Cable sealing

• US 4,963,698 A
• Filed: 09/15/1989
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Midgley, John A., Chang, Rong J., Toy, Lester T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NIMMO, MORRIS
• Application Number:
  US07/408,479
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 174/74 A, 174/77 R, 174/76, 156/49, 29/868
• US Class Current: 174/77.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• 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 15/04 Cable-end sealings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealed cable article and method for sealing the area between two or more cables and between the cables and an enclosure with a shaped article at a location where the cables exit from the enclosure, the method comprising (a) providing a shaped article of a polymeric gel said gel having (i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 450 (10^-1 mm), and (ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 750%; (b) positioning the shaped article around the cables; and (c) positioning the enclosure such that it surrounds the shaped article. An article aspect of the invention comprises two or more cables, an enclosure surrounding the cables, and a polymeric gel having the properties as described above sealing the area between the cables and the enclosure. This invention also relates to a sealed cable end article and a method of sealing the end of a cable, the method comprising positioning a shaped article of a polymeric gel having the properties as described above to cover the end of a cable and positioning an enclosure around said shaped article and adjacent region of the cable. The article comprises one or more cable ends with a portion of the cable end exposed, a shaped article of a polymeric gel having the properties as described above positioned at the cable end, and an enclosure which surrounds the shaped article and the adjacent region of the cable.

Claims

1. A method of sealing an area between two or more cables and between the cables and an enclosure at a location where the cables exit from the enclosure, which method comprises

(a) providing a shaped article of polymeric gel, said polymeric gel having

(i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10^-1 mm),

(ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%;

(b) positioning the shaped article such that it surrounds each of two or more cables; and

(c) positioning an enclosure such that it surrounds the shaped article whereby the area between said two or more cables and said enclosure is sealed at a location where the cables exit from the enclosure.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising providing the shaped article with a number of holes extending therethrough corresponding to the number of cables and positioning the shaped article such that it surrounds each of the cables in a manner such that the cables are positioned through the holes of the shaped article.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the holes are formed slightly smaller than the size of the cable to be positioned therein.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein there is a slit extending from the edge of a hole to the outer edge of the shaped article such that a cable may be positioned in the hole without access to a free end of the cable.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided has an elongation of from about 100% to 750%.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided has a cone penetration value is from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm).

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of less than 6 at 50 Hz and a volume resistivity of at least 10¹⁰ ohm-cm.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of greater than 6 at 50 Hz and a specific impedance of 10⁷ -10¹⁰ ohm-cm at 50 Hz.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided has a volume resistivity of less than 10⁷ ohm-cm.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided is a silicone-based gel.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided is a polyurethane based gel.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the gel provided comprises a crosslinked non-silicon polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer

(a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or

(b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule;

said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)×

dynes/cm² wherein x is less than 5×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that, if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140°

C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70°

C.; and

a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)y poises wherein y is less than 1×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said gel is derived from a liquid rubber.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the liquid rubber is liquid butyl rubber.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally recoverable polymeric article.

16. A method according to claim 5 wherein the polymeric article is heat recoverable polyethylene.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally stable polymeric article.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the enclosure is in the form of a tape.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure has an adhesive inner layer.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein the shaped article is positioned by wrapping it around the cables.

21. A method of sealing an end of each of one or more cables comprising

(a) providing one or more shaped article of polymeric gel corresponding to the number of cable ends to be sealed, said polymeric gel having:

(i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10^-1 mm),

(ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%;

(b) positioning a shaped article at the end of each of one or more cables such that the end of each cable is sealed; and

(c) positioning an enclosure such that it surrounds the shaped articles.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein each of the one or more shaped articles has a hole a portion of the way therethrough for positioning one of said cable ends therein.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided, has an elongation of from about 100% to 750%.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided has a cone penetration value is from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm).

25. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of less than 6 at 50 Hz and a volume resistivity of at least 10¹⁰ ohm-cm.

26. A method according to claim 21 the gel provided has a dielectric constant of greater than 6 at 50 Hz and a specific impedance of 10⁷ -10¹⁰ ohm-cm at 50 Hz.

27. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided has a volume resistivity of less than 10⁷ ohm-cm.

28. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided is a silicone-based gel.

29. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gel provided is a polyurethane-based gel.

30. A method according to claim 21 in the gel provided comprises a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer

(a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or

(b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule;

said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)×

dynes/cm² wherein x is less than 5×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that, if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140°

C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70°

C.; and

a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)y poises wherein y is less than 1×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

31. A method according to claim 21, wherein said gel is derived from a liquid rubber.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the liquid rubber is liquid butyl rubber.

33. A method according to claim 21 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally recoverable polymeric article.

34. A method according to claim 33 the polymeric article is heat recoverable-polyethylene.

35. A method according to claim 21 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally stable polymeric article.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the enclosure is in the form of a tape.

37. A method according to claim 21 wherein the enclosure has an adhesive inner layer.

38. A method according to claim 21 wherein a multiplicity of cable ends and a multiplicity of shaped articles corresponding to the number of cable ends have one enclosure which surrounds the multiplicity of shaped articles.

39. An article comprising

(a) two or more cables;

(b) a shaped article of a polymeric gel, the polymeric gel having

(i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10^-1 mm),

(ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%; and

(c) an enclosure surrounding the shaped article;

(d) the shaped article positioned such that it encloses the cables and seals the area between the cables and between the cables and the enclosure.

