AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant/s: Tappat Engineering Pty Ltd Actual Inventor/s: Patrick Paul Dannenberg Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: COMPACT ELECTRICAL TERMINATION Details of Associated Provisional Application No. 2006904382 dated 10 Aug 2006 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: File: 50621AUP00 -2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION 100011 The present invention relates to the interconnection of sector cables and, in particular, discloses a compact inexpensive form of interconnection. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 100021 Sector cables for distribution of low voltage high current supplies to household and industrial electrical applications are extremely popular. Normally three phases and a neutral are provided within overall underground cable for electrical distribution. [0003] There is a common need to terminate cables or join sector cables together. Additionally, sector cables are normally unduly cumbersome and are utilised for 10 carrying substantial current. The final interconnection with a household or the like normally relies upon taking off a smaller cable for distribution. For example, a sector cable may run down a street and have various tap-off cables going to each house in the street. The tap-off cable being of a lower current carrying capability than the sector cable. 15 100041 The termination and interconnection of sector cables is very common. Ideally, any termination or interconnection mechanism is extremely inexpensive with electrical authorities often awarding tenders based primarily on cost of solution. 100051 A number of interconnection systems are presently in use in Australia. One prime utilisation is the use of lugs which are crimped onto the ends of sector cables. The 20 lugs in turn are interconnected by a busbar thereby interconnection multiple sector cables. Heat shrink material is then in turn placed around the interconnected bus bar. This arrangement has a number of different disadvantages. Firstly the crimping tool must apply an excessive amount of crimping pressure and often relies on a hydraulic system. Additionally, the use of heat shrinks often creates problems especially when 25 total fire bans may be in force. Additionally, such arrangements are unduly bulky and often take excessive time to implement in that the cable joiner is tied up for a lengthy period of time in implementing a simple cable interconnection. Such arrangements also tend to be expensive. Additionally such arrangements often lead to a messy interconnect of wires where multiple phases must be interconnected. 30 100061 As mentioned previously, a core driving requirement of the electrical authorities in termination units is cost. Electrical authorities often are attracted to an inexpensive solution provided the solution meets various testing authority requirements.
- 3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 100071 It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved form of sector cable termination system. 100081 In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 5 cable interconnection unit comprising first and second conductive units each having an aperture and associated first clamping means for clamping a sector cable in the aperture; interconnection unit for conductively interconnecting the first and second conductive units together; the conductive units further including integrally formed distribution portions having a series of apertures for insertion of distribution cables and associated 10 second clamping means for clamping the distribution cables in the apertures. 100091 The first and second conductive units are preferably mirror symmetric. The first and second conductive units are preferably formed from extruded sections. The first clamping means can comprise a single screw bolt engaging a threaded aperture in a corresponding conductive unit. The sector cables and distribution cables are preferably 15 inserted in parallel alignment into the unit. An insulating cover engaging with an outer surface of the unit to thereby provide electrical insulation therefrom. 100101 Preferably, the unit also includes spacer means for spacing the unit in a predetermined position relative to the end of a sector cable. The spacer means preferably can include a first spacer means for spacing adjoining sector cable phases and 20 a second spacer means for spacing the conductive portions of the unit relative to the first spacer means. 100111 Multiple units can be assembled side by side for each phase of a sector cable. The distribution cables are preferably attached to distal ends of the unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 100121 Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 100131 Fig. I to Fig. 6 are photographs of interconnection units of the first embodiment; 100141 Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 illustrate the assembly plate utilised in the preferred embodiment; 100151 Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 are photographs illustrating the prototype covering jacket 30 utilised in the preferred embodiment; 10016] Fig. 13 illustrates the extruded sections of the interconnection units; 100171 Fig. 14 illustrates the neutral interconnection; and -4 100181 Fig. 15 illustrates the extension of the preferred embodiment to a three way interconnection unit. