Tubular article
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorsNeil L. Holt, Peter L. Larsson, Manoochehr Mohebban, Stephen E. Sheehan, Jeffrey A. Bennett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A double-walled article in the form of a tube having a small volume filling of a friction-reducing liquid or solid between its two walls. The article is able to revolve over a substrate by relative sliding motion between its two walls, to provide environmental or electrical protection.
Claims52
A double wall tubular article comprising:
- a double wall defining a closed region between its two walls;
- and a friction reducing means between the two wall of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of being applied to a substrate by relative sliding motion between the two walls substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the substrate and the substrate;
- wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that its wall adjacent the substrate is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less that 10 times its average wall thickness.
A method of covering a substrate, which comprises revolving onto the substrate a double wall tubular article comprising (a) a double wall defining a closed region between its two walls and (b) a friction-reducing means between the two walls of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of being applied to said substrate by relative sliding motion between the two walls substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the substrate and the substrate wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that its wall adjacent the substrate is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less than 10 times its average wall thickness.
A method applying a hollow object around a substrate, which comprises interposing between the object and substrate a double wall tubular article comprising (a) a double wall defining a closed region between its two walls and (b) a friction-reducing means between the two walls of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of being applied to a substrate by relative sliding motion between the two walls substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the substrate and the substrate wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that its wall adjacent the substrate is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less than 10 times its average wall thickness.
A method of forming a duct seal between a duct and a substrate that passes therethrough, which comprises revolving along the substrate to a position within the duct an article comprising a double-walled tube that can be continuously revolved along an elongate member by relative sliding motion between the two walls of the double wall, substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall adjacent the member and the member, the double wall tubular article comprising (a) a double wall defining a closed region between its two walls and (b) a friction reducing means between the two walls of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of being applied to the substrate by relative motion between the two walls substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the substrate and the substrate wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that is wall adjacent the substrate is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less the 10 times its average wall thickness.
A method of covering a supply line, which comprises revolving onto the supply line a double wall tubular article comprising (a) a double wall defining a closed region between its two walls and (b) a friction reducing means between the two walls of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of being applied to the supply line by relative sliding motion between the two walls substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the supply line and the supply line wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that its wall adjacent the supply line is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less than 10 times its average wall thickness.
A method of environmentally sealing a substrate, which comprises:
- forcing a sealing material against the substrate by revolving over the substrate an article comprising a double walled tube such that tension within a wall of the tube acts on the sealing material;
- said double walled tube having a friction-reducing means between the two walls of the double wall and comprising a silicone oil, a semi-solid material or a particulate solid;
- the article being capable of continuously revolving along an elongate member by relative sliding motion between the two walls of the double wall substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall of the article adjacent the member and the member wherein the volume of the closed region is such that when the article surrounds a substrate of a size such that its wall adjacent the member is under a positive tensile strain, the average separation between its walls is less than 10 times its average wall thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.