Pipe welder for simultaneously fusing a plurality of polyethylene pipes

Abstract

Disclosed are a device and method for the simultaneous fusion of multiple plastic pipe sections. A plurality of pipe sections may be rigidly held, faced off, heated, and joined at the same time using a single piece of equipment. The inventive process allows increased throughput of the fusion process without significant additional costs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of simultaneously butt welding a plurality of plastic pipe sections comprising: 
 fixturing a first pipe and a second pipe into a first fixture;    fixturing a third pipe and a fourth pipe into a second fixture such that the axis of said first pipe is substantially coaxial with the axis of said third pipe and the axis of said second pipe is substantially coaxial with the axis of said fourth pipe;    cutting the face of said first pipe and the face of said second pipe simultaneously with a first cutting device;    cutting the face of said third pipe and the face of said fourth pipe simultaneously with a second cutting device;    heating the cut ends of said first pipe, said second pipe, said third pipe, and said fourth pipe simultaneously; and    forcing said ends of said pipes together to create a fusion weld between said first pipe and said third pipe and a fusion weld between said second pipe and said fourth pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first pipe has a first diameter and said second pipe has a second diameter, said first diameter and said second diameter being substantially equal.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first pipe has a first diameter and said second pipe has a second diameter, said first diameter and said second diameter being substantially different.  
     
     
         4 . A pipe fusion machine comprising: 
 a first clamping mechanism, said first clamping mechanism being adapted to hold a first plurality of pipe sections simultaneously;    a second clamping mechanism, said second clamping mechanism being adapted to hold a second plurality of pipe sections simultaneously and further being adapted so that the individual axis of each pipe being held in said first clamping mechanism is substantially coaxial with the individual axis of one other pipe being held in said second clamping mechanism; and    a fusing mechanism for fusing sections of pipe to form a pipeline.    
     
     
         5 . The pipe fusion machine of  claim 4  wherein said fusing mechanism comprises: 
 a facing mechanism adapted to cut said first plurality of pipe sections substantially simultaneously and further adapted to cut said second plurality of pipe sections substantially simultaneously;  
 a heating mechanism adapted to apply heat to said first plurality of pipe sections substantially simultaneously and further adapted to apply heat to said second plurality of pipe sections substantially simultaneously; and  
 an engagement mechanism adapted to press said first plurality of pipe sections against said second plurality of pipe sections substantially simultaneously.  
 
     
     
         6 . The pipe fusion machine of  claim 4  wherein said first plurality of pipe sections comprises a first pipe having a first diameter and a second pipe having a second diameter, said first diameter and said second diameter being substantially equal.  
     
     
         7 . The pipe fusion machine of  claim 4  wherein said first plurality of pipe sections comprises a first pipe having a first diameter and a second pipe having a second diameter, said first diameter and said second diameter being substantially different.  
     
     
         8 . A pair of pipelines made by the process of butt welding a plurality of pipe sections comprising: 
 fixturing a first pipe and a second pipe into a first fixture;    fixturing a third pipe and a fourth pipe into a second fixture such that the axis of said first pipe is substantially coaxial with the axis of said third pipe and the axis of said second pipe is substantially coaxial with the axis of said fourth pipe;    cutting the face of said first pipe and the face of said second pipe simultaneously with a first cutting device;    cutting the face of said third pipe and the face of said fourth pipe simultaneously with a second cutting device;    heating the cut ends of said first pipe, said second pipe, said third pipe, and said fourth pipe simultaneously; and    forcing said ends of said pipes together to create a fusion weld between said first pipe and said third pipe and a fusion weld between said second pipe and said fourth pipe.