Abstract: A method for plasma coating a compressible structure, includes the steps of: compressing the compressible structure thereby removing air from the compressible structure; and coating the compressed structure according to the following steps: a) ionizing a plasma gas at a temperature of 150° C. or lower, and at about atmospheric pressure, thereby creating a plasma; b) introducing a precursor into said plasma, thereby obtaining a precursor-comprising plasma; c) exposing the compressed structure to said precursor-comprising plasma, thereby forming a coating onto surfaces of the structure.

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 (1) is described for disconnectably connecting cable wires to a contact plate (2). The contact plate contains a through opening (9) and, in use, one of the cable wires to be contacted is urged into contact with the edges of that opening (9). The cable wire is moved by a thrust piece (3) which also contains a through opening (24) and which is moved relative to the through opening (9) in the contact plate by means of a screw element.

Abstract: The invention comprises a telecommunications terminal block with integral but separate test port captured cap feature as well as a method of manufacturing same in an automated fashion. The block permits the electric connection of various size gauges of wires without the severing of the smallest gauges of wire or ruining the block when initially contacting on the largest gauge wire.

Abstract: A telecommunications splice case comprises a flexible sheet that can be wrapped around the splice and optionally further surrounded by a rigid casing. The sheet has a heat-activatable sealing material at its edge and an electrical heater for activation.

Abstract: A self-regulating PTC heater in which the direction of flow of current is reversible in a region of the PTC material in response to a change in the resistivity of the material whereby current in-rush is reduced.

Abstract: A method of environmentally sealing an indented surface comprises applying a sealing material, e.g. a gel to the surface, together with an elastically deformable means, e.g. a foam. The elastically deformable means is capable of maintaining the sealing material under compression, even after further displacement of the sealing material into the indentations.

Abstract: A branch-off between telecommunications cables (5) may be sealed by means of an electrically heat-recoverable sleeve (1) and a branch-off clip (2) which holds together circumferentially spaced portions of the sleeve (1) between the branching cables (5). The clip (2) has an inner leg of heat-activatable sealing material which in use is positioned in the sleeve (1) between the cables (5). The sealing material is activated by the heat generated in the sleeve (1) during recovery.

Abstract: A seal between an object such as a cable, cable splice or branch-off, and a surface such as a recoverable sleeve by means of a flexible envelope containing a void-filling composition. The void-filling composition undergoes a change from a low viscosity on installation, which allows the flexible envelope to conform to the object, to a high viscosity after installation, which gives mechanical strength to the seal. Deformation of the flexible envelope on installation may be brought about by installation of the recoverable sleeve or other surrounding surface.

Abstract: A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by a method which includes positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) some means for example a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heating means such as an electrical heater.

Abstract: A technique for protecting an optical fibre breakout particularly from a cable 1 comprising a core 2, a plurality of loose fibres 3 and a jacket 5. The jacket 5 and core 2 are stripped back and the fibres encased in protective tubes 7. This may be done one fibre at a time by removing a portion of cable jacket remote from the end and withdrawing each fibre from under the remaining end portion of jacket. The cable may be held in a holding tool and the fibres inserted into their protective tubes by means of an insertion tool.

Abstract: A branch-off seal between a recoverable sleeve and two or more substrates is effected using a clip the outer legs of which are positioned over the outer surface of the sleeve so as to form an appropriate number of conduits. The clip is provided with an inner leg comprising a heat-activatable sealing material and a heat-conductive member or region. The dimensional integrity of the member or region weakens on activation of the sealing material. Thus the amount of heat or mechanical rigidity between the substrate is limited.

Abstract: A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heater such as an electrical heater.

Abstract: A dimensionally heat recoverable article carrying a thermoplastic polymeric material and a heat-softenable adhesive of smaller thickness and lower softening or melting point than the polymeric material is used to encapsulate objects such as joints in cables. The heat-softenable adhesive allows low installation temperature while the polymeric material allows excellent cycling performance to be maintained. The article may be in the form of a wrap-around sleeve.