Abstract: Mold blocks of a pipe molding corrugator are provided with enhanced cooling capability due to the provision of cooling fins on the side portions of each mold block. Air can be forced between the fins and some exhaustion of the air can occur at the base of the fins adjacent the mold block cavity. With this arrangement, enhanced cooling of mold blocks is possible.

Abstract: Mold blocks of a pipe molding corrugator are provided with enhanced cooling capability due to the provision of cooling fins on the side portions of each mold block. Air can be forced between the fins and some exhaustion of the air can occur at the base of the fins adjacent the mold block cavity. With this arrangement, enhanced cooling of mold blocks is possible.

Abstract: A pipe connection used in corrugated pipe includes a male/female connection that is configured to accommodate movement of the male connector in the female connector after installation of the pipe. The ability to maintain a satisfactory pipe connection throughout a desired and designed range of movement is helpful in applications where the pipe may be exposed to changing conditions such as ground settling, ground shifting, earthquake or other conditions. The male connector and the female connector for receiving the male connector are oversized to allow additional insertion of the male connector or partial withdrawal of the male connector while maintaining the pipe connection throughout the range of movement. The pipe connection can also be used to provide an effective two stage male/female connection between reinforced plastic pipe sections.

Abstract: In the manufacture of double-walled corrugated extruded pipe it is desirable to form an integral connecting cuff that is of a single wall thickness and typically of a large diameter. The mold blocks and process parameters for forming of the cuff as part of an otherwise double-walled pipe requires a transition as the cuff moves past the die outlets. The present invention allows for accurate sensing and control of air pressure and temperature as the cuff moves past the die outlets. Improvements in both the die tooling and the method of manufacture are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spider for a die head and die tooling that utilizes curved flow guides to direct the flow of plastic through the die head and die tooling. The spider leg splits the stream of plastic flowing through the spider into two independent streams at the upstream end. The downstream end comprises two curved flow guides that are configured to direct the two streams of plastic towards a longitudinal center plane of the spider leg. The turbulence caused by the curved flow guides creates obtuse or acute angled welding lines between the two streams of plastic. These obtuse and acute angled welding lines provide stronger bonds than the known spider legs that create butt welding or right angled welding lines.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for triple wall corrugated plastic pipe includes a triple wall corrugated bellmouth connector that is of a unitary construction with one end of the corrugated plastic pipe. This bellmouth connector is of higher strength and in cooperation with the two wall corrugated spigot provides a high strength coupling. This coupling includes the bellmouth connector and spigot that are made inline with the corrugated pipe. A method for the manufacture of the pipe includes controlling of an air pressure on the outside of a formed two wall corrugated pipe as an exterior third wall is secured thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spider for a die head and die tooling that utilizes curved flow guides to direct the flow of plastic through the die head and die tooling. The spider leg splits the stream of plastic flowing through the spider into two independent streams at the upstream end. The downstream end comprises two curved flow guides that are configured to direct the two streams of plastic towards a longitudinal center plane of the spider leg. The turbulence caused by the curved flow guides creates obtuse or acute angled welding lines between the two streams of plastic. These obtuse and acute angled welding lines provide stronger bonds than the known spider legs that create butt welding or right angled welding lines.

Abstract: A pipe connection used in corrugated pipe includes a male/female connection that is configured to accommodate movement of the male connector in the female connector after installation of the pipe. The ability to maintain a satisfactory pipe connection throughout a desired and designed range of movement is helpful in applications where the pipe may be exposed to changing conditions such as ground settling, ground shifting, earthquake or other conditions. The male connector and the female connector for receiving the male connector are oversized to allow additional insertion of the male connector or partial withdrawal of the male connector while maintaining the pipe connection throughout the range of movement. The pipe connection can also be used to provide an effective two stage male/female connection between reinforced plastic pipe sections.

Abstract: A pulsating corrugator is provided with at least one secondary mold block that is selectively used for forming a spigot connection as the corrugated or ribbed pipe is formed. Preferably, the primary mold blocks used to form the corrugated pipe are also used to assist in further cooling of the formed spigot connection once released from the secondary mold block. The corrugator also includes a controller used to provide different air pressure as the mold blocks move past extrusion outlets of an associate extruder.

Abstract: Pipe corrugators having opposed series of pushed mold blocks forming a moving mold tunnel are subject to significant thermal expansion and are designed with a thermal expansion gap. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring changes in this expansion gap and preferably recognizing potential thermal issues before serious problems occur. A sensor is provided adjacent a mold block drive that preferably detects a time duration between sensing a trailing portion of a lead mold block and a leading edge of a following mold block separated from the lead mold block by the thermal expansion gap. This time duration in combination with a speed of the pushed mold blocks is used to calculate the size of the thermal expansion gap.

