AU644675B2

AU644675B2 - A device and a method for heating heat recoverable articles

Info

Publication number: AU644675B2
Application number: AU83221/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Michael Haley
Original assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Current assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
Priority date: 1990-08-09
Filing date: 1991-07-31
Publication date: 1993-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-31
Also published as: AU8322191A

Description

OPI DATF 02/03/92 AOJP DATE 09/04/92 APPLN ID 83221 91 PCT NUMBER PCT/GRq1/01300 REATY (PCT) INTERNAT (51) International Patent Classification 5 (11) International Publication Number: WO 92/02355 B29C 61/00, H05B 3/58 Al (43) International Publication Date: 20 February 1992 (20.02.92) (21) International Application Number: PCT/GB91/01300 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), CA, CH (European patent), DE (Euro- (22) International Filing Date: 31 July 1991 (31.07.91) pean patent), DK (European patent), ES (European patent), FR (European patent), GB (European patent), GR (European patent), IT (European patent), JP, LU (Euro- Priority data: pean patent), NL (European patent), SE (European pa- 9017522.5 9 August 1990 (09,08.90) GB tent), US.

(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): BRITISH Published TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED With international search report.

COMPANY [GB/GB]; 81 Newgate Street, London ECIA 7AJ (GB).

Inventor/Applicant (for US only) HALEY, John, Michael 6 4 4 [GB/GB]; 6 Red Rose Close, Alderton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DG (GB).

(74) Agent: SKINNER, Vincent, Joseph; Intellectual Property Department, British Telecom, 151 Gower Street, London WCIE 6BA (GB).

(54)Title: A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR HEATING HEAT RECOVERABLE ARTICLES

START

(57) Abstract SIGNAL

COMMENCE

A device and a method for shrinking heat recoverable sleeves for OPERATION covering cable joints comprising a heating device the interior of which READ has a plurality of independently energisable htating elements and at least 7 one sensor and a control circuit or control circuits which are connected to WAIT the heating elements and the at least one sensor. The cortrol circuit is ar- T< ranged to produce a uniform and then a non-uniform temperature profile No within the heating device unless the initial temperature within the heating COMEN device is above a given temperature 30 in which case the control PREHEAT circuit waits until the temperature within the heating device falls to below CYCLE the given temperature before producing the temperature profiles, whereby REA sleeved cable joints of a uniform quality are produced by avoiding air en- T R trapment within the sleeve during the shrinking process. WAIT

SNO

YES

PREHEAT

CYCLE

N

T Internal Temperature SHRINKAGE

CYCLE

Ty Trigger Temperature E Tp Preset Temperature A F Either time or temperature WAIT FN= Either respectively a F predetermined time or F NO a predetermined temperature

YES

STOP

SHRINKAGE

CYCLE

PCT/GB 9 1 0 13 0L 0 9 April 1992 1- 09 04 92 APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR HEATING HEAT-RECOVERABLE ARTICLES The present invention relates to apparatus for, and a method of, heating heat-recoverable articles, and more particularly to such apparatus and such a method for effecting recovery of heat-shrinkable cable closures.

Heat-recoverable sleeving is often used to protect joins in electrically conducting cables and in optical fibre signalling lines. In use, a sleeve is passed over one end of a cable, for example a cable having multiple pairs of signalling wires and, once jointing of one cable to another cable has been completed, the sleeve is relocated over the joint area, the sleeve spanning the ends of the respective insulating jackets of the cables. Alternatively, after the joint has been formed, a split sleeve is positioned over the jointing area, and is sealed using a hot melt adhesive or other heat-activated sealing material. Heating the sleeve causes it to shrink and grip tightly around the cable jacket and the joint area, thereby effecting water resistance and insulation. Care must be taken during the shrinking operation to ensure that air entrapment is limited.

Thus, for example, if the ends of a sleeve are recovered too rapidly, so that sealing of the sleeve to the insulating cable jackets prevents air from escaping, then the central portion of the sleeve may be prevented from shrinking fully onto the joint area by the entrapped air. Accordingly, skilled operators are employed to effect the shrinking operation, usually by applying a gas torch to the sleeve area, and moving the torch from the centre towards the ends.

