Abstract: A heat-recoverable closure device including a tubular member having an opening defining a means for readily communicating with articles disposed within the tubular member after heat-recovery. The closure device includes compression means attached adjacent and generally normal to each portion of the tubular member having an opening. The compression means further includes structure for maintaining it in constant compression during heat-recovery for preventing crack propagation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure member for insulating, sealing, waterproofing and otherwise protecting an object from the elements. The closure member is of integral, one-piece construction, is of heat-shrinkable material, has a main body for enveloping the object and easily hand-assembled hooks, formed from material-sandwiched, angled and articulated inserts, interfoldable to define a joint and form thereby an enveloping tubular member. The hooks have on their ends small projections defining detents that are mechanically imbeddable for positive joint closure and seal, while affording a wide range of alignment in the interfolded and sandwiched assembly of the hook.

Abstract: A branch-off seal between a heat-recoverable sleeve, such as a tubular or wrap-around sleeve made from cross-linked polymeric material, and two or more substrates such as electrical cables is effected by using one or more clips the outer legs of which are positioned over the outer surface of the sleeve so as to form as appropriate number of conduits and applying heat to cause the sleeve to shrink about the substrates positioned within the conduits. The preferred clips are formed as a trident, the central leg of which extends into the heat-recoverable sleeve and is provided with a layer of a hot-melt adhesive or another sealant so as to enhance the seal formed at the branch-off.

Abstract: A cable splice, tube joint, or the like, is covered by a fitting constructed as a split hose provided along one edge with a rail made of metal or a strong synthetic; a similar rail element or an integral fastening element is provided on the other edge and secured to the first rail by welding, adhesive bonding, or soldering in order to obtain a joint which resists tension and compression. The hose has been laterally slipped onto and over the cable splice or tube joint and, after the split joint has been sealed (or concurrently therewith), the hose is heat-shrunk. Various rail configurations are shown; a method of making the hose is explained.

Abstract: A transmission line assembly including a mechanism for reducing vibrations and a method of making the same is provided which includes an outer tubular sheath having an inner surface forming an inner diameter, an inner tubular wall member firmly frictionally fixed to the inner surface of the outer tubular sheath, a transmission line disposed within the inner tubular wall for transmitting energy, a plurality of radially contracted tubular sections having axial lengths at regularly spaced axial intervals formed in the inner tubular wall member and contiguously surrounding the transmission line for protecting, centering and supporting the transmission line within the outer tubular sheath and a plurality of radially enlarged sections formed in the inner tubular wall member having axial lengths greater than the axial lengths of the radially contracted tubular sections and having outer diameters radially compressed by the outer tubular sheath.

Abstract: A device for enclosing at least part of an elongate object, for example a pipe line, comprises a dimensionally recoverable cover 21 one surface of which is partly or wholely coated with a closure adhesive 22 and covered by a layer of sealant.The cover is preferably in the form of a continuous sheet which may be cut to the appropriate length. The device may be wrapped around the object and the overlying sealant may then be peeled back or peeled away to expose the closure adhesive. The cover is bonded to itself or to the object to be enclosed by means of the exposed closure adhesive, and the device is then recovered by heating.

Abstract: Enclosure for electrical apparatus comprising a first hollow sleeve of insulating material around which is positioned a second sleeve comprising an inner layer of insulating material and an outer layer of conductive material (normally connected to earth, e.g. a cable shield). This construction locates the major discontinuities of the material enclosure wall between layers of the insulating materials thus reducing the electrical stresses which could lead to insulation failure. The first sleeve may have an innermost laminated layer of stress grading material. Electrically conducting material may be present on the inner surface of the first sleeve to form a Faraday cage. Further sleeves may be interposed between the first and second sleeves to increase the insulation for higher voltages, and void filling compound may be used further to improve the electrical conditions within the enclosure.

