Fusion bead testing device and method of testing a fusion bead

Abstract

A fusion bead testing device is provided for testing the strength of a fusion bead removed from a pipe joint. The testing device comprises a first pressing means for exerting a force against the fusion bead. If the fusion bead splits as a result of the applied force then the fusion bead fails a quality control test and the fusion bead and consequently the pipe joint from which the bead was removed are deemed too weak. The fusion bead testing apparatus comprises an automatic split detection device for detecting a split in the bead.

1 . A fusion bead testing device for testing a fusion bead removed from a pipe joint, the fusion bead testing device comprising:
 a first pressing means for exerting a force on the fusion bead.   
     
     
         2 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing means exerts a predetermined force against the fusion bead, wherein the magnitude of the predetermined force is chosen so that the fusion bead must be able to resist the predetermined force without splitting for the fusion bead to meet a quality control. 
     
     
         3 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing means exerts a force on the fusion bead at a joint interface of the fusion bead in operation of the fusion bead testing device. 
     
     
         4 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing means is arranged for bending the fusion bead around a joint interface of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         5 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second pressing means for pressing the fusion bead against the first pressing means. 
     
     
         6 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second pressing means is arranged to apply a force at a first point on a first side of the fusion bead and at a second point on the first side of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         7 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the second pressing means has a first part for applying the force at the first point and a second part for applying the force at the second point. 
     
     
         8 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first point and the second point are spaced laterally apart and are located on opposite sides of the joint interface of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         9 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first side is an interior side of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         10 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a biasing means for biasing the second pressing means towards the first pressing means. 
     
     
         11 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 10 , wherein the biasing means comprises a first spring. 
     
     
         12 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 11 , wherein the second pressing means is mounted on an axle, and wherein the first spring exerts a pressing force against the axle. 
     
     
         13 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 12 , wherein the biasing means comprises a second spring which exerts a pressing force against the axle, wherein said first spring and said second spring are arranged on opposite sides of the second pressing means. 
     
     
         14 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second pressing means comprises a roller for pressing the fusion bead against the first pressing means. 
     
     
         15 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a third pressing means for pressing the fusion bead against the first pressing means. 
     
     
         16 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 15 , wherein the third pressing means comprises a roller for pressing the fusion bead against the first pressing means. 
     
     
         17 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel for engaging the fusion bead to move the fusion bead. 
     
     
         18 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a driving means for rotating the wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 18 , wherein the driving means comprises a lever connected to the wheel to rotate the wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a ratchet device for allowing rotation of the wheel in one direction only. 
     
     
         21 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 18 , wherein rotation of the wheel by the driving means moves the fusion bead relative to the first pressing means, whereby the first pressing means exerts a force at a plurality of points along a length of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         22 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing means comprises a disk. 
     
     
         23 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing means is rotatably mounted for rotation of the first pressing means as the fusion bead moves relative to the first pressing means. 
     
     
         24 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a split detection device for detecting a split in the fusion bead. 
     
     
         25 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 24 , wherein the split detection device comprises an electrical conductor, wherein the first pressing means is electrically conductive, and wherein the electrical conductor and the first pressing means are arranged on opposing sides of the fusion bead in use, and the electrical conductor and the first pressing means contact each other to close an electrical circuit when a split occurs in the fusion bead. 
     
     
         26 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 25 , wherein the first pressing means is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         27 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 25 , wherein the split detection device comprises a spring for biasing the electrical conductor towards the first pressing means. 
     
     
         28 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 25 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises a wire brush. 
     
     
         29 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 24 , wherein the split detection device comprises a signal emitter and a signal receiver, wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are arranged on opposing sides of the fusion bead in use, and the signal receiver detects a signal from the signal emitter when a split occurs in the fusion bead. 
     
     
         30 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 29 , wherein the signal emitter is an optical emitter and the signal receiver is an optical receiver. 
     
     
         31 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 24 , further comprising a transmitter connected to the split detection device for transmitting information relating to the fusion bead to a receiver. 
     
     
         32 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 31 , wherein the information includes information relating to at least one of the group comprising: (a) whether or not the fusion bead has split, (b) a magnitude of force exerted by the first pressing means on the fusion bead, (c) a length of the fusion bead being tested, (d) user inputs, (e) a number of splits, (f) a length of each split and (g) a circumferential position of each split in relation to the fusion bead length. 
     
     
         33 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 31 , further comprising a display interface for displaying the information received by the receiver. 
     
     
         34 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 33 , wherein the display interface comprises a website. 
     
     
         35 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 31 , further comprising a data logging system for recording the information relating to the fusion bead. 
     
     
         36 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 31 , wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         37 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a further pressing means for exerting a force on the fusion bead, wherein the further pressing means is a metal disk and the first pressing means and the further pressing means exert a pressure on a moving fusion bead such that the pressure exerted on the moving bead via the first pressing means and the further pressing means causes faulty joints to split, wherein the first pressing means is in the form of a metal disk. 
     
     
         38 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a series of rollers, at least one of the rollers being connected to a winding mechanism, and metal disks such that pressure exerted on the bead via the disks causes faulty joints to split, a faulty joint split being detected by an automatic split detection device. 
     
     
         39 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 38 , wherein the split detected by the automatic split detection device is detected by one of: (a) electrical contact which completes an electrical circuit, and (b) a signal passed through the split and picked up by a receiver. 
     
     
         40 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 38 , wherein the fusion bead testing device is coupled to a data logging system which combines electrical signals with measured parameters generated by a butt fusion machine and broadcasts the combined electrical signals and measured parameters to a dedicated website for analysis. 
     
     
         41 . A fusion bead testing method, comprising:
 testing a strength of a fusion bead with a fusion bead testing device, the fusion bead testing device comprising a pressing means for exerting a force on the fusion bead.   
     
     
         42 . The fusion bead testing method according to  claim 41 , wherein the testing comprises determining whether a split has occurred in the fusion bead. 
     
     
         43 . The fusion bead testing method according to  claim 40 , further comprising transmitting information relating to the fusion bead to a receiver. 
     
     
         44 . The fusion bead testing method according to  claim 41 , wherein the testing comprises testing a strength of the fusion bead along substantially an entire length of the fusion bead. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising removing the fusion bead from a fused pipe joint and prior to the testing. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the testing comprises determining whether the fused pipe joint meets a required strength based on whether a split occurs in the fusion bead. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein removing the fusion bead from the fused pipe joint comprises removing the fusion bead which has formed on at least one of (a) an exterior of the fused pipe joint and (b) an interior of the fused pipe joint. 
     
     
         48 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The fusion bead testing device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first pressing means abuts the joint interface of the fusion bead in operation of the fusion bead testing device.