US4687280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat activatable sealing piston
Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1985-04-16
•
Granted: 1987-08-18
•
Expires: 2005-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A heat activatable sealing piston comprising a cylinder of polymeric material radially expandable on application of heat. The piston can be incorporated into thermal actuators of various types. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing piston is used in an electrical connector, together with a gas generating means to force solder between an electrical conductor inserted into the connector and the walls of the tubular connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Lester T. Toy
- 👤 Daniel Magay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49176; Y10T29/49178; Y10T29/49179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of producing a sealing piston within a hollow, relatively rigid tubular article which comprises: (a) forming a cylinder of polymeric material, said cylinder having a diameter to length ratio less than 4.5:1; (b) placing said cylinder within a tubular article which has an internal diameter greater than the diameter of the cylinder by an amount of up to about 300%; (c) heating to effect radial expansion of the cylinder causing it to exert a pressure on the walls of said tubular article thereby forming a seal between the cylinder and the walls of the tubular article; (d) exerting an axial pressure on said cylinder causing it to move axially within the tubular article while maintaining the seal between the cylinder and the walls of the tubular article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of producing a sealing piston within a hollow, relatively rigid tubular article which comprises: (a) forming a cylinder of polymeric material, said cylinder having a diameter to length ratio less than 4.5:1; (b) placing said cylinder within a tubular article which has an internal diameter greater than the diameter of the cylinder by an amount of up to about 300%; (c) heating to effect radial expansion of the cylinder causing it to exert a pressure on the walls of said tubular article thereby forming a seal between the cylinder and the walls of the tubular article; (d) exerting an axial pressure on said cylinder causing it to move axially within the tubular article while maintaining the seal between the cylinder and the walls of the tubular article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein expansion of the cylinder is due to recovery of the cylinder from a stretched configuration toward an original unstretched configuration, thereby causing increased radial expansion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein pressure is exerted on said cylinder by pressurized gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pressurized gas is formed in situ by heating a gas generating means positioned within said tubular article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cylinder comprises a crosslinked thermoplastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said crosslinked thermoplastic is crosslinked polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrically conductive connector for electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least one metallic tubular sleeve having an open end for receiving an electrical conductor and a closed end, the inner wall of the sleve being pretinned, the sleeve having an inner diameter sized to receive a slug of solder therein proximate to the closed end; (b) a cylinder of heat expandable polymeric material, said cylinder having a diameter to length ratio less than 4.5:1 and having a diameter in the unexpanded state of less than the inner diameter of the sleeve and in the expanded state of greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve so that on application of heat, the cylinder will expand and exert a radial force against the walls of the sleeve thereby forming a seal between the cylinder and the walls of the sleeve; and (c) pressuring means between the cylinder and the closed end of the sleeve which on application of heat exerts sufficient force on the expanded cylinder to cause it to move toward the open end of the sleeve and to pressure the slug of solder toward the open end of the sleeve when the solder slug has melted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrically conductive connector for electrical conductors comprising: (a) at least one metallic tubular sleeve having an open end for receiving an electrical conductor and a closed end, the inner wall of the sleve being pretinned, the sleeve having an inner diameter sized to receive a slug of solder therein proximate to the closed end; (b) a cylinder of heat expandable polymeric material, said cylinder having a diameter to length ratio less than 4.5:1 and having a diameter in the unexpanded state of less than the inner diameter of the sleeve and in the expanded state of greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve so that on application of heat, the cylinder will expand and exert a radial force against the walls of the sleeve thereby forming a seal between the cylinder and the walls of the sleeve; and (c) pressuring means between the cylinder and the closed end of the sleeve which on application of heat exerts sufficient force on the expanded cylinder to cause it to move toward the open end of the sleeve and to pressure the slug of solder toward the open end of the sleeve when the solder slug has melted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A connector in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pressuring means is a compressed spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A connector in accordance with claim 7 wherein said cylinder comprises a crosslinked thermoplastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A connector in accordance with claim 9 wherein said crosslinked thermoplastic is crosslinked polyethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A connector in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pressuring means comprises a gas evolving substance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A connector in accordance with claim 11 wherein said gas evolving substrance is 5-phenyl tetrazole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A connector in accordance with claim 11 wherein said gas evolving substance is in a silicone rubber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2533023A1
Cited
US4304959A
Cited
US4283596A
Cited
DE3037632A1
Cited
US4484022A
Cited
US4504699A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |