Abstract: Electrical connectors, particularly for connecting telephone wire pairs, are disclosed in which connector strips having at least one row of apertures containing wire connection terminals is provided with at least one captive wire insertion tool which can push or otherwise force wires into terminals of the connector strip to establish electrical connection. The or each tool is mounted for captive sliding movement relative to the strip to position the tool with a selected one of the apertures in which a wire connection is to be made. In one form of the invention, a tool is adapted to slide along the strip so that it can be positioned at each aperture. In a further embodiment, the strip is provided with a plurality of tools, one for each aperture.

Abstract: Electrical connectors, particularly for connecting telephone wire pairs, are disclosed in which connector strips having at least one row of apertures containing wire connection terminals is provided with at least one captive wire insertion tool which can push or otherwise force wires into terminals of the connector strip to establish electrical connection. The or each tool is mounted for captive sliding movement relative to the strip to position the tool with a selected one of the apertures in which a wire connection is to be made. In one form of the invention, a tool is adapted to slide along the strip so that it can be positioned at each aperture. In a further embodiment, the strip is provided with a plurality of tools, one for each aperture.

Abstract: The connection architecture is configured to digitally monitor filters therein, directly connecting a test table to the intermediate distribution frame without requiring wiring to the DSLAM. Filter cards of the dominant operators and of second operators, at least one smart card containing the relays that are activated from the test table, for which a digital bus is used, allowing measurement of the subscriber loop for filters of second operators and the DSLAM signal as well for the dominant operator, are further provided with an additional card in charge of receiving and distributing the signal that arrives from the DSLAM, between the filters, and connectors to which are connected the filter cards so that when they are extracted, the input (voice) is connected to the output (voice +data) so that the voice signal is not disconnected.

Abstract: A metal port block is used on an intermediate distributor or vertical terminal block in a connection architecture to obtain a metal contact of the combined voice and data signals, which can subsequently be monitored by a test rack, without needing to disconnect or reconnect any bridge or cable. The access to the intermediate distribution frame can be established by a connecting block with which a plurality of boards are associated. The boards are vertically arranged in an array and each incorporates its relays or associated electronics to extract and supply information to a test table. Each board has pins to couple with the cavities of the distribution frame.

Abstract: A tape covering for elongate substrates such as metal pipes is provided. At least one edge of the tape is chamfered. and in preferred embodiments the angle of the chamfer is no greater than 25.degree. especially no greater than 7.degree.. In other preferred embodiments the tape comprises a backing layer and an adhesive layer, both of which preferably include a chamfered edge, the chamfer preferably extending through both the backing layer and the adhesive layer. The tape is preferably heat recoverable, and the adhesive, if present, heat activatable. The tape may be installed according to a preferred method of the invention using induction heating, preferably at such high frequency that the ratio of the thickness of the substrate to the skin depth is at least 25:1.

Abstract: The present description pertains to a duct seal, or splice case seal, or other sealing member which is an inflatable envelope having an opening directly through a wall of the envelope or between walls thereof through which a probe is inserted to introduce a pressurizing medium. A means is provided for sealing of the sealing member upon withdrawal of the probe. Preferably the pressurizing medium is air. Preferably the walls of the envelope are substantially non-stretchable. An internal flap may be provided across the opening through which the probe is inserted, where the internal flap seals in response to pressure from within the sealing member. The flap preferably comprises a flexible polymeric sheet fixed to a wall of the sealing member such that the probe can pass through the hole and displace the flap, with the probe preferably passing between the flap and the wall substantially in the plane of the wall and at an angle of less than about 45.degree. to the plane of the wall.

Abstract: A tape covering for elongate substrates such as metal pipes is provided. At least one edge of the tape is chamfered. and in preferred embodiments the angle of the chamfer is no greater than 25.degree. especially no greater than 7.degree.. In other preferred embodiments the tape comprises a backing layer and an adhesive layer, both of which preferably include a chamfered edge, the chamfer preferably extending through both the backing layer and the adhesive layer. The tape is preferably heat recoverable, and the adhesive, if present, heat activatable. The tape may be installed according to a preferred method of the invention using induction heating, preferably at such high frequency that the ratio of the thickness of the substrate to the skin depth is at least 25:1.

Abstract: Wrapped covering material, e.g. tape is applied around an elongate substrate, such as a pipe, using an apparatus comprising a hollow frame mounted on rollers that is rotatable about the substrate, a delivery device for holding the covering material, mounted on the frame, and pressure rollers designed to press down on the covering material.

Abstract: An article is provided for applying a temperature indicating composition (8) on to the surface of a heat recoverable substrate. The article comprises the following four layers: backing layer (2), release layer (4), indicating composition (8), and heat-activatable adhesive layer (10). The conversion temperature of the temperature indicating composition (8) is higher than the melting temperature of the release layer (4), and the melting temperature of the release layer (4) is the same as or higher than the activation temperature of the adhesive (10).

