Abstract: The invention provides for a method of molding an elastomeric material which avoids longitudinal mold lines and an improved molding composition as well as molded parts for hybrid insulators and the like.

Abstract: A multi-bed, down-flow reactor includes several distributor assemblies, each having a centrally located mixing chamber and an annular collecting and mixing trough surrounding the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has an inlet at one side thereof, an outlet in its bottom wall, and a quench gas inlet in its top wall above the outlet. A divider wall traverses the annular trough adjacent to the inlet to cause the pool of liquid collected in the trough to flow in a circular pattern around the mixing chamber to the inlet. This ensures that the liquid circulating through the trough is well mixed with the liquid raining down from the catalyst bed. Turbulent and spiraling flow patterns generated within the chamber further mix the liquid and gas and entrain quench gas in the liquid and gas stream.

Abstract: Gels made of 100 parts of Styrene-elastomer-styrene triblock copolymers and more than 300 parts of an oil which softens and extends the elastomer mid-block of the copolymer are rendered resistant to oil exudation under pressure by incorporation of a styrene-elastomer diblock copolymer. Preferred triblocks are styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene and preferred diblocks are styrene-ethylene/propylene. Use of the gels as sealants in enclosures for electrical connections designed to hold the gel under compression is disclosed.

Abstract: An environmental protection device with manually operated latching mechanism is described. The device includes a rigid hook and flexible latch on opposite peripheral edges of the device with cavity halves therebetween capable of fitting together upon the latching of the hook and latch to form an enclosure around an elongate substrate such as a coaxial cable splice or a cable to tap port connection upon the closing of the device and the locking of the latch and hook members. The device is preferably filled with a gel sealing material having an elongation of at least 100% and a Voland hardness from about 1 to 50 grams.

Abstract: A switching device for electrically activating and deactivating a coaxial cable junction between a coaxial cable terminus and a connection jack, where both the terminus and connection jack have external and internal conductors, is disclosed. The switching device comprises an electrically conductive housing having a first end adapted to be physically connected to the external terminus conductor, and a second end adapted to be physically connected to the external connection jack conductor. An interior member disposed within the housing, has a first end adapted to be electrically connected to the internal terminus conductor, and a second end adapted to be electrically connected to the internal connection jack conductor. A first electrically conductive path lies between the first and second end of the interior member, and a switch is disposed within this conductive path.

Abstract: A method and a device is provided which allows the connection of coaxial cable termini to one another with minimum long-term loss of RFI shielding. The method comprises the removal of metal oxides from the concentric conductor portions of the two cable termini, applying a sealant to the concentric conductor termini and then connecting the central conductor termini to one another and the concentric conductor termini to one another. The device comprises a collet structure dimensioned to slip over the outside of a standard connection jack. Within the collet structure is disposed a quantity of sealant and the collet structure has at least one aperture through which sealant oozes from the collet structure to the exterior of the collet structure. When the collet structure is attached to the jack, the sealant is caused to ooze onto the concentric conductor thereby sealing the concentric conductor from the ambient.

Abstract: A device is provided for firmly attaching a plurality of coaxial cable terminus to a plurality of standard connection jacks in such a way that each connection point is effectively shielded from tampering by individuals and is effectively sealed from degrading elements in the atmosphere. The device is a locking shroud which defines a plurality of locking shroud chambers, each being adapted to attach to a respective connection jack so as to surround the connection of a cable terminus to the jack. Each locking shroud chamber is attached to one other locking shroud chamber by a flexible web disposed in a curved plane. Because of the flexible webs, the locking shroud can be easily adjusted to fit any standard coaxial cable multiple connection equipment. The use of the locking shroud of the invention makes it difficult to de-attach and/or re-attach the cable terminus to the jack without special tooling.

Abstract: A splice closure including a frame having a partition wall to define front and rear access areas for the closure. The frame carries one or more splice trays on a first surface portion making the splices accessible from the front or first access area. A slack storage compartment is provided on the second surface portion. The slack storage compartment includes one or more pairs of opposing sidewalls that define an access opening for the slack that is accessible from the rear access area. An extension member for the frame is disclosed for obtaining greater amounts of slack from the cable, such as for a taut sheath cable splice. A tandem longitudinal arrangement of splice trays is also disclosed and may be used for a taut sheath ring splice or for repairing a severed cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission network for transmitting voice, data, or video signals between telecommunication units includes optical couplers which bend an optical fiber at a location in close proximity to the fiber end so as to allow coupling with the fiber through its side rather than through the end of the fiber. This eliminates the need for cleaving and polishing the fiber end, and results in a craft friendly way of terminating an optical fiber end with a telecommunication unit.

