Abstract: A device and method for aligning and assembling castellated chip carriers with other electrical components such as printed circuit boards or other chip carriers is disclosed. The device provides means for compressively engaging the castellations in the chip carrier thereby providing precise alignment and positioning of the chip carriers relative to other components with which it is assembled. A method utilizing the device and a solder column placement device to produce a pre-leaded castellated chip carrier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A guidance and retention device for terminated connector wafers having a housing and at least one pair of opposed wafer retention members, said members releasably secured to opposed walls of the housing to provide for the guidance and retention of rectangular-shaped connector wafers therebetween. The unique wafer retention members are easily relocated to allow for reorganization of connector wafers and of a wiring array.

Abstract: A braider carrier for wide ribbon and/or composite strand is disclosed. The braider carrier guide pulley assembly includes a support, a pulley frame operatively, pivotly mounted to the support, a generally cylindrical guide pulley operatively, rotatably mounted to the pulley frame to accomodate movement of the carrier during the braiding operation, openings through the support and pulley frame at the point of pivot and aligned with the guide pulley, a delivery eye operatively connected to the pulley frame, the eye and the openings capable of holding strand to be braided against the cylindrical surface of the pulley preventing the strand to be braided from twisting during the braiding operation which pivots the pulley frame. The braider carrier bobbin assembly utilizes a magnetic clutch and a torsion spring, the spring capable of providing slack control of strand to be braided and the clutch capable of providing tensioned feed of strand as strand is wound off of the bobbin.

Abstract: A mass termination device for terminating a plurality of shielded cables to a connector, the device insuring continuity of the electromagnetic shielding into the connector. The device utilizes a pair of complementary busbar-type grounding members, each having a connector shell contact portion and having a plurality of laterally extending complementary mating semicircular elements, the elements to be clamped onto the shielding braids of cables to be connected so as to substantially surround each individual shielding braid. The device preferably further includes apertures in the semicircular elements of at least one of the busbar-type grounding members. Fusible material is juxtapositioned with respect to the apertures and individual heat-recoverable tubes surround the fusible material and the mating pairs of semicircular elements. A heat-recoverable boot surrounds the pair of busbar-type grounding members, the tubes and the fusible inserts. The grounding members are clamped about cables and the connector shell.

Abstract: Nickel/titanium alloys containing less than a stoichiometric quantity of titanium, which have a high austenitic yield strength and are capable of developing the property of shape memory at a temperature above 0.degree. C., may be stabilized by the addition of from 7.5 to 14 atomic percent copper. These stabilized alloys also possess improved workability and machinability.

Abstract: A shape-memory-effect actuator is provided having a shape-memory-alloy spring and a compensator spring. The alloy spring is operatively connected to a concentrically-mounted compensator spring by the use of a protective support housing which surrounds the alloy spring. The actuator includes a shape-memory-alloy spring and a compensator spring that regulates the operating conditions of the shape-memory-alloy spring to a chosen corresponding memory relaxation curve. The memory relaxation curve defines the actuator's operating stress, stroke and life.

Abstract: Method of processing nickel-titanium-base shape-memory alloys to substantially suppress the two-way effect including the steps of cold working and low-temperature annealing without restraint. A composite structure is also provided including a nickel-titanium-base shape-memory alloy with the two-way effect substantially suppressed.

Abstract: A self-regulated actuator is disclosed having a shape-memory element which is heated preferably by passing electrical current therethrough and having a reset mechanism including a circuit-breaking mechanism. The shape-memory element provides the force to retract the actuator when heated. The reset mechanism utilizes a spring-biased latch plunger that resets the actuator as soon as it has retracted a specific distance. The reset mechanism also acts as a circuit-breaking mechanism to electrically interrupt current heating the shape-memory element. The reset mechanism provides near-instant reset time and overcomes the longer wait period otherwise associated with the natural cooling of the shape-memory element. The reset mechanism prevents overheating of the shape-memory element and precludes the necessity for additional hardware to interrupt the circuit after actuation is completed.

Abstract: A reusable connecting device is disclosed which utilizes a heat-recoverable metallic driver connected to a socket having a biasing portion and a sequentially-operating overload portion. When it is desired to make a connection between this device and other objects, the object is placed within the socket and the driver is caused to shrink, thereby overcoming the biasing portion of the socket and causing the socket to contact and hold the object, the overload portion then acting as an overload mechanism for the heat-recoverable metallic driver.

