Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A tractor trailer is disclosed herein as including linkage structure for the tractor and the rear wheel chassis which are arranged to connect to a trailer bed in the form of a pallet. The pallet is constructed to sit upon the ground at a low height relative to the industry standard, easily mountable by workmen with climbing aids. The linkage structures are nearly identical and utilize hydraulic rams to raise or lower an end of the pallet and place or remove the same relative to their respective wheel chassis. Each of the linkage structures includes pins and link members, some of which may be interconnected to permit the raising and inverting of the rear wheel chassis and placing the same on the tractor chassis for transportation.

Abstract: A tractor trailer is disclosed herein as including linkage structure for the tractor and the rear wheel chassis which are arranged to connect to a trailer bed in the form of a pallet. The pallet is constructed to sit upon the ground at a low height relative to the industry standard, easily mountable by workmen with climbing aids. The linkage structures are nearly identical and utilize hydraulic rams to raise or lower an end of the pallet and place or remove the same relative to their respective wheel chassis. Each of the linkage structures includes pins and link members, some of which may be interconnected to permit the raising and inverting of the rear wheel chassis and placing the same on the tractor chassis for transportation.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprising a recoverable fabric, optionally with a matrix material, is provided with a closure whereby it can be retained in the wrapped around configuration. The article is suitable for environmentally protecting cables and pipes and joins therein.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupler for injecting light into, and withdrawing light from, an optical fiber utilizes a deformable material (8) and a clamping member (4) which clamp a buffered optical fiber (6) therebetween. Both the clamping member and deformable material are curved causing the optical fiber to be bent when so clamped resulting in light coupling between an optical fiber core and the deformable material through the fiber buffer. The deformable material is substantially transparent and has an index of refraction substantially equal to that of an outer surface of the optical fiber. A light element has a surface embedded within the deformable material, and the deformable material and coupler are specifically formed so as to reduce microbend stresses induced in the fiber when so clamped so as to increase coupling efficiency.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a fabric having zones of different or uniformly varying recovery forces or ratios. The fabric can be made impervious and used for environmental protection.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A method of environmentally sealing a pipe, cable or harness substrate by means of a recoverable fabric and a sheet of polymeric material.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupler for injecting light into, and withdrawing light from, an optical fiber utilizes a deformable material (8) and a clamping member (4) which clamp a buffered optical fiber (6) therebetween. Both the clamping member and deformable material are curved causing the optical fiber to be bent when so clamped resulting in light coupling between an optical fiber core and the deformable material through the fiber buffer. The deformable material is substantially transparent and has an index of refraction substantially equal to that of an outer surface of the optical fiber. A light element has a surface embedded within the deformable material, and the deformable material and coupler are specifically formed so as to reduce microbend stresses induced in the fiber when so clamped so as to increase coupling efficiency.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning , and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof.

Abstract: An electrical heater which comprises a fabric prepared from at least one of the electrodes and another elongate element of substantially higher resistance. The heater preferably comprises a PTC element, e.g. of a conductive polymer, to render the heater self-regulating. The PTC element may be in the form of a fiber forming part of the fabric, or a layer surrounding one of the electrodes, or a laminar element in which the fabric is embedded. The fabric can if desired be laminated to a sheet of a polymer, e.g. an insulating polymer or a ZTC conductive polymer. A shrinkable fabric heater can be made by incorporating a heat-shrinkable non-conductive filament into the fabric, perpendicular to both electrodes, and is useful for example for enclosing splices in telephone cables.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof.

Abstract: A load lifting crane for raising the load at a site and moving the load in a substantially horizontal direction to a remote site where the load is lowered. The crane includes a base support member which has a pivotally supported vertically extending mast carried thereon. A substantially horizontally extending boom is carried by the upper end of the mast for pendulous movement. An actuator strut is connected between the upper end of the mast and the base support member so that by selectively varying the length of the actuator strut, the mast is pivoted for shifting the boom. As the boom is shifted, it is shifted in a substantially pendulous movement relative to the mast thereby moving the load-carrying end of the boom substantially horizontally after lifting the load off of a site.

Abstract: A heat recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric and a polymeric layer of at least 0.03 mm thickness, and preferably unstressed. Such an article can be recovered by means of a torch to provide an environmental seal around substrates such as cables and pipes.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprises a recoverable fabric, means for rendering the fabric impervious, and a shaped liner. The assembly can be used to form a pressure resistant splice case for telecommunications cables.

Abstract: A recoverable article comprising a recoverable fabric having a recovery of at least 40% may be used for providing environmental protection.