Method of forming a pipe fitting

Abstract

A pipe fitting includes a polymeric body molded into and fixedly connected to a metallic body, so that the metallic body extends around the polymeric body. The polymeric body extends around and is contiguous with a passageway of the pipe fitting, and at least partially defines a first opening of the passageway that is for being mated to a polymeric pipe. The metallic body extends around and is contiguous with the passageway, and at least partially defines a second opening of the passageway that is for being mated to a metallic pipe.

1 . A method of forming a pipe fitting, comprising:
 providing a first body that extends around a passageway and defines at least two openings to the passageway;   mating at least one mold to the first body, including inserting the mold into the passageway, so that a chamber is defined between the first body and the mold, with the first body extending around the chamber and the chamber extending around the mold, and the mold engaging the first body so that:
 the chamber has:
 a first end that is proximate a first opening of the openings to the passageway, and 
 a second end that is located at an interposed position that is within the passageway, between the first opening and a second opening of the openings of the passageway, and distant from the second opening of the passageway, and 
 
 the mold substantially isolates the chamber from the portion of the passageway that is between the interposed position and the second opening of the passageway; 
   molding a second body in the chamber, so that the second body is formed in and fixedly connected to the first body, the second body extends around the mold, and the second body is at least substantially absent from the portion of the passageway that is between the interposed position and the second opening of the passageway; and   then separating the first body and the mold, and not separating the second body from the first body.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the molding is injection molding that includes injecting melted polymeric material into the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the injecting includes injecting the polymeric material through a hole which extends through a sidewall of the first body. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the hole is positioned between the first body's two openings to the passageway, and the hole is distant from each of the first body's two openings to the passageway. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the injecting includes injecting the polymeric material through a gate of a jig, and the method further comprises:
 placing the first body in the jig prior to the molding; and   removing the pipe fitting from the jig after the molding.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the injecting includes injecting the polymeric material through a hole which extends through a sidewall of the first body, and   the placing includes aligning the hole and the gate.