However, as will be appreciated, many such jointing operations are performed in restricted areas, such as in underground cable chambers, where the effects of combustion products may be dangerous to the operator. Furthermore, the use of a naked flame in such chambers, in which a build up of United Kingdom Pc":'nt Office SUBSTITUTE

SHEET

PCT International A^;'.caton

SUBSTTUT

PCTGI3 1 0 13 00 2 0Y Apil 1992 j 2 04 32 combustible or explosive gases is possible, should preferably be avoided.

One solution to the above problem has been disclosed in application EP304333 which has been made by the present applicant. In the aforementioned application, there is disclosed a portable heating device comprising a body forming an elongate enclosure, the interior of which has independently-energisable electrical heating elements, whereby the longitudinal temperature profile within the enclosure, may be controlled. The body comprises two half cylinders hinged on one side. Thus, by placing a sleeved joint in the elongate body, and then energising the heating elements, the central portion reaches recovery temperature very quickly, while the outer portions reach that temperature more gradually.

It has been found using the heating device disclosed in EP304333 that the quality of the insulation and water resistance of the joint after shrinkage of the heat recoverable sleeve is affected by the temperature inside the enclosure at the time the heating device commences operation.

In particular, it has been found that the heating device may produce sleeved joints of poor insulation and water resistance at commencement temperatures below zero degrees fahrenheit.

The aim of the invention is to provide apparatus for, and a method of, effecting recovery of a heat-shrinkable article in a controllable manner to produce sleeved joints of uniform quality.

The present invention provides apparatus for applying heat to heat-recoverable articles, the apparatus comprising a heating device, a plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements within the heating device, at least one sensor for sensing the actual temperature within the heating device, and a control circuit connected to the heating elements and to the or each sensor, the control circuit being capable of independent.y energising the heating elements and, by using the or each sensor, detecting the actual temperature within the heating device, whereby the control circuit heats the heating device using a uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the heating device until a pre-set temperature United Kingdcm PC.t:'t Office SUBSTITUTE SHEET FCT Intrr:atlonl A- cstion SUBSTITUTE SHE PCT/GB 9 1 /0 1300 09 Apri 1993 3 09 04 32 is reached within the heating device, and subsequently heats the heating device using a non-uniform temperature profile within the heating device for a period of time sufficient to cause heat recovery.

The invention also provides apparatus for applying heat to heat-recoverable articles, the apparatus comprising a heating device with an interior containing a. plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements, at least one temperature sensor within the heating device for sensing the internal temperature of the heating device, and a control circuit connected to the heating elements and to the or each sensor for measuring the initial temperature of the heating device and selecting a heating profile dependent thereon to effect heat recovery.

Preferably the heating device has a cylindrical body, and comprises two half cylinders hinged on one side to simplify access to the interior of the heating device.

The body of the heating device may have removable end plates which include apertures through which one or more cables and one or more heat-recoverable articles may pass. The end plates may be relocated to reduce the size of the interior of the body of the heating device, which may. also include in its interior one or more support plates and/or thermal baffles.

The control circuit may produce the temperature profile within the interior of the heating device by sequential energisation. The energisation sequence may have a predetermined time interval between each step thereof or the energisation sequence may be related to the actual temperature profile within the body of the heating device.

The control circuit may be arranged to cause energisation of the heating elements closest to the centre of the heatrecoverable article prior to energisation of heating elements away from the centre of the heat recoverable article.

The invention further provides a method of applying heat to a heat-recoverable article in apparatus which comprises a body the interior of which has a plurality of independentlyenergisable electrical heating elements and means for sensing S' ,;ited Kingdori Patent Office SUBSTITUTE SHEET SPC(T International Application PCT/GB 91 /0 130 0 S4 09 April 1992 09 04 92 and indicating the actual temperature within the body, the method comprising the steps of placing the heat-recoverable article together with a joint or joints to be covered within the body, energising the heating elements to produce a uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the body until a pre-set temperature is indicated, and energising the heating elements to produce a non-uniform temperature profile within the body for a period of time.