Abstract: A system is provided for firmly attaching a coaxial cable terminus to a standard connection jack in such a way that the connection point is effectively shielded from tampering by individuals and is effectively sealed from degrading elements in the atmosphere. The system includes a jack attachment member having a collet structure, a swagging shell which slips over the collet structure to accomplish a firm connection with the jack and a locking shroud which surrounds the swagging cylinder so as to make it difficult to de-attach and/or re-attach the cable terminus to the jack without special tooling. Such special tooling, however, is simple and inexpensive for authorized service technicians, thereby making the system at once relatively secure from tampering and atmospheric degradation and simple and inexpensive to install and maintain. Furthermore, the system can be retrofitted into existing coaxial cable equipment, using standard coaxial cable connection jacks.

Abstract: A tooless environmental splice enclosure capable of fitting within an aerial splice case is disclosed. The environmental closure permits sealing and reentry to a cable splice region.

Abstract: A device for sealing an article, which comprises:(i) a sealing material;(ii) a resilient member that can be biased to apply compression to the sealing material to cause it to seal the article; and(iii) stop means for limiting said biasing of the resilient member at a configuration thereof in which said biasing can be increased by movement of the sealing material.

Abstract: A method of protecting a substrate, which comprises:(a) providing an article having a first portion that has means allowing that portion to be deformed from a larger cross-sectional size to a smaller cross-sectional size and maintained at that smaller size, and that comprises a heat-shrinkable material,(b) positioning the article such that a first portion encloses at least a part of the substrate,(c) deforming the first portion to the smaller cross-sectional size at which it corresponds closely to the part of the substrate, and(d) heat-shrinking the material to cause the first portion of the article to engage the substrate.

Abstract: A modular, re-enterable telecommunications terminal (50), for making and breaking connections with insulated wire conductors, includes one or more base frames (52) supporting wire termination modules (55, 56) thereon, and a multi-pin socket (60) thereon is connected to another base froze (52) by one or more bridging modules (100). The termination modules (55, 56) are manually operable for terminating wires in insulation displacing connectors (70, 85), and are selected and positioned according to the type of terminations desired. Manually pushing and pulling the termination module drivers (65, 80) toward and away from the base frames (52) effects movement of the wires between connected and open positions.

Abstract: A generally-planar polymeric protective shield (2) for mounting on a high voltage porcelain insulator (16) has circumferential and radial intersecting grooves (8,10) in its upper surface. The intersections are deepened to provide point projections (12) from the lower surface thereby to space the major portion of the shield (2) from the insulator (16). The convoluted upper surface of the shield (2) enhances the physical protection of the porcelain of the insulator (16).

Abstract: A universal end seal for a butt splice or in-line optical fiber closure is described. The seal includes a keyed tubular member to permit initial assembly but re-entry and use without dis-assembling the complete end seal. A hanger for an in-line closure is also described.

Abstract: Gels of hard-elastomer-hard block copolymers with at least 300 parts of extending liquid per 100 parts of the copolymer contain at least 50 parts (per 100 parts of copolymer) of a stabilizing additive which resists migration of PVC plasticizers into the gel when in contact with a plasticized PVC article. Styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene triblock copolymers with organic phosphate stabilizers are preferred, these stabilizers tending to raise the gel softening temperature.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable system, such as a preterminated fiber cable, includes a main cable and one or more drop cables connected to the main cable at spaced apart locations along the main cable. The drop cable is spliced to the main cable using a splice closure including a fiber guide that secures spliced together end portions of the respective fibers in a longitudinally extending direction and devoid of any slack coils of optical fibers. Accordingly, the overall diameter of the splice closure is relatively small thereby permitting the cable system to be stored on a reel and to be readily placed within small diameter conduits. The splice closure includes a heat recoverable housing surrounding the fiber guide. Cable sheath end portions are sealed by melting C-shaped bodies of heat flowable material positioned adjacent cable sheath end portions.

Abstract: A terminator cap and system for using the terminator cap is provided for protecting a standard coaxial cable port from atmospheric conditions and from unwarranted tampering. The cap is a hollow cylinder with one enclosed end. The terminator cap is dimensioned to slip over one end of a connection jack connector, the other end of which has a plurality of attachment fingers dimensioned to fit over the connection jack. The swagging shell is used to firmly hold the terminator cap to the connection jack connector and firmly hold the flared fingers of the connection jack connector to the connection jack. A locking shroud is attached to the connection jack such that the locking shroud surrounds the connection jack, the connection jack connector, the terminator cap and the swagging shell.

Abstract: An electrical connector, which comprises(a) a housing comprising a first part and a second part that can be moved relative to one another,(b) an electrical protection device carried by the first part and being electrically-connectable to a first electrical contact that extends within the housing,(c) a second electrical contact within the housing that has means for connection thereto of an electrical conductor,the first and second electrical contacts being arranged such that connection is made between them on closing the housing and connection between them is broken on opening the housing.