COLD SHRINK ASSEMBLY

• US 20140090875A1
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Gardner, Daniel L., Hernandez, Carlos, Szyszko, Stanley S., Lucero, Roger L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/167
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/58 Tubes, sleeves, beads, or bobbins through which the conductor passes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 19/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing insulators or insulating bodies manufacture of porcelain for electric insulation C04B33/26
• 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 29/49227 Insulator making

Abstract

A cold shrink assembly includes a first member, a second member, a shrink fit joint and a band. The first member has a tapered shape and includes a first opening or first notch. The second member has a tapered shape and includes a second opening or second notch. The shrink fit joint is disposed over a portion of the first and second members. The band is configured to secure the first and second members in a predetermined position. The band extends through the first opening or first notch, along a first portion of an outer surface of the cold shrink assembly, through the second opening or second notch, and loops back to the first opening or first notch along a second portion of the outer surface of the cold shrink assembly.

Claims

1. A cold shrink assembly, comprising:

a first member having a tapered shape, wherein a first end of the first member includes a at least a first opening or first notch;

a second member having a tapered shape, wherein a first end of the second member includes at least a second opening or second notch;

a shrink fit joint disposed over a portion of the first and second members; and

a band configured to;

secure the first and second members in a predetermined position, wherein the band forms a loop that extends through the at least first opening or first notch, extends along a first portion of an outer surface of the cold shrink assembly, extends through the at least second opening or second notch, and loops back to the at least first opening or first notch along a second portion of the outer surface of the cold shrink assembly.

2. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the band includes at least one buckle configured to allow the band to be tightened to secure the first and second members in the predetermined position.

3. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least a first opening or first notch comprises a first opening located on a first side of the first member and a second opening located on a second side of the first member opposite the first opening,

wherein the at least a second opening or second notch comprises a third opening located on a first side of the second member and a fourth opening located on a second side of the second member opposite the third opening, and

wherein the band loops through the first opening to the third opening, through the third opening to the second opening and through the second opening to the fourth opening and wherein the band runs along the outer surfaces of the cold shrink assembly.

4. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least a first opening or first notch comprises a first notch located on a first side of the first member and a second notch located on a second side of the first member opposite the first notch,

wherein the at least a second opening or second notch comprises a third notch located on a first side of the second member and a fourth notch located on a second side of the second member opposite the third notch, and

wherein the band extends through the first and second notches of the first member and through the third and fourth notches of the second member.

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

6. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined position comprises a tapered end of the first member being located a predetermined distance from a tapered end of the second member, or the tapered end of the first member contacting the tapered end of the second member.

7. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance ranges from approximately 0.1 inches to 1.0 inches.

8. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a first half and a second half coupled together and the second member includes a third half and a fourth half coupled together.

9. The cold shrink assembly of claim 8, wherein the first half of the first member comprises:

a first tab that runs along a first side of the first half, and

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

wherein the second half of the first member comprises;

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

a second tab that runs along a second side of the second half,

wherein the first tab is received by the second groove and the second tab is received by the first groove to secure the first half to the second half, and

wherein the first tab includes angled sides, and the second groove includes correspondingly angled sides to hold the first and second halves together.

10. The cold shrink assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second members are configured to move away from a center portion of the shrink fit joint when the band is cut to allow the first and second members to be removed.

11. The cold shrink assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second members are configured to be removed from the shrink fit joint without the use of a tool.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining comprises:

determining that the first and second tubes are a predetermined distance apart after the cold shrink joint is placed onto the first and second members.

12. A cold shrink assembly, comprising:

a first member having a tapered shape;

a second member having a tapered shape;

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

a band or strap configured to;

secure the first and second members in a predetermined position until the insulating material is to be installed over an electrical connection.

13. The cold shrink assembly of claim 12, wherein the band or strap extends through at least a first opening or notch located on an end of the first member, through at least a second opening or notch located on an end of the second member and extends along a length of an external surface of the cold shrink assembly.

14. The cold shrink assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second members each comprise a substantially cylindrical, hollow tube.

15. The cold shrink assembly of claim 12, wherein the predetermined position comprises a tapered end of the first member being located a predetermined distance from a tapered end of the second member or the tapered end of the first member contacting the tapered end of the second member.

16. The cold shrink assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second members are configured to move away from a center portion of the insulating material when the band or strap is cut to allow the first and second members to be removed.

17. The cold shrink assembly of claim 16, wherein the first and second member are configured to be removed after installation of the insulating material without the use of a tool.

18. The cold shrink assembly of claim 12, wherein the first member comprises first and second portions that are coupled together and are configured to be separable from each other,

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

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.

19. A method, comprising:

placing a cold shrink joint onto a first member and a second member, wherein the first and second members comprises tapered tubes;

determining that the first and second tubes are located in a predetermined position with respect to each other; and

installing a band or strap to hold the first and second members in the predetermined position until the cold shrink joint is installed.