Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Patent
1997-09-29
2000-08-08
Kincaid, Kristine
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
H01R 1358
Patent
active
061004723
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for sealing and locking a cable entering or leaving a cable splice closure or the housing of electrical equipment. The device is suitable for a wide range of different types of cable, including copper conductor, coaxial and optical fibre cables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various types of sealing and locking devices are known, for use on power or telecommunications cables to seal against the ingress of moisture and foreign matter into a splice closure or equipment housing which the cable enters, and also to resist the cable being pulled out. In some types, the cable sealing and locking device comprises a number of components, each component fulfilling a separate function: for example the device may comprise a sealing member, a cable retaining or locking member, and an actuating member which is movable to actuate the sealing and/or locking members. Typically the sealing member comprises a compressible, flexible rubber material or a self-amalgamating tape or a mastic, which is compressed between the cable and the entry port of the splice enclosure or equipment housing, or between the body of the sealing and locking device and the cable or the entry port, or both. The compressible, flexible rubber seal is typically in the shape of an annular ring or cylindrical sleeve, which may be split so that it can be wrapped around the cable, and which distorts when compressed, to make contact with the adjacent mating surfaces. In some known devices, a separate component is screwed into the cable entry port to compress the sealing member around the cable with sufficient pressure to prevent the cable being pulled out subsequently. These multiple-component cable sealing and locking devices are of complicated construction and expensive to manufacture, time consuming to install and require a special installation tool.
It is also known to recover a heat-shrinkable sleeve, internally coated with a hot melt adhesive, partly onto the cable and partly onto a tubular entry port which protects from the splice closure or equipment housing. The recovered sleeve both seals the entry port and also locks the cable against being pulled out. However, this technique requires the entry port to be of a material which is resistant to high temperatures and exhibits a relatively high peel strength between the hot melt adhesive of the heat-shrinkable sleeve and entry port. Also, in order to install the heat-shrinkable sleeve, it is necessary to heat it to a temperature of 90 to 135.degree. C., which poses a safety risk in some circumstances (e.g. when underground in confined spaces, or in aerial applications where mobility is restricted and climatic conditions are adverse).
We have now devised a cable sealing and locking device which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction, which can be installed quickly and easily without the need of a heat source or any particularly high level of skill or training on the part of the installer.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a cable sealing and locking device, which comprises an elongate tubular body of elastomeric material for receiving a cable therethrough, and arranged to be pulled into an entry port so that the tubular body of the device becomes radially compressed between the cable and the entry port.
Preferably the elongate tubular body of the device is formed with two annular, external projections, one at or adjacent one end of the tubular body and the other intermediate the two ends of the tubular body. These two annular projections are arranged to abut opposite ends of the entry port, when the device is installed in the entry port, to prevent movement of the device in either axial direction.
Preferably the exterior of the elongate tubular body tapers from its one end and toward the opposite end, at least over the portion between the two external annular projections. Instead the interior of the tubular body may taper towards its one end, at least over the portion between the two external annular projectio
REFERENCES:
patent: 1912115 (1933-05-01), Allen
patent: 2468985 (1949-05-01), Krotz
patent: 2517717 (1950-04-01), Rose
patent: 2550358 (1951-04-01), Le Grand et al.
patent: 2716740 (1955-08-01), Parish
patent: 2977456 (1961-03-01), Stiebel
patent: 3580988 (1971-05-01), Orlowski et al.
patent: 4460227 (1984-07-01), Ball
patent: 4525000 (1985-06-01), Bachle
patent: 4924038 (1990-05-01), Klosin et al.
Bowthorpe plc
Gallagher Thomas A.
Gordon David P.
Jacobson David S.
Kincaid Kristine
LandOfFree
Cable locking and sealing device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cable locking and sealing device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cable locking and sealing device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1152025