Abstract: Provided on one plane of an annular piston are a sheet surface on which a leaf valve is seated and a supporting part constructed of a slope part and a flange part, and provided on the other plane is a leg part having a depression on an edge part. When two pistons are axially stacked, the sheet surface of one of the pistons is contained inside the depression of the other piston, and the sheet surface of the one piston is protected.

Abstract: A connecting assembly is disclosed having a first component defining an opening, a second component adapted to be retained together with the first component and a connector component made of a superelastic alloy. Relative motion between at least two of the components causes a super-elastic activation of the connector wherein the activation simultaneously retains the components together with the connector interposed jointly therebetween. Preferably the connector component is pre-assembled to one of the first and second components. More preferably, the first component is pre-assembled with the connector and the second component is moved relative to the pre-assembled components to activate the superelastic alloy of the connector. Alternatively, the second component is pre-assembled with the connector and the first component is moved relative to the pre-assembled components to activate the superelastic alloy of the connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing element (1) with inflatable bellows (10) for sealing piping. Said sealing element can be e.g. cylindrical in shape and said bellows (10) can be provided with two recesses (14a, 14b) containing a gel (11). When the bellows are inflated, the gel (11) encompasses e.g. uneven areas on the inner wall of the piper or cables in the pipe in such a way as to provide a seal.

Abstract: The invention is a device for providing a clamping force about a connection end of elastomeric hose or tubing. The device includes an at-least-twice-oriented polymer having a shrinkage response to each of at least two diameter reducing release temperatures, which is sized and formed into a band. The clamp is self-adjusting over a substantial working life. The band may be installed onto connection ends of hose or tubing and fixtures such as couplings, inserts or stems without the external application of heat, preferably preselecting the first diameter reducing release temperature to be at roughly room temperature. The clamp displays improved constrictive forces over prior art polymer clamps.

Abstract: A resiliently flexible ring of dimensionally heat-recoverable polymeric material whose tubular length is less than its notional circular diameter, formed so that it inherently maintains a non-circular open configuration enabling it to grip resiliently an object around which it is placed in use prior to heat-recovery, the maximum transverse dimension of the said object being at least 2.5% less, preferably at least 5% less, than the notional circular diameter of the ring. The ring preferably has at least three "corners" of relatively small radius of curvature, preferably evenly spaced around its circumference. Use of the rings is described for damping the noise of chain-drive sprocket wheels and for connecting flexible hoses to supply outlets.

Abstract: A labeled pipe fitting and a method for applying labels to the outer surface of a pipe fitting which is covered with a layer of oil that resists labelling with an adhesive backed label is provided. The label, which is imprinted with indicia relating to the pipe fitting, is secured onto the pipe fitting with a substantially transparent plastic tube which is shrunk with heat around the pipe fitting and the label.

Abstract: A labeled pipe fitting and a method for applying labels to the outer surface of a pipe fitting which is covered with a layer of oil that resists labelling with an adhesive backed label is provided. The label, which is imprinted with indicia relating to the pipe fitting, is secured onto the pipe fitting with a substantially transparent plastic tube which is shrunk with heat around the pipe fitting and the label.

Abstract: The invention is a device for providing a clamping force about a connection end of elastomeric hose and tubing. The device includes a heat shrinkable polymer, having a diameter reducing release temperature, formed into a band. The band has a first nominal inside diameter defined as the diameter the band assumes upon being shrunk in free space and being smaller than the outside diameter of the connection end of the elastomeric hose and tubing. The band has a second nominal inside diameter defined as the diameter the band assumes upon being shrunk about the connection end of the elastomeric hose and tubing. The band also has a third nominal inside diameter defined as the diameter of the band after polymer orientation and before shrinkage, the third diameter being greater than the outside diameter of the connection end of the elastomeric hose and tubing. The first inside diameter is no greater than about 80 percent of the third inside diameter.

Abstract: A polyethylene pipe 10 is joined by a welded joint to a cross-linked polyethylene coupler 14 which has been expanded to make the coupler heat recoverable. Radiant energy (eg light in the visible spectrum or infra-red light) illuminates the outer surface of the coupler 14 supplied by an array of 15OW reflector lamps 20. The coupler 14 shrinks and is forced into engagement with the pipe 10 and the pipe 12 to join the pipes. A fusion welded joint is formed between the coupler 14 and each pipe, 10, 12. In an alternative a pipe is drawn down and inserted in an aperture through the wall of another pipe. A lamp is inserted in the drawn down pipe and the radiant energy causes the pipe to expand into engagement with the edge of the aperture and to be joined to it by a welded joint (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A pipe coupling comprises a cylindrical coupling member fabricated of shape memory alloy and a foil as a metallic member of low melting point attached to an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member, a melting point of the foil being lower than that of materials of a pipe to be joined to the pipe coupling and of the coupling member. Further, a pipe coupling comprises a cylindrical coupling member fabricated of shape memory alloy, at least two pieces of ring protrusions formed on an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member, and metallic member of low melting point which is attached to an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member between the ring protrusions, a melting point of the metallic member of low melting point being lower than that of materials of a pipe to be joined and of the coupling member.

