# US 9,882,369 B2 · Multi-layer heat shrinkable tubular sleeve

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- Number: US 9,882,369 B2
- Document ID: US9882369B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/383,538
- Filed: 2013-02-27
- Published: 2015-01-29
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06
- Assignees: Tyco Electronics UK Ltd.; Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH
- Applicants: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH; Tyco Electronics UK Ltd.
- Inventors: David Francis Pearce; Richard Graf; Thomas Rohde; John David Stoker; Timothy S. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882369B2

## CPC

- H02G 15/1806: {Heat shrinkable sleeves (insulation of electrical connections using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve H01R4/72)}
- B29C 48/10: flexible, e.g. blown foils
- B32B 1/08: Tubular products
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/28: comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups {B32B27/30 - B32B27/42}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29L 2009/00: Layered products
- B29L 2023/00: Tubular articles (B29L2024/00 takes precedence {; catheters B29L2031/7542})
- B32B 2307/206: Insulating
- B32B 2307/704: Crystalline
- B32B 2307/736: Shrinkable
- B32B 2597/00: Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A multi-layer heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve (100) comprises an outer layer (110) and an inner layer (120). The outer layer (110) is arranged around the inner layer (120). The outer layer (110) comprises a partially crystalline thermoplastic material with a major part of partially crystalline thermoplastic material with a crystallinity of more than 60%. The inner layer (120) comprises a partially crystalline thermoplastic material or an elastomeric material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-layer heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve comprising an outer layer and an inner layer,
wherein the outer layer is adjacently arranged around the inner layer, the outer layer defines an outermost surface of the tubular sleeve and is comprised of an electrically-insulating material;
wherein the outer layer comprises a partially crystalline thermoplastic electrically-insulating material,
wherein the inner layer comprises a partially crystalline thermoplastic material or an elastomeric material,
wherein the outer layer comprises a major part of partially crystalline thermoplastic material with a crystallinity of more than 60%; and
wherein the outer layer comprises at least two elongate electrodes positioned within a portion of the outer layer and positioned radially outward from a circumference of an outer surface of the outer layer, the at least two elongate electrodes extending at least partially along the sleeve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises a thermoplastic elastomeric material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the major part of the material of the outer layer comprises a crystallinity between 75% and 90%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises a density of at least 0.94 g/cm3.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises an electrical resistivity of at least 1 TΩ·cm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises a comparative tracking index of at least 600.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the outer layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 5.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the outer layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 10.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the outer layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 15.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the inner layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 5.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the inner layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 10.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises an electrical resistivity between 10 MΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, preferably between 50 GΩ·cm and 1 TΩ·cm, and/or the inner layer comprises a relative permittivity of at least 15.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer comprises an electrical resistivity of less than 100 Ω·cm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an innermost layer, wherein the inner layer is arranged around the innermost layer and the inner layer comprises an elastomeric material comprised of an electrically-insulating material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The sleeve according to claim 14, wherein the innermost layer comprises an elastomeric material that is electrically stress grading.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The sleeve according to claim 14, wherein the innermost layer comprises an elastomeric material that is electrically insulating.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A cable termination comprising a multi-layer heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve according to claim 1.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A cable joint comprising a multi-layer heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve according to claim 1.

### Claim 19

A method for producing a multi-layer heat-shrinkable tubular sleeve the method comprising steps of:
co-extruding an inner layer and an outer layer of the sleeve, wherein the outer layer is arranged around the inner layer and is comprised of an electrically-insulating material;
cross-linking the sleeve material;
expanding the sleeve; and
inserting at least two elongate electrodes within a portion of the outer layer and positioning the at least two elongate electrodes radially outward from a circumference of an outer surface of the outer layer, the at least two elongate electrodes extending at least partially along the sleeve.