Abstract: A heat recoverable electrical connector has a tubular enclosure that is open at each end to receive respective elongate electrical conductors. The openings are such that the conductors are receivable in the connector by bringing them thereto in a translational movement from a direction perpendicular to their axes; the need for accurate alignment of the conductors with the connector is thus avoided. The connector is subsequently heated to effect its recovery and to connect and encapsulate the conductors. Electrical connection between the conductors is enhanced by a solder ring located within the connector enclosure.

Abstract: A recoverable arrangement for stripping insulation from an elongate conductor comprises two stripping members each of which has a cut out portion. The cut out portions are arranged to overlap so as to form an aperture to receive the insulated conductor. The arrangement is recoverable such that the stripping members move both laterally of the conductor, to pierce the insulation, and longitudinally of the conductor, to strip the insulation. Preferably the stripping members of a further member in association with the stripping members comprise a heat-recoverable metal which recovers to move the stripping members relative to the conductor.

Abstract: A connector is described for electrical connection and, preferably, the removal of an array package having a plurality of pins with a substrate having contact elements. A first board having a plurality of openings formed therethrough and a second parallel board having a plurality of complementary openings formed therethrough are interconnected by a heat-recoverable metal grid. One end of the grid is connected to the first board and the other end of the grid is connected to the second board to move the boards relative to each other to effect engagement between insertable elements, e.g. the contact elements of the substrate and the pins of an array package.

Abstract: Nickel/titanium alloys having a nickel:titanium atomic ratio between about 1:02 and 1:13 and a vanadium content between about 4.6 and 25.0 atomic percent show constant stress versus strain behavior due to stress-induced martensite in the range from about 0.degree. to 60.degree. C.

Abstract: The device for enclosing at least part of an elongation object, preferably a connection between electrical conductors, comprising a hollow dimensionally recoverable article having an aperture that communicates between the interior and the exterior of the article, and a quantity of material which seals an aperture. The material is self sealing so that it will allow penetration of a test probe through the material and will continue to seal the article after removal of the probe. Advantageously the article contains an arrangement for connecting electrical conductors, for example a solder insert or crimping connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency attenuation core and cable. The core includes a conductor surrounded by a high frequency energy absorbing medium, then surrounded by a dielectric, and then surrounded by an outer layer made from a material having a high complex dielectric constant. The cable includes the above described core surrounded by an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield which is further surrounded by a conductive layer. The cable and core as described above may be used in harness applications wherein a plurality of cores and/or cables as described above are surrounded by a gross shield. In addition, when the cores described above are used in multi-core applications, they may individually include an additional EMI shield for greater electromagnetic interference protection.

Abstract: A connecting device which includes a socket member having at least two tines, the tines having an unstrained configuration from which at least one of the tines can be resiliently deformed away from the other tine to define a socket for receiving and holding a substrate, and a band of heat recoverable metal defining a driver member which in its martensitic phase loosely surrounds the tines so that at least one of the tines can be resiliently deformed outwardly when defining the socket member without deforming the driver member. The driver member when warmed to a temperature at which the metal is in its austenitic phase, recovers inwardly and exerts a supplementary inward force on the tines at least when the substrate is held in the socket. In the martensitic phase of the metal, the tines alone hold the substrate within the socket with sufficient force to provide a physical connection.

Abstract: A solder-containing polymeric terminator provides strain-relieved, insulated terminations between conductors and, especially, flat substrates. The terminator comprises two polymeric layers, the first of which has windows through which soldered electrical connections may be made, and the second of which is heat recoverable and attached to the first to form pockets to receive the conductors, and solder strips positioned between the layers and in proximity to the windows.

Abstract: A strip of hollow heat-recoverable articles formed side-by-side by tear welding two lengths of polymeric material together at intervals so that individual articles may be torn off. A preferred method of making the strip involves cross-linking after the tear welding, heating the strip, and inflating the hollow articles to render them heat-recoverable by introducing pressure via an interconnecting passage formed for that purpose during the tear welding.

Abstract: First and second bodies of heat recoverable polymeric material are fusion bonded together with their directions of recovery at an angle to each other, the bond preferably being cross-linked after bonding to enable the resulting article better to withstand the recovery forces encountered in use. The invention is especially useful for making wraparound tubular enclosures for "T"'s and bends which enclosures in use will recover radially about two tubular axes.

Abstract: A shape-memory-effect actuator is provided having a shape-memory-alloy spring and a compensator spring. The alloy spring is operatively connected to a concentrically-mounted compensator spring by the use of a protective support housing which surrounds the alloy spring. The actuator includes a shape-memory-alloy spring and a compensator spring that regulates the operating conditions of the shape-memory-alloy spring to a chosen corresponding memory relaxation curve. The memory relaxation curve defines the actuator's operating stress, stroke and life.