Heat Weld Tubing Connectors

Abstract

The present invention provides thermoplastic tubes, thermoplastic melting plates, thermoplastic tube connecting apparatus, and methods for using the same.

1 . A thin thermoplastic melting plate adapted to be used with a heat weld thermoplastic tube connecting apparatus, said thermoplastic melting plate comprising a heat transferring material that is adapted for melting a thermoplastic tube to produce molten thermoplastic, wherein said thermoplastic melting plate comprises:
 a front surface;   a back surface;   an insulating material substantially covering said front and back surfaces;   an exposed heat transferring material portion within said front and said back surfaces of said insulating material such that said exposed portion is adapted for melting the thermoplastic tube to produce molten thermoplastic; and   an interface portion for operatively connecting said thermoplastic melting plate to the heat weld thermoplastic tube connecting apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 1 , wherein said insulating material comprises aluminum silicate, a heat insulating ceramic, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 1 , wherein said exposed heat transferring material portion is adapted for contacting the thermoplastic tube to produce molten thermoplastic. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 1 , wherein said exposed heat transferring material portion is adapted to produce molten thermoplastic from the thermoplastic tube without contacting the thermoplastic tube. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 1 , wherein said interface portion is adapted to be operatively connected to a heating element of the heat weld thermoplastic tube connecting apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 1  wherein said exposed heat transferring material portion within said front and said back surfaces are adapted for melting thermoplastic tube to produce a molten thermoplastic tube end. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 6 , wherein said exposed heat transferring material portion is adapted for contacting the thermoplastic tube to produce molten thermoplastic. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 7 , wherein said exposed heat transferring material portion is adapted to produce molten thermoplastic from the thermoplastic tube without contacting the thermoplastic tube. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoplastic melting plate of  claim 6  wherein said thin heat transferring material is adapted for melting a plurality of thermoplastic tubes to simultaneously generate a plurality of molten thermoplastic tube ends.