Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-23
2003-04-29
Nguyen, Chau N. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
Reexamination Certificate
active
06555751
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a linear cable-connector, and more particularly to a linear cable-connector which connects the ends of a pair of cables such as electric power cables that supply electric power to various mechanical equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
In order to supply electric power to units that are separated by a long distance from the power supply, it is necessary to connect several cables together in series with a connector. Also, when these cables are laid outdoors, it is necessary to adequately maintain the water proofing of the connector for these pairs of cables. A linear cable connector that is used for this purpose has been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Resistration No. 2579115.
FIG. 5
shows one example of the conventional linear cable connector that is e.g. presented in that disclosure. This linear cable connector
1
has a connection terminal
2
in the center in the middle part of the connector
1
in the axial direction. This connection terminal
2
is made of metal such as copper or copper alloy that has good conductivity, and it is formed in a cylindrical shape such that the outer diameter in the middle section is small while the outer diameter at both ends is large, and there are connection holes
3
,
3
having a circular cross section and an opening on both ends in the axial direction. It is not shown in the figures, however there is metallic plate with good conductivity formed around the inner peripheral surface of these connection holes
3
,
3
to form contact terminals in a well-known structure.
Moreover, a pair of cables
4
,
4
to be connected have conductors
5
,
5
, and the portions on the ends of the conductors
5
,
5
that are exposed from the insulating coverings
6
,
6
of the cables
4
,
4
are securely connected to the base ends of plugs
7
,
7
, and connection tubes
8
,
8
are formed on these base ends. These plugs
7
,
7
are formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal having good conductivity, so by compressing the connection tubes
8
,
8
inward in the radial direction after the ends of the aforementioned conductors
5
,
5
have been inserted into these connection tubes
8
,
8
, they are securely fastened to the ends of the conductors
5
,
5
. Also, the tip ends of the plugs
7
,
7
are inserted in the respective connection holes
3
,
3
, and make contact with the connection terminal
2
by way of the aforementioned contact terminals. The portion from the end of the insulating coverings
6
,
6
to the base end of the plugs
7
,
7
is covered by the base half of internal semiconductive layers
9
,
9
. The tip ends of these internal semiconductive layers
9
,
9
are cylindrical-shaped sections
10
,
10
, and there are ring-shaped gaps formed between the inner peripheral surfaces of these cylindrical-shaped sections
10
,
10
and the outer peripheral surfaces in the middle of the plugs
7
,
7
.
Moreover, the center component
18
, made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, is formed by molding such that it covers all the way around the circumference of the connection element
2
. The inner diameter of this center component
18
is small in the middle portion and large on both ends. This center component
18
is joined with the aforementioned connection element
2
such that they do not shift each other. The outer peripheral surface of this center component
18
is tapered in a direction such that the radius becomes smaller in the direction toward both ends, and the center section has a cylindrical surface. In addition, a pair of engagement protrusions
11
,
11
with trapezoidal cross-sections are formed all the way around the center section such that they are separated from each other in the axial direction.
Furthermore, insulating layers
12
,
12
made of synthetic resin or the like are formed around the ends of the cables
4
,
4
, around the internal semiconductive layers
9
,
9
and around plugs
7
,
7
, respectively. The inner peripheral surface on the tip half of the insulating layers
12
,
12
, as well as the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical sections
10
,
10
formed on the tip half of the internal semiconductive layers
9
,
9
are conical concave tapered surfaces that come in close contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of both ends of the aforementioned center component
18
. Also, external semiconductive layers
13
,
13
made of an elastic material such as rubber are formed around these insulating layers
12
,
12
. These external semiconductive layers
13
,
13
, the insulating layers
12
,
12
and the internal semiconductive layers
9
,
9
come together to form insulating tubes
20
,
20
.
Also, the portions that protrude from the tip ends of the insulating layers
12
,
12
on the tip ends of the external semiconductive layers
13
,
13
are fitting tubes
14
,
14
. Engagement grooves
15
,
15
that are formed on the inner peripheral surface of these fitting tubes
14
,
14
fit tightly with the aforementioned engagement protrusions
11
,
11
. In addition, the outer peripheral surfaces of these fitting tubes
14
,
14
are held by retaining bands
16
,
16
such that the engagement grooves
15
,
15
and the engagement protrusions
11
,
11
do not accidentally come apart. Furthermore, by winding insulating tape between the base ends of the external semiconductive layers
13
,
13
and the outer peripheral surfaces of the cables
4
,
4
, insulating coverings
17
,
17
are formed. It is possible for the formation positions of the engagement grooves
15
,
15
and the engagement protrusions
11
,
11
to be opposite, as shown in FIG.
6
.
In the case of the prior art construction described above, disassembly and reconnection are simple, however, water proofing is not always adequate. In other words, when the linear cable connector
1
is installed in a location where it is exposed to wind and rain, rain water that enters the connector
1
from the pair of abutting surfaces of the fitting tubes
14
,
14
passes through the small gap between the inner peripheral surface of the insulating layers
12
,
12
and the outer peripheral surface of the center component
18
, and gets inside these insulating layers
12
,
12
, and there is a possibility that it will cause poor insulation.
Taking the above problem into consideration, the objective of this invention is to provide a linear cable connector that is constructed such that it can be disassembled or reconnected easily, and such that it is capable of maintaining stable insulating performance over a long period of time even under severe conditions of use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Similar to the linear cable connector described above in the prior art, the linear cable connector of this invention comprises: connection terminals that are made of conductive material and formed with connection holes on both ends in the axial direction that open up on both ends; plugs that are made of conductive material and that have tip ends inserted into the aforementioned connection holes, and base ends securely fastened to the ends of conductive members forming a pair of cables to be connected; a center component that is made of insulating material and that is provided all the way around the aforementioned connection terminals such that it covers the connection terminals on the circumference thereof; and a pair of insulating tubes that are provided around the ends of the cables and around the plugs, such that the both ends of the center component can be freely inserted into the openings on the respective ends. Moreover, the opening ends of this pair of insulating tubes are joined together at the middle section of the center component.
Particularly, the linear cable connector of this invention comprises side flanges that are formed all the way around the opening ends of the insulating tubes. These side flanges of the insulating tubes are fastened together with a seal ring located between the abutting flange surfaces.
Moreover, as necessary, a middle flange can be located generall
Andou Kenichi
Asahi Katsuteru
Ikushima Hiroshi
Itabashi Yoshihumi
Jizou Yoshihiro
Central Japan Railway Company
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Ikushima Hiroshi
Nguyen Chau N.
LandOfFree
Straight joint for cable does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Straight joint for cable, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Straight joint for cable will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3034530