The invention also provides a method of applying heat to a heat-recoverable article in apparatus having an interior with a plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements and temperature sensing means, the method comprising the steps of placing the heat-recoverable article together with a joint or joints to be covered within the apparatus, sensing the internal temperature of the apparatus, and selecting a heating profile dependent on the sensed temperature to effect heat recovery.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- -Figure 1 is an isometric view of a heating device for effecting shrinkage of a heat recoverable cable joint sleeve.

United Kingdom Patent Office SUBSTITUTE SHEET PFCT International App:;cation WO 92/02355 5 PCT/GB91/01300 Figure 2 is a schematic diagram indicating the apparatus used to control the temperature of the heating device, and Figure 3 is a flow diagram indicating the operation of the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1 the heating device comprises a housing in the form of two half cylinders 1 of thermally insulating material. The two half cylinders 1 are linked togethpr by "lift-off" hinges 2 on one edge and have the respective halves of a clamp arrangements 3 of known kind on the opposed edges. Thus the two halve cylinders 1 may in use be locked together using the clamps 3 to form a cylindrical oven enclosure.

Embedded in the walls of the body of the heating device a number of groups of electric heating elements 4 to 7 (only some of which are shown) are provided, each having an individual connection wire (not shown) for power to be supplied from a controller. Between each group of heating elements 4 to 7, and at each end of the half cylinders, mounting guides 8, 9 may be provided to which end plates may be fitted.

Each end plate 10 includes one or more semicircular grooves 11 arranged on closure of the cylinder to form an aperture. The grooves 11 each carry a support plate 12 which, -n use, provides support to the ends of a jointed cable (not shown). Several pairs of interchangeable end plates may be provided to cater for different cable sizes. For example the end plates 10 are adapted for use with a single cable of a larger diameter while the end plates 10 takes a similar cable and a smaller cable.

Other exemplary end plates for a single smaller diameter cable, three such cables and a cable of intermediate diameter are also shown.

For the avoidance of doubt the term cables as used herein includes not only multi cored electrical signalling cables but also cables comprising of multiple optical fibres, co-axial cables and the like.

WO 92/02355 6 PCT/GB91/01300 The interior of the half cylinder shells 1 comprises a heat radiating surface 14 which is preferably coated with a "non-stick" material such as Teflon (trademark) to facilitate the removal of hor melt adhesives which may have been used in the jointing process, As shown in the diagram, adjacent the groups of heating elements 4 nearest the longitudinal centre of the enclosure a further pair of plates 15 are provided. The plates 15 have two functions the first of which is to give support to a cable when it is in the enclosure and the second of which is to act as a thermal baffle to prevent premature temperature rises along the length of the cylinder.

It will be realised that, as with the end plates 10, the plates 15 may be located in different positions along the length of the half cylinders 2 either using the same mountings 8 or additional mountings (not shown). It will also be appreciated that the plates 15 may carry extensions similar to the shells 12 to provide additional longitudinal support.

To enable the control of the temperature profile along the length of the enclosure one or more thermocouples 16 are incorporated in the walls of the shells 1 as thermal sensors.

Referring to Figure 2 the sensor 16 and heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7 perform the functions as previously described and are connected to a first control circuit 17 and a second control circuit 18.

If the temperature sensed by sensor 16 within the body (internal temperature) is below the trigger temperature the first control circuit 17 energises the heating elements 4, 6 and 7 to produce a uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the body (the pre-heat cycle) until the internal temperature reaches a pre-set temperature (the pre-set temperature). If the internal temperature is at or above the trigger temperature the first control circuit 17 will wait until the internal temperature falls below the trigger temperature before energising, in the mode referred to above the pre-heat cycle) the heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7. A typical trigger temperature is 30° Centigrade and a typical pre-set temperature is 40° Centigrade.

WO 92/0235S 7 PCT/GB91/01300 Upon completion of the pre-heat cycle, the second control circuit 18 will energise the heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7 to produce a non-uniform temperature profile within the body (the shrinkage cycle) to ensure shrinkage of the recoverable sleeve within the heating device occurs without trapping air within the sleeve (as discussed above).

