Raychem Limited

Other

Walter J Greuel, Jr

Jan L Vansant

George Pieslak

Barnie A Wallace, Jr

Stanley Simpson

Efrain Renteria

Stephen Hunter Diaz

An article (2) in which at least part of a surface (8) of a polymeric element has an embossed pattern (6). The article may be either heat-recoverable or non-heat-recoverable. If the article is heat-recoverable, when heated the article recovers and the embossed surface becomes substantially smooth. The change in surface texture can be used to indicate that sufficient heat has been applied to the article to achieve adequate recovery and/or to adequately melt an attached adhesive layer (10). In another embodiment, the article (2) is in the form of a patch (14) which can be used to secure the opposing longitudinal edges of heat-recoverable article which is in the form of a wraparound sheet.

Heat-recoverable article

A method and apparatus for providing a substantially void-free tape wrapping around a pipe having a longitudinal weld bead protruding from the surface thereof. While the pipe is simultaneously advanced and rotated, liquid viscous sealing material is applied to the pipe, and the applied sealing material is then doctored by means of at least one doctor blade. The doctor blade faces the advancing pipe surface, with the axis of the doctor blade at an angle of about 10.degree. to 50.degree. to the axis of the pipe, and is urged against the pipe so that it is resiliently deformed by the pipe and accommodates passage of the weld bead underneath it. In this way the doctor blade doctors the sealing material so that it provides a smooth transition between the weld bead and the adjacent pipe surfaces. The tape is then spirally wrapped around the pipe. The invention is particularly useful when a heated sealing material, eg. a hot melt adhesive, is applied to a heated pipe which is subsequently wrapped with a heated polymeric tape having the same sealing material on its interior surface.

Method and apparatus for wrapping a tape around a pipe

A wrap-around closure assembly for elongate objects such as pipelines including a length of heat recoverable material as the closure member and a fastening device extending lengthwise along the elongate object for holding the edges of the material in a nearly abutting relationship. The fastening device has channels which receive the edges of the heat recoverable material such that the retaining forces of the fastening device are in line with the tensile forces of the recovered closure member. Retaining means within the channels prevent the withdrawal of the edges during assembly and after heat recovery of the closure member. The legs of the channels are also forced against the interposed closure member to prevent extraction thereof.

Heat recoverable closure assembly and method

A fusible insert having protuberances on at least one surface is disposed between a heat recoverable sleeve and the substrate over which the sleeve is recovered. The protuberances provide for mechanical engagement between the liner and the sleeve or substrate. When the protuberance has substantially the same melting temperature as the liner and the sleeve has been recovered but insufficient heat added to make the insert flowable, the protuberances form detectable bumps on the outer surface of the sleeve indicating that more heat should be added to render the insert flowable.

Growing community of inventors

Bonita, CA, United States of America

Walter J Greuel, Jr