Abstract: A pipe coupling comprises a cylindrical coupling member fabricated of shape memory alloy and a foil as a metallic member of low melting point attached to an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member, a melting point of the foil being lower than that of materials of a pipe to be joined to the pipe coupling and of the coupling member. Further, a pipe coupling comprises a cylindrical coupling member fabricated of shape memory alloy, at least two pieces of ring protrusions formed on an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member, and metallic member of low melting point which is attached to an internal surface of the cylindrical coupling member between the ring protrusions, a melting point of the metallic member of low melting point being lower than that of materials of a pipe to be joined and of the coupling member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling assembly for connecting two members. The coupling assembly prevents excessive radial movement, scrubbing of the coupling members, and leakage of fluid being transferred through the coupling. The coupling assembly includes a tube end having a pair of spaced apart annular beads defining a groove for a resilient seal ring seated in the groove and the other member defined a bore for receiving the tube end. A guide ring substantially centers the tube in the bore whereupon a clamping assembly releasable connected to the tube is clamped to the other member securing the tube in the centered position while permitting limited axial movement of the tube.

Abstract: A device for connecting a plurality of elongate objects, wherein a hollow, open-ended tube is provided which is at least partly dimensionally-recoverable, one or more bonding inserts formed from a solid, fusible, thermosetting adhesive located inside the tube for providing a permanent bond between the objects, and one or more barrier inserts located inside the tube to prevent egress of fused thermo-setting adhesive from the connection between the objects when the device is heated.

Abstract: The invention involves a heat-shrinkable connection comprising a longitudinal channel and a cooperating element thickened at its end. The channel is composed of lateral leg parts which are dimensionally stable under the application of heat, and of at least one shrink region adaptable to the cooperating element in positively locking fashion under the application of heat. The shrink region in the connecting region thereby facilitates the joining of the connecting elements along the formed parts to be connected or along the longitudinal edges of an envelope.

Abstract: A longitudinally divided sleeve of shrinkable material has a lock closure along longitudinal edges. One of the longitudinal edges includes a closure element having a locking groove formed by two longitudinally extending leg portions, a second longitudinal edge being provided with a locking element having a longitudinally extending hook part having a resilient projection which is received in the locking groove to form the lock closure. The resilient projection prevents the accidental removal of the hook part from the locking groove and preferably the material forming the two elements has a higher cross-linking than the remaining portions of the heat-shrinkable sleeve.

Abstract: Pipe couplings are formed by consolidation of a polymer into braided fibre reinforcement by recovery of a heat-recoverable driver thereover. A liner, e.g. of non-cross-linked polyvinylidene fluoride, may be used, preferably with three layers of polymer/braid, to achieve a Freon-tight seal for coupling loosely swaged or butt-jointed refrigerator pipes. Braids carrying a consolidatable polymer which allows the braid crossover points to slip freely during recovery of the driver are preferred for optimum performance.

Abstract: A process for placing heat-shrinkable polyfluoroolefin polymer sleeves, preferably, FEP resin or PFA resin, over Frasch sulfur well piping and other downhole well piping to protect such piping from corrosion.A heat chamber for heat-shrinking the polyfluoroolefin polymer sleeves onto the piping.

Abstract: A heat recoverable coupling assembly for substrates having a relatively rigid outer wall, which includes a connector body and a driver member made from a band of heat recoverable material. The connector body includes a mating area for engaging a mating area on the rigid wall of the substrate. The connector body is positioned inside or outside the substrate and the driver member is positioned around the outside member. The driver member has an unrecovered transverse dimension larger than the outside member and a recovered transverse dimension smaller than the outside member. The driver member is positioned around the outside member over at least part of the mating areas. Upon heating the driver member to its recovery temperature, the driver member deforms the outside member and itself plastically deforms to a shape suitable for retaining the substrate and the connector body together. The driver member is made from heat recoverable engineering plastics.

Abstract: Improved sealing system between an enclosure of brittle material and a metal apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions, in which a connection member (6) is mounted over the open end (2') of the enclosure (2), with the interposition of a toroidal seal (9) between the opening into the enclosure and the underside of the connection member; a supplementary toroidal seal (11) is inserted between the lateral exterior wall of the enclosure (2,2') and the bore of the connection member (6).