Abstract: A sealing system for a cable fitting element of heat shrinkable material having a longitudinally extending opening with at least one longitudinally extending bead portion being disposed along a side of the opening and being receivable in a clamp portion forming a seal of the opening characterized by one of the clamp portions and bead portions being substantially rigid and unaffected by heat and the other of said bead and clamp portions having a permanent shape which is tightly engaged with the one portion to form a seal. To facilitate assembly, the other portion has a temporary shape and has been deformed to a temporary shape to enable easy assembly and will return to the permanent shape when the fitting element is heated to an elevated temperature for the shrinking process. In one embodiment, the clamp portion is a separate rigid member and the bead portion projects along the opening having one surface forming a sealing surface and the other surfaces engaged by the clamp.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable hollow article having one open end affording access to an internal cavity, the wall defining the internal cavity being shaped to provide stop means projecting into the cavity at a position or positions between the open end and the end of the cavity remote from the open end, whereby after heat-shrinking of the article onto a substrate a gap is left between the substrate and the end of the cavity remote from said open end.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in selectively coating all or a portion of the interior surface of a tubular article, the apparatus including a plurality of axially spaced apart masks adapted to fit within the tubular article, support structure spacing apart the masks, and an electrically conductive coating means between the masks. The coating means may be electrically activated to spray the unmasked portion of the inside surface of the tubular article.The apparatus is useful in making tubular articles which are coated on their interior surfaces at selective locations. An alternative embodiment of the apparatus includes masks which have been chamfered. When this alternative apparatus is used to coat the interior surface of the interconnect, a non-uniform coating is delivered to the ends of the area which are coated. Using this alternative apparatus, a stress graded coating may be applied to the selectively coated interior surface.

Abstract: A method for holding together the opposing ends of a flat sheet wrapped around an elongate substrate employs one or more closure devices, each closure device comprising a pair of frictional elements and a means for interengaging same. The frictional elements each have a channel member having a slit and a rod member positionable within said channel member, which when so positioned cooperates therewith to provide a conduit thereinbetween and to apply frictional forces to one end of the flat sheet when the end has been inserted through the slit and is in position between the rod member and the channel member. The closure is especially suited for joining elastomeric flat sheet, the sheet and closure device or devices collectively providing a protective closure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an article suitable for making an electrical connection between two electrical conductors, for example an earth conductor and the outer conductor of a coaxial cable. The article comprises a first, heat-shrinkable, sleeve (1), a quantity of solder (2) positioned within the sleeve, and a second sleeve (5) an outer surface of which, together with an inner surface of the first sleeve, forms a passage for receiving the earth conductor. Stop means are provided for axial location of the earth conductor. On shrinking of the sleeve and fusing of the solder, an electrical connection can be made between an earth conductor received, in use, in the passage and the outer conductor of a coaxial cable received, in use, in the first sleeve but not in the passage.

Abstract: An enclosure for a shielded cable termination or joint comprises a protective sleeve comprising a conductive outer layer (51), an insulating inner layer (52), advantageously of substantially uniform cross-section for at least a portion of its length, and optionally a stress grading innermost layer (53). At least the insulating layer (52) and/or the stress grading layer (53) overlaps the or each cable shield, in the case of the insulating layer by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the portion of the insulating layer overlapping the cable shield end. Preferably the sleeve is installed by heat recovery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved liner constructions, and accordingly provides a cable sleeve liner capable in use of being wrapped around a cable splice and preferably having sufficient rigidity to provide an inner support for a heat-recoverable sleeve to be shrunk thereover, the liner comprising a laminate having at least one layer of fibrous sheet material and a metal layer which is substantially impermeable to moisture vapor and has one of its major surfaces facing away from all fibrous sheet layers which may be present. Preferably the fibrous layer(s) is or are arranged between the metal layer and a microperforated first layer of flexible polymeric film material which is permeable to gases or vapors generated within the laminate during recovery of the sleeve.

