Raychem Limited

Frederick W Hill

Robin J Clabburn

Nigel R Bates

Leo G Svendsen

Bryan D Neaves

Malcolm G Cross

A marker assembly 1 comprises a support layer 2 that has a surface which is provided with a porous coating 3 of a curable material, e.g. a particulate epoxy coating. The coating may be printed on using for example an ink jet printer to form indicia 6, and may be cured after the indicia have been formed in order to render them substantially indelible. The opposite side of the support layer 2 may be provided with suitable means for supporting the maker on a surface, e.g. a layer 4 of adhesive. The marker may be formed from a dimensionally stable or dimensionally heat-recoverable material.

Marker assembly

Electrically conductive composite material comprises:

Electrically conductive composite material

The substantial change in modulus with temperature of certain materials, especially memory metals, is used to make a novel connector by forcing a band made from such a material in its low modulus state up an external tapered portion of a tubular coupling member so as to deform the band which remains in position about the coupling member. To make a connection one or more substrates is(are) positioned inside the tubular coupling member and the band is brought to its high modulus state whereupon it contracts and deforms the tubular coupling member and forces it into firm connection with the substrate.

Composite connector

The substantial change in modulus with temperature of certain materials, especially memory metals, is used to make a novel connector by forcing a band made from such a material in its low modulus state up an external tapered portion of a tubular coupling member so as to deform the band which remains in position about the coupling member. To make a connection one or more substrates is (are) positioned inside the tubular coupling member and the band is brought to its high modulus state whereupon it contracts and deforms the tubular coupling member and forces it into firm connection with the substrate.

Method of making composite connector and using same

Described herein is a reusable connector which may, for example, find use in making electrical connections. The connector comprises a heat recoverable metallic band disposed about a non-resilient, deformable member, typically a hollow cylinder that has been slotted to form tines, that has been deformed from an original configuration. When it is desired to make a connection, an object member is inserted into the deformable member and the metallic band is caused to shrink and drive the deformable member towards its original configuration thereby engaging the object member. Preferably the object member has an enlarged portion that is positioned so that when the object member is inserted, the enlarged portion passes through the metallic band. Recovery of the metallic band behind the enlarged portion inhibits withdrawal of the object member from the connector. The connector is reusable in that when the temperature of the band is reduced to cause it to revert to its martensitic state, the object member can be removed from the connector. If the object member has an enlarged portion, it will re-expand the deformable member and the recoverable member during withdrawal.

Heat recoverable connection

Described herein are connectors for terminating screened multiconductor cables. The connectors comprise a longitudinally slotted tubular grounding member having resilient tines between which are positioned individual leads or screens of the multiconductor cable. Fastening means are provided around the tines which, upon tightening, cause the slotted portion of the tubular grounding member to contract so that the leads or screens are firmly gripped. The fastening means preferably comprises a heat-shrinkable metal band or ring of a memory metal and is advantageously further provided with a collet, band or ring positioned internally of said heat-shrinkable member. Also described are methods of utilizing said connector in the termination of multiconductor cables.

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Lechlade, United Kingdom

Frederick W Hill