Method of encapsulation
First Claim
1. A method of encapsulating a cable splice between at least two electrical cables, said cable splice comprising at least two joints between insulated electrical conductors, each joint comprising an insulating sleeve which overlies the joint and the insulation of the joined-together conductors, the method comprising the steps of(1) preparing an assembly by the steps of(a) enveloping said cable splice within a closure member which forms an enclosure around the cable splice and which has at least one aperture of closed cross-section through which passes at least one of the cables forming that cable splice;
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(2) supplying heat to said assembly, at least in part from said heater, to change the viscosity of said sealing material and maintaining the sealing material at an elevated temperature for a sufficient time that if forms a waterproof seal around substantially all the joints; and
(3) cooling said assembly;
said sealing material (a) having, at a stage before completion of step (2), a viscosity such that it flows between and around and into sealing contact with substantially all of the joints of the cable splice within the enclosure, and (b) being substantially waterproof and having a substantially higher viscosity after step (3).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of encapsulating a substrate, especially a splice in a telephone cable, comprises (1) preparing an assembly comprising the substrate; an enclosure, preferably a heat-shrinkable enclosure, around the substrate; sealing material within the enclosure; and a heater within the enclosure; and (2) using said heater to change the viscosity of the sealing material. Preferably the heater is a PTC heater, especially one which is attached to thermoplastic sealing material in the form of a sheet or tape. In this way a desired distribution of heat through the assembly can be obtained so that extended heating times can be used.
24 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of encapsulating a cable splice between at least two electrical cables, said cable splice comprising at least two joints between insulated electrical conductors, each joint comprising an insulating sleeve which overlies the joint and the insulation of the joined-together conductors, the method comprising the steps of
(1) preparing an assembly by the steps of (a) enveloping said cable splice within a closure member which forms an enclosure around the cable splice and which has at least one aperture of closed cross-section through which passes at least one of the cables forming that cable splice; - and
(b) placing sealing material and a heater within said enclosure, the heater being wound around and through the sealing material and the joints between the insulated conductors; (2) supplying heat to said assembly, at least in part from said heater, to change the viscosity of said sealing material and maintaining the sealing material at an elevated temperature for a sufficient time that if forms a waterproof seal around substantially all the joints; and (3) cooling said assembly; said sealing material (a) having, at a stage before completion of step (2), a viscosity such that it flows between and around and into sealing contact with substantially all of the joints of the cable splice within the enclosure, and (b) being substantially waterproof and having a substantially higher viscosity after step (3). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification