Thermoplastic welding
US5481091A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C66/863
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process for obtaining long, continuous, thermoplastic welds on large structures. A series of tabs are used in pairs and especially in alternating, overlapping pairs to obtain resistance heating of a strip material placed in the bond line. The resistance of the tabs is less than that of the strip material. Conducting braid-tubes afford continuous welding when the bond line is curved. Alternatively, an electromagnetic field is used to take advantage of the induction heating. A wide susceptor is used to weld a current conducting substrate while avoiding bulk heating of the substrate. The unexpected property of current-conducting braid-tube susceptors, in which induction heating takes place at the center rather than at the edges of a flattened braid-tube susceptor, is used to obtain long continuous curved welds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.