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS 100191 In the preferred embodiment, there is provided an inexpensive and compact 5 electrical termination arrangement for interconnecting sector cables and, additionally, providing tapoff capabilities. The preferred embodiment is ideally utilised for interconnecting each phase of a sector cable in a compact manner. 100201 Turning initially to Fig. I there is illustrated the conductive portions of a first phase interconnection unit 1. The interconnection unit 1 is based around two anti 10 symmetrical parts 2, 3 each of which includes an aperture for the insertion of a sector cable. The sector cable is clamped by corresponding screw bolts 4, 5 to be firmly held in place. The two parts 2, 3 are further bolted together with screw 6 interconnecting spring washer 8 and bolt 7. At each end of the parts 2, 3 a distribution system is provided which consist of a series of apertures 10, 11, 12 into which distribution cables 15 can be inserted and bolted. An insulating cover is also provided at each end to cover the distribution cables. As noted previously, the sector cable is inserted in a corresponding aperture and the bolt e.g. 4 utilised to clamp the sector cable against the sidewall of the aperture. 100211 Fig. 2 illustrates a further enlarged view of a single part 2. 20 100221 Turning now to Fig. 3, an interconnection unit can be provided for each phase for interconnecting together two sector cables. Fig. 3 illustrates two interconnection units 20, 21 in an assembled form with stranded sector cables being clamped in corresponding apertures. A third interconnection unit can be provided for the last remaining phase so as to interconnect the two sector cables 23, 24. The sector cables are, as will be discussed 25 further hereinafter, initially aligned by means of two aligning plates 25, 26. Fig. 4 illustrates the assembled three interconnection units 20, 21 and 26 for interconnecting each phase of two sector cables. 100231 Fig. 5 illustrates the end portion of an interconnection unit with it's insulating cover illustrating one of three apertures e.g. 50 for the insertion of distribution cables 30 which are clamped by means of screw bolts inserted in the side. Further, the sector cables are inserted in the aperture 51. Fig. 6 is a further end view illustrating the insulating cover of the distribution point of the interconnection unit.
-5 100241 Preferably, the sector cables are placed in alignment by means of a number of mounting plates. The mounting plates are illustrated in Fig. 7 with first mounting plate 70 providing initial sector cable positioning. A second mounting plate 71 is provided for each phase of interconnection so as to provide for proper positioning of the 5 corresponding interconnection. Fig. 8 illustrates an alternative view of the mounting arrangement and Fig. 9 illustrates the mounting plates separately. 100251 After assembly, a cover can be placed over the interconnection unit so as to provide for touch safe capabilities. Fig. 10 illustrates an example prototype cover 80 placed over an interconnection unit. Fig. 11 illustrates a side view of the prototype 10 cover and Fig. 12 illustrates a further side view of the prototype cover. 100261 Advantageously, the interconnection unit is based around an extruded section. Fig. 13 illustrates the example extrusions having both left and right symmetry. The extrusions can be cut in section and tapped drilled appropriately to form the core of the interconnection unit. 15 100271 Preferably, a neutral interconnection is also provided. The neutral interconnection is somewhat different and illustrated in Fig. 14 and includes tap-off holes 140 and 141 for distribution neutrals. Advantageously, the arrangement 142 is provided such that upon disconnection of one of the sector cables e.g. 143, 144, the distributions in apertures 140, 141 still remain connected to the remaining neutral. 20 10028] Further modification of the phase interconnection units can be provided. For example, a three way interconnected can be readily provided and such an example is illustrated schematically in Fig. 15 which illustrates the appropriate extrusion sections for forming a three way interconnect. 100291 It will be evident that the preferred embodiment has a number of significant 25 advantages. The interconnection is easily disconnectable between phases by means of loosening the bolt 7 and removing screw 6 so as to separate the two phase cables from one another. The arrangement can be rapidly assembled. The clamping base and slider pieces are easily detachable in the event of needing to split the sector cables termination. The arrangement is 100% touch safe. It has readily detachable covers. The design is 30 based around simple core extruded sections. A large number of terminations (in the present example 6 terminations per interconnection unit) are provided. The sector cables are all arranged for insertion in a compact and neat manner and can be aligned as a preliminary step before the interconnection unit is interconnected to the sector cables to -6 form the terminations. Hence, there is no need to bend the sector cable or the service cables which are also drawn off in a neat manner. The arrangement can also be inexpensively made. The arrangement also has a reduced number ofjoints across which failures could occur. 5 100301 The neutral arrangement also provides for service cables to be still connected to each of the neutral sector cables when alteration of the sector cable occurs. 100311 The foregoing describes preferred forms of the present invention. Modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. 10