Method and device for making electrical connector
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorChristian A. M. Debbaut
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for splicing electrical wires that are to be exposed to an adverse environment. The apparatus includes a connector, an insulating sleeve adapted to retain the connector, and an encapsulant. The encapsulant, which is disposed within the insulating sleeve, has a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10.sup.-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%.
Claims31
A device for protecting an electrical contact and wire combination comprising:
- (i) a gel which;
- (a) has been preformed apart from the wire to be protected to have an elastic modulus of less than 10.sup.6 dynes/cm.sup.2 and ultimate elongation of at least 200%;
- and
- (b) is capable of undergoing elastic deformation around the electrical contact and wire combination;
- (ii) a support member for said gel, said support member assisting in containing said gel and protecting the electrical contact and wire combination;
- and
- (iii) means, operatively associated with said support member, for deforming said gel into close, conforming, and direct contact with the electrical contact and wire combination, at least part of said deformation of said gel being elastic deformation.
A device for protecting an electrical contact and wire combination, comprising:
- (1) a gel which has been preformed in the absence of the wire to be protected to have an elastic modulus of less than 10.sup.6 dynes/cm.sup.2 and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%;
- (2) a support member for said gel;
- and
- (3) force means to act in operative association with said support member for maintaining said gel in close, conforming and direct contact with the electrical contact and wire combination, at least part of said gel which is in direct contact with the electrical contact and wire combination being elastically deformed.
In combination, a substrate wherein the substrate comprises at least an electrical contact and wire combination, an electrically insulating gel associated with said substrate, said gel having an elastic modulus of less than 10.sup.6 dynes/cm.sup.2 and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, said gel preformed in the absence of the wire to be protected, wherein said gel undergoes elastic deformation at least at the interface between the combination and said gel directly in contact therewith when compressed thereon, and a member operatively acting in conjunction with said substrate for deforming and compressing said gel into close and conforming contact with the combination.
A process for environmentally protecting a combined electrical contact and wire substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a device into contact with the electrical contact and wire substrate, the device comprising a support member and a gel which, prior to coming into contact with the electrical contact and wire substrate to be protected, is elastic and adherent to said support member and which has an elastic modulus of less than 10.sup.6 dyne/cm.sup.2 and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%;
- and
- (b) compressing said gel directly contacting the electrical contact and wire substrate into sealing contact therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.