Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Raychem Cryofit Cross-section, c. 1957-1999 |
Object Name |
Coupling |
Description |
Raychem Cryofit Cross-section, c. 1957-1999. Two metal alloy pipes connected in the middle by a metal alloy cuff. The tube shape cuff has beveled edges. A piece has been cut off to expose the interior. The two pipes are equal length and have unfinished cut edges. A piece of one pipe has been removed to exposed the interior. The intact pipe has two parallel grooves circumventing it. |
Date |
c. 1957-1999 |
Creator |
Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2016.001.040 |
Dimensions |
H-1.25 W-4.25 D-1.5 inches |
Collection |
3D - Mechanical Tools & Equipment |
Inscription Text |
"CRYOFIT / 920582-.840 / 6000 / M.O. 5336A" (etched in metal cuff). |
Notes |
"In 1962 the shape memory effect is discovered in NiTi alloys by the U.S. Naval Ordnance Lab. The nominally equiatomic NiTi alloy was dubbed "Nitinol" for Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory.The first major application for the technology is launched in 1971 by Raychem Corporation of Menlo Park, CA....Raychem sells the couplings under the name Cryofit®." [http://www.intrinsicdevices.com/history.html 1/20/2016] Shape-Memory couplings are used for joining pipes. The sleeve or cuff is cooled with liquid nitrogen and then fit onto pipe ends. Once fit, it is rewarmed and the sleeve shrinks to create a tight fit. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape-memory_coupling 1/20/2016] "Raychem was founded on January 1, 1957. It grew rapidly by creating proprietary new products based on Radiation processing of polymers to meet critical and difficult industry needs for electrical circuit integrity in harsh environments. Included in these initial products were irradiated wire insulation and heat shrinkable tubing. Markets included Aerospace, Military, Automotive, Telecommunications and Electrical Power Generation markets. "In 1968, Raychem acquired Chemelex leading Raychem to extend its radiation polymer processing technology to polymers filled with conductive carbon creating a family of "Self Limiting Heaters". This technology was further extended to produce resettable switches forming the enabling technology for the "Polyswitch" Division. "As Raychem grew into a world class Material Science Company, additional technologies explored, developed and taken to market were Heat Recoverable Metals, Piezoelectric Materials (Elographics), Silicone Gels (Geltek) and Liquid Crystals (Taliq). "Each year, Raychem devoted between 8 and 10 percent of sales into Research and Development resulting in thousands of new products based on the technologies listed above. Research and Product Development labaratories, in addition to Menlo Park and Redwood City were established in Swindon, UK, Kessel-Lo, Belgium, Ottobrunn, Germany, Pontois, France and Japan. "Manning these laboratories were an extremely creative and talented group of scientists and engineers who found innovative ways to use technologies to create new products." [http://blog.heatshrinksleeves.com/2015/09/raychem-history.html 12/31/2015] |
Search Terms |
Menlo Park Metalwork Pipe Pipes Raychem Science Technology |
Subjects |
Industry Metals Pipes Science Teaching |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Chet Sandberg |