Water-tight connectors for electric cables
First Claim
1. An underwater cable connector having cooperating portions which are required to be engageable and dieengageable while in submerged condition, comprising longitudinally aligned contact carriers having annular sealing portions engaging each other one of said sealing portions surrounding the other of said sealing portions and being formed of a material having a greater elasticity than said other sealing portion;
- mutually mating cable contact members on said carriers and being surrounded by said sealing portions; and
means for expelling water from said cable contact members in response to engagement of said contact carriers so as to expel water from between said sealing portions and prevent the existence of an electrically-conductive film of water which would otherwise establish a current path connecting the cooperating portions of the cable connector with the surrounding body of water.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Mutually mating cable contact members, on longitudinally aligned contact carriers, are surrounded by annular sealing portions of these carriers, which have annular sealing surfaces engaging each other. Said sealing portions consist of materials having different elasticities. A ring surrounds the sealing portion of greater elasticity and presses the sealing surface of this portion against the sealing portion of the other contact carrier. By the coaction of the ring with the sealing portions of different elasticities, the new connector remains water tight when submerged in deep water for extended periods of time.
31 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An underwater cable connector having cooperating portions which are required to be engageable and dieengageable while in submerged condition, comprising longitudinally aligned contact carriers having annular sealing portions engaging each other one of said sealing portions surrounding the other of said sealing portions and being formed of a material having a greater elasticity than said other sealing portion;
- mutually mating cable contact members on said carriers and being surrounded by said sealing portions; and
means for expelling water from said cable contact members in response to engagement of said contact carriers so as to expel water from between said sealing portions and prevent the existence of an electrically-conductive film of water which would otherwise establish a current path connecting the cooperating portions of the cable connector with the surrounding body of water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- mutually mating cable contact members on said carriers and being surrounded by said sealing portions; and
-
13. A cable connector for interconnecting electric cables normally submerged in deep water and for establishing a seal to prevent access of such water to interior parts of the cables, comprising longitudinally aligned contact carriers having annular sealing portions with annular sealing surfaces engaging each other, one of said sealing portions surrounding the other of said sealing portions and being formed of a material having a greater elasticity than said other sealing portion;
- mutually mating cable contact members on said carrier surrounded by said sealing portions; and
annular means engaging said one sealing portion of greater elasticity and comprising a ring and a coupling nut, both having at least portions surrounding at least parts of said contact carriers, said coupling nut treadedly engaging one of said contact carriers and having shoulders to abut said ring for shifting the latter along and against said one sealing portion of greater elasticity for pressing the sealing surface of the latter portion in the radial direction against the sealing surface of said other sealing portion, so as to expel water from between said sealing portions and prevent the existence of an electrically-conductive film of water which would otherwise establish a current path connecting the interior of the cable connector with the surrounding body of water. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- mutually mating cable contact members on said carrier surrounded by said sealing portions; and
Specification