Abstract: A two stage mold block transfer station is used the exit of a moving mold tunnel to quickly move mold blocks to a clear position relative to the molded product. Once in the clear position the mold block is rotated and provided to a return drive moving the mold block back to the inlet of the moving mold tunnel. By moving the last mold block of the moving mold tunnel primarily away from the longitudinal axis of the mold tunnel less mold blocks are required. Various arrangements for moving of the mold blocks can be used achieve this advantage.

Abstract: An apparatus for structured illumination of a specimen comprises an illumination device for generating illumination beams. The illumination beams are incident on a mask device. Openings provided in the mask device serve for generating a mask image. The mask image is imaged within the specimen with the aid of an objective. Detection beams generated by the specimen are captured by a detection device. For increasing the intensity of the observation beams entering the specimen, those beams which do not pass through the openings, are collected with the aid of a beam collector and guided back to the mask device.

Abstract: A pipe coupling for triple wall corrugated plastic pipe includes a triple wall corrugated bellmouth connector that is of a unitary construction with one end of the corrugated plastic pipe. This bellmouth connector is of higher strength and in cooperation with the two wall corrugated spigot provides a high strength coupling. This coupling includes the bellmouth connector and spigot that are made inline with the corrugated pipe. A method for the manufacture of the pipe includes controlling of an air pressure on the outside of a formed two wall corrugated pipe as an exterior third wall is secured thereto.

Abstract: A two stage mold block transfer station is used the exit of a moving mold tunnel to quickly move mold blocks to a clear position relative to the molded product. Once in the clear position the mold block is rotated and provided to a return drive moving the mold block back to the inlet of the moving mold tunnel. By moving the last mold block of the moving mold tunnel primarily away from the longitudinal axis of the mold tunnel less mold blocks are required. Various arrangements for moving of the mold blocks can be used achieve this advantage.

Abstract: In the manufacture of double-walled corrugated extruded pipe it is desirable to form an integral connecting cuff that is of a single wall thickness and typically of a large diameter. The mold blocks and process parameters for forming of the cuff as part of an otherwise double-walled pipe requires a transition as the cuff moves past the die outlets. The present invention allows for accurate sensing and control of air pressure and temperature as the cuff moves past the die outlets. Improvements in both the die tooling and the method of manufacture are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for confocal observation of a specimen includes an illumination device. The illumination device generates illumination radiations of at least two different wavelengths. With the aid of a mask device illuminated by the illumination radiations, one mask image is generated per wavelength. An objective serves for imaging said mask images in the specimen. With the aid of a beam splitter device, the emission radiations emitted by the specimen are divided based on the wavelengths, and are detected based on the wavelengths by a detection device.

Abstract: Pipe corrugators having opposed series of pushed mold blocks forming a moving mold tunnel are subject to significant thermal expansion and are designed with a thermal expansion gap. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring changes in this expansion gap and preferably recognizing potential thermal issues before serious problems occur. A sensor is provided adjacent a mold block drive that preferably detects a time duration between sensing a trailing portion of a lead mold block and a leading edge of a following mold block separated from the lead mold block by the thermal expansion gap. This time duration in combination with a speed of the pushed mold blocks is used to calculate the size of the thermal expansion gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for confocal observation of a specimen includes an illumination device. The illumination device generates illumination radiations of at least two different wavelengths. With the aid of a mask device illuminated by the illumination radiations, one mask image is generated per wavelength. An objective serves for imaging said mask images in the specimen. With the aid of a beam splitter device, the emission radiations emitted by the specimen are divided based on the wavelengths, and are detected based on the wavelengths by a detection device.

Abstract: A pipe connection used in corrugated pipe includes a male/female connection that is configured to accommodate movement of the male connector in the female connector after installation of the pipe. The ability to maintain a satisfactory pipe connection throughout a desired and designed range of movement is helpful in applications where the pipe may be exposed to changing conditions such as ground settling, ground shifting, earthquake or other conditions. The male connector and the female connector for receiving the male connector are oversized to allow additional insertion of the male connector or partial withdrawal of the male connector while maintaining the pipe connection throughout the range of movement. The pipe connection can also he used to provide an effective two stage male/female connection between reinforced plastic pipe sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for structured illumination of a specimen comprises an illumination device for generating illumination beams. The illumination beams are incident on a mask device. Openings provided in the mask device serve for generating a mask image. The mask image is imaged within the specimen with the aid of an objective. Detection beams generated by the specimen are captured by a detection device. For increasing the intensity of the observation beams entering the specimen, those beams which do not pass through the openings, are collected with the aid of a beam collector and guided back to the mask device.