Patent classifications
H02G15/182
Devices and methods for electrical cable splices
A splice for a skin-effect effect heating cable. The splice includes a primary shim configured to be shrunk over part of an insulation layer of a first portion of the heating cable, a secondary shim configured to be shrunk part of the insulation layer of a second portion of the heating cable, a connector configured to electrically couple the first portion of the heating cable and the second portion of the heating cable, and an outer cold shrink tube configured to be shrunk over the primary shim, the secondary shim, and the connector.
METHOD TO MINIMIZE ROUGHNESS ON CABLE END INSULATION SURFACES
A method is provided for preparing an uncovered insulation layer surface of an end section of a cable. The uncovered insulation layer surface has an advantageous low roughness. A method is also provided for jointing two cables, and for preparing a termination assembly on a cable, a cable end, a joint, and a termination assembly.
Variable Diameter Core Termination with Variable Diameter Housing
A variable diameter termination includes an elastomeric tubular housing having a first portion with a first inner diameter, a second portion with a second inner diameter, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and with a transition inner diameter. The elastomeric tubular housing is disposed on a tubular core that includes a first portion with a third outer diameter, a second portion with a fourth outer diameter, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and with a transition outer diameter. The first portion of the elastomeric tubular housing is disposed over the first portion of the tubular core, the second portion of the elastomeric tubular housing is disposed over the second portion of the tubular core, and the third portion of the elastomeric tubular housing is disposed over the third portion of the tubular core.
COVER ASSEMBLIES FOR CABLES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME
An integral, unitary cover assembly for covering an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables each having a primary conductor and a neutral conductor, includes an elastomeric inner sleeve, an elastomeric outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, and a collapsible duct assembly interposed radially between the inner and outer sleeves. The inner sleeve defines a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables. The duct assembly includes an outer duct sleeve member defining a first passage and an inner retention member disposed in the first passage. The retention member defines a second passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough. The duct sleeve member is flexible. The retention member maintains the duct sleeve member in an open configuration when the retention member is disposed in the first passage. The duct sleeve member is selectively collapsible about the at least one neutral conductor from the open configuration to a collapsed configuration by withdrawing the retention member from the first passage.
COVER ASSEMBLIES FOR CABLES AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME
An integral, unitary cover assembly for covering an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables each having a primary conductor and a neutral conductor includes an inner elastomeric sleeve, an outer elastomeric sleeve, and a collapsible duct. The inner elastomeric sleeve defines a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables. The outer elastomeric sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve. The collapsible duct is interposed radially between the inner and outer sleeves. The duct defines a neutral conductor passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough. The duct is selectively collapsible from an initial open configuration to a collapsed configuration about the at least one neutral conductor.
ELECTRICAL CABLE ACCESSORY SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING SAME
The present disclosure describes an electrical cable accessory system for covering an electrical cable and/or cable connection. The electrical cable accessory system includes a pre-expanded cable accessory unit and a time-temperature indicator associated with the pre-expanded cable accessory unit. The pre-expanded cable accessory unit includes a pre-expanded cable accessory formed of an elastomeric material and a removable holdout mounted within the elastomeric cable accessory, wherein the holdout is operative to maintain the elastomeric cable accessory in an expanded state and to permit the elastomeric cable accessory to elastically contract when the holdout is removed from the elastomeric cable accessory. The time-temperature indicator is configured to undergo a visible change in appearance in response to a cumulative heat exposure and signal to a viewer when the elastomeric material of the pre-expanded elastomeric cable accessory unit has experienced a threshold cumulative heat exposure. Methods including the same are also described herein.
CABLE TERMINATION WITH AN INTEGRATED MONITORING DEVICE
A cable termination including a cable terminal and a cable joint assembly. The cable terminal includes: a terminal conductor; a monitoring device including a capacitive voltage sensor around the terminal conductor; and an electrically insulating body fitted around the terminal conductor, including a bell-shaped end portion in which the voltage sensor is at least partially embedded. The cable terminal alternatively includes: a terminal conductor; a monitoring device including a capacitive voltage sensor around the terminal conductor; and an electrically insulating body fitted around the terminal conductor, including a bell-shaped end portion in which the voltage sensor is at least partially embedded and a stem end portion, the terminal conductor extending beyond the stem end portion.
Automated Methods and Apparatus for Installing a Sleeve on a Cable
A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.
HVDC POWER CABLE MULTI-BRANCH JOINT ASSEMBLY
An HVDC power cable joint assembly for jointing more than two power cables, including: a connection body including: a multi-branch conductor having at least two branches and a stem, a multi-branch conductor insulation system including: a connection body inner semiconducting layer arranged radially outside of the multi-branch conductor, a connection body insulation layer arranged radially outside the connection body inner semiconducting layer, a connection body outer semiconducting layer arranged radially outside the connection body insulation layer, N power cables, where N is the number of branches plus one, each power cable having a conductor, and a power cable insulation system surrounding the conductor, N power cable joints, each connecting a branch or the stem to a respective power cable, wherein each power cable joint includes: a conductor joint between one of the branches, or the stem, and a conductor of one of the power cables, a joint insulation system arranged around the conductor joint, the joint insulation system including a deflector layer, a field grading layer, a joint insulation layer and a joint insulation system outer semiconducting layer, and an outer cover housing the joint insulation system, and an external metal casing accommodating the connection body.
Automated methods and apparatus for installing a sleeve on a cable
A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.