Patent US4526732A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4526732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of heating thermal shrinkage tube and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1983-06-03
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Granted: 1985-07-02
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Expires: 2003-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A heating apparatus for thermally shrinkable tubes and the like has a heating density gradient such that a higher temperature is imparted initially to a central portion of the heated tube, spreading gradually to the ends of the tube, to purge air bubbles to the outside of the tube while employing only one heating element.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiaki Kakii
- 👤 Yuichi Toda
- 👤 Koichiro Matsuno
- 👤 Yuichi Usui
- 👤 Michito Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:41
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/40; H05B3/42; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/04; B29C61/00; B29C65/66; B29C65/68; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/347; B29C66/3472; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/532; B29C66/5324; B29C66/69; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91411; B29C66/91421; B29C66/919; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558; B29C66/52; B29C66/526; B29C66/5261; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/91211; B29C66/91212; B29C66/91213; B29C66/91231; B29C66/96; B29C66/961; G02B6/2551; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising the steps of successively increasing the temperature thereof beginning from a central portion of the tube and progressing to opposite ends of the tube to achieve a gradual temperature gradient from the central portion of said tube to said opposite ends, to thereby successively shrink said tube from the central portion thereof to the opposite sides thereof; using a single heater in which the heating density of said heater for heating the thermal shrinkable tube is varied longitudinally with respect to the tube; detecting a change in temperature of said heater and controlling the temperature of said heater in response to said detected change in temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising the steps of successively increasing the temperature thereof beginning from a central portion of the tube and progressing to opposite ends of the tube to achieve a gradual temperature gradient from the central portion of said tube to said opposite ends, to thereby successively shrink said tube from the central portion thereof to the opposite sides thereof; using a single heater in which the heating density of said heater for heating the thermal shrinkable tube is varied longitudinally with respect to the tube; detecting a change in temperature of said heater and controlling the temperature of said heater in response to said detected change in temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 1, in which the change in temperature of said heater is controlled, by being detected by a temperature detecting means, to thereby stepwise or gradually increase the temperature of said heater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 1, wherein said thermal shrinkage tube covers a pair of optical fiber end portions with the splice portion therebetween placed at the central portion of the tube.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising; heating means including a heating wire formed into a non-linear shape, the heating density of said heating wire being varied longitudinally with respect to the thermal shrinkage tube such that said density is large at the central portion of the tube while said density is small at opposite ends of the same wherein a gradual temperature gradient is established from the central portion of the tube to said opposite ends.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising; heating means including a heating wire formed into a non-linear shape, the heating density of said heating wire being varied longitudinally with respect to the thermal shrinkage tube such that said density is large at the central portion of the tube while said density is small at opposite ends of the same wherein a gradual temperature gradient is established from the central portion of the tube to said opposite ends.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising; a heater for heating the thermal shrinkage tube having a central portion and two end portions, said heater having a temperature distribution formed longitudinally with respect to the tube such that the temperature is high at said central portion relative to said end portions wherein said heater heats the entire thermal shrinkage tube simultaneously, establishing a temperature gradient from the central portion of said tube to said end portions and means for detecting the temperature of said heater and controlling said heater in response to said detected temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube, comprising; a heater for heating the thermal shrinkage tube having a central portion and two end portions, said heater having a temperature distribution formed longitudinally with respect to the tube such that the temperature is high at said central portion relative to said end portions wherein said heater heats the entire thermal shrinkage tube simultaneously, establishing a temperature gradient from the central portion of said tube to said end portions and means for detecting the temperature of said heater and controlling said heater in response to said detected temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 5, said heater comprising a single wire resistance heating element whose ends and central portion generally positionally correspond to like portions of said tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 6, said heating element comprising a winding having a higher density of turns at the central portion thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 6, said heating element comprising a generally saw-tooth shaped element having a smaller pitch at the central portion thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 7, said density of turns gradually increasing from said ends to said central portion of said element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus for heating a thermal shrinkage tube according to claim 5, said pitch gradually decreasing from said ends to said central portion of said element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-01 | 1988-12-31 | 1989-07-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-01 | 1992-12-31 | 1993-07-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-01 | 1996-12-31 | 1997-07-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |