Raychem Limited

Symmorphix, Inc.

Peter L Brooks

Ray F Stewart

James P Reed

Lawrence J White

Robert S Wasley

Mauro Bonomi

Larry R Reeder

Michael Masia

Harry C Broyles

Louis M Frank

Paul M Cook

Richard F Otte

James L Claypool

Greville B Brook

Roger F Iles

Thomas W Tolles

Richard Ernest Demaray

Mukundan Narasimhan

Laurence M Welsh

John Lahlough

John G Lahlouh

Michael I Kapgan

Paul D Hauptly

Denis I Wales

Lawrence Welsh

In accordance with the present invention, a dielectric barrier layer is presented. A barrier layer according to the present invention includes a densified amorphous dielectric layer deposited on a substrate by pulsed-DC, substrate biased physical vapor deposition, wherein the densified amorphous dielectric layer is a barrier layer. A method of forming a barrier layer according to the present inventions includes providing a substrate and depositing a highly densified, amorphous, dielectric material over the substrate in a pulsed-dc, biased, wide target physical vapor deposition process. Further, the process can include performing a soft-metal breath treatment on the substrate. Such barrier layers can be utilized as electrical layers, optical layers, immunological layers, or tribological layers.

Dielectric barrier layer films

Detection of liquid leaks and other changes in variables is disclosed. The event causes two elongate conductors to become electrically connected at a location which is determined by the event, thus creating a system in which the connection point can be located by measuring the potential drop from one end of one of the conductors (called the locating member) to the connection point. The system comprises a balancing component so that its sensitivity is not dependent on the location of the event along an elongate path. A fixed current flows through the connection, so that the result is independent of the resistance of the connection. The locating member can be a continuous resistive wire, coated with a conductive polymer; such a locating member can form part of a sensor cable in which the elongate components of the circuit are in a wrapped configuration. Alternatively the locating member comprises a plurality of discrete resistors. The system is arranged so that only connections within a certain range of resistance will activate the system. The voltage drop is calculated by comparing it to the voltage drop over a resistor of known size. Particular event-sensitive connection means are employed for the detection of hydrocarbons.

Method for detecting and obtaining information about changes in variables

An elongate sensor for detecting and locating presence of a liquid, e.g. water or a hydrocarbon. The sensor includes first and second elongate members which are spaced apart from each other and each of which is a metal conductor covered by a conductive polymer; a third, insulated elongate conductor; and an elongate insulating core. At least one of the elongate members is helically wrapped around the core. Presence of the liquid at any point along the length of the sensor causes the first and second members to be electrically connected at that point, creating a system in which the potential drop down one of the members can be measured and the location of the connection determined.

Method for detecting and obtaining information about changers in

Detection of events, e.g. liquid leaks and other changes in varibles. The event causes two conductors to become electrically connected, and thus creating a system in which the connection point can be located by measuring the potential drop from one end of one of the conductors (called the locating member) to the connection point. Preferably a fixed current flows through the connection, so that the result is independent of the resistance of the connection. The locating member can be a continuous resistive wire, preferably coated with a conductive polymer; such a locating member can form part of a sensor cable in which the elongate components of the circuit are in a wrapped configuration, or part of a cable in which the conductors are separated by a member shaped to prevent capillary action of a liquid from connecting the conductors. Alternatively the locating member comprises a plurality of discrete resistors. Preferably the system is arranged so that the sensitivity of the system is not dependent on the location of the fault and/or is such that only connections within a certain range of resistance will activate the system. The voltage drop is preferably calculated by comparing it to the voltage drop over a resistor of known size. Particular event-sensitive connection means are preferably employed for the detection of hydrocarbons and for the detection of acids.

Elongate sensors comprising conductive polymers, and methods and

An assembly for forming a mechanical connection to an object, such as a tube within a hydraulic system, comprising a transversely heat-shrinkable shape memory alloy collar having an axially facing surface, a ring having an axially facing surface and a device for retaining the ring and the collar coaxially with respect to one another. In use, the collar is caused to shrink so that it engages the external surface of the tube. Force can be applied axially to the object through the collar by means of the ring.

