Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACXGROUND OF ~'HE I~TVF.NTION
There are many instances whsre an electrical cable
splice must ~e insulated and protected from the eCfects of
the environment in which it is used. For example, in splicing
a telephon~ service cable to the main cable, particularly in
underground installations, protection must be afforded against
the deleterious effects of moisture, not only on the electrical
connection itself, but on the long lengths of the cable which
the moisture may reach as a result of the effects of hydro-
static pressure and capillary action.
1~ ~t present, a commonly used moisture-proof cable
splice enclosure for this purpose requires the placing of
the splice in a suitable container filled with activated resin.
After setting, the hardened r;sLn, combined with the container,
PR--5935
~054Z34
provides a certain amount of structural rigidity and prevents
moisture from reaching the splice and the exposed ends of the
cables.
Several disadvantages of this technique are apparent
S and result prLmarily from the use of a sealing material which
must be first activated and then cured to a hardened state.
At the time of installation, the resin must be mixed with a
catalytic compound, poured into the container for some period
of time. The mixing and pouring of the resin involves separate
containers and mixers, the end result of which is a general
clean-up problem. The installer must also take great care
when mixing the resin and when immersing the splice and cables
80 as to prevent the entrapment of air in the mixture which
later could provide a cavity for the transmission of water or
significatly weaken the structural ability of the resin. Lastly,
the resin reguires time to cure or harden. This curing time is
andatory because of the exothermic nature of the reaction
which, if allowed to occur too guickly, may cause heat damage
to the splice or the resin. During this curing time, the
splice and cables must be maintained in a fixed position
80 as to prevent the creation of gaps caused by the relative
motion of the embedded items with respect to the partially set
up resin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a moisture proof
cable splice enclosure is provided unassembled for use in
moisture proofing cable splices made either in the shop or
in the field. The enclosure can be installed in a matter of
seconds without any mixing procedure, curing time or mess.
The invention also precludes the possibility of the assembler
~05~Z3~
improperly mixing or curlng the seal. These advantages are
obtained through the use of a vial which has been pre-filled
with a specific amount of sealant not miscible with water,
and a plug which rigidly holds the cables in place and closes
the open end of the vial. The plug has longitudinally extending
grooves in the surface and slots extend across or around the
grooves from the surface of the plug.
The cables, already spliced in a conventional manner,
are positioned in the grooves with the splice and cable ends
projecting beyond one end of the plug. The plug is then
inserted into the vial with the splice, cable ends and part
of the plug immersed in the sealant. The sealant displaced by
the splice, cable ends and a portion of the plug fills any
voids between the plug, including the slots, the walls of the
vial, and the cables, and provides a highly efficient seal
precluding the intrusion of moisture. The slots allow the
sealant to completely encircle the cable ends at a plurality
of locations to ensure a continuous seal around the cable ends.
Additional passageways may be provided to ensure the filling
of the slots.
Once assembled, the waterproofed splice and cable
ends are ready to be positioned in the ground or any other
similar moist environments. The vial and plug configuration
may also include means for mechanically forcing the plug
assembly into the vial to aid the installer and allow
employment of more viscous sealants.
In accordance with one broad aspect, the invention relates
to an enclosure for moisture proofing cable splices and cable
ends associated therewith, comprising a vial, said vial having
a mouth and an interior volume for accepting the cable splice;
a body of sealant contained in said vial for receiving the
~,
J~y ~ ~ 3~
`r
1~54Z34
cable splice and the ends of the cables positioned in said vial;
a plug having means for accepting a plurality of cables in
the immediate proximity of the cable splice, said plug fitting
within and closing the mouth of said vial, said plug having
a body capable of extending into said body of sealant thereby
forcing said body of sealant to deform around said plug and
cable ends to fill all passageways leading from the enclosure,
said plug comprising a body, characterized by said body
including longitudinally extending grooves for receiving cables
to be spliced and transverse slots extending around said
grooves and cutting deeper into said body than said grooves,
said slots being adapted to receive said sealant.
As can readily be seen, the present invention provides
a quickly assembled, highly reliable, problem-free waterproof
cable splice enclosure. Because the sealant is prepacked in
the vial and in its final form, there is no mixing, filling
or curing problem. No extra equipment is necessary to
- 3A -
PR-5935
1~54Z34
assemble the enclosure, and no time is wasted for the seal
to cure or dry. Also, the number of operations required of
the assembler is reduced which in turn reduces the probability
of human error. Because the plug, rather than the sealant as in
S the case of a resin filled vial, supports all loads, there is less
chance that a minor failure under load of the enclosure will
cause the moisture proofing material to fail in its function.
