Raychem Limited

N.v. Raychem S.a.

Michael L Jensen

Thomas M Baum

George D Summers, Jr

Jean-Marie E Nolf

Jan L Vansant

Craig Dwayne Ray

James T Triplett

Keith Dawes

John E Francis

Luiz Neves Mendes

Carney P Claunch, Ii

Jack A Smith, Jr

Paul B Germeraad

Thomas A Hunter

Randolph W Chan

Jean M Nolf

John E Watts

John C Mason

A terminal block for interconnecting conductors in telecommunications circuits is disclosed. The terminal block allows a plurality of telecommunication wires to be progressively connected to a connector member. The terminal block includes a conductor transporting driver module having passageways that customer wires and service wires are inserted into and a connector chamber housing two insulation displacing connector members for the tip and ring lines. Wires are connected to the connector member progressively through a cyclical motion of the driver module relative to the connector members along a path of travel having an angle relative to a mounting surface which facilitates easy access to both wires and a threaded fastener actuating the driver module even in the most demanding telecommunications housing environments.

Telecommunications terminal block

Telecommunications connector

Telecommunications terminal

Modules integral with the body of the assembly include one for drop wire connections, one for subscriber wire connections, one for an electronics interface, and one for a network interface device. Protective sealant material within the assembly protects contacts from corrosion and other deterioration, and from shorting. Sealant plungers and a chamber containing a compressed gas impose compressive forces upon the sealant material. Shunt plugs associated with two of the modules permit signal transmission across the modules at desired times, and when removed eliminate the possibility of a subscriber being shocked or transmitting a spark when accessing subscriber components of the assembly. The main body and the modules of the assembly preferably are integrally connected and form a unitary sealed assembly.

Telecommunications network interface assembly

A toolless environmental splice enclosure capable of fitting within an aerial splice case is disclosed. The environmental closure permits sealing and reentry to a cable splice region.

Environmental control, liner for splice enclosure

A telecommunications splice case comprises a flexible sheet that can be wrapped around the splice and optionally further surrounded by a rigid casing. The sheet has a heat-activatable sealing material at its edge and an electrical heater for activation.

Cable splice case

An electrical heater suitable for heating a hot-melt adhesive to seal a cable splice case. The heater is in strip form and comprises a conductive polymer between two electrodes. The conductive polymer has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance and is thereby self-regulating. Current in-rush when the heater is cold is reduced by initially having only a portion of the heater connected to the power source.

Electrical device

A self-regulating PTC heater in which the direction of flow of current is reversible in a region of the PTC material in response to a change in the resistivity of the material whereby current in-rush is reduced.

Electrical device comprising a PTC or NTC composition

A unique air vent is provided for use with heat-recoverable closures when installed on pressurized cables. Typically, when a heat-recoverable closure is used to repair a hole or opening in the jacket of a pressurized cable the cable must be depressurized during installation of the closure to ensure formation of a pressure and watertight seal. The air vent assembly permits installation of a heat-recoverable closure without the need for depressurizing the cable. After installation, the air vent can be used as an access point to the pressurized air within the cable.

Method for repair or accessing pressurized cable

An electrical heater which comprises a fabric prepared from at least one of the electrodes and another elongate element of substantially higher resistance. The heater preferably comprises a PTC element, e.g. of a conductive polymer, to render the heater self-regulating. The PTC element may be in the form of a fiber forming part of the fabric, or a layer surrounding one of the electrodes, or a laminar element in which the fabric is embedded. The fabric can if desired be laminated to a sheet of a polymer, e.g. an insulating polymer or a ZTC conductive polymer. A shrinkable fabric heater can be made by incorporating a heat-shrinkable non-conductive filament into the fabric, perpendicular to both electrodes, and is useful for example for enclosing splices in telephone cables.

Electrical devices comprising fabrics

A heating element having a positive temperature coefficient conductive polymer with positive and negative electrodes formed on opposite faces thereof includes a high tensile strength coating layer on the electrodes. Buss bars are electrically connected to their respective electrode by stapling, with staples forming burrs in the buss bar which penetrate the coating layer and electrically connect with the corresponding electrode.

Heating element having deformed buss bars

An improved means of making an electrical connection to a laminar electrode which is in contact with a conductive polymer element. A mat of conductive filaments is placed between the electrode and an apertured conductive member to which the electrical connection is made, and the electrode, the mat and the conductive member are bonded together by means of a polymer or other bonding agent. The presence of the mat between the electrode and conductive member reduces the danger of fracturing the electrode when the conductive member is bonded thereto by heat and pressure. The invention is particularly useful when an ultrasonic welding machine is used to press the conductive member through a layer of polymer to make contact with an electrode underneath the layer.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Michael L Jensen