Assembly for forming a mechanical connection to an object

The invention is a method and device for providing a protective coating for the inside of pipes, said method utilizing a device which is remotely actuated from outside said pipes. Specifically, the device comprises a memory metal delivery means, a corrosion resistant liner means, and a bonding means, said device expanding upon application of heat toward the inner wall of the pipe to cause the bonding means to flow progressively between the liner means and the inside of the pipe to thereby preclude air entrapment and to bond said liner means to the inside of the pipe.

Method for internal pipe protection

A device for providing a protective coating for the inside of pipes, said device being remotely actuated from outside said pipes. Specifically, the device comprises a high modulus engineering plastic delivery means, a corrosion resistant liner means, and a bonding means, said device expanding upon application of heat toward the inner wall of the pipe to cause the bonding means to flow progressively between the liner means and the inside of the pipe to thereby preclude air entrapment and to bond said liner means to the inside of the pipe.

Apparatus for internal pipe protection

A method and device for providing a protective coating for the inside of pipes, said method utilizing a device which is remotely actuated from outside said pipes. Specifically, the device comprises a memory metal delivery member, a corrosion resistant liner member, and a bonding member, said device expanding upon application of heat toward the inner wall of the pipe to cause the bonding member to flow progressively between the liner member and the inside of the pipe to thereby preclude air entrapment and to bond said liner member to the inside of the pipe.

Alloys comprising by weight 70-82% Copper, 6-10% Aluminum, 0.1-24% Zinc and 0.1-12% Manganese are particularly suited for use as the material of heat recoverable articles as they exhibit good ductility and stability and are easily worked by hot working techniques. Additionally, they have M.sub.s temperatures which enables them to be fabricated into heat recoverable articles useful in many applications. A heat recoverable article, made from a quarternary alloy of copper, aluminum, manganese and zinc whose composition falls on or near the eutectoid line, is particularly suited for use in circumstances where the article has been recovered from its recoverable state under conditions such that a degree of unresolved recovery remains.

Quarternary .beta.-brass type alloys capable of being rendered heat

Those alloys falling within the area on a ternary diagram defined by the points:

Stable heat shrinkable ternary beta-brass type alloys containing

Stable heat shrinkable ternary .beta.-brass alloys containing aluminum

The present invention relates to methods for modifying the temperatures at which metallic compositions capable of undergoing reversible transformation from the austenitic state to the martensitic state will undergo such transformation. According to the present invention, the transformation temperature of such metallic compositions may be raised by slowly heating a metallic composition which is in the martensitic state to a temperature above that at which transformation to the austenitic state normally occurs. Usually the slow heating is terminated and the composition cooled to a temperature below the temperature at which slow heating was terminated.

Heat-treating method

Some metallic compositions that undergo a reversible transformation between austenitic and martensitic states as a result of being heated or cooled through critical temperature ranges may lose a portion or all of the ability to revert from martensite to austenite. That loss can be inhibited by 'aging' the composition prior to its conversion to the martensitic state by holding it at a temperature at which it exists in the austenitic state. The time required to significantly inhibit loss of reversibility may vary as the nature of the composition changes. For a specific composition, the time required typically is shortened as the holding temperature is raised. The ability of a composition to respond to preconditioning methods by which its A.sub.s temperature can be elevated may also be improved by aging in the austenitic state prior to attempting preconditioning.

Austenitic aging of metallic compositions

Certain metallic compositions undergo a reversible transformation between an austenitic state and a martensitic state. The temperature at which these compositions begin to undergo the transition from martensite to austenite can be raised by deforming an article formed from the composition and maintaining it while in the deformed state at a temperature at which the composition would normally exist in the austenitic state.

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Peter L Brooks