Abstract: A longitudinally divided cable sleeve which is composed of a shrinkable sleeve member of a shrinkable material having a bead on each edge for engagement with a sealing bar to form a sealing system characterized by each of the beads having a non-shrinkable longitudinally extending strengthening element embedded therein and the sealing bar having a pair of side elements interconnected by a central web, said side elements projecting from the central web to form an undercut groove on each side of said web so that the sealing bar is a cross-sectional configuration of a pair of C-shaped profiles facing in opposite directions and each groove receives one bead of the sleeve member to close said cable sleeve. The sealing bar is preferably made of a material having a good heat conduction property to improve the heating of the inner sealing zones during a shrinking process. If desired, a coating of a fusible adhesive can be applied in the area of the sealing zones to increase the sealing effect.

Abstract: A connector device comprises first and second layers of substantially cross-linkable material, the first layer having inserts in contact therewith, the second layer having been expanded and thereafter formed into working and bonding zones, and the sheets being bonded together at the bonding zones for acceptance of substrates to be connected. The device is so constructed that the working zone center-to-center spacing remains constant on recovery.

Abstract: Disclosed are heat recoverable connectors for use as a protective covering about a plurality of joined articles such as wire splices or tubing junctures. The connectors are open-ended and feature at least one internal wall extending for at least a portion of the distance along the length of the connector to provide a plurality of open-ended channels within the connector for respectively containing one or more of the plurality of joined articles so as to insure their separation during the process of shrinking the connector by heat.

Abstract: A heat recoverable article comprising a recoverable portion and a fusible portion integrally formed so that on heating to recover the recoverable portion, the fusible portion can fuse. The article is especially suitable for encapsulating electrical connections.

Abstract: A material for wrapping around a pipe, cable or the like in which a flexible sheet of heat shrinkable material such as cross-linked polyolefin, is provided on each edge with a metal clip element. In one construction, the two elements being formed with a body portion attached to the sheet material and hook members which extend in the opposite sense to one another and are inclined towards the body member to hook into one another. A strip of material on one of the clip elements, or on the flexible material, extends under the free edge of one of the hook members to maintain the other hook member in engagement. In another construction the first clip element is provided with spaced apart bridge which are engaged with cooperating spaced apart hooks on the second clip element.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable cover sheet used for covering and protecting the peripheral surface of a joint of, for example, a steel pipe or cable is provided. The heat-shrinkable cover sheet has two branched tongue-like portions on each of both the ends in the direction of thermal shrinkage. A heating element formed of a heating electric conductor wire is included and built in the body portion of the cover sheet, the front tongue-like portion on one end of the cover sheet and the back tongue-like portion on the other end of the cover sheet, in a manner such that thermal shrinkage of the entire sheet is not prevented.

Abstract: A mechanism for providing fixed attachment points along an extended cylindrical object, such as a cable, utilized helically counterwound straps terminated in loops to form a common gripping junction. In order to forestall slippage heat shrinkable tubes are applied over the crisscrossed straps.

Abstract: A bracing surround which comprises a heat-recoverable especially a heat-shrinkable, sleeve provided with a reinforcing member which does not prevent recovery of the sleeve but which is capable, when in the configuration held when the sleeve is recovered, of resisting forces tending to return it to the configuration held when the sleeve is in its recoverable configuration. The surround is used to enclose substrates, e.g., pressurized conduit junctions, that are subject to expansion in use.

Abstract: Fastener for a heat-recoverable wraparound sleeve, rigid enough at ambient temperatures to be slid over abutting rails of the sleeve but flexible enough at the recovery temperature of the sleeve to accommodate sharp transitions. The fastening has an elongate member rigid at ambient temperature and flexible at the recovery temperature, and a plurality of clamps extending transversely from the sleeve and which at least retain their clamping effect at the recovery temperature. The clamps can be covered by a protective material.

Abstract: A recoverable seal for sealing a container, especially an artillery ordinance cannister, comprising a heat-shrinkable continuous annular band having a uniform coat of heat-activatable adhesive on the inwardly-facing surface thereof which has a mean thickness of 0.01 to 1.0 mm and differs from the mean thickness over the surface by at most 25% of the mean thickness. The band may be provided with a tearable region such as a score line to enable it easily to be peeled off the container. After the band has been recovered on the container, the band can be peeled away and a layer of adhesive will remain aiding the ability of the seal to withstand pressurization and depressurization.

