N.v. Raychem S.a.

Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv

Raychem Limited

Valere Buekers

Dirk Deroost

Jan L Vansant

Noel K Overbergh

Jean-Marie E Nolf

Roger Joseph Alaerts

Joris I Franckx

Luiz Neves Mendes

Amandus L Pieck

Dirk Roosen

Marc Demesmaeker

Filip Vandeputte

Christiaan Radelet

Thomas E McNeal

Els Timmermans

Roger Delvaux

Lodewijk Cordula Van Noten

Marc F Moisson

Etienne R Laeremans

Jos Doucet

Jos Brants

Johan Legrand

Peter Bos

Randy Duaine Wilkinson

Pieter De Coster

James Anthony Croce

Marc Vanonckelen

David Arthur Wittmeier

Fons Vranckx

Chien-An Chen

David J Hardie

Hubert Genbrugge

Methods for providing a cable closure enclosing a cable splice include wrapping a flexible wrap including a gel layer and a flexible support layer around the cable splice with the gel layer adjacent the cable splice. The gel layer may have an adhesion-reducing substance applied on at least part of a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer and a removable cover layer may be applied to a surface of the gel layer facing away from the flexible support layer on which the adhesion-reducing substance is not applied. The wrap is gathered into overlapping wrinkles around at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice without applying heat, other external energy source or catalytic agent to allow the gel layer to seal the at least one longitudinal end of the cable splice.

Methods for cable sealing

A flexible wrap () for enclosing a cable splice () without external heating includes a gel layer () and a support layer (). The wrap has sufficient flexibility to be manually gathered into wrinkles around the smaller parts of the cable-to-splice transition with the gel sealing the resulting enclosure. The support layer (), which is preferably made of low density polyethylene, provides mechanical strength and facilitates the application of the wrap (). A vapour barrier layer (), preferably made of aluminium, may be applied on the support layer (). A protective layer () may be applied on the vapour barrier layer (). An adhesion-reducing substance () may be applied on at least part of the side of the gel layer () facing away from the support layer () to allow adjustment of the wrap () when applied on the cable splice (). Elastic or rubber tape () maybe wound around the applied wrap () to compress the gel. A re-enterable closure having a long sealing length may be obtained.

Cable sealing

A compression-expandable plug provides lateral expansion of an elastomeric gasket to seal around mini-tubes within an optical fiber duct, the mini-tubes containing optical fibers. The compression-expandable plug includes an elastomeric gasket having longitudinal passages configured to be positioned around optical-fiber-containing mini-tubes in an optical fiber duct and means for longitudinally compressing the gasket thereby laterally expanding it to exert sealing pressure around the mini-tubes and between the mini-tubes and the duct. A means for limiting the longitudinal compression applied to the gasket to limit the sealing pressure to a level selected to limit damage to the optical fibers may be provided.

Longitudinally activated compression sealing device for elongate members and methods for using the same

A sealing arrangement is provided including a first housing and a second housing and a sealing member positioned therebetween. In various embodiments, one housing includes a channel shaped portion and the other housing includes a tongue shaped portion movable in an axial direction into the channel shaped portion to compress the sealing member therebetween in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction. In further embodiments, both housings include a channel shaped portion and the sealing member extends into each channel shaped portion and is compressed within each channel shaped portion in a transverse direction.

Sealing arrangement

A closure is provided including a casing part having at least one opening configured to receive an elongate object within the casing part. A sealing chamber defined by the casing part is positioned adjacent the opening so as to receive the elongate object in the sealing chamber and a sealant material is positioned in the sealing chamber. A relatively displaceable wall part of the casing part in provided in various embodiments which communicatively contacts the sealant material and is coupled to another part of the casing part by a flexible hinge part so as to allow movement of the relatively displaceable wall part relative to the other part of the casing. A compression means may be provided for applying a compressive force to the sealant material through the relatively displaceable wall part. In further embodiments a displaceable plunger is provided defining a wall of the sealing chamber and an externally operable shaft threadably engages the plunger so as to displace the plunger to adjust a volume of the sealant chamber.

Closure having an adjustable volume sealant chamber

Environmental protection

Coaxial cable connector housing

Two optical fibres are spliced together, and the splice and a loop of fibre organized in an organizer, for example by securing the splice in a projection (11) and accommodating the loop in a tray (12). The organizer also comprises an engagement means for example cylindrical extensions (13) into engagement with which a heat recoverable sleeve (not shown) surrounding the organizer and splice can be recovered to enclose the splice.

Optical fibre splice case

A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by a method which includes positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) some means for example a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heating means such as an electrical heater.

Branch-off technique

A technique for protecting an optical fibre breakout particularly from a cable 1 comprising a core 2, a plurality of loose fibres 3 and a jacket 5. The jacket 5 and core 2 are stripped back and the fibres encased in protective tubes 7. This may be done one fibre at a time by removing a portion of cable jacket remote from the end and withdrawing each fibre from under the remaining end portion of jacket. The cable may be held in a holding tool and the fibres inserted into their protective tubes by means of an insertion tool.

Optical fibre breakout

A branch-off region at an end of a sleeve (2), enclosing for example a branch in a telecommunications cable, is sealed by positioning at the end of the sleeve (2) a clip (1) or a filling piece that forms terminal conduits (3), positioning a heat-activatable adhesive (5) in the end, and activating the adhesive by a heater such as an electrical heater.

A cable splice, branchout or termination has a heat recovered member (30) around one or more cable portions (33) extending out of an end of the member (30). The cable portion (33) is protected from physical damage and heat by placing around it individually a metal foil member (1), preferably aluminium of thickness 150-250 microns. The metal foil member is preferably coated with a hot melt adhesive (2) and a mastic (5) at distinct locations. A pressure sensitive adhesive (4) may also be provided to help secure the foil member (1) around the cable portion (33) before recovery of the outer member (30). Apertures (44) may be provided in the foil member (1) to allow passage therethrough of hot melt adhesive provided on the inner surface of the recoverable member (30).

Splicing, branching or terminating cable

Growing community of inventors

Zelem-Halen, Belgium

Valere Buekers