Abstract: Apparatus comprises a heater which introduces hot air into an elongate duct via a tube to an aperture midway between the open ends of the duct. The duct has parallel slots in opposite walls thereof which extend between said ends in the plane of a conveyor which grips wire leads and transports them laterally so terminated ends lie in the duct. Heat shrink tubing prepositioned on the end of lead may be positioned to protrude from the slot so not exposed to hot air in the duct which prevents shrinkage of tubing over the terminated end.

Abstract: Apparatus for insulating a connector, mechanically joined to one end of an electrical conductor, by positioning a radially expandable resilient insulating sleeve, having an inside diameter in its non-expanded condition smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the connector, about the connector. The connector includes one end portion mechanically joined to the conductor and a terminal end portion for connection to another electrical component. The apparatus of the present invention includes expansion means for expanding the sleeve sufficiently to receive the connector and holding means for maintaining the sleeve in its expanded condition and for permitting the connector to be received, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve.

Abstract: A connector device comprises first and second layers of substantially cross-linkable material, the first layer having inserts in contact therewith, the second layer having been expanded and thereafter formed into working and bonding zones, and the sheets being bonded together at the bonding zones for acceptance of substrates to be connected. The device is so constructed that the working zone center-to-center spacing remains constant on recovery.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a heat-shrinkable sleeve, solder, a solder wettable insert and optionally a pre-installed electrical conductor, in fixed locations in the sleeve, the insert assisting in control of solder flow when the connector is heated to join the conductor to a terminal pin.

Abstract: A heat-recoverable article comprises a memory metal member to which has been imparted both thermally-recoverable and resiliently-recoverable strain. The resilient strain is retained by means of a disburdenable keeper, preferably one made from fusible or chemically degradable material, which can be removed, for example, by heating or chemical treatment, to allow resilient recovery. The article is preferably so constructed that it can be heated to obtain both thermal and resilient recovery simultaneously. One preferred form of article is a radially expanded longitudinally split tube, the keeper being positioned in the split. Such an article can be used as a connector to secure an earth lead to the sheath of a mineral-insulated cable.

Abstract: A dimensionally-recoverable article comprising a hollow resilient member which has been expanded to a dimensionally unstable configuration in which it is retained by a keeper positioned between and separating two parts of the hollow member away from the path of recovery thereof. The keeper is preferably made from a fusible or chemically degradable material so that it can be removed, for example, by heating or chemical treatment to allow the hollow member to recover towards its original configuration. One preferred form of article is a radially-expanded longitudinally split tube having the keeper positioned within the split. Such an article may be used as a connector to secure an earth lead to the sheath of a mineral-insulated cable.

Abstract: A laminated tubular connector for splicing or terminating electric conductors, comprising an outer layer of a heat shrinkable dielectric material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, and an inner layer of a relatively soft, self-adhesive, low temperature flowable thermoplastic material, preferably a polyvinyl acetate composition. When heat is applied to the connector, the outer layer shrinks and the inner layer functions as a sealant and a cushioning agent. The adhesiveness of the inner layer may be used to hold the connector in place during subsequent operations by pinching the connector so that the depressed portions of the tube adhere to each other prior to heating the connector to shrink the outer layer.