Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ nd of the Invention
Generally, high voltage cable terminators must provide a track
resistant creepage path between a line conductor and ground plane of the
stress relief device. In an outdoor environment, this creepage path has
to withstand atmospheric contaminations such as salt spray, rain, chemical
fumes, etc. In order to accomplish this, track resistant materials such as
porcelain, epoxy, or elastomeric materials are used to provide the track
resistant creepage path. ~owever, the porcelain and epoxy type terminators
use oil, grease or various types of rubber tubes to seal the cable insulation
1~ interface. This type of terminator therefore requires special handling in
order to complete cable termination.
Summary of the Invention
The terminator according to the present inv0ntion provides both a
creepage path and a reliable intererence fit between the cable insulation
and the terminator in a single compact device. The external portion of the
terminator is formed of a solid dielectric material which is known to have
a track resistance sufficient to prevent creepage. The lower portion of the
terminator is provided with an elastomeric sleeve which is bonded to the di-
electric portion and has a passage which will engage the cable with an inter-
~0 ference it.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, th0re isprovided a terminator for terminating an end of a shielded high voltage cable
having an electrical conductor and a cable insulation, said terminator com-
prising: a solid track resistant dielectric housing having a bore for
receiving the end of the cable to be terminated, a connector supported by
said housing for terminating an exposed end of the electrical conducto:r of
the cable, an elastomeric sleeve bonded to said housing and having a passage
orming an extension of said bore for sealingly engaging the cable insulation,
an electrically conductive material on the surface of said bore and means for
electrically connecting said material to said connector whereby said conduc-
tive material provides an equal electrical potential throughout the length
of said bore.
3~al
Drawings
FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of the terminator according to the
invention having a portion of the terminator shown in section;
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FIGURl. 2 is an enlargecl view in section of the
lower portion of the terminator of FIGURE 1 showing the
elclstollleric sleeve bonded to the ou~er sur:Eace of the ~orce-
:lain llousing;
F:[GURE 3 is a view of a modi:fied terminator
accor(lillg to tl~e :invelltion havi.ng a pOl`t:iO31 broken away to
sho~ the upper end of the terminato~r; ancl
FIGURI L~ is an enlarged view in section of the lower
~)ortion o:E the ter~i.rlator of ~IGURE 3 showing the eias~omeri.c
l.Q sloeve bonded to the i.nner sur:Eace of the porcelain housing.
Description of the Invention
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I\S seen in FIGURES.l and 2 of the drawings,..the
terminator 10 according to the invention includes a solid
dielectric housing 12 and an elastomeric sleeve 14. The
- termin;ltor 10 is silown supported by a bracket type support
16 ~IclVillg a band 18 encircling the base of the terminator 10.
high voltage cable 20 is shown inserted tllroug]l the s].eeve
1~ for termination within tlle housi.ng 12.
In this regard, the high voltage cable 20 generally
~0 includes a conductor 22~ a cable insulation 24 and a. cable
sh:ie:lcl 26. The cable 20 is prepared for termination by remov-
ing a l)ortion of the cable shield 26 to expose the ca.ble
insulation 24. A.portion o:f the cable i~suIation 2~ is then
removed to expose a portion o the cable condu~tor 22.
Tlle ilousing 12 is formed o~ a solid dielectric
material such as porcelain and includes a number of skirts
28 and a mounting flange 30. A passage 32 is provided within
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't}le llousing 12 w]lich is lined with all el~ctrically concluctive
m.lt~l,i.il 33. rrh~ end o~ tlle ]lousinK extellds beyollcl the
.flangc 30 to provi(le a mounting surface 34 for the sleeve
14 as clesc-ril)e(l hereinaf-ter.
