Method of protecting a cable splice with a splice closure having pressure measuring means

• US 4,764,232 A
• Filed: 09/26/1986
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Hunter, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Askin, Laramie E.
• Application Number:
  US06/912,441
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 174/10, 174/11 R, 174/21 R, 174/22 R, 174/23 R, 174/76, 174/84 R, 174/88 R, 174/92, 156/48, 156/49
• US Class Current: 156/48
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/14 for joining or terminating cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/003 Filling materials, e.g. solid or fluid insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes

Abstract

A closure and method for protecting a splice connecting at least two cables. The closure includes a flexible reservoir positioned around the splice, a curable liquid sealant introduced into the reservoir, a means applied to the reservoir for increasing the pressure therein and a pressure measuring tube communicating between the inside and outside of the reservoir.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a cable splice, which comprises:

(a) providing a cable splice between two cables;

(b) wrapping a tape around each cable at a position adjacent the splice to form first and second tape wraps;

(c) placing a pressure measuring tube across the first tape wrap such that it has one end adjacent the splice and an opposite end further away from the splice than said first tape wrap;

said pressuring measuring tube being sealed at said opposite end, and having a transparent or translucent wall;

(d) positioning a flexible reservoir around the splice and around the first and second tape wraps and around the pressure measuring tube such that said one end of the tube lies within the reservoir and said opposite end lies outside the reservoir;

(e) then introducing a curable sealant into the reservoir via an opening therein;

(f) then closing the opening to seal the reservoir;

(g) then compression wrapping a tape around the reservoir thereby subjecting the curable sealant to compression;

(h) observing through the wall of the pressure measuring tube the extent to which curable sealant is displaced into the tube and thereby the pressure to which the sealant is subjected;

(i) then curing the curable sealant while the sealant is thus observable.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes the step of folding the pressure measuring tube onto the reservoir after the sealant has cured.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, which additionally comprises wrapping a holding tape around the reservoir and the tube after folding the tube such that the tube is held against the reservoir by means of the holding tape.