Device for heat recovery

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, in which the container is a substantially closed bag.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, in which the container comprises a silicone rubber.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, in which the container comprises a silicone rubber of thickness 0.5 to 1.0 mm.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, in which the means for supporting comprises a substantially non-resilient sheet material adjacent to the side of the container opposite said flexible surface.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, in which the means for supporting additionally comprises a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slats.

Claim 8

A device assembly according to claim 6, in which the closure means comprises clamping means into which slats adjacent said opposite edge portions can be placed.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 1, in which the conduit includes a valve.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 1, in which each means by which the container can be vented includes a valve.

Claim 11

An assembly for recovering a heat-recoverable article, which comprises: (1) a device, comprising: (a) a container impermeable to hot fluid which has a flexible surface that can be wrapped around the article; (b) closure means for holding opposite edge portions of the container to cause said surface to maintain the wrapped configuration; (c) means for supporting the weight of said fluid; (d) a conduit by means of which fluid can be introduced directly to a region of the container substantially midway between said edge portions; and (e) means by which the container can be vented directly at each of said edge portions; (f) means for maintaining a pressure within the container to thereby cause the flexible surface to conform to the changing size and shape of the heat-recoverable article as it recovers, (2) a heater for said fluid, having an outlet which can be connected to said conduit, and an inlet which can be connected to each of said means (e).

Claim 12

An assembly for recovering a heat-recoverable article, which comprises: (1) a device, comprising: (a) a container impermeable to hot fluid which has a flexible surface that can be wrapped around the article; (b) closure means for holding opposite edge portions of the container to cause said surface to maintain the wrapped configuration; (c) means for supporting the weight of said fluid; (d) a conduit by means of which fluid can be introduced directly to a region of the container substantially midway between said edge portions; and (e) means by which the container can be vented directly at each of said edge portions; (f) means for maintaining a pressure within the container to thereby cause the flexible surface to conform to the changing size and shape of the heat-recoverable article as it recovers, (2) a heater for said fluid, having an outlet which can be connected to said conduit, and an inlet which can be connected to each of said means (e).

Claim 13

An assembly according to claim 10, in which said heater has a pump for supplying fluid to the outlet.

Claim 14

An assembly according to claim 11, in which the pump can be reversed to withdraw fluid from the outlet.

Claim 15

An assembly according to claim 10, having means for controlling flow of fluid through the outlet and through each of the means (e).

Claim 16

An assembly according to claim 13, in which the means for controlling flow is operated by a pressure sensor which measures the pressure of fluid in the container.