In use, where two or more cables are to be joined a suitable heat recoverable sleeve is selected and placed over one of the cables. Once jointing or splicing of the cables is completed, the joint area or the inside of the sleeve may be coated with a hot melt adhesive if required and the sleeve positioned thereover. Alternatively a split sleeve pre-coated with hot melt adhesive is selected and wrapped over the joint area after completion of splicing or jointing.

Suitable end plates 10 are selected and placed in respective mountings 8, 9 in dependence upon the length of the joint to be sealed together with the intermediate support/thermal baffle plates 15 as necessary. The two half shells 1 are then positioned so that the jointed cables rest in the supports 12 and the enclosure is closed and locked together using the clamps 3. Connection leads from the heating elements 4 to 7 and the thermal sensor(s) 16 may now be connected to the controller. The operator provides the joint paramneters on the controller, for example the type and length of joint, the kind of sleeving in use and starts the sequence.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the first control circuit 17 and the second control circuit 18 which may be conveniently provided by using custom built Programmed Logic Control or a microprocessor, now steps through the following predetermined sequences releasing the operator to perform other tasks.

In a typical sequence, a signal is sent to the first control circuit 17 instructing it to initiate energisation of the heating device (the commence pre-heat signal). Using sensor 16, the first control circuit 17 senses the internal temperature and if the internal temperature is below the trigger temperature the first control 17 circuit initiates the pre-heat cycle.

WO 92/02355 8 PCT/GB91/01300 During the pre-heat cycle the first control circuit i7 energises the heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7 either in a sequence or randomly to avoid overloading the power supply, which may be conveniently a battery or a generator, to produce a uniform or near uniform internal temperature until the internal temperature reaches the pre-set temperature. When the internal temperature reaches the pre-set temperature, the first control circuit 17 ceases energisation of the heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7 and sends a signal to the second control circuit 18 to carry out the shrinkage cycle (the commence shrinkage signal). If on receipt of the commence pre-set signal, the internal temiperature is at or above the trigger temperature, then, the first control circuit 17 will monitor the internal temperature using sensor 16 and wait until the temperature is below the trigger temperature before carrying out the pre-heat cycle and subsequently sending the commence shrinkage signal as described above.

Once the commence shrinkage signal has been received by the second control circuit 18, the second control circuit 18 commences the shrinkage cycle.

In a typical shrinkage cycle the second control circuit 18 first causes the two groups of elements 4 closest to the centre of the enclosure to be energised for a short period of time which may be either a predetermined period (say five minutes) or may be until a given temperature as sensed by sensor 16 is reached.

This initial heating of the central area of the joint ensures that shrinkage if that portion of the recoverable sleeve occurs before any likelihood of the sleeve sealing to the insulated sleeving of the cables thereby allowing entrapped air to escape.

In the next step of the shrinkage cycle, the second control circuit 18 causes the next to centre groups of elements 5 to be energised again for a predetermined period or until a given temperature is sensed during which period the elements 4 may either remain energised or be turned off as required. The groups of elements 6 and 7 may then be energised in turn. It will be realised that a combination of WO 92/02355 PCT/GB91/01300 the time and temperature factors may be used such that at each step mentioned above a predetermined period elapses after a given temperature is reached prior to proceeding to the next step.

Whilst as herein described during the shrinkage cycle the heating elements 4, 5, 6 and 7 are controlled to heat a central area first progressing outwardly to the ends it will be appreciated that the longitudinal temperature profile of the enclosure may be controlled in any required manner. For example if sealin of one end is preferred prior to sealing of the opposed end then during the shrinkage cycle the second control circuit 18 may energise the heating elements in the order 7, 6, 5, 4 at one end of the enclosure followed by the corresponding heating elements in the order 4, 5, 6, 7 at the opposed end of the enclosure.

Further although the device has been described with reference to a performed heat recoverable sleeve other thermally responsive mechanisms such as sheets of material wrapped around a joint may be used.

The control circuit could include a number of look up tables, for example, to allow different temperature profiles and sequencing including a waiting period to be effected dependent on the initial measured internal device temperature for example.

