PatentsHermetically sealing multipleoptical fibresApplicant: Lightwave Microsystems Corp, USAThis patent covers an apparatus and method tometallize, reinforce and hermetically sealmultiple optical fibres. A ribbon of optical fibresare placed in a fixture to expose a mid-spansegment in order to remove coatings from theirsurface by using acid etching or a lasertechnique. A variety of metallic coatings are thendeposited onto the bare segment of the opticalfibres. The metallized segment of fibres are thendeposited, with a solderable alloy, onto a plate toenable them to be attached and reinforced by ametallized segment. The plate and metallizedsegment is then fed through a package openingand are hermetically sealed to internally connectone or more components inside the package byheating the package to melt additional solderaround the opening or gap. Epoxy is thenapplied over the solder to help protect it and toadditionally seal the package.Patent number: WO 02/19006Inventors: M.Z. Khan, M.G. Guardado, R.B.GarciaPublication date: 7 March 2002

Dynamic pressure fluid bearingApplicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial CoLtd, JapanThe subject of this patent is a dynamic pressuretype fluid bearing device, and a method ofmanufacturing the device in such a way thatproduction costs are reduced and so thatleakage of lubricating oil is prevented. Thebearing device comprises a shaft. A sleeve formsa radial bearing part in the shaft’s clearance,and is installed in a rotatable fashion on theshaft. A pair of seal members are fixed to theshaft. These form a thrust bearing part in theclearance of the sleeve, and seal in thelubricating oil that circulates through theinternal part of the bearing. A large diameterpart is formed on the shaft as one of the pair ofseal members, while the other seal member ispress-fitted to the shaft.Patent number: WO 02/18804Inventor: J. Nakamura Publication date: 7 March 2002

Bypass seal for heat exchanger Applicant: Honeywell International Inc, USAThis invention is embodied in a heat exchanger,which allows differential thermal expansion ofits elements while providing a bypass seal. In atleast one embodiment, the heat exchangerincludes a shell for containing a first gas, a core

positioned within the shell and a seal positionedbetween the core and the shell. The seal allows atleast some differential expansion between theshell and the core while restricting the flow ofthe first gas past the seal. This allows a space forexpansion of the core to exist between the coreand the shell, while preventing the first gas frombypassing the core by travelling through theexpansion space. As such, the seal forces the firstgas to pass through the core, greatly increasingheat transfer from the first gas to the core.Preferably, the seal is mounted in the core at aposition at least adjacent to the free (moveable)end or ends of the core. The seal can be foldedinto several layers such that the folds abut boththe core and the shell. When the core expands orcontracts the seal is drawn apart (unfolded) orcompacted (further folded), as the case may be.In another embodiment, the seal is made up of asingle layer of material with sufficient slackbetween the core and the shell to allow theformer to expand and contract separately fromthe shell.Patent number: WO 02/18758Inventors: E.Y. Yeh, D.W. Beddome, S. Ayres Publication date: 7 March 2002

Thermal barrier coatings for turbinecomponentsApplicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp,USAA composite thermal barrier coating systemincludes a first composite thermal barriercoating over a portion of a substrate, and asecond deposited thermal barrier coating overedge portions of the substrate. The first coatingis relatively thick and preferably includes friable,graded insulation, comprising an abradablehoneycomb metallic structure filled with highthermal expansion ceramic hollow spheres in aphosphate bonded matrix. The second depositededge coating is relatively thin and is preferablycomposed of an electron beam physical vapourdeposited thermal barrier coating comprisingZrO2 and Y2O3. The friable, graded insulationmay be manufactured to thicknesses in excess ofthe current thermal barrier coating systems,thereby imparting greater thermal protection.Superior erosion resistance and abrasionproperties are also achieved. The compositethermal barrier coating system is useful oncombustion turbine components such as ringseal segments, vane segment shrouds, transitionsand combustors.Patent number: WO 02/18674Inventor: J.Y. XiaPublication date: 7 March 2002

Hot-melt composition Applicant: Nippon Petrochemicals Co Ltd,Japan

This invention concerns a hot-meltcomposition. It comprises specific amounts ofan ethylene copolymer resin; a modifiedaromatic petroleum resin with a specificweight-average molecular weight that isobtained by copolymerizing a polymerizableingredient contained in a fraction (resultingfrom the thermal cracking of petroleumhydrocarbons having a specific boiling pointrange, a specific vinyltoluene content, and aspecific indene content), and phellandrene orturpentine oil containing a phellandrene. Alsoincluded is a phenol compound in a specificproportion with the aid of a Friedel-Craftscatalyst, and a wax. The composition hasexcellent thermal stability and improved high-temperature bonding properties. It is usable insealants and adhesives or in hot-melt coatingmaterials.Patent number: WO 02/18510Inventor: H. YanagishitaPublication date: 7 March 2002

Pipe couplingApplicant/Inventor: C.I. Kim, KoreaDisclosed is a pipe coupling for joining a pair ofpipes. The pipe coupling generally comprises anipple part and a female part. The latter partaccommodates the nipple part with a gasketdisposed in the circular cavity. The nipple andfemale parts are clamped together by the clamp(with the cam of the clamp inserted into thegroove of the nipple part). The gasket isprovided with a V-shaped groove on its insidesurface. It is also provided with a first inclinedguide surface, and the groove is provided with asecond correspondingly inclined guide surfaceso that the first inclined guide surface is engagedwith the second, in order to clamp together thenipple and female parts. Patent number: WO 02/18833Publication date: 7 March 2002

Gasket removing compositionsApplicant: Loctite Corp, USAThis invention covers methylene chloride-free,and optionally methanol-free, paint stripper andgasket remover formulations as alternatives tomethylene chloride-based paint strippers andgasket removers.Patent number: WO 02/18525Inventors: M.P. Burdzy, G.K. ShankPublication date: 7 March 2002

Encapsulation for OLED devicesApplicants: Osram Opto SemiconductorsGmbH & Co OHG, Germany, and Instituteof Materials Research & Engineering,SingaporeAn encapsulation for an organic light emittingdiode (OLED) device is disclosed. The encap-

PATENTS

10Sealing Technology August 2002

sete august.qxd 8/1/02 3:09 PM Page 10