Abstract: An elastomeric pre-stretched tubular member comprising from about 2.5 to about 25 volume percent carbon black, from about 0.8 to about 3.0 volume percent of platelet-shaped conductive particles, and optionally high permittivity inorganic fillers and platelet-shaped inorganic dielectric fillers, with the balance being the compounded elastomeric component.

Abstract: A sleeve head for closing an end of a cable sleeve, which sleeve head being a one piece member of a shrinkable material having a transverse wall with an integral outer wall portion and having at least one flange surrounding an opening so that a cable can be sealingly received in the head by shrinking the flange from an expanded state towards a normal state into sealing engagement on the cable, characterized by each of the flanges in the expanded state being expanded only in a radial direction and having substantially no deformation and stresses along the axial direction of the opening and the transverse wall adjacent each of the expanded flanges being folded outwardly to compensate for the expansion of the size of the flange so that during heat shrinking the flange shrinks radially inward onto a cable disposed therein with a folded wall moving to a substantial transverse planar condition without any axial shrinkage of the flange to create disruptions in the seals.

Abstract: To manufacture a tubular battery separator with a closed end, a tubular body is formed from a sheet of a separator material with a preponderant content of stretched thermoplastic fibers; the overlapping edges which occur welded together; a disc fitted to the inside diameter inserted from one end into the tubular body to a position near the other end leaving an overhanging edge; the overhanging edge softened by heating, causing it to shrink; and the softened and shrunk edge pressed against the disc so as to join the disc to the tubular body.

Abstract: A cable sleeve outlet for splice cases comprising a substantially cylindrical member having at least one re-entrant portion and in its longitudinal wall shaped to provide a longitudinal channel, which channel has a longitudinal opening to the exterior of the outlet permitting the re-entrant portion to be wrapped around a cable or similar object aligned with the channel in use, and comprising a fastening means or support means insertable into the open end of the cylindrical member to bridge and thus hold closed the or each said longitudinal opening, the bridging part of the fastening means in use lying across the end cross-sections of the opposing longitudinal wall portions, and the fastening means being so formed that in use it bears on an inner surface of, and thus provides a substantially rigid internal support for, at least part of the longitudinal outside wall of the cylindrical member in addition to the part thereof involved in the said bridging closure.

Abstract: A casing provides a hermetically sealed enclosure around a joint between two elongate substrates. The casing comprises two generally cylindrical members, each of which comprises a first open end section and second open end section. The first end section includes a heat-shrinkable sealing member which can be shrunk by heat to form a hermetic seal between the first end section and a substrate passing therethrough. The second open end section of each member can be hermetically sealed to the second open end section of the other member. There is a generally cylindrical flexible connecting section between the first and second end sections. This connecting section can be deformed to permit relative axial movement between the first and second open end sections to provide access to the joint.

Abstract: A cable sleeve having a tubular sleeve member with an end member sealing each end, each end member having a circumferential flange received on supporting member and sealing means for forming the seal between the tubular member and the sealing member, each of the end members having at least one cable inlet formed by a protuberance of heat shrinkable material having an axial extending separating line common to the flange to form an opening in the protuberance and the flange for insertion of the cable characterized by the edges of the flange being non-joinable and spaced apart by a given width, and a filling member received in sealing engagement between said non-joinable edges to complete the seal. The filling piece, which may either be attached to the cable or be a separate member, preferably is metal and is secured to the edges of the opening by a sealing material.

Abstract: A compact one-piece shrinkable sleeve of minimal outside diameter made from either a resilient material or a heat shrinkable material having elastic memory and adapted to be secured to the end of an electrical cable and/or tubing bundle having one or more electrical conductors and/or tubes extending therefrom to provide a barrier to the flow of gas or vapors therethrough. The sleeve contains a cavity at one end thereof that when the sleeve is in an expanded state is adapted to receive the end of the bundle. The sleeve contains one or more internal channels at the opposite end thereof that are separated from each other by walls that are directly or indirectly integrally related to the wall of the remainder of the sleeve and are adapted to permit the one or more conductors and/or tubes to extend therethrough from the bundle end in the cavity.