Abstract: A flexible hollow sealing member that can be inflated through a hole in a wall thereof to seal to a first article, the member having: a first sealing material at an inwardly-facing surface of the wall, which first sealing material can be deformed to block the hole by pressure within the member when inflated; and a device for maintaining, during deformation of the first sealing material, separation between the article and an outwardly-facing surface of the wall immediately adjacent the hole.

Abstract: A conductive polymer wraparound sleeve is used to enclose a joint between district heating pipes. It is wrapped so that longitudinal edges thereof overlap, and it acts as a source of heat to seal the overlapping longitudinal edges. Elongate electrodes, preferably metal bars provided on a carrying strip, are positioned along the overlap and connected to a power source to cause electrical current to flow circumferentially across the overlap region to cause bonding of the overlap.

Abstract: A elongate electrode of an impressed current protection system comprises a polymeric jacket sleeve (10) that contains a particulate carbonrich filler (12) around a central elongate conductive core (4,6). The invention provides a method of repairing such an electrode that has a damaged jacket section (14), and involves securing the jacket (14) to the core (4,6) on each side of the damaged section (14), which can then be removed together with the associated filler (12). A wraparound repair sleeve (18, 20, FIG. 3) is secured to the jacket (10) on each side of the damaged section (14) and filled with a carbon-rich particulate filler (12) effect the repair.

Abstract: A heat recoverable sleeve has a high recovery ratio of at least 60%. It uses a specific arrangement of recoverable fibers in one direction woven in a twill configuration with both heat stable fibers and heat recoverable fibers extending in another direction.

Abstract: A device for forming an electrical connection between part of an elongate electrical conductor between its ends and one or more other electrical conductors comprises and electrically insulating sleeve, a metallic connecting element located within the sleeve, and a quantity of solder for forming a permanent electrical connection between the conductors. The electrically insulating sleeve and the connecting element have two open ends to allow the elongate electrical conductor to extend through them, and the connecting element has a tapering internal surface which has a screw thread to enable the other electrical conductor or conductors to be held in contact with the elongate electrical conductor by twisting the connecting element about the conductors.

Abstract: An arrangement for forming a stub splice between two or more elongate electrical conductors comprises a hollow electrical connector and a hollow cap containing a quantity of gel. In use, the cap engages an open end of the connector, and the elongate conductors extend through the open end of the connector and through one or more apertures contained in the cap. Once the cap is engaged, the gel is compressed and the splice is sealed against moisture ingress. In order to ensure that the gel is maintained under compression, the cap may optionally contain a quantity of non-gelatinous resiliently compressible material which substantially compensates for any changes in the volume of gel.

Abstract: An electrical crimp connector (1) comprises a crimp barrel (3) located within an insulating sleeve (4), and a quantity of gel (5) located within each end region of the insulating sleeve at each end of the crimp barrel. Each quantity of gel contains an aperture (10) to allow wires (2) to be inserted into the crimp barrel. Once the connector has been crimped, the gel located within each end region of the insulating sleeve seals it against moisture ingress, forming a moisture-resistant electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical terminal (1) for connection to one or more electrical wires comprises a conventional terminal portion (2) having a lug portion (3) and a hollow shank (4), a jacket (11) of polymeric insulation that extends over the shank, and a tapering hollow connection piece (6) for example in the form of a coiled wire. The tapering connection piece has an internal and external screw thread and is arranged partly within the end of the shank. It is capable of receiving one or more electrical wires so that they can be secured within the connection piece (6), and the connection piece (6) can be secured within the shank (5) by twisting the terminal about the wires. The jacket (11) is preferably formed from a heat-shrinkable sleeve, and the terminal preferably includes a quantity of solder (9) for forming a permanent electrical connection.

Abstract: A device (1) for forming an electrical connection at the end of a bundle of wires (2) comprises an electrically insulating, preferably heat-shrinkable, sleeve (3), a metallic connecting element (4) located within the sleeve, and a quantity of solder (8) for forming a permanent electrical connection between the conductors. The connecting element (4) has a tapering internal surface which has a screw thread so that a temporary electrical connection can be formed by screwing the bundle of wires into the connecting element. Preferably the connecting element is formed by winding a wire, e.g. hard tempered copper wire, into a frusto-conical form. Splices in wire bundles may be made by means of a device in which the connecting element has a pair of internally threaded portions into which different cable bundles can be screwed.

Abstract: A heat recoverable wraparound fabric sleeve comprises 7-13 heat recoverable fibers in one direction and 4-8 fibers some of which are heat recoverable and some of which are heat stable in a perpendicular direction. This sleeve has particularly useful recovery behavior where recovery ratios are less than 40% and where an auxiliary patch is used to bond overlapping edges of the wraparound sleeve to each other.

Abstract: A device for forming a solder connection between a plurality of electrical conductors, comprises a hollow, dimensionally heat-recoverable sleeve 1 formed for example from polyvinylidine fluoride, the sleeve having one end that is open to allow the insertion of the electrical conductors therein, and another end that is closed by a substantially spherical sealing insert.