Sleeve for branch or joint areas in optical or electrical cables

• US 5,517,592 A
• Filed: 10/21/1994
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: kabelmetal electro GmbH (Quattroduedue SpA)
• Original Assignee: kabelmetal electro GmbH (Quattroduedue SpA)
• Inventors: Schottker, Reinhard, Grajewski, Franz, Freckmann, Hans-Holger, Wielgolaski, Zbigniew, Stieb, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/327,382
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 385/76, 385/77, 385/81, 385/86, 385/87, 385/99, 385/100, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/139, 385/134, 174/70 R, 174/71 R, 174/72 R, 174/73.1, 174/74 R, 174/76, 174/77 R
• US Class Current: 385/138
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44775 Cable seals e.g. feed-through cable seals integrated to the box seals G02B6/4444; pulling eyes G02B6/44465
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32

Abstract

A sleeve for receiving branch or joint areas in optical or electrical cables, comprises a stable, essentially cylindrical hollow body (8) with at least one open end to receive the branch or joint areas, where a sleeve head (1) is inserted into the open end(s) and the sleeve head(s) (1) has (have) passage openings (2) in the form of radial slots (2) for the incoming or outgoing cables (3, 4). The slots (2) contain sealing bodies (11), which encompass the incoming or outgoing cable (3, 4) and seal the slots (2).

Claims

1. A sleeve assembly for receiving branch or joint areas in optical or electrical cables, comprising:

a stable, essentially cylindrical hollow body for receiving the branch or joint areas, said hollow body having at least one open end;

a sleeve head received in each open end, each sleeve head having passages formed therein in the form of radial slots for receiving incoming or outgoing cables;

sealing bodies received in said passages, said sealing bodies encompassing the incoming or outgoing cables and sealing said passages; and

wherein said sealing bodies can be clamped to its respective cable.

2. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said sealing bodies comprises:

a shell made of a thermoplastic material, said shell having an outer surface and an inner surface;

an elastomer coating permanently attached to said shell inner surface, said elastomer coating having a lengthwise insertion passage formed therein for receiving its respective cable; and

a slot formed in said shell and said elastomer coating between said insertion passage and said shell outer surface, its respective cable being received in said insertion passage through said slot.

3. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible seal between each of said sealing bodies and said sleeve head in the area of said passages.

4. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, further comprising mechanical means for attaching said sealing bodies in said passages.

5. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said passages and said sealing bodies have an essentially V-shaped cross section.

6. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said passages are oriented in a lengthwise direction of said sleeve head and wherein cup-shaped lugs are formed on both sides of said sleeve head at opposite ends of said passages to receive the cables.

7. A sleeve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body comprises a flanged extension and wherein said sleeve head and said sealing bodies extend into flanges in a peripheral direction and are clamped by means of a tension ring to said flanged extension of said hollow body.

8. A sleeve assembly according to claim 7, wherein said tension ring comprises a hinge mechanism.

9. A sleeve assembly according to claim 7, wherein said flanged extensions of said sleeve head and said hollow body have inclined planes which are covered by said tension ring.

10. A sleeve assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a sealing ring located between said sleeve head and said hollow body, and a seal located between said sealing body and said sleeve head.

11. A sleeve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said sealing ring and said seals are configured as one part, and wherein said sealing ring is separated by an angled cut in an area of said passages.

12. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said sealing bodies can be clamped to the cables.

13. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a flexible seal between each of said sealing bodies and said sleeve head in the area of said passages.

14. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, further comprising mechanical means for attaching said sealing bodies in said passages.

15. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said passages and said sealing bodies have an essentially V-shaped cross section.

16. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said passages are oriented in a lengthwise direction of said sleeve head and wherein cup-shaped lugs are formed on both sides of said sleeve head at opposite ends of said passages to receive the cables.

17. A sleeve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said hollow body comprises a flanged extension and wherein said sleeve head and said sealing bodies extend into flanges in a peripheral direction and are clamped by means of a tension ring to said flanged extension of said hollow body.