Abstract: A plastic sheath cutting and slitting hand tool for cutting and slitting a cable sheath of a cable includes a generally flat, elongated body; a handle portion adapted to be grasped by the hand; a tool portion extending outwardly from the handle portion and exposing a sheath scoring blade for scoring a plastic sheath to a controlled depth less than a nominal thickness of the sheath; and, a generally flat sheath engaging and slitting edge including a sheath slitter for engaging, spreading and slitting the plastic sheath lengthwise when the handle portion is grasped and drawn along the sheathed body from a cut of the sheath made by the sheath cutting blade.

Abstract: A plastic sheath cutting and slitting hand tool for cutting and slitting a cable sheath of a cable includes a generally flat, elongated body; a handle portion adapted to be grasped by the hand; a tool portion extending outwardly from the handle portion and exposing a sheath scoring blade for scoring a plastic sheath to a controlled depth less than a nominal thickness of the sheath; and, a generally flat sheath engaging and slitting edge including a sheath slitter for engaging, spreading and slitting the plastic sheath lengthwise when the handle portion is grasped and drawn along the sheathed body from a cut of the sheath made by the sheath cutting blade.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the end of an elongate cable such as a heating cable includes (1) a housing with a first open end and a second open end and a strain relief element positioned within the housing, (2) a flexible container which can be positioned over the cable end and (i) is of generally tubular shape, (ii) has an interior surface and an exterior surface, (iii) has a first open end and a second closed end, and (iv) contains a sealant; and (3) a cap which can be mated with the housing at the second open end, and cover the flexible container. The apparatus has excellent moisture-resistant properties even after repeated exposure to high temperatures, is reenterable, and can be readily mounted on a substrate such as a pipe.

Abstract: A connector for connecting an end of a first elongate electrical heating cable to an end of a first elongate electrical component such as another heating cable or a power cable. The connector includes first and second shell members which can be in a mated or demated configuration and which, when mated, form a shell having a first inlet port for the first heating cable and a second inlet port for the first electrical component. In addition, the connector includes an element for connecting electrodes of the first heating cable to elongate members of the first electrical component and a sealing assembly for holding the first heating cable in position in the first inlet port. The sealing assembly includes a hollow cylindrical ring from which gripping elements in the form of fingers extend perpendicular to the plane of the ring, a nut for making connection to the first inlet port, and a grommet which is held by the fingers and which grips the first heating cable.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the end of an elongate cable such as an electrical heating cable which comprises a clip-shaped insert positioned within a tubular-shaped housing. Gripping members and pre-gripping members project from the interior surfaces of the arms of the insert and act to grip a cable when it is inserted into the device. A locking mechanism on the insert engages locking teeth on the housing and serves to hold the insert in position. A conformable gel component may be present. The apparatus provides high pullout force, as well as environmental sealing, for cables such as electrical heating cables or power cables.

Abstract: Poly(arylene ether ketones) are prepared by a Friedel-Crafts polymerization wherein a gelled reaction mixture is produced, by permitting the polymerization to proceed in a first reactor until substantial partial polymerization has occurred, but before substantial gelation of the reaction mixture; transferring the partially polymerized reaction mixture into a piston-equipped second reactor; permitting polymerization to continue in the second reactor until a gelled, polymerized reaction mixture has been obtained; and discharging the polymerized reaction mixture from the second reactor by stroking the piston.

Abstract: A method of preparing a poly(arylene ether ketone) by a Friedel-Crafts polymerization wherein a gelled reaction mixture is produced, comprising the steps of:(A) forming, in a first reactor, a reaction mixture for polymerization comprising(I) a monomer system comprising(a) (i) phosgene or an aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalide and (ii) a substantially stoichiometric amount of a polynuclear aromatic comonomer having two active hydrogen atoms or(b) a polynuclear aromatic carboxylic acid halide having an active hydrogen atom; and(II) a Lewis acid in an amount of at least one equivalent per equivalent of carbonyl groups in the monomer system, plus an amount effective to act as a catalyst for the polymerization;(B) permitting the reaction mixture to polymerize in the first reactor until substantial partial polymerization has occurred, but before substantial gelation of the reaction mixture;(C) transferring the partially polymerized reaction mixture into a second reactor having a nozzle at one end thereof and a pist