Abstract: A method of making fast setting permanently reinforced splice joints between a cable sheath and a sleeve which includes preparing a mixture of resin and filler additives which shrink upon curing and adding at the time of use a catalyst with a pigment color therein to indicate proper mixing. Resilient bands of rubber-like adhesive material are applied to the ends of the cable sheath to be joined and the self-curing resin is applied over the cable ends, the resilient band and the sleeve to be joined. The resin, when cured, shrinks to form a novel reinforced sealed splice joint.

Abstract: In a method for splicing cables, a first cable is connected to a second cable to form a junction and a heat shrinkable sleeve is positioned over the junction. A portable hot pack having properties for developing a temperature in excess of 250.degree. C is conformed around the sleeve to shrink the sleeve around the junction and thereby seal and insulate the junction. The hot pack can include first and second chemicals which react to initiate a series of heat producing reactions which occur at different temperatures to incrementally elevate the temperature of the hot pack.

Abstract: In the connection or terminal portions of cross-linked polyethylene cables produced by winding irradiated tapes around the connection or terminal portions of cross-linked polyethylene insulated cables and heat molding the same, the irradiated tapes comprise polyethylene and/or an ethylene copolymer as a base resin plus an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing more than about 15% vinylacetate (VA) in an amount which provides more than an about 2.5% VA content in the irradiated tapes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming cured polyethylene insulation about high voltage cables by applying uncured polyethylene around a core of the cable. The polyethylene is heated, cured and then cooled to room temperature in a pressurized nitrogen gas atmosphere. In one form the molding apparatus comprises first and second mold forms which define a cavity and which include means for heating the mold halves to the polyethylene curing temperature. Means is also provided to introduce the pressurized nitrogen into the cavity and for subjecting cable portions that extend beyond the mold to pressurized nitrogen until such cable portions are sufficiently cooled to prevent their deformation under pressure, to prevent the oxidation of polyethylene and/or to prevent the formation of voids or enclosures.

Abstract: In effecting a fluid-tight seal between a plastics part of a cable joint or termination enclosure and the plastics sheath of an electric cable a hole is formed in the wall of said part to form a cable entry of a size appropriate to the cable and a length of the cable is passed through the cable entry so formed. A mould is assembled about the cable adjacent a surface of said part, which mould embraces the cable and has ports for the admission and discharge of molten thermoplastics material, and the mould is temporarily secured to said part of the enclosure.

Abstract: A heat recoverable article is so configured that it can be positioned around a pipe or cable joint or splice which it is desired to encapsulate or seal. Means for sealing a splice involving a plurality of cables of the same or varying sizes are provided. The article includes a closure means for holding the article together after it has been positioned around the splice to be sealed. In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the article contains a heat activated adhesive or sealant to environmentally encapsulate the splice and the outer layer of the article is a heat recoverable insulating material. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the article has self-contained heating means, which heating means comprises a polymeric material having dispersed therein a conductive filler, said heating means exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance so as to render it self-regulating.

Abstract: For joining two cables which have an insulation of a cross-linked linear polymer such as polyethylene, the insulation on each of the two ends to be connected is tapered, the ends of the conductors are then secured to each other, and the joint is wrapped with a tape of the same linear polymer containing a cross-linking agent. The wrapping is enclosed in a tube of relatively rigid material, which is then enclosed in a tube of flexible material. The joint is then enclosed in a casing and simultaneously subjected to heating by an electric heating arrangement and to all-sided pressure exerted by a fluid, which may be a gas or a liquid such as silicone oil.

Abstract: A re-enterable, waterproof, encapsulated splice assembly and method for electrical conductors. The splice enclosure utilizes a pair of deep, cup-shaped housing members of supple material having a snug telescopic fit with one another about the splice junction. This junction is encapsulated in a water-repellent, non-setting, gel-like potting compound charged into the inner end of the two cup-shaped members prior to their assembly.

Abstract: In a method of making a connection between a plastics sheathed cable and an enclosed cable joint or termination, the enclosure is opened up to expose the existing conductor joint or termination and a separately formed plastics part of the enclosure that includes an end wall is removed. A new part of plastics material including an end wall which has at least one hole of a size appropriate to a cable at said end of the existing joint or termination and which is split between said hole and the peripheral edge of said new part, is applied to the or each cable sheath at said end of the joint or termination. A length of said plastics sheathed cable is passed through a further hole in the end wall of said new part and its conductor or conductors connected to at least one conductor of at least one of the cables of the existing joint or termination.

Abstract: A d.c. high tension cable termination or joint and method of manufacturing same is described. The cable comprises an electric conductor, an electrically insulating layer which is concentrically applied over the conductor, and a semi-conductive layer which is concentrically applied over the insulating layer in close contact therewith. The cable termination or joint comprises an electrically insulating liquid impregnated into a portion of the semi-conductive layer which is located adjacent to an end of the insulating layer so as to present an electrical resistance which is higher than that of the non-impregnated portion of the semi-conductive layer but is lower than that of the insulating layer. The electric conductor is electrically connected with the end of that portion of the semi-conductive layer impregnated with the insulating liquid which is located nearer the conductor.

