Device and method for a fluid stop splice for a submersible cable

• US 5,861,575 A
• Filed: 03/19/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blaine L. Broussard
• Original Assignee: Blaine L. Broussard
• Inventors: Broussard, Blaine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US08/616,531
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 174/19, 174/20, 174/74 R, 174/74 A, 174/75 R, 174/76, 174/77, 174/71 R, 174/72 R, 439/272, 367/15, 367/130
• US Class Current: 174/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/08 Cable junctions for gas or oil filled cables H02G15/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/14 specially adapted for submarine cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/24 Cable junctions

Abstract

Submersible cables that are placed in a body of fluid such as water or other fluids such as chemicals or sewage often require a takeoff to be added to the submersible cable wherein a window is cut in the exterior insulation of the submersible cable or parent trunk exposing interior wires or fiber optical cables or tubes and the like. The device and method for this fluid stop splice for a submersible cable where the desired conductors such as wires, fibers or tubes of the takeoff are suitably spliced to the necessary or desired wires, fibers or tubes of the parent trunk cable is such that a cofferdam is placed around the spliced area of the cables, fibers or tubes and a glutinous material is pumped, poured, or injected into the cofferdam where the glutinous material cures around the splice of the cables, fibers and or tubes and further forms a fluid tight seal around the cables, fibers and tubes to further stop fluid flow into the parent truck when the primary cable and takeoff are submerged into the fluid and further prevents electrical leakage, or the distribution communication leakage of the cables, fibers or tubes.

Claims

1. A fluid stop wherein a first electrical wire contained in an existing parent trunk is spliced to a second electrical wire contained in a takeout wherein the device of splicing said second electrical wire contained in said takeout to said first electrical wire contained in said parent trunk is comprised of:

at least one window formed in said parent trunk and wherein said window has a first end and a second end, wherein said first electrical wire contained in said parent trunk is severed creating a first end of said first electrical wire and a second end of said first electrical wire;

said takeout has a first end and a second end, and wherein said second electrical wire is contained in said takeout;

at least one first splice extension with a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said first splice extension is fixed to said first end of said first electrical wire;

at least one second splice extension with a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said second splice extension is spliced to said second end of said first electrical wire;

said second electrical wire contained in said takeout with a first end and a second end wherein said first end of said second electrical wire is fixed to said second end of said first splice extension, and said first end of said second electrical wire is spliced to said second end of said second end of said second splice extension;

a first shrink tube cofferdam with a first end and a second end wherein said shrink tube cofferdam is placed around and over said first end of said second electrical wire that is spliced to said second end of said first splice extension and wherein said shrink tube cofferdam is further placed over and around said second end of said second splice extension and wherein said second end of said shrink tube cofferdam is shrunk on said takeout, near said first end of said takeout to form a fluid tight seal;

glutinous material wherein said glutinous material is viscous and is further pumped, poured, or injected into said first end of said shrink tube cofferdam and wherein said glutinous material cures and becomes less viscous than when said glutinous material was pumped, poured, or injected into said first end of said shrink tube cofferdam;

a second cofferdam wherein said second cofferdam is further placed around said parent trunk and extends past said first end of said window and said second cofferdam also extends past said second end of said window and said second cofferdam also extends over said shrink tube cofferdam filled with said cured glutinous material and said second cofferdam further extends past said first end of said takeout and wherein said second cofferdam is further filled with said glutinous material and wherein said glutinous material cures into a less viscous mass and wherein said second cofferdam may be removed after said glutinous material cures and forms a fluid tight covering for said fluid stop splice of the takeout to the parent trunk.

2. The fluid stop of claim 1 wherein said first electric wire and said second electric wire are tubes.

3. The fluid stop of claim 1 wherein said first electric wire and said second electric wire are conductors.

4. The fluid stop of claim 1 wherein said first electric wire and second electric wire are light transmitting fiber optics.

5. The fluid stop of claim 1 wherein each of said splices is comprised of a splice connection.