Bentley-harris Inc.

Federal-mogul Systems Protection Group, Inc.

Robert J Brushafer

Janice R Maiden

Harry F Gladfelter

Joan Bitwinski

Michael J Piotrowski

Gerald Thomas Lien

A sleeve having a longitudinally extending slit for covering wires or tubing is provided with a support layer of a continuous monofilament of formable metal wire or heat-settable monofilament formed into a multiplicity of spaced apart reversely bent crests and troughs. The continuous monofilament is bent to form a split tube having the crests and troughs in facing relationship. At least one outer layer is provided on said support layer. The outer layer may be an insulator such as a metal foil or metalized film, an abrasion-resistant material or a resilient sound-absorbing material. Inner layers may comprise insulating materials and/or felts, foams or other sound-absorbing materials. Various closure means for closing the longitudinal opening formed at the slit are disclosed.

Flexible protective sleeve

A split sleeve for insulation of heat generating components, such as an exhaust gas recirculation device, comprises an outer layer of knitted woven or braided glass fiber yarn. A first metal wire skeleton or frame in the form of a continuous wire support for the outer layer is bent in a first step with a series of reverse bends to form a comb-like structure and in a second step to a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration in which the wire defines a cavity and the wire bends define an opening extending lengthwise of the cavity. A layer of heat insulating mineral paper is spaced from the cover layer by the metal wire skeleton. The heat insulating mineral paper is provided with a metal foil layer on the side away from the metal wire skeleton. A second metal wire layer configured like the first extends lengthwise of the sleeve and spaces the reflective surface of the foil from the heat generating component. The various layers of the sleeve are secured together to form an axially extending opening which fits over the component requiring insulation.

Wrappable sleeve

A woven fabric sleeve for protecting and covering elongated substrates is made up of circumferentially and longitudinally extending interlaced fill and warp members, the fill members forming circumferentially extending alternating bands of relative flexibility separating bands of inflexibility. The fill members may be comprised of monofilament or multifilament yarns of alternating large and small diameters and may include wire, especially resilient wire, heat settable materials, including polyester served wire and DREF yarns having resiliently settable cores. The fill members may be held in relation to one another utilizing Leno and mock Leno weaving.

Woven fabric having improved flexibility and conformability

A braided product and process include a first sleeve formed of interbraided first and second yarns which may be continuous E glass yarns. Warp beads formed by knitting or braiding are equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the braid and introduced to the braider to form an integral part of the structure. One or more heavy denier yarns are loaded on carriers so as to cross the warp beads under relatively high tension, forcing the beads selectively to the inside or outside of the sleeve surface so as to create longitudinally extending spacers which create air gaps between the sleeve and the surface of the substrate being covered.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

Robert J Brushafer