Sealed splice

• US 4,186,986 A
• Filed: 11/16/1978
• Issued: 02/05/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Shoemaker, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, DeWalden W.
• Application Number:
  US05/961,302
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 339/114, 339/94 C, 339/96, 339/115 R, 339/115 C, 339/116 R, 339/116 C, 339/117 R, 339/117 P
• US Class Current: 439/204
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/00 Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/242 the contact members being plates having a single slot
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/043 with end caps, e.g. sleeve closed at one end

Abstract

An electrical connector is disclosed of the type for sealably protecting an electrical splice particularly for buried wires. The connector has a shell for containing the spliced wires to be protected. The shell further contains a volumetrically collapsable container filled with a viscous sealant material. A closure cap is closed compressibly over the container, collapsing the same and expelling and distributing the sealant throughout the connector shell.

Claims

1. A connector having an interior which is self-sealing by distribution of sealant material, comprising:

a connector shell having an interior cavity and wire receiving openings through the exterior of said shell which communicates with said cavity,

said cavity having a wire receiving section for receiving a plurality of wires passing through said openings to be electrically joined within said cavity,

said cavity having another section containing a volumetrically collapsable container filled with a fluid sealant material, and

means for closing said connector shell compressibly over said wires and said container and for volumetrically collapsing said container to expel said sealant and distribute the same throughout the cavity.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, each said wire receiving opening includes a sleeve form boot integral with said shell,

said boots opening into said wire receiving cavity section to receive quantities of said sealant expelled from said container.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein, said container is of hollow bellows configuration having an opening facing said wire receiving section of said shell, said shell having coupling means for advancing said shell sections toward each other to collapse said bellows configuration and expel the sealant.

4. The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein, said opening of said container is concentrically received within said wire receiving section to concentrically encircle a plurality of wires to be electrically joined within said cavity.