Applying thermoplastics sleeve to crush resistant tubing
AssigneeStandard Telephones and Cables Public Limited Company
InventorJohn C. Crownshaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a submarine cable optical fibre regenerator housing a copper tail pipe (optionally with a brass end section incorporating an anti-extrusion profile for fitting inside a gland) is provided with a tight fitting length of thermoplastics sleeving by collapsing a thermoplastics preform down onto the tail pipe using heat and air pressure applied to the outside of an elastomeric tube into which the tail pipe and preform have been inserted.
Claims4
A method of providing a polythene sheath fitting tightly around a crush resistant electrically conductive metal tail pipe of a regenerator of a submarine optical fibre cable, comprising placing a loose fit polythene sleeving preform around the tail pipe, placing the resulting assembly in a mould within the bore of a tubular elastomeric mould lining, applying heat to the preform to soften it and hydrostatic pressure to the outer surface of the lining to compress the preform radially and to collapse the preform tightly onto the tail pine while preventing extrusion of the preform in the axial direction by collars fitted around the tail pipe and secured in abutting relationship with the preform ends, and subsequent to the heating of the preform, directing a forced draft through the tail pipe bore to cool preferrentially the surface of the preform in contact with the tail pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.