Electrical interconnectors

Details Electrical interconnectors Electrical interconnectors

1997-04-21

1998-09-08

Ledynh, Bot L.

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Conduits, cables or conductors

Combined

174 75R, 174 76, H02G 1508

Patent

active

058047670

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 the 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. 08/138360 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.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is particularly concerned with an interconnection between two conductive components in which a compressible, and preferably oil-extended polymeric, sealant material is employed to seal and to provide electrical insulation around the connection, and in which a conductive member is disposed around the connection in the manner of a Faraday Cage.
Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an enclosure arranged to enclose a connection between two electrically conductive components, the enclosure comprising a rigid housing and an electrically conductive member disposed therein, the conductive member being arranged, in operation, to make electrical contact with and sealingly enclose the connection, wherein the space between the conductive member and the housing is, in operation, substantially filled with a compressible sealant material, and wherein the conductive member is resilient, substantially to prevent, in operation, the formation of voids within the housing outside the conductive member.
The resilient conductive member may be arranged to exert a pressure on the sealant material so as substantially to prevent the formation of voids therein or between that material and other parts of the interconnection.
At least one void or gaseous entrapment may be provided completely within the conductive member and/or between the conductive member and the connection of the two conductive components.
The enclosure may enclose an interconnection between an electric power cable, whose conductor provides one of the conductive components of the invention, and another piece of electrical equipment which may itself be another power cable. The conductive member may then act as a Faraday Cage and may, for example, enclose a jointed pair of conductors in a cable splice.
The enclosure of the present invention may also comprise a stress-relief cone, arranged to be disposed around an electric power cable that forms one of the conductive components for example. Advantageously, the stress cone comprises resilient aperture means that is arranged to change its volume in response to a change in volume of the sealant material.
The enclosure may also comprise a housing of which at least a portion of a wall thereof is resilient so as to respond to change in volume of the

REFERENCES:
patent: 3571783 (1971-03-01), Lusk
patent: 3876820 (1975-04-01), Mashikian
patent: 4079189 (1978-03-01), Troccoli
patent: 4176239 (1979-11-01), Brauer et al.
patent: 4377547 (1983-03-01), Hervig
patent: 4863535 (1989-09-01), More
Derwent Abstract No. 79-33697B/18 (abstract of EP 0,001,564), May 1979.

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