CRYOGENIC CONNECTION METHOD AND MEANS

• Main Authors: FISCHER C,US, OTTE R,US
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.06.1973
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS ANDNON-FERROUS ALLOYS; CHEMISTRY; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; LINE CONNECTORS; METALLURGY; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS

1395601 Releasable fastenings RAYOHEM CORP 27 June 1972 [29 June 1971] 30066/72 Heading E2A [Also in Division H2] A connector comprises two or more resilient jaws 51, 52 encircled by a collar 55 of a heat recoverable metal. The internal dimensions of the collar are smaller than the external dimensions of the jaws when both members are in their unstressed states. Originally the collar is cooled to -40C and forced onto the jaws. At this temperature the collar is in a martensitic state and is expanded by the jaws. At room temperature the collar is in an austenitic state and recovers its natural dimensions, thus compressing the jaws, against their resilence, onto an inserted male member (not shown). The connector may be heated and cooled repeatedly to seize and release the male member. The collar expands and contracts 6-8%, but the jaws act as levers to increase the movement at the contact points 53, 54, or in alternative embodiments to reduce the movement. In other embodiments the jaws are rigid, hinged and resiliently biassed by a spring or a hydraulic system. In other embodiments the heatrecoverable member is inside the resilient member, and expands on warming to force the resilient member to fit tightly inside a ring. Particular heat recoverable alloys are specified including alloys of specified proportions of Ti and Ni with small amounts of Fe or Co. Specific dimensions of one embodiment are given. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1203276.