Abstract: In a low pressure mold, the mold parts have surfaces for forming a mold cavity and which are covered in a thermally insulating coating with a thickness from 0.005 inches to 0.050 inches. The coating may be formed from epoxy resin or polytetrafluorethylene. Also provided is a sealing member for a low pressure mold, the sealing member having in-series edge regions around a body and each edge region is formed with a semi-circular sealing edge or arrangement of edges. The sealing edge or arrangement of edges of each edge region is different from other edge regions. When the two sealing members are mounted upon mold halves at each end of a low pressure mold, they may be changed in position to locate any associated pair of sealing edges in opposition across the mold closure line.

Abstract: Forming an encapsulated splice region between cables in which conductors of one cable are electrically connected to conductors of the other cable to form splices. After electrically isolating splices from one another, a barrier layer is provided which extends axially across and beyond the splices onto the cables and then a plastic encapsulation is molded so as to enclose the barrier layer. The materials of the molding and barrier layer are such that they do not unite at any interfacial region between them. This construction makes it easier to open the splice region subsequently.

Abstract: Making a gas pressurizable closure for a splice region of a telecommunications cable in which plastic ends of the closure are molded in position by locating molds for the ends in axially spaced-apart positions one at each side of the splice region. While the cable is allowed to follow its natural path through and between the molds, the molds are held fixed relative to one another and aligned with one another and the plastic ends are molded. A shroud means of the closure is then located between and sealed to the plastic ends with the cable still following its natural path.

Abstract: Forming an encapsulated splice region between cable ends in which the splices formed by connecting conductors together are laid onto the jacket of a cable and are sealed from one another. A layer of resilient tape is wrapped around the cable and over the sealing material to seat it tightly onto conductors leading to the splices. A molded encapsulation is then formed around the splice region and the resilient tape, still in resilient condition holds the tight seal onto the conductors and prevents moisture from within the cables from reaching the splices.

Abstract: A seal for a cylindrical article and having two sealing members which coact to form the seal. Each sealing member has a resiliently flexible body which is connected to a rigid support at two spaced positions around the body. An intermediate portion of the body is resiliently flexible outwards between the two spaced positions while two body end portions extending beyond the spaced positions are caused to resiliently flex inwards. Alternatively, outward flexing of the end portions is accompanied by inward flexing of the intermediate portion. The change in shape caused by this flexibility enables the seal to be used upon a range of different diameters of articles.

Abstract: A heat insulated manually portable container for dispensing molten plastics material and having a movable piston within a cylinder, a heater for plastics material and a closure equipped with a locking means. The locking means is exteriorly positioned of the reservoir and comprises pairs of complementary screw-threaded members which are engageable through aligned slots in the closure and a body defining the cylinder. The members of each pair are movable along the slots to a quick release position which allows for withdrawal of the members through the closure slots upon opening of the closure.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded encapsulation around a sealed spliced region between two cables in which the cables pass through a mold with the splice region in the mold cavity and correctly centered before molding. To allow for the centering operation to be performed, apertures are provided in the mold. Hook members are passed through the apertures. These hook members are caused to engage both inner and outer mold surfaces and they also engage tie means at two circumferentially spaced positions around the splice region to centralize the region within the cavity. The mold is then filled with molten material and the hooks removed from the apertures with the material still molten. Hook removal may take place either when the cavity is completely filled or after sufficient molten material has entered the mold to hold the splice region in fixed position. The method is applicable to low pressure molding, i.e. below 100 psi and preferably below 50 psi.

Abstract: A seal assembly with a split housing provided with two axially spaced recesses for two seals. In each split housing member recess one-half of a seal is held. The two seal halves of each housing member are held in place by an elongate holding member which is secured to the housing member and mechanically holds the seal halves in their respective recesses. Rapid assembly and disassembly of the seal parts is thus possible.

Abstract: A method of sealably encapsulating an article by using, in combination, a plastics heating and pressurizing device and a manually portable accumulator. The device has a chamber to contain plastics material and heat it into a molten state. There is a releasable coupling means to assemble the device and container together to interconnect the chamber with a reservoir inside the accumulator for transfer of the molten plastic material into the reservoir. The accumulator has means for forcing the molten material from the reservoir into a mold cavity when the accumulator has been manually transferred from the device to a mold.

Abstract: Moulding equipment in which cooperable male and female connectors of a mould and a dispensing container for mouldable material have means to lock them together. This includes a locking member which is manually moveable in pivotal fashion upon one connector into and out of a locking position with the other connector.Opposing surfaces of the locking member and the other connector relatively move across each other during movement of the locking member while offering sufficiently low resistance to movement to allow for manual operation. During transfer of the material into the mould, the opposing surfaces are urged together by moulding pressure to increase resistance to movement of the locking member out of the locking position. In preferred constructions, the locking member has a cam surface which ensures the need for a progressively increasing unlocking force to enable release of the locking member during transfer of the mouldable material.