In addition, the splice can be removed if that should prove
desirable. Since the sealant is of an inert nature, any leakage
of ~he sealant from the enclosure is not likely to cause damage to
the surroundings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the
moisture proof cable splice enclosure of the present invention
with two cables spliced together;
` FIGURE 2 is an assembled view, partly in section, of
the cable splice enclosure of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the plug of the
present invention; and,
.20 FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along
line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A plug 10 is constructed to cooperate with a vial 12
and a body of sealant 13 to protect a part of cables 14 spliced
together by a conventional means 15. The sealant 13 is pre-
ferably a sil~cone grease or petroleum jelly but may be any
PR-5935
~C~54Z34
other suitable substance not miscible with water, and which
does not set up but rather stays flowable for the normal life
of thè ~splice.
The plug 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and
includes twc or more longitudinal groove~ 16 and 17 extending
the length of the plug 10. These longitudinal groove~ 16 and
17 are appropriately sized to permit receipt of standard
cables 14. At the same time, it i5 preferable that the cables
14 fit snugly into the grooves 16 and 17 such that the cables
will not be easily extracted from the grooves when positioned in
the assembled enclosure. It is also of benefit that the grooves
16 and 17 be sufficiently deep to allow the cables 14 to sit
inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the plug 10.
This insures that the cables will be displaced inwardly from
; 15 the vial 12 80 that sealant 13 mày be interposed between
the vial 12 and the cables 14 when in the assembled enclosure.
~owever, a large displacement of the cables 14 inwardly from
the outer surface of the plug 10 i8 not suggested in that a
large, direct sealant passage through the enclosure is not
advantageous. It has been found that a U-shaped groove having
a semi-circular bottom and ha~ing a total depth approximately
1/16 inch (.16 om.) greater than the width of the grooves is
satisfactory. In thiR way, the cables 14 can be forced into
the grooves 16 and 17 where they are tightly held and where a
small sealant passageway exists such that the outside of the
; cables will be covered by sealant when the enclosure i8
assembled.
Slots 18, 19, 20 and 21 are defined in the body of
the plug 10 across or around the longitudinal grooYes 16 and
17. The slots 18-21 extend inwardly of the surface of the
- 5 -
PR-5935
1054Z34
plug 10 and around grooves 16 and 17 as can be~t be seen in
FIGURE 4. The depth of the slots 18-21 allows sealant 13 to
flow inwardly about the cables 14 to form complete rings of
sealant around the cables 14 at each slot 18-21. Thu~, a
plurality of individual sealant areas are formed to insure the
complete seal of the cables 14.
A flange 22 extends outwardly about the upper portion
of the body of the pl~g 10. This flange oomes to rest on the
upper edge of the vial 12 when the plug is fuliy inserted into
the vial. In this way, a physical barrier is provided to close
off even the narrow space between the plug 10 and the vial 12.
The plug 10 extend~ from the flange 22 downwardly a sufficient
distance to bring about displacement of the body of sealant 13
upwardly about the sides of the plug 10, through the grooves
16 and 17 and into the slot~ 18-21. Slots 18 and 19 and slots
20 and 21 communicate with one another through passageways
23 and 24 to further enhance flow of the sealant upwardly about
the plug 10 as the plug 10 is forced into the vial 12.
To facilitate placement of the plug 10 in the vial
12 ?nd insure retention of the plug 10 in the vial 12, two
arms 25 and 26 extend outwardly from the upper portion of the
plug 10. Each arm 25 and 26 has a depending portion 27 and 28
with inwardly disposed teeth 29 which may be caused to grip
threads 30. The threads 30 allow mechanical placement of the
~lug 10 through the simple twisting of the vial 12. With the
plug fully inserted into the vial 12, assembly of the enclosure
is complete. By engulfing the splice, and filling all of the
gaps around the plug, the sealant provides an effective water-
proof seal. As soon as the plug has been poæitioned in the vial,
the entire closure i~ ready to be placed in the ground or other
PR-5935
1054Z34
similar moist environment.
Thus, a convenient and inexpensive moisture cable
splice enclosuxe is formed which is supplied to fill the
operations in kit form where it may be used to quickly and
S conveniently form moisture proof enclosures about a variety
of cable splices. While embodiments and applications of this
invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent
to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are
possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein
described. The invention, therefore, i8 not to be restricted
except as is neces~ary by the prior art and by the spirit of
the appended claim~.
- 7 -