Abstract: A splicing technique for fluoro-polymer-jacketed coaxial cables comprising hree bonding layers, with one of these bonding layers being located inside of the shield. The bonding agents are specially chosen to have thermal expansion coefficients matching the materials they are to bond to, and to have sufficient flexibility to provide strain relief and to prevent chafing and cut-through of the outer jacket at its emergence point from the outer potting layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of insulating stripped conductor wire portions of a cable insulated with solid polymer material so that the insulation of the stripped wire portions is substantially equivalent to the insulation of the cable. According to this method a vulcanizable insulation tape is wound about the stripped wire portion so that a layer of insulation tape is formed which is substantially flush with the insulation of the cable and then elastic tape is tightly wound about this layer of insulation tape and adjacent portions of the insulation so that the elastic tape applies an inwardly directed form of compression upon the layer of insulation tape. Heat is thereupon applied to the layer of elastic tape and through this layer to the insulation tape at a temperature and for a period of time such that the insulation tape is vulcanized. Upon completion of the vulcanization, application of heat is terminated and the layer of elastic tape is removed.

Abstract: A splice for a shielded high voltage cable wherein a section of electrical shielding sleeve of the original cable is replaced by an open-mesh sleeve, and the latter is concentrically supported on the connector sleeve by a polyurethane helix. A polyvinyl chloride or other plastic jacket is taped to the cable at its opposite ends, and is filled in with mixed polyurethane plastic material, an epoxy, or the like, which invades the entire interior of the splice, inside the jacket, and inside the open-mesh replacement shielding sleeve as well. The unshielded case is the same, but with the shield and shield replacement step omitted.

Abstract: An enclosure is assembled about an electric cable joint or termination by applying about the cable or cables a plastics sleeve slit therethrough its length and enclosing the adjacent pair of longitudinal edges of the sleeve in a mould which has ports for the admission and discharge of molten thermoplastics material. Molten thermoplastics material that is compatible with the plastics material of the sleeve and that is at a temperature appreciably above the softening point of said material is injected into the mould through at least one port and, after a sufficient quantity of molten thermoplastics material has passed through the mould to soften the surfaces of said longitudinal edges, the molten thermoplastics material in the mould is permitted or caused to cool and make an effective bond between said longitudinal edges. The sleeve is then sealed to adjacent separately formed end parts of the enclosure.

Abstract: A high temperature cement for carbon articles comprising aluminum, and tantalum or silicon, in a specific weight percent ratio such that when heated in an inert atmosphere, the tantalum or silicon will react with the carbon in the articles to be joined to form, in situ, tantalum carbide or silicon carbide, respectively, in the presence of aluminum.

Abstract: In this method, a pre-formed insulating sleeve is placed about the adjacent ends of the two sections of high voltage cable that are to be joined. At opposite ends of the sleeve in locations between the sleeve and the original cable insulation, two rings of porous material are provided. Into the space between the sleeve and the surrounded cable portion, there is pumped a slurry containing suspended particles of insulating material. The liquid component of the slurry is allowed to discharge from said space via the pores in said rings, but the particles of insulating material are filtered out so as to build up a deposit of said particles from the internal surfaces of said rings. This pumping and filtering action is continued until the deposit fills the space between the sleeve and the surrounded cable portion.

Abstract: A versatile protective closure for a cable splice comprising complementary mating body portions having a generally cylindrical shape terminating in serrated tapered ends, each portion including a pair of longitudinally extending flange portions each having an inner and an outer raised rim portion. The rim portions have alternate tongues and grooves arranged to define separate central and outer enclosed chambers when the two body portions are mated to form a casing about a cable. The top body portion has inner and outer filling apertures at each end in communication with the central and outer enclosed chambers, and a pair of optional annular partitioning members can be received internally in a region between adjacent inner and outer filling apertures to provide fluid isolation between the central and outer chambers. A plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially extending stiffener ribs are grooved to receive optional closure bands.

Abstract: A molded cable splice is formed by wrapping strip-formed semiconducting and insulative thermosetting molding compounds about a layer of semiconducting tape covering a connector and exposed central conductors of a pair of cable ends joined by the connector, and bonding the insulative molding compound to the cable insulation layer in a heated mold having opposing end clamp portions each with an inner surface of a predetermined radius and length. The radius is selected in accordance with the formula ##EQU1## , WHERE R IS THE RADIUS OF THE CABLES TO BE JOINED AND X is a numerical quantity called the cable clamp factor. For cables having an ethylene propylene rubber insulation layer, X lies in the range from about 0.20 to about 0.50; for cables with a cross-linked polyethylene insulation layer, X is partially dependent on insulation thickness W and lies between a lower range of from about 0.50 to about 0.76 for W = 0.175 inch and an upper range of from about 0.87 to about 1.00 for W = 0.900 inch.

Abstract: In the disclosed method of applying electrical insulation, a housing with a porous wall is placed around a conductor in spaced relationship thereto, and a slurry is pumped into the space between the housing and the conductor. This slurry comprises a liquid and particles suspended in the liquid having good electrical insulating properties. The liquid component is allowed to discharge from the housing via its pores, but the solid particles are filtered out within the housing so as to build up from the internal surface of the housing a deposit of the particles. This pumping and filtering action is continued until the space between the housing and the conductor is substantially filled with the deposit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for replacing a portion of the insulating sheath of a submarine electric cable when the ends are inaccessible in which a split extrusion mold is placed around the cable and secured to the head of an extruder which is mounted on a carriage movable axially of the cable. The cable is held in a fixed position and as new insulating material is injected into the mold and extruded over the portion of the cable from which the old insulation has been removed, the carriage is moved at a rate dependent upon the extrusion rate. The interior of the mold may be subjected to vacuum. Alternatively, the mold may be held stationary and the cable moved axially thereof.