초록 ▼

A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements, with the female element having a joint surface that surrounds a joint surface of the male element. The method includes the steps of: placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the ma

A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements, with the female element having a joint surface that surrounds a joint surface of the male element. The method includes the steps of: placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements at a first location spaced from the joint; heating the male and female elements at the joint to a temperature at which the meltable material melts; sliding the ring of meltable material from the first location to a second location; with the ring of meltable material at the second location and the male and female elements of the joint at a temperature at which the meltable material melts, causing the meltable material to flow between the male and female joint surfaces; and cooling the male and female elements at the joint to solidify the meltable material between the male and female joint surfaces.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements, said method comprising the steps of:directing the male element into the female element so that the male and female elements are telescopingly engaged and a radially facing joint surface on t

1. A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements, said method comprising the steps of:directing the male element into the female element so that the male and female elements are telescopingly engaged and a radially facing joint surface on the female element surrounds a radially facing joint surface on the male element;with the male and female elements telescopingly engaged, placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements at a first location;sliding the ring of meltable material guidingly directly against the one of the male and female elements from the first location to a second location at which no appreciable portion of the meltable material resides between radially facing portions of the male element and the female element;heating the male and female elements at the joint to a temperature at which the meltable material melts;with the ring of meltable material at the second location and the male and female elements at the joint at a temperature at which the meltable material melts, causing the meltable material to flow between the male and female joint surfaces; andcooling the male and female elements at the joint to solidify the meltable material between the male and female joint surfaces. 2. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the male and female elements are heated at the joint to a temperature at which the meltable material melts before the ring of meltable material is moved from the first location to the second location. 3. A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the meltable material is placed around the male element at the first location. 4. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the step of placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements comprises bending a piece of the meltable material around the one of the male and female elements. 5. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the step of placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements comprises directing the one of the male and female elements through a preformed ring of the meltable material. 6. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the ring of meltable material extends continuously through 360°. 7. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the ring of meltable material comprises a formed piece of wire with spaced ends. 8. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the ring of meltable material extends through at least 330°. 9. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 1 wherein the meltable material comprises solder. 10. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 9 wherein the male and female elements each comprise one of a piece of pipe and a pipe fitting. 11. A method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements, the female element having a free edge, said method comprising the steps of:directing the male element into the female element so that the male and female elements are telescopingly engaged and a radially facing joint surface on the female element surrounds a radially facing joint surface on the mal e element;with the male and female elements telescopingly engaged, placing a ring of the meltable material around the male element at a first location spaced from the free edge of the female element,sliding the meltable material guidingly directly against the male element from the first location closer to the free edge of the female element to a second location at which no appreciable portion of the meltable material resides between radially facing portions of the male element and the female element;heating the male and female elements at the joint to a temperature at which the meltable material melts;with the meltable material at the second location, causing the melted meltable material to flow between the male and female elements; andcooling the male and female elements at the joint to solidify the meltable material between the male and female joint surfaces. 12. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 11 wherein the step of placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements comprises bending a piece of the meltable material around the one of the male and female elements. 13. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 11 wherein the step of placing a ring of the meltable material around one of the male and female elements comprises directing the one of the male and female elements through a preformed ring of the meltable material. 14. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 11 wherein the ring of meltable material extends continuously through 360°. 15. The method of forming a meltable material at a joint between telescopingly engaged male and female elements according to claim 11 wherein the ring of meltable material comprises a formed piece of wire with spaced ends. 16. A method of making a connection between male and female elements, said method comprising the steps of:directing the male element into the female element so that the male and female elements are telescopingly engaged and a radially facing joint surface on the female element surrounds a radially facing joint surface on the male element;providing a ring of meltable material;with the male and female elements telescopingly engaged, directing one of the male and female elements through the ring of meltable material to a first location on the one of the male and female elements;after directing the one of the male and female elements through the ring of meltable material, directing the male element into the female element so that the female joint surface surrounds the male joint surface;with the male element in the female element, sliding the ring of the meltable material guidingly directly against the one of the male and female elements to a second location at which no appreciable portion of the meltable material resides between radially facing portions of the male element and the female elementheating the male and female elements at the joint to a temperature at which the meltable material and thereby causing the melted meltable material at the second location to flow between the male and female elements; andcooling the male and female joint surfaces to solidify the meltable material between the male and female joint surfaces. 17. The method of making a connection between male and female elements according to claim 16 further comprising the steps of placing the ring of meltable material at a first location spaced from the female element as the male and female joint surfaces are heated and after heating the male and female joint surfaces to a temperature at which the meltable material melts sliding the ring of meltable material from the first location to a second location at which melted meltable material can flow between the male and female joint surfaces. 18. The method of making a connection between male and female elements according to claim 16 wherein the ring of meltable material extends continuously through 360°. 19. The method of making a connection between male and female elements according to claim 16 wherein the ring of meltable material comprises a formed piece of wire with spaced ends. 20. The method of making a connection between male and female elements according to claim 16 wherein the male and female elements each comprise one of a piece of pipe and a pipe fitting. 21. The method of making a connection between male and female elements according to claim 11 wherein in the second position, the ring of meltable material directly abuts to the free edge of the female element.