Abstract: A composite connector for electrical conductors has a heat-shrinkable terminator for each conductor. Each terminator is secured to the connector body, and a guide and stop for each conductor are formed within each terminator. The method of manufacture involves the shrinkage of each terminator over the connector body and a forming mandrel.

Abstract: A recoverable tubular article comprising an elastomeric sleeve held in an expanded or extended condition and capable of recovering to its unexpanded condition of smaller diameter upon the removal of an outer restraint, an outer restraint, essentially tubular in configuration, bonded to said elastomeric sleeve, said restraint and said bond between the sleeve and the restraint being sufficiently strong to retain the elastomeric sleeve in its expanded condition under ordinary conditions of storage and said restraint being capable of being segmented and peeled from said elastomeric sleeve to permit said sleeve to recover to its original state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device which is used to repair a damaged insulating jacket on an electrical cable. The device is shrunk down around the cable without the use of heat to provide an impervious, protective covering. More particularly, the invention includes a sheet or sleeve which is elongated and held in that state by removable support struts. After covering the damaged area of the cable jacket, the struts are withdrawn to allow the sheet or sleeve to shrink down around the cable.

Abstract: A self-regulating heating article comprising a layer of material exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) and said PTC layer having at least partially contiguous therewith at least one layer of constant wattage output material. The article operates such that when connected to an electric power source, the current flows through at least a portion of the thickness of the PTC layer and of the constant wattage layer. In a preferred embodiment, upon heating the article, a change in dimensions as well as activation of an adhesive occurs.

Abstract: A biaxially heat shrinkable sleeve, a prism which is usually a roller having its lateral area covered with a biaxially heat shrunken sleeve and the method for covering the lateral area of a prism such as a process roller with a biaxially heat shrunken sleeve.

Abstract: In a heat shrinkable synthetic resin cover adapted to seal a joint between two pipes or an electric cable, the cover is made of a rectangular sheet shaped cross-linked polymer and a flexible electric heater covered by a cross-linked polymer contained in a heat shrinkable synthetic resin member such that the electric heater crosses at right angles an inherent direction of heat shrink of the member so as not prevent inherent heat shrink thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel cladded elongate substrate such as a jacketed cable, the cladding being flame retarded and comprising a vinyl acetate/alkene copolymer composition incorporating a halogen-free inorganic flame retardant. The composition is characterized by a high content of vinyl acetate and/or the presence of a polyalkene or alkene/alkene copolymer blended with the vinyl acetate/alkene copolymer.

Abstract: A heat shrunken polymeric material is wrapped around a plurality of adhesive coated, insulated wire strands juxtaposed in a transposed configuration to compact the metal strands into intersurface contacting relation, and thus promote improved bonding together of the metal strands for enhanced short circuit withstand.

Abstract: A void-free electrical conductor for power cables including a stranded electrical conductor formed of a central member and a plurality of abutting peripheral conducting members, the stranded conductor having a primary layer of electrical insulation heat shrunk about the exterior thereof and having an insulation material completely filling the internal space of the conductor within the primary external electrical insulation layer, the filler insulation adapted to fill all interstices between individual conducting strands outward from the abutment points between peripheral conducting members and the area inside of the abutment points being insulated by the insulation around the central conducting member to thereby form a completely void-free filling of the space within the primary electrical insulation in order to prevent the axial flow of any liquid or gaseous substance therethrough, said primary electrical insulation layer being void-free to increase the dielectric strength of the final electrical conductor c

Abstract: A strand separation arrangement is disclosed wherein a multi-conductor power cable is separated into individual strands. Each of the strands is provided with a thick walled shrunk-on tubing which extends into a sheath surrounding the power cable. The sheath is provided with a plurality of clefts arranged axially about a circumference of the end of the sheath to permit the sheath to expand circularly. Various bandages and shrunk on tubes surround the place of separation of the strands with a shrunk on fitting piece sealing the entire arrangement. Additional mechanical strength is provided for the separation arrangement by the present invention.

