Cold shrink assembly

• US 8,853,563 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Verner, Dennis, Szyszko, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Forrest M
• Application Number:
  US13/085,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 174/500, 174/84.R, 403/273, 439/521
• US Class Current: 174/500
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 61/065 Preforms held in a stressed condition by means of a removable support; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/14 for joining or terminating cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/1826 on a removable hollow core, e.g. a tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/20 with indicator or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/48 Shrunk fit

Abstract

A cold shrink assembly includes a first member, a second member and insulating material disposed over the first and second members. The first member may include first and second portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the first and second portions forming a main body having curved portions extending from the main body. The second member may include third and fourth portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, where the third and fourth portions form a receiving portion located at a second end of the second member. The receiving portion may be configured to secure the curved portions of the first member to the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a first position, and release the curved portions from the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a second position.

Claims

1. A cold shrink assembly, comprising:

a first member comprising first and second portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, the first and second portions including a main body having curved portions extending from a first end of the main body;

a second member comprising third and fourth portions that are coupled together and configured to be separable from each other, the third and fourth portions including forming a receiving portion located at a second end of the second member, wherein the receiving portion is configured to;

secure the curved portions of the first member to the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a first position, and

release the curved portions from the receiving portion when the first and second members are in a second position; and

an insulating material disposed over a portion of the first and second members.

2. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein when in the first position, the first member is at a first radial position with respect to the second member, and when in the second position, the first member is at a second radial position with respect to the second member, the second radial position being rotated with respect to the first radial position.

3. The cold shrink assembly of claim 2, wherein the first member includes a first positioning indicator and the second member includes a second positioning indicator, wherein when in the second position, the first and second positioning indicators are aligned with respect to each other.

4. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second members each comprise a plastic material that is substantially cylindrical in shape.

5. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion comprises a rim having a plurality of cam portions located around the periphery of the rim, the cam portions extending in the radial direction from the periphery of the rim.

6. The cold shrink assembly of claim 5, wherein the curved portions comprise fingers and the cam portions are configured to apply a force to push the fingers of the first member inwardly when the second member is rotated with respect to the first member, the force causing the first member to separate from the second member.

7. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first member comprises:

a first extension that runs along a first side of the first portion, and

a first groove that runs along a second side of the first portion,

wherein the second portion of the first member comprises;

a second groove that runs along a first side of the second portion, and

a second extension that runs along a second side of the second portion, wherein the first extension is received by the second groove and the second extension is received by the second groove to secure the first portion to the second portion, and

wherein the first extension includes angled sides, and the second groove includes correspondingly angled sides to hold the first and second portions together.

8. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises at least one slot, the cold shrink assembly further comprising:

at least one strap configured to be fed through the at least one slot and form a loop; and

a buckle located at the second end of the second member and disposed around a circumference of the second member, wherein the at least one strap and the buckle are configured to secure the insulating material when the first member is disconnected from the second member.

9. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are separable by hand and without the use of a tool.

10. A cold shrink assembly, comprising:

a first member comprising a main body having at least one portion extending from a first end of the main body;

a second member comprising a receiving end located at a second end of the second member, wherein the receiving end is configured to;

hold the at least one portion extending from the first end of the main body when the first and second members are in a first position with respect to each other, and

release the at least one portion when one of the first or second members are rotated with respect to the other of the first or second members; and

an insulating material disposed over a portion of the first and second members.

11. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the first position corresponds to a locked position and the second position corresponds to an unlocked position, the second position being rotated at least 10 degrees with respect to the first position.

12. The cold shrink assembly of claim 11, wherein the first member includes a first positioning hole and the second member includes a second positioning hole, wherein when in the unlocked position, the first and second positioning holes are aligned with respect to each other.

13. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the receiving end comprises a rim having a plurality of raised portions located around the periphery of the rim, the raised portions extending in the radial direction from the periphery of the rim.

14. The cold shrink assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion comprises a plurality of extensions, and the raised portions are configured to apply a force to push the plurality of extensions inwardly when the second member is rotated with respect to the first member, the force causing the first member to separate from the second member.

15. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the first member comprises first and second portions that are coupled together and are configured to be separable from each other, and

the second member comprises third and fourth portions that are coupled together and are configured to be separable from each other,

wherein the first and second portions of the first member are coupled to each other using extensions and corresponding grooves that are connected to each other in a dove-tail configuration.

16. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

a strap configured to form a loop along one side of the second member; and

a buckle located near the second end of the second member and disposed around a circumference of the second member, wherein the strap and buckle are configured to secure the insulating material when the first member is disconnected from the second member.

17. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second members each comprise a substantially cylindrical, hollow tube.

18. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second members are separable by hand and without the use of a tool.

19. A method, comprising:

placing a cold shrink assembly onto an electrical cable, the cold shrink assembly including a first side and a second side;

positioning the cold shrink assembly at a location to receive insulating material disposed on the outer surface of the cold shrink assembly;

rotating the first side of the cold shrink assembly with respect to the second side to separate the first side from the second side and to deposit the insulating material; and

removing the first and second sides from the electrical cable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the removing the first and second sides comprises:

separating a first half of the first side from a second half of the first side, and

separating a first half of the second side from a second half of the second side.