Laser Induced Sealing of Concentrically Layered Materials

Abstract

A connection, and methods of making an using such a connection, the connection comprising a first layer; a second layer concentrically disposed about the first layer; and a laser-induced seal between portions of the first and second layers; wherein the laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between the first and second layers. As to particular embodiments of the connection, the first layer can be incorporated into a first conduit and the second layer can be incorporated into a second conduit.

1 . A connection comprising:
 a first layer;   a second layer concentrically disposed about said first layer; and   a laser-induced seal between portions of said first and second layers;   wherein said laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between said first and second layers.   
     
     
         2 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first and second layers are formed from corresponding first and second materials; and   said first and second materials are selected from the group consisting of: a thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, polypropylene derivatives, polyethylene, polyethylene derivatives, polyolefin elastomer, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.   
     
     
         3 . The connection of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second materials are similar. 
     
     
         4 . The connection of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second materials are dissimilar. 
     
     
         5 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein concentric disposition of said second layer about said first layer positions a portion of a first layer external surface of said first layer adjacent to a portion of a second layer internal surface of said second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The connection of  claim 5 , wherein said first layer external surface contacts said second layer internal surface. 
     
     
         7 . The connection of  claim 6 , wherein said laser-induced seal is generated between at least said first layer external surface and said second layer internal surface. 
     
     
         8 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein said first layer is incorporated into a first conduit and said second layer is incorporated into a second conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein each of said first and second conduits comprises a conduit wall disposed between a conduit external surface and a conduit internal surface. 
     
     
         10 . The connection of  claim 9 , wherein said conduit wall has a conduit wall thickness in a range of between about 0.05 millimeters to about 13 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The connection of  claim 9 , wherein said conduit internal surface defines a conduit passageway having a conduit passageway diameter in a range of between about 0.2 millimeters to about 100 millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein said laser-induced seal has a laser-induced seal width in a range of between about 0.025 millimeters to about 6.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein said laser-induced seal has a laser-induced seal length which spans the entire circumference of the concentrically disposed said first and second conduits. 
     
     
         14 . The connection of  claim 8 , wherein said laser-induced seal has a laser-induced seal length which spans less than the entire circumference of the concentrically disposed said first and second conduits. 
     
     
         15 . The connection of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second materials are combined to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         16 . The connection of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second materials are fused to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         17 . The connection of  claim 16 , wherein said first and second materials are completely fused to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         18 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein said laser-induced seal is distinguishable from a second layer external surface of said second layer. 
     
     
         19 . The connection of  claim 18 , wherein said laser-induced seal comprises a recess which inwardly extends from said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         20 . The connection of  claim 18 , wherein said laser-induced seal comprises a protrusion which outwardly extends from said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         21 . The connection of  claim 18 , wherein said laser-induced seal is colored. 
     
     
         22 . The connection of  claim 21 , wherein said laser-induced seal has a color which differs from the color of said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making a connection, comprising:
 providing a first layer;   concentrically disposing a second layer about said first layer; and   generating a laser-induced seal between portions of said first and second layers;   wherein said laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between said first and second layers.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second layers formed from corresponding first and second materials;   wherein said first and second materials are selected from the group consisting of: a thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, polypropylene derivatives, polyethylene, polyethylene derivatives, polyolefin elastomer, polyvinylidene fluoride, polycarbonate, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second layers formed from corresponding first and second materials;   wherein said first and second materials are similar.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second layers formed from corresponding first and second materials;   wherein said first and second materials are dissimilar.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising concentrically disposing said second layer about said first layer to position a portion of a first layer external surface of said first layer adjacent to a portion of a second layer internal surface of said second layer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising concentrically disposing said second layer about said first layer such that said first layer external surface contacts said second layer internal surface. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal between at least said first layer external surface and said second layer internal surface. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second layers;   wherein said first layer is incorporated into a first conduit and said second layer is incorporated into a second conduit.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second conduits;   wherein each of said first and second conduits comprises a conduit wall disposed between a conduit external surface and a conduit internal surface.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second conduits;   wherein said conduit wall has a conduit wall thickness in a range of between about 0.05 millimeters to about 13 millimeters.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 providing said first and second conduits;   wherein said conduit internal surface defines a conduit passageway having a conduit passageway diameter in a range of between about 0.2 millimeters to about 100 millimeters.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal having a laser-induced seal width in a range of between about 0.025 millimeters to about 6.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal having a laser-induced seal length which spans the entire circumference of the concentrically disposed said first and second conduits. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal having a laser-induced seal length which spans less than the entire circumference of the concentrically disposed said first and second conduits. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising combining said first and second materials to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising fusing said first and second materials to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising completely fusing said first and second materials to generate said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring said laser-induced seal as distinguishable from a second layer external surface of said second layer. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising configuring said laser-induced seal as a recess which inwardly extends from said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising configuring said laser-induced seal comprises a protrusion which outwardly extends from said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising configuring said laser-induced seal as colored. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising configuring said laser-induced seal to have a color which differs from the color of said second layer external surface. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal with a laser that produces a laser beam. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising focusing said laser beam between a second layer external surface of said second layer and a first layer internal surface of said first layer. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal with said laser that produces said laser beam having power in a range of between about 10 Watts to about 120 Watts. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal with said laser that produces said laser beam having a rate of travel in a range of between about 0.13 millimeters per second to about 51 millimeters per second. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal by rotating concentrically disposed first and second layers about a rotation axis while a fixed laser beam is incident upon portions of said first and second layers which are to be sealed by said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising rotating said concentrically disposed first and second layers about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising rotating said concentrically disposed first and second layers less than about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans less than the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal by rotating a rotatable laser beam about concentrically disposed first and second layers which are fixedly positioned such that upon rotation, said rotatable laser beam is incident upon portions of said first and second layers which are to be sealed by said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising rotating said rotatable laser beam about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising rotating said rotatable laser beam less than about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans less than the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal by rotating a rotatable laser beam set at a desired angle to reflect off of a mirrored surface which facilitates focusing of said rotatable laser beam on concentrically disposed first and second layers which are fixedly positioned such that upon focusing, said rotatable laser beam is incident upon portions of said first and second layers which are to be sealed by said laser-induced seal. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising rotating said rotatable laser beam about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising rotating said rotatable laser beam less than about 360 degrees to generate said laser-induced seal which spans less than the entire circumference of said concentrically disposed first and second layers. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising generating said laser-induced seal with a circular laser beam set at a desired angle to reflect off of a mirrored surface which facilitates focusing of said circular laser beam on concentrically disposed first and second layers which are fixedly positioned such that upon focusing, said circular laser beam is incident upon portions of said first and second layers which are to be sealed by said laser-induced seal.