Abstract: A recessed housing and cover are held together by self-tapping screws. The housing is provided with a half round extension having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cable. The cable insulation is removed to about the middle of the extension and is held tightly to the extension and the assembly by means of two layers of heat shrunk plastic tubing. Wires from the cable to the pins of a multi-pin military type connector are contained within the recess. The military connector is provided with a surrounding flange which is held in engagement with a pair of outrigger bosses on the recessed housing. The recessed housing and the top cover are also provided with opposed flanges for engagement with the flange of the military type connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a heat-shrinkable sleeve, solder, a solder wettable insert and optionally a pre-installed electrical conductor, in fixed locations in the sleeve, the insert assisting in control of solder flow when the connector is heated to join the conductor to a terminal pin.

Abstract: Radially shrinkable sleeves for covering joints and terminations in high voltage cables are made by radially uniform machining of an extrudate comprising an insulating layer and at least one other layer which is conductive or semi-conductive or exhibits stress control properties. Expansion of the sleeve can be effected before or after machining. Novel shrinkable sleeves which are obtainable by this method include an insulating layer which comprises at least one tapered section in which its internal diameter increases gradually from a first diameter to a second diameter.

Abstract: An easily removable heat-recoverable closure assembly for a substrate includes a heat-recoverable closure and a flexible wire to be interposed between the closure and the substrate. The wire has sufficient flexibility and sufficient strength that it can be pulled through the wall of the closure for removal of the heat-recovered closure from the substrate.

Abstract: To organize and electrically terminate both ends of a plurality of wires, an apparatus comprising an array of interconnected, substantially parallel passageways is placed over the wires proximate to the first ends of the wires. The first ends of the wires are electrically terminated, and then the array is slid along the wires toward the second ends thereof for organizing the wires. The second ends of the wires are then electrically terminated.

Abstract: A branch-off seal between a heat-recoverable sleeve, such as a tubular or wrap-around sleeve made from cross-linked polymeric material, and two or more substrates such as electrical cables is effected by using one or more clips the outer legs of which are positioned over the outer surface of the sleeve so as to form an appropriate number of conduits and applying heat to cause the sleeve to shrink about the substrates positioned within the conduits. The preferred clips are formed as a trident, the central leg of which extends into the heat-recoverable sleeve and is provided with a layer of a hot-melt adhesive or another sealant so as to enhance the seal formed at the branch-off.

Abstract: A heat-recoverable article such as a heat-shrinkable wrap-around sleeve is provided with at least one auxiliary conduit so as to facilitate its application to the installation and repair of break-out joints from main-line cables, especially power and telephone cables. The auxiliary conduit is formed by bonding together appropriate regions of the internal principal surface of the article, coupled if necessary with a cutting step. Bonding is preferably achieved by use of a cross-linking material such as a peroxide.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable hollow article having one open end affording access to an internal cavity, the wall defining the internal cavity being shaped to provide stop means projecting into the cavity at a position or positions between the open end and the end of the cavity remote from the open end, whereby after heat-shrinking of the article onto a substrate a gap is left between the substrate and the end of the cavity remote from said open end.

Abstract: A laminated tubular connector for splicing or terminating electric conductors, comprising an outer layer of a heat shrinkable dielectric material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, and an inner layer of a relatively soft, self-adhesive, low temperature flowable thermoplastic material, preferably a polyvinyl acetate composition. When heat is applied to the connector, the outer layer shrinks and the inner layer functions as a sealant and a cushioning agent. The adhesiveness of the inner layer may be used to hold the connector in place during subsequent operations by pinching the connector so that the depressed portions of the tube adhere to each other prior to heating the connector to shrink the outer layer.