A method for sealing a telecommunications product is disclosed. The method includes securing a telecommunications product to an apparatus having heat blasters, and initiating a heat sealing operation that includes moving the heat blasters along a first plane toward a shrink wrap tubing until the heat blasters surround the shrink wrap tubing; delivering hot air from each heat blaster; and moving the heat blasters along a second plane along a predetermined length of the shrink wrap tubing, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane.

Curved heat shrink tubing and methods of making the same are described herein. An example method includes inserting heat shrink tubing into a tube, curving the tube, and deforming the heat shrink tubing, inside of the tube, to have a curved shape along a length of the heat shrink tubing where a first length of the heat shrink tubing along an outer radius of the curved shape is longer than a second length of the heat shrink tubing along an inner radius of the curved shape.

Curved heat shrink tubing and methods of making the same are described herein. An example method includes inserting heat shrink tubing into a tube, curving the tube, and deforming the heat shrink tubing, inside of the tube, to have a curved shape along a length of the heat shrink tubing where a first length of the heat shrink tubing along an outer radius of the curved shape is longer than a second length of the heat shrink tubing along an inner radius of the curved shape.

A heat-shrinkable plastic element that can notably improve insertability of a preform is provided. The heat-shrinkable plastic element is disposed on at least part of the outside of a preform, the preform including a mouth part, a body part linked to the mouth part, and a bottom part linked to the body part, the heat-shrinkable plastic element including: at least a layer containing (A) an ionomer resin and (B) an olefin resin as essential constituents, wherein the heat-shrinkable plastic element has a storage modulus at 25° C. of at least 4.0×10.sup.8 Pa, and the dynamic friction coefficient between the heat-shrinkable plastic element and the preform is at most 1.1.

A mechanically lined pipe including a host pipe having an inner surface which is lined with a metallic liner, the metallic liner having an inner surface which is lined with a polymer liner which presses the metallic liner against the inner surface of the host pipe, as well as to methods of reeling and unreeling the mechanically lined pipe. A method of making a mechanically lined pipe having an internal polymer liner, the mechanically lined pipe including a host pipe having an inner surface which is lined with a metallic liner, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a mechanically lined pipe having an internal diameter, (b) providing a polymer liner having an outer diameter which is greater than the internal diameter of the mechanically liner pipe, (c) reducing the outer diameter of the polymer liner such that it is less than the internal diameter of the mechanically liner pipe, (d) inserting the polymer liner into the mechanically lined pipe, and (e) allowing the polymer liner to expand such that it presses the metallic liner against the inner surface of the host pipe.

A mechanically lined pipe including a host pipe having an inner surface which is lined with a metallic liner, the metallic liner having an inner surface which is lined with a polymer liner which presses the metallic liner against the inner surface of the host pipe, as well as to methods of reeling and unreeling the mechanically lined pipe. A method of making a mechanically lined pipe having an internal polymer liner, the mechanically lined pipe including a host pipe having an inner surface which is lined with a metallic liner, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a mechanically lined pipe having an internal diameter, (b) providing a polymer liner having an outer diameter which is greater than the internal diameter of the mechanically liner pipe, (c) reducing the outer diameter of the polymer liner such that it is less than the internal diameter of the mechanically liner pipe, (d) inserting the polymer liner into the mechanically lined pipe, and (e) allowing the polymer liner to expand such that it presses the metallic liner against the inner surface of the host pipe.

The present invention is related to a sleeve applicator system for applying a heat-shrinkable sleeve to an object that moves in a first direction. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method. According to the invention, a second mandrel is mounted in a flexible manner to a first mandrel. A second drive system is used for moving the heat-shrinkable sleeve from the first mandrel over the second mandrel towards the object. The second drive system is further configured to push the second mandrel such that the second mandrel moves along with the moving object during the application of the sleeve.

A method and apparatus for lining a host pipe with a shape memory polymer liner in which the liner is fed through a manufacturing assembly including a pipe tensioner, followed by a deformation tool, prior to entering the host pipe, the liner being pulled through the host pipe from a leading end, the component parts of the manufacturing assembly acting to temporarily reduce the liner outside diameter during the pulling operation, while allowing the liner to revert to at least the internal diameter of the host pipe upon removal of the pulling load. The liner being used is a shape memory polymer which exhibits the ability to return from a deformed shape to an original shape induced by an external stimulus.

A reinforcing element for a structural profile, in particular for a round, oval or elliptical structural tube, includes a composite structure, which has a hollow-cylindrical, helically wound mesh of fiber strands which form an inner shell surface configured to receive the structural profile, wherein the fiber strands are respectively embedded in a matrix material, which has an electroactive polymer which can be stretched along a longitudinal extent of the fiber strands by application of an electrical voltage, such that the composite structure can be expanded by application of the electrical voltage to introduce the structural profile into the composite structure and can be shrunk by switching off the electrical voltage to fix the structural profile on the shell surface in the composite structure.

A reinforcing element for a structural profile, in particular for a round, oval or elliptical structural tube, includes a composite structure, which has a hollow-cylindrical, helically wound mesh of fiber strands which form an inner shell surface configured to receive the structural profile, wherein the fiber strands are respectively embedded in a matrix material, which has an electroactive polymer which can be stretched along a longitudinal extent of the fiber strands by application of an electrical voltage, such that the composite structure can be expanded by application of the electrical voltage to introduce the structural profile into the composite structure and can be shrunk by switching off the electrical voltage to fix the structural profile on the shell surface in the composite structure.