Claims

1. Apparatus for applying heat to heat-recoverable articles, the apparatus comprising a heating device, a plurality of independently-energisable ele'ctrical heating elements within the heating device, at least one sensor for sensing the actual temperature within the heating device, and a control circuit connected to the heating elements and to the or each sensor, the control circuit being capable of independently energising the heating elements and, by using the or each sensor, detecting the actual temperature within the heating device, whereby the control circuit heats the heating device using a uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the heating device until a pre-set temperature is reached within the heating device, and subsequently heats the heating device using a non-uniform temperature profile within the heating device for a period of time sufficient to cause heat recovery.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to wait until the internal device temperature falls to below a predetermined temperature before it energises the heating elements to produce the uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the heating device, the predetermined temperature being less than the pre-set temperature.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the heating device has a cylindrical body.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating device is formed in two parts interconnected by a hinge means, whereby access to the interior of the body of the heating device is simplified. Unitcld Kingdom Patent Office SUBSTITUTE SHEET PC r Inernational Application UB 11 Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein ends of the body of the t.eating device are closed by removable end plates.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the end plates each include at least one aperture to permit the body of the heating device to surround a portion of one or more cables and one or more heat-recoverable articles.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the body of the heating device includes -mounting means intermediate at least one pair of the plurality of elements, whereby at least one of the end plates may be relocated to reduce the interior of the heating device.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one support plate is located within the heating device, whereby an elongate article within the heating device may be additionally supported towards the centre of the heating device.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a thermal baffle is located intermediate at least one pair of the plurality of heating elements. Apparatus as claimed in any one of -claims 1 to 9, wherein the control circuit is arranged, during the production of a temperature profile, to cause energisation of the heating elements in a predetermined sequence, with a predetermined period of time between each step of the sequence. ii1. Apparatus ar claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein the control circuit is arranged, during the production of a temperature profile, to cause the sequential energisation of the heating elements in dependence upon the actual temperature within the heating device sensed by the or each sensor. -7 C K PCT/GB 9 1 0 13 0 12 09 Aril 1992

12- 09 04 52 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control circuit is arranged, during the production of a non-uniform temperature profile, to cause energisation of the heating element or heating elements closest to the centre of the heat-recoverable article, before causing energisation of the heating elements disposed away from the centre of the heat recoverable article.

13. Apparatus for applying heat to heat-recoverable articles, the apparatus comprising a heating device with an interior containing a plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements, at least one temperature sensor within the heating device for sensing the internal temperature of the heating device, and a control circuit connected to the heating elements and to the or each sensor for measuring the initial temperature of the heating device and selecting a heating profile dependent thereon to effect heat recovery.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control circuit is configured to select a profile from a plurality of profiles. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of applying heat to a heat-recoverable article in apparatus which comprises a body the interior of which has a plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements and means for sensing and indicating the actual temperature within the body, the method comprising the steps of placing the heat-recoverable article together with a joint or joints to be covered within the body, energising the heating elements to produce a uniform or near uniform temperature profile within the body until a pre-set temperature is indicated, and energising the heating elements to produce a non-uniform temperature profile within the body for a period of time. i<dc.rn PFucnt Office SUBSTITUTE SHEET 7 FCT irlernational Application PCT/GB 91,I R ;9 Aorl IM92 Oi u4 ;a 13

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of determining if the temperature indication means indicates an internal device temperature or temperatures at or above a predetermined temperature, and then waiting until the internal temperature or temperatures falls below the predetermined temperature before energising the heating elements to produce the uniform or near uniform temperature profile.

18. A method of applying heat to a heat-recoverable article in apparatus having an interior with a plurality of independently-energisable electrical heating elements and temperature sensing means, the method comprising the steps of placing the heat-recoverable article together with a joint or joints to be covered within the apparatus, sensing the internal temperature of the apparatus, and selecting a heating profile dependent on the sensed temperature to effect heat recovery.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of selecting the profile from a plurality of profiles. A method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 19 and substantially as described herein. i c .ao c e SUBSTITUTE SHEET a tions. A p aton