130 begins to be melted, the resistance becomes maximal at the melting point and thereafter is rapidly reduced. The reason for this is because of the fact that when an electric field is applied to polymer in a liquid state, conductive particles are connected to each other again in the direction of the electric field. In this regard, the arch-shaped heating element has NTC (negative temperature coefficient) effect at a temperature over a predetermined level.

(50) Therefore, in the arch-shaped heating element 130, even when constant voltage is applied to the electric connection terminals 140, portion A is more rapidly heated and melted than the other portions. Therefore, when the other portions are heated and melted, portion A is already in the molten state. In this state, portion A receives power (that is, heat), so that the temperature thereof continuously increases and, ultimately, exceeds the fire point of the matrix-phase polymer. As a result, the matrix-phase polymer is decomposed and thus easily broken, whereby the shape thereof cannot be maintained.

(51) Furthermore, even when constant voltage is applied to the electric connection terminals 140 of the arch-shaped heating element 130, little power is applied to the portion B, so that portion B is not reliably fused.

(52) As such, the comparative example is problematic in that both portion A and portion B are not reliably fused.

(53) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

(54) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first plastic pipe that is just before being placed on a second plastic pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the first plastic pipe placed on the second plastic pipe of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an arch-shaped heating element used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a conceptual view showing conditions in which power is applied to the arch-shaped heating element of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10, but showing a cover having no inner cover part.

(55) A method of connecting plastic pipes according to the embodiment of the present invent includes three steps, in detail, (1) connection hole forming step, (2) plastic pipe placing step, (3) plastic pipe fusion step.

(56) (1) Connection Hole Forming Step

(57) A connection hole 111 is formed in the first plate pipe 110 that has been already installed. This step may be conducted after (3) plastic pipe fusion step.

(58) (2) Plastic Pipe Placing Step

(59) An arch-shaped heating element 130, electric connection terminals 140 and the second plastic pipe 120 are placed on the first plate pipe 110.

(60) The structures of the first plate pipe 110, the arch-shaped heating element 130 and the second plastic pipe 120 are the same as those of the comparative example.

(61) Only the number of electric connection terminals 140 arranged in the arch-shaped heating element 130 and the arrangement thereof according to this embodiment are different from those of the comparative example.

(62) A pair of electric connection terminals 140 are disposed parallel to each other in the arch-shaped heating element 130 on opposite sides of an opening 131 of the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(63) In this embodiment, a plurality of unit electricity supplies, in detail, two unit electricity supplies, each of which includes a pair of electric connection terminals 140, are provided.

(64) In other words, in the case of FIG. 6, the two electric connection terminals 140 that are disposed on opposite sides of the opening 131 with respect to the up-and-down direction form a single unit electricity supply. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, two additional electric connection terminals 140 which form another unit electricity supply are disposed on opposite sides of the opening 131 with respect to the left-and-right direction.

(65) That is, in this embodiment, total four electric connection terminals 140 and four auxiliary connection terminals 141 are provided.

(66) As such, a plurality of unit electricity supplies form an electricity supply assembly.

(67) The unit electricity supplies are disposed in different directions around the opening 131. In this embodiment, two unit electricity supplies are provided in different directions perpendicular to each other.

(68) In this embodiment, the cover 121 of the second plastic pipe 120 encloses the arch-shaped heating element 130, in other words, covers both inner and outer surfaces of the arch-shaped heating element 130. As needed, the cover 121 may be configured such that it covers only the outer surface of the arch-shaped heating element 130.

(69) Meanwhile, in this embodiment, although the arch-shaped heating element 130 and the electric connection terminals 140 have been illustrated as being integrally formed along with the cover 121 of the second plastic pipe 120, the second plastic pipe 120 and the arch-shaped heating element 130 may be manufactured through separate processes and individually installed on a site.

(70) (3) Plastic Pipe Fusion Step

(71) After the plastic pipe placing step, the electric connection terminals 140 are connected to the power supply (not shown) and power is applied to the electric connection terminals 140 for a predetermined time. Then, the arch-shaped heating element 130 is heated by current that flows along the electric connection terminals 140. The arch-shaped heating element 130 and the cover 121, particularly, the inner cover part 121b, are fused to the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110 by heat generated from the arch-shaped heating element 130 and are thus integrated therewith.

(72) Here, as shown in FIG. 12, power is supplied to the electricity supply assembly in such a way that power is alternately supplied to the unit electricity supplies. In other words, referring to FIG. 12, power is supplied to the unit electricity supply that is disposed at upper and lower positions for a predetermined time. Thereafter, power is supplied to the unit electricity supply that is disposed at left and right positions for a predetermined time. Subsequently, power is supplied again to the unit electricity supply that is disposed at the upper and lower positions for a predetermined time. As such, power is alternately and continuously supplied to the unit electricity supplies.

(73) By virtue of such alternating power supply, each of portion A and portion B which have caused problems in the case of FIG. 6 is gradually heated in such a way that a time for which it is comparatively rapidly heated and a time for which it is almost not heated are alternated. Therefore, portion A and portion B are also heated at a heating rate similar to that of the other portions. Thus, in the case of FIG. 12, problems resulting from rapid heating or insufficient heating are avoided.

(74) As a result, the entirety of the arch-shaped heating element 130 is comparatively uniformly heated, melted and fused.

(75) According to the above-mentioned method, the second plastic pipe 120 can be connected to the first plate pipe 110 with satisfactory fusion quality.

(76) Meanwhile, as necessary, the cover 121 may include only the outer cover part 121a without having the inner cover part 121b. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13 that is a view corresponding to FIG. 10, the arch-shaped heating element 130 is directly fused to and integrated with the outer circumferential surface of the first plastic pipe 110.

(77) As described above, the present invention provides a method of connecting two plastic pipes in a T-shaped form, particularly, a method of connecting a second plastic pipe, in a branch shape, to a first plate pipe that has been already installed. According to the plastic pipe connection method, the fusion quality can be markedly enhanced. Furthermore, the present invention provides a connection structure for realizing the plastic pipe connection method.

(78) Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, it should be understood that the preferred embodiment is only for illustrative purposes and does not limit the bounds of the present invention. For instance, components which have been illustrated as being integrated with each other may be implemented in a separate structure, and components which have been illustrated as being separately provided may be provided in an integrated structure.

(79) Therefore, it is intended that the bounds of the present invention are defined by the accompanying claims, and various modifications, additions and substitutions, which can be derived from the meaning, scope and equivalent concepts of the accompanying claims, fall within the bounds of the present invention.