Abstract: An overcurrent protection system which will give a rapid response to overcurrents which cause a reduction in the voltage across the load, e.g. a partial or complete short across the load, and which will preserve the trip endurance of a PTC device used in the protection system. The new system maintains the trip endurance of the PTC device by removing the source voltage from the PTC, while still keeping the circuit protection arrangement in a fault state, thereby continuing to protect the load.

Abstract: A 15 kv cable joint is enclosed within two half shells filled with sealant material. Displacement or thermal expansion of the sealant is accommodated by various configurations of stress cones that have apertures or surfaces that are flexible and arranged to maintain pressure on the sealant for example during thermal cycling of the joint.

Abstract: A circuit protection device for protecting batteries is formed from a resistive element composed of a PTC conductive polymer composition and two electrodes. The device has a resistive element thickness of 0.025 to 0.20 mm; a crosslinking level equivalent to 1 to 20 Mrads; a surface area of at most 120 mm.sup.2 ; a resistance at 20.degree. C., R.sub.20, of at most 0.030 ohm; and a resistivity at 20.degree. C., .rho..sub.20, of at most 2.0 ohm-cm. Devices of the invention are sufficiently small to be easily inserted into an assembly comprising a battery, particularly a rechargeable battery, and the device. Such assemblies are used for powering portable electronic equipment such as cellular telephones.

Abstract: The invention provides for a modularized terminal block (100) and an improved method of manufacturing the modular block. The block permits the connection of a plurality of drop wires (550) or other devices (600, 700, 800) in a reversible manner through the use of a standardized plug in module (16) configuration. The module can be optimized for a given drop wire range which then uniformly connects to the base block (10) through a standardized demateable contact (15). The base block (10) electrical contacts (15) are encased in a sealant material (13) such as gel. The mateable plug-in module connectors enclose an electrical contact (24) also surrounded by such sealant (13). Upon mating of the contacts (15, 24), the sealant material (13) is maintained under compression.

Abstract: Insulated electrical cables which are suitable for use in gasoline fuel tanks comprise a stranded conductor which is blocked by a polysulfide and is covered by polyamide insulation.

Abstract: A device for forming an environmental seal around an object includes:(a) a split housing having a chamber that can surround the object;(b) an inflatable bladder for inflating around the object and within the chamber;the housing having a window breaking through its split so that the bladder seals to a seal outside the chamber.

Abstract: A device for forming a seal around an elongate object having: (a) a sealing plate having a hole through which the object can pass, and containing a chamber in communication with the hole; (b) a pressure plate positioned within and movable relative to the chamber; and (c) a sealing material positioned within the chamber such that when the elongate object passes, in use, through the hole in the sealing plate, the sealing material is positioned between the pressure plate and the elongate object, wherein the pressure plate can be moved, in use, towards the object in a direction transversely of the object, to urge the sealing material into sealing contact with the object.

Abstract: One aspect of this invention comprises an improved conveyance system comprises an endless flexible belt which circulates through at least two arcs, at least one gripping member attached to the belt, the gripping member having a free end and an anchoring end, and a biasing means which biases the anchoring end of the gripping member toward the surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the gripping member is open as it traverses an arced path and is closed as it traverses a straight path. A workpiece is loaded as the gripping member traverses the first arc, and offloaded as the gripping member traverses the second arc. Preferably, the first arc has a greater radius than the second arc. The inventive also comprises a heater utilizing the conveyance system.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for sealing an end of an enclosure having an opening for passing an elongate object, such as a cable, therethrough is disclosed. The sealing apparatus includes a sealing device with a port through the sealing device. The sealing device is configured so as to be placed within an end of the enclosure and in sealing engagement with an inner surface of the enclosure. An adaptor is further disclosed which is configured to be inserted within the port of the sealing device. An opening is provided in the adaptor for receiving the elongate object to be passed into the enclosure. The adaptor further includes a first compressing part and a second compressing part longitudinally offset from the first compressing part with a sealant disposed between the compressing parts. A driver in the sealing device is operatively connected to the compressing parts to position the compressing parts in longitudinally movable positions relative to each other.

