EP0053445A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Conformable sheathing means
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1981-11-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-11-11
Abstract
Abstract A conformable sheathing means 20 and method are provided for forming environmentally tight seals around portions of elongated objects. The sheathing means 20 includes an inflatable body 22 having an elongated generally tubular shape with a central opening 24 in which elongated objects are received. The body is formed of resilient material and is a toroid, having a sealable enclosure 26 extending around the central opening 24. Pressurized gas 35 is injected into the sealable enclosure 26 to inflate the body 22. The sheathing means 20 is installed by rolling and simultaneously everting the body 22, while inflated, over an elongated object having a cross section larger than the central opening 24 of the body 22. After properly positioning the body 22, it is deflated, causing it to collapse around and conform to the elongated object.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest Lloyd Beinhaur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:56
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/18; H02G15/182; B; B29; B29C; B29C63/00; B29C63/18; B29C63/182; B29C63/185; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/16; F16L55/168; F16L55/17; F16L55/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 for an elongated object, of the type comprising a toroidal body 22 of resilient material, said body 22 having a sealable enclosure 26 extending around a central opening 24, said central opening being smaller in cross-sectional area,_when the body is deflated, than the cross-sectional area of the elongated object to be received therein, said body 22 being inflatable by injecting a pressurized gas into said sealable enclosure 26, said sheathing means being characterized in that said central opening 24 has a cross-sectional area which, when the body 22 is inflated, is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the elongated object to be received therein, whereby said body 22 when inflated can be rolled and simultaneously everted over elongated objects having a cross section larger than said central opening 24 and will strongly grip and conform to such objects when deflated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 for an elongated object, of the type comprising a toroidal body 22 of resilient material, said body 22 having a sealable enclosure 26 extending around a central opening 24, said central opening being smaller in cross-sectional area,_when the body is deflated, than the cross-sectional area of the elongated object to be received therein, said body 22 being inflatable by injecting a pressurized gas into said sealable enclosure 26, said sheathing means being characterized in that said central opening 24 has a cross-sectional area which, when the body 22 is inflated, is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the elongated object to be received therein, whereby said body 22 when inflated can be rolled and simultaneously everted over elongated objects having a cross section larger than said central opening 24 and will strongly grip and conform to such objects when deflated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 1, characterized in that said body 22 is an elongate body which is generally tubular in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 1, characterized in that said body includes pressure release means on said body 22 for opening said sealable enclosure 26 to ambient pressure to deflate said body 22.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 3, characterized in that said pressure release means includes a nipple 40 formed on said body, wherein said nipple 40 can be severed to release pressure in said scalable enclosure 26.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A conformable sheathing means as in claim 3, characterized in that said body 22 has a plurality of said pressure release means spaced apart on said body 22 along a section of said body 22 extending parallel with said central opening 24 such that at least one of said pressure release means is on the outside of said body and accessible regardless of the state of eversion of said body 22.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 1, characterized in that said body 22 has valve means on said body 22 for inflating and deflating said body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 6, characterized in that said body 22 includes a plurality of said valve means 30 spaced apart on said body extending parallel to the axis of said central opening such that at least one of said valve means is on the outside of said body and accessible regardless of the state of eversion of said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conformable sheathing means 20 as in claim 1 including conductive material disposed on the exterior surface of said body 22 to facilitate electrical interconnection between conductive elongated objects by means of said conformable sheathing means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of forming an environmentally tight seal around a joint between first and second elongated objects, said method being of the type utilizing an inflatable toroidal body having a central opening 24 therethrough which is smaller in cross-sectional area, when the body is deflated, than the cross sections of the elongated objects to be sealed, of resilient material which is inflated, fit over said joint, and deflated to seal said joint, characterized by the following steps: providing a body having a central opening therethrough which is smaller in cross-sectional area, when the body is inflated, than the cross-sectional area of the elongated objects; inflating said body; rolling and simultaneously everting said body 22 over an end of said first elongated object until said end is exposed from central opening 24, joining an end of said second elongated object to said end of said first elongated object to form said joint, rolling said body 22 over said joint, deflating said body.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of forming an environmentally tight seal around a joint between first and second elongated objects, said method being of the type utilizing an inflatable toroidal body having a central opening 24 therethrough which is smaller in cross-sectional area, when the body is deflated, than the cross sections of the elongated objects to be sealed, of resilient material which is inflated, fit over said joint, and deflated to seal said joint, characterized by the following steps: providing a body having a central opening therethrough which is smaller in cross-sectional area, when the body is inflated, than the cross-sectional area of the elongated objects; inflating said body; rolling and simultaneously everting said body 22 over an end of said first elongated object until said end is exposed from central opening 24, joining an end of said second elongated object to said end of said first elongated object to form said joint, rolling said body 22 over said joint, deflating said body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3897088A
Cited
GB2032042A
Cited
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