Abstract: Cable splice and closure arrangement to cover a cable region which is devoid of sheath and jacket. At each side of the devoid region, the cable has a strap member encircling it and piercing means of the strap member protrude through the jacket and into the sheath at spaced positions around the cable. An outwardly projecting means of each strap member is intimately embedded in a moulded plastic end of a combined closure and tensile strength means. This combined means may be an integral moulding having the two ends and a portion between the ends and which bridges the devoid region. Alternatively, it may comprise individual moulded plastic ends with tensile means such as steel rods extending between the embedded in the ends. The invention also includes a strain relief device for inclusion in the splice and closure arrangement.

Abstract: A closure for a splice region in cable and method of making it by providing a plastic moulding around the cable jacket. A fluid-tight seal between the moulding and the jacket has inner and outer layers of different materials which eliminate the need to fuse the moulding to the jacket to provide a seal. The inner layer is a compressibly deformable material surrounding and contacting the jacket. The outer layer surrounds the inner layer and is in a circumferentially resiliently stretched condition to compress the deformable material into intimate contact with the jacket and form a first seal region. The deformable layer has an annular portion engaging and fused to the plastic moulding to form a second seal region. The seat is suitable for pressurized and non-pressurized cable.

Abstract: Telecommunications cable with a splice closure covering conductors which have been severed and each having one severed end electrically connected to another cable. The other severed ends of the conductors are placed in series with a coil formed of electrical windings to enable a current to be passed through the coil by passing it through the electrically "dead" parts of the conductors to create an electromagnetic field around the coil to indicate the splice position. Preferably, the coil is formed by windings passing around the cable and these windings may be embedded in the closure.

Abstract: A method of forming an encapsulated splice region between two cable ends in which, after end portions of the core have been exposed beyond the jacket and sheath or shield, the conductors are splayed outwards and the cable end portions are brought close together. Splices are then formed between conductors of the two cables and the conductors are folded over either one cable jacket or the other to locate each splice upon and supported by the jacket. Each splice is individually covered with sealing material and end regions of the cables are encapsulated so as to encapsulate the splices and fluid tightly seal them.

Abstract: A method of sealing an article by heating solid plastic material in a chamber into a flowable state and then forcing the material from the chamber into a reservoir in a manually portable device. While in the reservoir, the material is maintained homogeneously molten and flowable and the material is forced from the reservoir into a mould cavity at a sufficiently fast rate to fill the cavity before flow passages into the cavity become blocked with hardening material.

Abstract: A method of moulding by low pressure moulding wherein a passage from the mould cavity is bridged by the molten material during filling and in which the moulding pressure is too low to cause the material to flow down the passage. After the mould is completely filled, the pressure increases to cause penetration of the molten material along the passage to a switch operating position to operate a switch to stop further flow of material into the mould.

Abstract: A packaged optical fiber splice is held in a retainer formed by two pairs of cantilever members having inwardly facing ribs at their top edges. The members of a pair are spaced so that after pushing a packaged splice between the ribs, deforming the members slightly, the packaged splice is freely positioned between the cantilever members which are at least substantially stress free. The splice is retained by the ribs. A slot in the base of the retainer provides a seating for the lower edge of the splice and restrains the splice against longitudinal movement. A plurality of retainers are provided in an organizing tray.

Abstract: An optical cable with an axial tensile strength member extending from one cable end beyond the cable jacket, and a pulling attachment secured to the extension of the strength member and does not seal directly around the cable jacket. A moulded plastic encapsulation encapsulates the cable end, an end portion of the jacket and the extension of the strength member to prevent fluid leakage between the exterior and interior of the cable.

Abstract: Moulding apparatus with a passage between mould parts to locate an article extending through the mould parts and into the mould cavity. A device is disposed within the passage for gripping and sealing against the article. This device is resiliently compressible and has gripping and sealing ribs projecting into and spaced along the passage. Parts of the device lying between the ribs define parts of the passage of substantially equal diameters for use with an article, e.g. a cable with an outside diameter which is also substantially equal to the passage diameter at those parts of the passage.

Abstract: A cable splice formed by wrapping an electrical connection in sealing tape and injection molding an encapsulation on the connection. The sealing tape is formed of material (e.g. ethylene propylene rubber) which softens under the influence of the injection molding temperature, and is shaped intimately into fluid-tight sealing contact with the electrical connection by shrinkage of the encapsulation during cooling. The material of the sealing tape is also heat insulating to resist increase in temperature of the insulated conductors within the cable during the injection molding process.