Abstract: A heat shrinkable sleeve or the like is heated by a ferromagnetic member which in turn is heated by a varying magnetic field, the ferromagnetic having a Curie temperature above the shrink temperature of the sleeve whereby when the sleeve is heated to its shrink temperature it tightly groups the members to be joined. Preferably a constant temperature is employed so that the ferromagnetic material will not rise above its Curie temperature.

Abstract: A connector which acts upon itself contains a fusible bonding material the connector forming a part of a temperature autoregulating electrical heater whereby upon application of a generally constant a.c. current to the heater, the temperature of the heater rises to and is maintained at slightly above the melting temperature of the fusible material.

Abstract: A self-regulating porous heater regulates the temperature of fluid passing through it. This device includes at least one layer of a porous material which has a magnetic permeability inversely related to temperature over a given range. Due to conductor skin effects, changes in permeability cause changes in the depth of penetration of alternating current passing through the magnetic layer. Changes in the depth of penetration, in turn, result in changes in resistance--the less the depth the greater the resistance--and in I.sup.2 R Joule heat. The combined result of these effects is to provide more heat where the temperature of the fluid and the layer through which the fluid flows is below a specified temperature which is related to the Curie temperature of the layer. Significantly, by properly defining pore dimensions, the heater device can filter contaminants from a fluid as it flows therethrough. In a preferred mode, a porous heater device is included in a chemical reaction chamber.

Abstract: A connector which acts upon itself contains a fusible bonding the connector forming a part of a temperature autoregulating electrical heater whereby upon application of a generally constant a.c. current to the heater, the temperature of the heater rises to and is maintained at slightly above the melting temperature of the fusible material. The circuit which includes the autoregulating heater may take many forms, and in one embodiment a crimping tool forms part of the circuit; in another embodiment, a wire or wires to be joined to the connector as well as the connector form part of the heating circuit; while in another embodiment, a heat shrinkable conductor or plastic or fusible plastic may be employed to grasp an object to be joined to the connector or other object or block the flow of fusible material while in still another embodiment, the fusible material, upon flowing to a prescribed final location, disconnects the system from the current source, and/or may connect a second heating circuit to a source.

Abstract: A blind rivet or bolt is rendered fluid tight by applying heat activated sealant to some or all of the surfaces of the rivet that contact surfaces of the structure into which the rivet is inserted. The sealant is activated by a temperature self regulating heater formed by applying ferromagnetic material to appropriate locations on the rivet and heating the ferromagnetic material by an energizing structure associated with the rivet actuation tool, the structure depending upon whether the heater is activated by flux coupling from a coil or by ohmic heating.

Abstract: An elongated flexible heater strip is provided having a transmission line section and a heater section employing a high mu material to control temperature at the Curie temperature of the high mu material; the above elements and a return buss being confined in a conductive sheath having a plurality of transverse slots to render the strap flexible, so that it may be cinched about a member to be heated; a strip of conductive material, such as copper, extending at least along the transmission line section interiorly of said sheath to reduce the resistance thereof and increase the current carrying capacity of the strap.

Abstract: A connector (33) which acts upon itself contains a fusible bonding material (35,37) the connector (33) forming a part of a temperature autoregulating electrical heater whereby upon application of a generally constant a.c. current to the heater, the temperature of the heater rises to and is maintained at slightly above the melting temperature of the fusible material (35,37).

Abstract: A self-regulating porous heater device regulates the temperature of fluid passing through it. This device includes at least one layer of a porous material which has a magnetic permeability inversely related to temperature over a given range. Due to conductor skin effects, changes in permeability cause changes in the depth of penetration of a.c. current passing through the magnetic layer. Changes in the depth of penetration, in turn, result in changes in resistance--the less the depth the greater resistance--and in I.sup.2 R Joule heat. The combined result of these effects is to provide more heat where the temperature of the fluid and the layer through which the fluid flows is below a specified temperature which is related to the Curie temperature of the layer. The device can have a laminate structure including a porous magnetic layer and at least one other magnetic layer or at least one low resistance nonmagnetic layer or a combination thereof, which may or may not be porous.

Abstract: The lid is hermetically sealed to an associated box by a gasket in the form of a sealant covered temperature autoregulating heater.

Abstract: A simple, highly flexible, virtually massless, temperature autoregulating heater primarily useful for soldering has an energizing circuit that may be integral with or separate from the heater element, which element has a ferromagnetic material energized via the circuit from a constant current source whereby regulation occurs about the Curie temperature of the magnetic material. The energizing circuit may be in the form of a printed circuit conductor formed on a thin layer of Kaptan or like high temperature insulating material having the heater formed on the reverse side thereof or having a sticky substance thereon so that the energizing circuit may be temporarily adhered to the heater and removed after use. Alternatively, the energizing circuit may be formed directly on Nomex paper or the like; a quite thin paper with a sticky backing.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for selectively heat treating at least a portion of an article in the field with autoregulated heating. The autoregulated heating is provided by a heater including at least a first magnetic material disposed along the portion of the article to be heat treated. The first magnetic material has a magnetic permeability which sharply changes at temperatures at or near the autoregulating (AR) temperature thereof. The changes in permeability result in corresponding changes in the skin depth of the first magnetic material and, hence, the heating produced therein responsive to a.c. current passing therethrough. By maintaining the a.c. current constant in amplitude and frequency, the first magnetic material and the portion of the article are regulated at substantially the AR temperature of the first magnetic material.

Abstract: There is presented various methods and articles utilizing heat shrinkable and heat sealable sheets, films and materials.

Abstract: A method of making a bond structure and a bond structure are provided that produce concurrently a peel bond and a lap bond. One end of a sheet to be joined to a second end of the same or other sheet is folded back on itself and on end of the other member inserted. The two pairs of contacting surfaces thus formed are subsequently bonded to each other. The bonding may be by any means and the clamping force across the bond during bonding need be applied from one side of the sheet only. By insuring that the peel bond fails before the material, a flat lap bond may be achieved by causing only the peel bond to fail.

Abstract: Sintered polytetrafluoroethylene is nondestructively degraded so as to be grindable to a powder of an average size of less than 10 microns by a combination of irradiation by electrons or other subatomic particles in the presence of oxygen or air and concurrent or subsequent heating at temperatures below the melting point of the material. The preferred effective and economic range of irradiation, heat and time at temperature is approximately 50-150 Mrads, 150.degree. F. to 600.degree. F. for at least about one-half hour depending upon desired average particle size and melt flow characteristics and acceptable yields of fine powders.