Abstract: An armor for a heat shrink kit for joining a first length of heating cable and a second length of heating cable. The armor includes a spring configured to be positioned over at least a portion of the heat shrink kit, a first fastener configured to couple the spring to at least one of the first length of heating cable and the heat shrink kit, and a second fastener configured to couple the spring to at least one of the second length of heating cable and the heat shrink kit. The armor is configured to provide impact protection to the heat shrink kit.

Abstract: A system and method of heating cable routing for anti-icing cassettes is provided. An anti-icing cassette includes a panel, a plurality of channel segments arranged on an underside of the panel, and a heating cable routed through the plurality of channel segments and arranged in a concentric manner, including an outer loop and at least one concentric inner loop inside the outer loop.

Abstract: A three-way splice assembly for splicing together a first cable, a second cable, and a third cable. The assembly includes an exterior enclosure, an interior enclosure positioned within the exterior enclosure, and an insulation layer positioned between the exterior enclosure and the interior enclosure. The assembly also includes a first port, a second port, and a third port, each extending from the exterior enclosure, through the insulation layer, and into the interior enclosure and each sized to receive one of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable, respectively. The assembly further includes a terminal configured to electrically connect a respective conductor from the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable to form a three-way splice, and a fuse configured to be electrically connected between the terminal and one of the conductors of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable.

Abstract: A deicing system may include one or more walkway cassettes, a temperature control element, and a control unit. Each walkway cassette may include a casing and a heat tracing; cable in good thermal contact with the casing. The temperature control element may include a comparatively smaller casing and a heat tracing cable in good thermal contact with the casing, and may exhibit similar heat loss characteristics to the walkway cassettes. The temperature control element may include a temperature sensor on a top surface of its casing, which may generate temperature data and send the temperature data to the control unit. The control unit may provide power to the temperature control element and the walkway cassette(s) in parallel based on the temperature data. The temperature control element may be placed in proximity to the walkway cassette(s), and may be exposed to substantially the same environmental conditions as the walkway cassettes.

Abstract: A skin effect heat tracing system including a heat tube and a heater cable with a core conductor and an electrical insulation layer surrounding the core conductor. The heater cable is sized to lie within the heat tube so that a gas-filled space is defined between an outer surface of the electrical insulation layer and an inner surface of the heat tube. During operation of the skin effect heat tracing system, the gas-filled space may be pressurized, by a gas source, above an external pressure outside the heat tube.

Abstract: A heater cable for use in a heat tube. The heater cable includes a core conductor, an electrical insulation layer surrounding the core conductor, and an outer semiconductive layer surrounding the electrical insulation layer. The outer semiconductive layer is exposed so that, when installed in the heat tube, the outer semiconductive layer is in physical and electrical contact with an inner diameter of the heat tube. The outer semiconductive layer, or jacket, has ribs or similar spacing structures that contact the inner surface of the heat tube and space the components of the heater cable away from the inner surface of the heat tube and toward the center of the heat tube to reduce or eliminate the incidence of partial discharge.

Abstract: A cable sealing gland and method for securing a cable to an enclosure. The cable sealing gland includes a gland connector configured to be coupled to the cable, having a cable gland body sized to fit over the cable and including a first end sized to remain outside the enclosure when the gland connector is inserted through a hole of the enclosure and a second end sized to extend into an interior of the enclosure when the gland connector is inserted through the hole. The gland connector also includes a ferrule sized to fit inside the cable gland body, and a compression bolt configured to engage the cable gland body to compress the ferrule onto the cable. The cable sealing gland also includes a locknut configured to engage the cable gland body to couple the gland connector to the enclosure.

Abstract: A three-way splice assembly for splicing together a first cable, a second cable, and a third cable. The assembly includes an exterior enclosure, an interior enclosure positioned within the exterior enclosure, and an insulation layer positioned between the exterior enclosure and the interior enclosure. The assembly also includes a first port, a second port, and a third port, each extending from the exterior enclosure, through the insulation layer, and into the interior enclosure and each sized to receive one of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable, respectively. The assembly further includes a terminal configured to electrically connect a respective conductor from the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable to form a three-way splice, and a fuse configured to be electrically connected between the terminal and one of the conductors of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable.

Abstract: A skin effect heating system for long pipelines includes a heater cable disposed in a ferromagnetic or other conductive heat tube. A semiconductive jacket contacts the inner surface of the heat tube, where the charge density of the return current carried by the heat tube is at its highest. The semiconductive jacket material has a resistivity that is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate arcing events such as corona discharge by allowing accumulated charge on the heat tube to dissipate. The resistivity is also high enough to prevent the return current from flowing into or through the semiconductive outer layer, so that heat production capacity of the system is maximized.

Abstract: A skin effect heating system for long pipelines includes a heater cable disposed in a ferromagnetic or other conductive heat tube, the heater cable and heat tube cooperating to produce heat that is applied to the carrier pipe. The heater cable includes a conductor surrounded by an insulating layer that includes a generally tubular core insulation and a plurality of structural spacers extending from the core insulation. The spacers dispose the conductor closer to the center of the heat tube, and space the core insulation away from the heat tube in order to minimize or eliminate partial discharge at voltages in excess of 5 kV. The spacers may be axial or lateral “ribs” that contact the inner surface of the heat tube and create an air gap between the heat tube and the core insulation, the air gap significantly reducing charge buildup on the outer surface of the core insulation.

Abstract: A skin effect heating system for long pipelines includes a heater cable disposed in a ferromagnetic or other conductive heat tube, the heater cable and heat tube cooperating to produce heat that is applied to the carrier pipe. The heater cable includes a conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, and then a semiconductive outer layer or “jacket.” The semiconductive jacket contacts the inner surface of the heat tube, where the charge density of the return current carried by the heat tube is at its highest. The semiconductive jacket material has a resistivity that is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate arcing events such as corona discharge by allowing accumulated charge on the heat tube to dissipate. The resistivity is also high enough to prevent the return current from flowing into or through the semiconductive outer layer, so that heat production capacity of the system is maximized.

Abstract: A deicing cassette comprises a panel with a top and a plurality of sides, and the top and sides define an interior of the cassette. The top has an interior surface and an exterior surface serving as a walking surface. Additionally, a heating element is secured in thermal contact with the interior surface of the panel, and an integrated control system is disposed in the interior of the panel. The integrated control system comprises a temperature sensor exposed to the exterior of the panel, a power switching, device electrically connected to the heating element and electrically connecting to a power supply for providing power to the cassette, and a controller in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and the power switching device, the controller configured to operate the power switching devices to activate and deactivate power to the heating element based on a temperature read by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing evaporation of sample materials from the wells of multiwell plates are disclosed which find particular utility when the plates are placed in a stacked configuration. An example of the methods includes providing at least a first multiwell plate which is configured to be placed in a stacked configuration with at least one second multiwell plate, the at least first multiwell plate having a plurality of wells for receiving sample material therein and opposing side walls which extend around the plate and which define a ridge spaced inwardly of the side walls and extending around the plate between the side walls and the plurality of wells, the method including at least partially filling the ridge with a liquid such as water or buffer solution. The ridge can include one or more ribs which extend upwardly from a lower surface of the ridge to help reduce sloshing of the liquid contained within the ridge and to add structural strength and rigidity to the multiwell plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and devices that employ microfluidic technology to generate molecular melt curves. In particular, the devices and methods in accordance with the invention are useful in providing for the analysis of PCR amplification products.

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.