Tlle sleev~ 14 includes dn inner member 35 forme.cl
0 f ~IIl e.l.lstOllleriC ma~eri~1 SUC]l as rubber and includes a
passagc 36. Th~ p.lssage 36 has Ct d.iameter equal to or sl.ightly
'less t.h.lll the di.ameter of the cab:le insulation 24 i.n order to
provi(le an inter:Eerence Eit to form'a seal with the cable on
10 .illsert.ioll .into the hous'ing 12An electrically condùctive
CO;It~ g 3~ in the Eorm'o:E a conductive el.astomeric matérial
~ ovicLecl Oll t]le o~t.er surface o:E the member 35 and extends
l~,eyoll(l tlle end o:E -the passage 36 to electrically engage the
cabLe sl~ield 2G.
Tlle member 35 is provided Wit]l a cylindrica.l portion
37 whicl~ is slightly smaller tllan t]~e mounti.ng sur-face, 34.
'I`he portion 37 is mounted on ancl bonded to tile sur:Eace~ 34 on
t1le l~ousing 12, :Eor example, by,molding. Voltage stress at
t1~e el~(l o:E the passage 32 is relieved by means o-E a conductlve
ril~g 40 provicled at the end of passage 36 in member 35.
Tlle ca~le 20 is term'inated witllin the passage 32.
olls~ g 12 by mealls oE a connector 42 hav:ing a recess 44
~or receiv:ing the ènd` o:E the conductor~22. Tile connector,42
is crimped to secure the conne,ctor to the conductor. The
coll~lector ~2 is enclosecl within a conductive cap 46. The
volt~ge gradient witll.in the passage 32 .IS reduced to a minimum
~y means ol` a conductive was]ler 48. Tlle voltage thToughout tlle
~ ,
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..
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:L`ull le?lgth o:~ tlle passage 32 will then be substalltially
the sallle as the voltage of the connector 42.
In the alterna-te embodiment of't}le invention shown
in FIGUI~S 3 and 4, a terminator 50 is shown which includes
a solid dielectric housing 52 and an elastomeric sleeve 54.
Tlle te~rm;.nator 50 is supported by a C-ring clamp 56 WhiC
inclucles a .~lange 58 on the housing~52.
In this embodiment the housing 52 is provided Wit]l
,a t~ass.lge 60 and a plur,ality of skirts 62 on the outer sur:Eace
oE thc housing 52. A conductive shield 64 is provided on the
s~ ace of the passage 60 which terminàtes short of the ond
o the passage 60 in the housing 52.
. The sleeve 54 includes an inner member 55 :Eormed
o~ an elastomeric material such as rubber and has an axial
passage 66. The passage 66 has.a diameter slightly smaller
than the cliameter of the cable insulation ~,4 to provide an
int~erference it to form a seal with the cable insula-tl.on on
i1~sertlon into the housing 52. An electr'ically conducti,ve
coating`68 in the form o,E~a c,onductive elastom'eric material
ls providecl o~i the outer surface of the member 55.
Me~ns are provided on`~,he member 55 or securing
t~le s.leeve 54 to the housillg 52. Such means is in the form
of a cylindri.cal portion 70 provicled on the member 55. The
portion 70'has an outer,dlameter equal to or slightly greater
than the passage 60 and is bonded to~the housing 52, for
e~aml)ler by molcling. Voltage stress wi.tllin the passage
60 is reduced to a minimum by providl.ng a slecive 72 of
electl~ically conductive elastomeric material within the portion
70 ~hich extends beyond the end of the portion' 70 to engage ,
the concluctive shield 64.
3~
The c.ll)le 20~ :is termi.nated with:in the p~lssage 60
in ho~lsing 52 by means of a conllector 42 having a recess 44
:~or rcceiving the end o:E the conductor 22. 'I`he connector 42
:is crimped to the conductor 22. The connector ~2 is re~ained
within the housing 52 by means -of a conducti.ve washer 74 and
a metal cap 76 which is crimped to the hous`ing 52. The
conductive wasller .7~ provides an e~ectrical connection ~etween
~the connector 42 and the conductive shield 64.
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