Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Patent
1997-05-08
1999-09-14
Kincaid, Kristine
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
174 76, 174 77R, 174 79, H02G 1502
Patent
active
059526122
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the protection of electrical interconnections. Such interconnections may be between two or more electrical cables (i.e. in-line or branch joints), between two or more pieces of other electrical equipment such as transformers and switchgear, but which may also include another cable or between cable and equipment, including cable adapters and terminations. Such an interconnection usually needs to be protected against ingress of moisture to interconnected conductors, and to provide electrical insulation therearound. Additionally, at voltages above about 10 kV, some form of electrical stress control is usually also desired. The invention is generally applicable to electrical interconnections at low voltage, typically around 1 to 10 kV, at medium voltage, typically around 10 to 36 kV, and also at high voltage, typically greater than 36 kV.
2. Description of Related Art
Various technologies exist for protecting such interconnections, some of which are more applicable to one voltage range rather than another, and some applicable to cables, for example, of one material, for example polymeric, then another, for example paper. Amongst these technologies may be mentioned polymeric heat shrink, elastomeric push -on and roll-on, elastomeric hold-out, tape winding, hot bitumen filling, and cold-pour resin systems. Pending Raychem U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/138,360, the contents of which are now published in International Application Publication No. WO 95/11543, discloses a power cable joint which is filled by a compressible sealant material such as gel, which has been found to have surprisingly good performance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is particularly concerned with a sealing member for use with a substrate, such as a cylindrical electrical component, which may be a cable, and especially an electric power cable.
Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sealing member for use with a substantially cylindrical electrical component, the member comprising (a) a pair of relatively rigid components and (b) a pair of relatively resilient components, wherein in use each rigid component is arranged to urge a respectively cooperating resilient component into abutment with the other resilient component and also into substantially complete conformity around the electrical component so as to seal thereto.
The resilient components, and advantageously also the rigid components, are preferably formed from two generally semi-cylindrical portions. The rigid components may comprise a portion externally of the resilient components, for example extending at least partially circumferentially therearound, for restraining radial movement of the resilient components in use.
The rigid component can thus be arranged to allow some movement of the resilient component, whilst at the same time resisting its movement in certain directions. The sealing member can thus be employed with substrates of different dimensions, such as diameters, whilst maintaining a sealing relationship therearound.
Difficulty is often experienced in providing a member that is able to form a seal around a substrate, when that member consists of two parts that have to mate together. The difficulty is compounded when the requirement is also that the one sealing member be range-taking, that is to say to be able to form a seal around substrates of different size. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the substrate is generally cylindrical, for example being an electric cable, and the member is formed as a pair of mating relatively resilient components of generally semi-cylindrical shape and a pair of co-operating relatively rigid components of generally semi-cylindrical shape that urge the resilient components into sealing conformity with each other and with the enclosed substrate.
The sealing is typically required to provide a block to the passage of air, moisture, or other fluids.
Advantageously, the sealing member
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Clark Brian
Ions David
Kiermaier Christian
Reed James Patrick
Winfield Phillip Roland
Burkard Herbert G.
Chao Yuan
Kincaid Kristine
Mayo III William H.
Raychem Limited
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