Reinforced splice joint and method of making same

• US 4,107,451 A
• Filed: 11/19/1975
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trech Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Robert W. Jr., Waite, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Askin, Laramie E.
• Application Number:
  US05/633,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 174/21 R, 174/22 R, 174/76, 174/77 R, 174/84 R, 174/87, 174/88 R, 174/91, 174/92, 174/93, 156/49, 285/21, 285/284, 285/292, 285/293, 264/272
• US Class Current: 174/84.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/196 having lapped insulation

Abstract

A method of making fast setting permanently reinforced splice joints between a cable sheath and a sleeve which includes preparing a mixture of resin and filler additives which shrink upon curing and adding at the time of use a catalyst with a pigment color therein to indicate proper mixing. Resilient bands of rubber-like adhesive material are applied to the ends of the cable sheath to be joined and the self-curing resin is applied over the cable ends, the resilient band and the sleeve to be joined. The resin, when cured, shrinks to form a novel reinforced sealed splice joint.

Claims

1. The method of making a permanent air tight splice joint between the spaced ends of a cable sheath comprising the steps of:

applying a sleeve over the area between the spaced ends of the cable sheath,

winding discontinuous strips of rubber like adhesive sealant to form sealant bands of continuous homogeneous rubber-like adhesive material around the spaced ends of the cable sheath,

preparing a filled resin containing a thixotropic agent, a bulk filler and fiber glass having a thick non-flowable putty-like consistency which becomes exothermic and shrinks upon curing and which is chemically compatible with the materials of the sleeve and sealant bands and will form a molecular bond therewith,

manually wiping the filled resin over said sealant bands, the ends of the cable sheath and the sleeve to form a built-up reinforced splice joint therebetween encapsulating said sealant bands,

permitting the filled resin joint to cure and shrink onto said adhesive sealant bands to form a rigid reinforced sealed splice joint partially molecularly bonded to said adhesive sealant bands and said sleeve and which is stronger than the parent cable in bending and compression.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of winding said sealant bands on said cable sheath comprises the step of winding a string of isobutylene-propylene terpolymer synthetic rubber under tension upon itself to form homogeneous built-up sealant bands.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of preparing a filled resin includes the steps of providing a low viscosity thermosetting polyester base resin and a di methyl aniline promoter in the base resin.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of preparing a filled resin further includes the steps of providing a separate stablized benzoyl peroxide catalyst in paste form which includes a coloring material and further includes the step of mixing the colored catalyst just prior to the time of use so that the benzoyl peroxide reacts with the di methyl aniline to start the polyester base resin curing.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 which further includes the step of adding up to 3% di methyl aniline by weight of base polyester resin and approximately 3% benzoyl peroxide by weight of the base polyester resin to obtain a gel time of less than 30 minutes at room temperature.

6. The method of making a permanent pressure tight reinforced splice joint between the spaced ends of a cable outer sheath lying on opposite sides of repaired cable wires comprising the steps of:

applying a plastic sleeve over the repaired cable wires and the spaced ends of the cable sheath,

applying a resilient adhesive band as a spiral wrap around the spaced ends of the cable sheath to form homegeneous adhesive bands thereon,

putting on a pair of gloves,

removing a glob of filled thick resin of a type which is chemically compatible with the materials of the sleeve and adhesive sealant bands and will form a molecular bond therewith from a container,

removing a thick, colored, paste catalyst from an airtight container and manually mixing the catalyst with the filled resin,

manually kneading the filled resin with the colored catalyst until the filled resin mixture is consistent in color,

applying the filled resin mixture with gloved hands over the ends of said sleeve and the spaced ends of the cable sheath adjacent said sleeve to cover said adhesive bands,

shaping the filled resin mixture with gloved hands into a desired shape joint, and

permitting said filled resin mixture to self cure and shrink onto said adhesive sealant bands and said sleeve to form a molecular bond therewith providing a pressure tight reinforced sealed splice joint stronger than the parent cable in bending and compression.

7. The method of making a permanent reinforced splice joint as set forth in claim 6 wherein the step of applying a sleeve over the repaired wires and spaced ends of the cable sheath comprises applying a split sleeve thereover and further includes the step of applying the filled resin over said split in said sleeve to form a molecular bond therewith.

8. The method of making a permanent reinforced splice joint as set forth in claim 6 which further includes the step of applying a non-adherent plastic sheet over said shaped filled resin mixture and reshaping said joint before it gels.

9. The method of making a permanently reinforced splice joint as set forth in claim 8 which further includes the step of removing said non-adherent plastic sheet after said reshaped resin mixture has had time to gel.

10. A permanent pressure tight reinforced splice joint connecting spaced ends of an outer sheath of a telephone cable lying on opposite sides of repaired cable wires, comprising:

a rigid plastic sleeve applied over the repaired cable wires and extending over the spaced ends of the cable sheath,

sealant bands of adhesive rubber material, each being in the form of a string of adhesive sealant wound upon itself, wrapped around the spaced ends of the cable sheath adjacent the ends of said sleeve and forming tight adhesive bonds with said spaced ends of the cable sheath, and

a cured filled resin extending over the ends and opening of said sleeve and also encapsulating and sealing said adhesive sealant bands on said cable sheath under pressure, said cured filled resin containing chopped glass fibers, a thixotropic agent, a filler and a catalyst, and said cured filled resin being chemically compatible with said rigid plastic sleeve and said adhesive sealant bands and forming partial molecular bonds therewith.