Abstract: The invention provides a method of molding a plastics material comprising the steps of placing the material with a quantity of an appropriate catalyst in granular (including powdered) form into a hollow mold shell; suspending the mold in a mounting system enabling rotation in a plurality of directions whereby the powdered material, together with the catalyst, is able to flow over all the interior surfaces; containing the mold and mounting system within an oven and heating the mold therein while rotating the same; cooling the mold and subsequently withdrawing the molded article therefrom.

Abstract: The invention provides a cutting tool for incising a helical cut around the internal surface of a hollow member comprising a tool carrier adapted for insertion into the hollow member adjacent the internal surface thereof to be cut; a cutting block carried by the tool carrier and adapted so as to be located, in use, within the hollow member, the block being freely pivotally mounted on the carrier about an axis normal to the axis of relative rotation, in use, of the carrier and the hollow member, and a cutting member secured to the cutting block and extending from the block generally parallel to the axis of pivot thereof upon the carrier, and being arranged such that, in use, as the tool moves (relative to the hollow member) in a helical path around the internal surface, the cutting edge of the cutting member moves (relative to the hollow member) in a direction generally towards the axis of the pivot of the cutting block on the shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a welded joint between an end of a thermoplastic pipe or pipe like member and a surrounding pipe fitting including a thermoplastic sleeve, comprising the steps of forming around the internal wall of the sleeve a helical cut, said cut being inclined to the surface of the wall along the line of the cut, and the cutting tool and its angular relationship to the bore of the fitting being chosen such that during incision an internally extending flap of the thermoplastic material produced by the incision is caused to open out and deform transverse to the direction of incision whereby a helical cavity is formed within the sleeve wall; feeding into said cavity an electrically conducting wire; working the internal wall of the sleeve so as to lay, at least partially, the flap against that wall and enclose the wire within the cavity between the flap and the sleeve wall; fitting the sleeve about the end of the pipe or pipe like member; and passing an electrical current through th

Abstract: A method of forming weldable pipe fitting including a thermoplastic sleeve comprising the steps of incising around the internal wall of the sleeve a helical cut inclined to the surface of the wall along the line of the cut, the cutting tool and its angular relationship to the bore of the sleeve being chosen such that during incision an internally extending flap of thermoplastic material produced by the incision is caused to open out and deform transverse to the direction of incision whereby a helical cavity is formed within the sleeve wall; feeding into said cavity an electrically conducting wire; anchoring the ends of the electrical wire; and treating the internal surface of the sleeve so as to hold the wire within said cavity.