40. An article according to claim 39 wherein the shaped article has a number of holes extending therethrough corresponding to the number of cables and the cables are positioned through the holes of the shaped article such that the shaped article surrounds each of the cables.

41. An article according to claim 40 wherein the holes are formed slightly smaller than the size of the cables that are positioned therein.

42. An article according to claim 39 wherein there is a slit extending from the edge of the holes to the outer edge of the shaped article such that a cable has been positioned in the hole without access to the free end of the cable.

43. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided has an elongation of from about 100% to 750%.

44. An article according to claim 39 the gel provided has cone penetration value is from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm).

45. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of less than 6 at 50 Hz and a volume resistivity of at least 10¹⁰ ohm-cm.

46. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of greater than 6 at 50 Hz and a specific impedance of 10⁷ -10¹⁰ ohm-cm at 50 Hz.

47. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided has a volume resistivity of less than 10⁷ ohm-cm.

48. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided is a silicone-based gel.

49. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided is a polyurethane-based gel.

50. An article according to claim 39 wherein the gel provided comprises a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer

(a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or

(b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule;

said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)×

dynes/cm² wherein x is less than 5×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that, if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140°

C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70°

C.; and

a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)y poises wherein y is less than 1×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

51. An article according to claim 50 wherein said gel is derived from a liquid rubber.

52. An article according to claim 51 wherein the liquid rubber is liquid butyl rubber.

53. An article according to claim 39 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally recovered polymeric article.

54. An article according to claim 53 the polymeric article is heat recovered polyethylene.

55. An article according to claim 39 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally stable polymeric article.

56. An article according to claim 39 wherein the enclosure is in the form of a tape.

57. An article according to claim 39 wherein the enclosure has an adhesive inner layer.

58. An article comprising

(a) one or more cable ends with a portion of the cable end exposed;

(b) one or more shaped articles of a polymeric gel corresponding to the number of cable ends to be sealed, the polymeric gel having

(i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10^-1 mm)

(ii) an elongation from about 25% to about 850%;

(c) a said shaped article positioned at each cable end to be sealed;

(d) an enclosure that surrounds the shaped article.

59. An article according to claim 58 wherein the one or more said shaped article has a hole a portion of the way therethrough for positioning therein a cable end to be sealed.

60. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided has an elongation of from about 100% to 750%.

61. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided has a cone penetration value is from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm).

62. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of less than 6 at 50 Hz and a volume resistivity of at least 10¹⁰ ohm-cm.

63. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of greater than 6 at 50 Hz and a specific impedance of 10⁷ -10¹⁰ ohm-cm at 50 Hz.

64. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided has a volume resistivity of less than 10⁷ ohm-cm.

65. An article according to claim 58 the gel provided is a silicone-based gel.

66. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel provided is a polyurethane-based gel.

67. An article according to claim 58 wherein the gel comprises a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer

(a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or

(b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule;

said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)×

dynes/cm² wherein x is less than 5×

10⁵ at 30°

.C and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that, if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140°

C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70°

C.; and

a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)y poises wherein y is less than 1×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

68. An article according to claim 67, wherein said gel is derived from a liquid rubber.

69. An article according to claim 68 wherein the liquid rubber is liquid butyl rubber.

70. An article according to claim 58 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally recovered polymeric article.

71. An article according to claim 70 wherein the dimensionally recovered polymeric article is heat recoverable polyethylene.

72. An article according to claim 71 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally stable polymeric article.

73. An article according to claim 58 wherein the enclosure is in the form of a tape.

74. An article according to claim 58 wherein the enclosure has an adhesive inner liner.

75. A cable sealing kit which comprises:

(a) one or more shaped articles of a polymeric gel having one or more holes at least a portion of the way therethrough, the polymeric gel having

(i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10^-1 mm),

(ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%; and

(b) an enclosure for surrounding one or more said shaped articles.

76. A cable sealing kit according to claim 75 wherein each shaped article has holes therethrough corresponding to the number of cables to be sealed.

77. A kit according to claim 75 wherein each shaped article has holes a portion of the way therethrough.

78. A kit according to claim 75 wherein there is a slit extending from the edge of a hole to the outer edge of the shaped article such that a cable may be positioned in the hole without access to the free end of the cable.

79. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided has an elongation of from about 100% to about 750%.

80. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided has a cone penetration value is from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm).

81. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided has a dielectric constant of less than 6 at 50 Hz and a volume resistivity of at least 10¹⁰ ohm-cm.

82. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided a dielectric constant of greater than 6 at 50 Hz and a specific impedance of 10⁷ -10¹⁰ ohm-cm at 50 Hz.

83. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided has a volume resistivity of less than 10⁷ ohm-cm.

84. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided a silicone-based gel.

85. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided is a polyurethane-based gel.

86. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the gel provided comprises a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer

(a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or

(b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule;

said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)×

dynes/cm² wherein x is less than 5×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that, if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140°

C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70°

C.; and

a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v²)y poises wherein y is less than 1×

10⁵ at 30°

C. and greater than 5×

10² at 90°

C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

87. A kit according to claim 86, wherein said gel is derived from a liquid rubber.

88. A kit according to claim 87 wherein the liquid rubber is liquid butyl rubber.

89. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally recoverable polymeric article.

90. A kit according to claim 89 wherein the dimensionally recoverable polymeric article is heat recoverable polyethylene.

91. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the enclosure is a dimensionally stable polymeric article.

92. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the enclosure in the form of a tape.

93. A kit according to claim 75 wherein the enclosure has an adhesive inner liner.