Abstract: A device capable of co-operating with an outer pressure member to form a sealing block between two or more elongate substrates and a hollow housing within which the substrates extend, the device comprisingi) an elongate support member andii) two or more elongate flexible leaves each of which comprises a sealing material that (a) is not heat fusible, (b) is secured relative to the support member, and (c) extends laterally of the elongate support member,the device being positioned, in use, between the elongate substrates, so that a first of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a first of the elongate substrates, and a second of the flexible leaves extends at least part of the way around the periphery of a second of the elongate substrates, so that in co-operation with the action of the outer pressure member acting inwardly on the substrates and the device, and outwardly onto the housing, a sealing block is made between the elongate substrates and the housing.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed splice closure (20) for buried telecommunications cables (32) and splices (33) includes a base (22a and b) having ports (31a and b) for receiving the telecommunications cables (32) therethrough. A cap (25) is received on the base (22) to form a cavity (50) within the splice closure (20). The cavity (50) is filled with a gel sealant (45 and 47). A dome (55) on the end of the cap (25) opposite the base (22) accommodates volumetric and pressure changes within the closure (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for irradiating a substrate is compact, transportable, rugged, high powered, and highly efficient. It includes an improved high voltage inductor (1-230), an improved power transfer apparatus (230-294), an improved voltage multiplication apparatus (500-575), an improved auxiliary power supply (600-619) for the voltage multiplication apparatus, improved accessibility self-shielding (700), and improved methods for radiation processing of solid or liquid materials.

Abstract: Insulated wires and cables, especially local area network (LAN) cables, in which the conductors are covered by foamed insulation made from a composition containing an ECTFE polymer having a crystallinity of at least 50% by weight, and, dispersed in the ECTFE polymer, particles of a PTFE polymer having a crystallinity of at least 50%, the ratio by weight of the ECTFE polymer to the PTFE polymer being 1:1 to 9:1.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a core of an elongate cable in which a polymeric core of an insulating or a conductive polymer is positioned between first and second elongate electrodes. The apparatus is a container which has a first portion with an open end into which the cable can be inserted and a second partially closed end which has first and second openings. The first portion also contains a sealant, e.g. a grease or a gel. A first removable guide tube is inserted through the first opening and a second removable guide tube is inserted through the second opening, the first and second guide tubes being suitable for insertion of the first and second elongate electrodes, respectively. The apparatus allows insertion of the elongate electrodes after the polymer has been removed from them, without allowing contact between the electrodes and the sealant.

Abstract: A switching arrangement that can be connected in a communications channel that comprises a pair of lines between sets of terminal equipment, which comprises: (i) a series switch (1,2) for connection in each of the lines; (ii) a shunt switch for connection between the lines; and (iii) a control circuit (5) that can actuate the series switches (1,2) and can actuate the shunt switch on receipt of a signal sent along the channel: wherein the control circuit (5) can actuate the shunt switch and the series switches (1,2) on receipt of one or more signals but the shunt switch will remain closed over a different time period than that during which the series switches remain open, in order to allow different tests to be performed on the channel, and wherein one or more of the switches comprises a solid state switch.

Abstract: A marker sleeve assembly having a length of marker sleeves and a carrier configured such that the length of marker sleeves is oriented parallel to the carrier. The length of marker sleeves is held in a fixed, straight line adjoining the carrier, thereby reducing movement during the printing operation. Additionally, markings may be applied to both the length of marker sleeves and the carrier in a single printing operation.

Abstract: An optical fibre organizer, which comprises:1. a plurality of inlet ports through which optical fibers can pass;2. an outlet port through which optical fibers can pass;3. an organizer drum positioned with respect to the ports such that fibers passing from the inlet ports to the outlet port are constrained by an outer surface of the drum to a minimum bend radius at least equal to the critical bend radius of the fibers;in which each inlet port has bend control means adjacent thereto to direct a fibre passing through that port towards the surface of the drum at a minimum bend radius at least equal to the critical bend radius of that fiber.

Abstract: A gel-filled closure for environmentally protecting a connector forming a connection between a cable and at least one electrical component (which may be another cable) is disclosed. The closure includes first and second cavitied bodies, each having two lateral sides and two end sides; a hinge joining the first and second cavitied bodies along a lateral side thereof, such that the cavitied bodies are capable of pivoting around the hinge and closing around the connector and immediately adjacent portions of the cable and the at least one electrical component; a gel substantially filling each of the first and second cavitied bodies; at least one of the cavitied bodies having a flap disposed along the lateral edge thereof distal from the hinge, for directing gel flow in the lateral direction as the first and second cavitied bodies are closed; and locking mechanism for securing the cavitied bodies in a closed position.

Abstract: A composite material having heat shrinkable fibers comprising LLDPE, characterized in that the LLDPE has a weight average molecular weight of from 55,000 to 130,000 and a crystallinity less than 60%.