US 11,865,792 B2
Method for joining a fluid conduit and a connection hub
Cornelis Peters, Hellevoetsluis (NL); and Michiel Adrianus Henricus Van Der Aa, Amsterdam (NL)
Assigned to Heineken Supply Chain B.V., Amsterdam (NL)
Appl. No. 17/790,777
Filed by Heineken Supply Chain B.V., Amsterdam (NL)
PCT Filed Feb. 19, 2021, PCT No. PCT/NL2021/050112
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 5, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/167459, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2024972 (NL), filed on Feb. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0045676 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 65/16 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 66/5344 (2013.01) [B29C 65/167 (2013.01); B29C 65/1687 (2013.01); B29C 66/73365 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for joining a fluid conduit and a connection hub, comprising:
providing a fluid conduit having an at least partially transparent end section,
providing a connection hub comprising a hub cavity having a shape complementary to a shape of the end section of the fluid conduit,
introducing the end section of the fluid conduit at least partly into the hub cavity through an opening in the hub and establishing a contact interface between at least a lateral wall part of the end section and a hub cavity wall, and
heating a target zone in the contact interface, for joining the fluid conduit and the connection hub at the target zone, by directing a light beam across the at least partially transparent end section of the fluid conduit from a side of the fluid conduit which is opposite a side of the target zone,
wherein a plurality of light beams are directed across the at least partially transparent end section of the fluid conduit for heating a plurality of respective target zones, each light beam of the plurality of light beams being directed to an associated target zone and being directed across the end section from a side of the fluid conduit which is opposite a side of the associated target zone, and
wherein the plurality of light beams extend in a biconical plane.