CA1158731A - Filled electrical splice case - Google Patents

Filled electrical splice case

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Publication number
CA1158731A
CA1158731A CA000362073A CA362073A CA1158731A CA 1158731 A CA1158731 A CA 1158731A CA 000362073 A CA000362073 A CA 000362073A CA 362073 A CA362073 A CA 362073A CA 1158731 A CA1158731 A CA 1158731A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fluid sealant
splices
fluid
electrical
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000362073A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kenneth W. Brownell, Jr.
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Akzona Inc
Original Assignee
Akzona Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Akzona Inc filed Critical Akzona Inc
Priority to CA000362073A priority Critical patent/CA1158731A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1158731A publication Critical patent/CA1158731A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

FILLED ELECTRICAL SPLICE CASE

ABSTRACT

A splice case housing electrical splices between two cables where the splices are immersed in an oil sealant having a specific gravity greater than water. The case includes holes located above the splices for receiving the electrical cables.
Since the oil is heavier than water, if water were to enter the splice case, it would be above the oil and splices, thereby causing a hydraulic force on the oil, causing an even more intimate seal of the oil around the splices.

I

Description

~5873~ ` ~

B~-K~ROUI~D 7~0 1~ lVI;MTI~N
This invention relates to a me~n.s for preventin~ mois~
ture ~rom coming in contact with electrical components in a con-tainer. More particularly, it relates to an improved telephone S cable splice case, which is readily re-enterable.
In the t~lephone communication industry, signals are transmitted many miles over cabl~ containing many pa-rs of con-ductors. Since this cable is sold in fixed lengths, usually several hunclred feet each, it is necessary to splice cables to-gether. The ends of corresponding conductors o~ ~butting cables are tied or spliced together after their insulations have been trimmed, exposing their metallic conductors. In order to protect these exposed rnetallic conductor splices frGm the elements, such as moisture, the splices are housed in a splice case. If the cable is an air c~re type, which is normally used above ~round on telephone poles, the splice case is usually under air pressure, and thus air acts as a filler in the splice case to Xeep out moisture. However, recently it has become a common practice to bury telephone cable underground. Moisture is a major problem in buried cable. To solve this problem, the industry uses a heavy grease filling in the core of buried cable. The splice case commonly used for buried cable is normally a jel compound which sets up after it has been injected into the splice case to form a ~hard rubber filler in an attempt to seal the case. One of the problems in using this type of rubber-filled splice case is that it is very difficult to re-enter the splice case to make repairs ~on the splices. The rubber itself must be cut through in order to get to the splicesO Furthermore, once the rubber has been cut through, the fill material is often rendered useless, thus it must be re-filled or a new splice case must be used.
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7~

~:urthermore, ome moisture problems have occurr~d in this type of filled splice case in that the r~bber material will not hond to ~3rease coatcd polyethy]ene telephone conductor; thus, when the rubber sets u~, it o~t~n leaves a gap betw~en the indi-vidual telephone conductor and the rubber itself which leaves a channel or moisture to move th~^o~gh to àttack the splice, and thus degrad~ the conductor.
Examples of filled splice cases are showr. in V. S. Pat-ents 2,312,652 and 4,070,543.
Various electrical apparatus such as transformers have been housed on containers which are substantially filled with light oil. In the case of the transformer, the oil is used to keep the coils cool as well as provide insulation to prevent shorts. I~ormally, transformers are located on poles above ground. Electrical power lines normally enter the transformer bGx from the top and make connections to the windings of the transformer, which are immersed in oil. The oils which are used in the transformer box have a specific gravity of less than 1, as do almost all oils.
High voltage capacitors have used oils as a diele~tric ,; material. An example o an oil used in disclosed~Dow Chemical Product Bulletin titled Dow Dielectric Fluid C-4, form No.
17.6-1347-78. The C-4 fluid is butylated monochlorodiphenyl oxide and has a specific gravity o~ 1.095.

: ( OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of this invention to provide a case for housing electrical components with improved moisture sealing features.

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-2-~S~373~ .

It is another object to provide an improved cable splice case.
It is still another object to provide improved cable splice case which substantially prevents moisture from coming in contact ~ith the splices.
It is another object to provide an easily re-enterable splice case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO~
In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided an electrical ca~le splice case, including a container housing electrical wire splices.
Cable entry holes are located above the splices and receive electrical cables. A fluid sealant is received in the container, and covers the splices. The fluid sealant has a specific gravity greater than 1. If water should enter the container, the waker will remain on top of the fluid sealant, placing hydraulic pressure on the fluid, thereby increasing the intimacy of the seal between the fluid and the splices. Normally, the fluid will be an oil, which is substantially insoluble with water.
In accordance with another form o~ the inven-- tion, the splices set forth above are replaced with other electrical components, but are protected from moisture by immersing them in a fluid with a specific gravity greater than one, similar to splice protection.

7~

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical splice case including a container housing electrical wire splices with entry holes located above the position of the splices. The entry holes are for receiving electri-cal cable. The improvement comprises a fluid sealant received in the container and covering the splices. The fluid sealant is substantially a silicone oil having a specific gravity greater than 1, whereby if water should enter the container, the water will remain on top of the fluid sealant, placing hydraulic pressure on the fluid sealant, thereby increasing the intimacy of the seal on the splices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWI~GS
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, can 37~ ~

~e better un~er.tooc] by referel~ce to the following description, taken in conjunctiol) with t}le accompclr~ying drawing in which:
the fiyure is a cross-sectional elevational view of a cable splice enclosure showing one forln of the present invention.

S Dr~sc~JpTIoN OF ~ PREY~ RED E~O~I~IE~'r Referring now snore particularly to the figure, there is provided a ca~le splice system 10 which includes splice case 12 having a bottom or pan portion 14 which includes four sides and a bottom. The splice case ~urther includes top portion 16 which acts as a cover for the splice case. The cover is secured to the bottom portion o~ the splice case by means of screws 18 and 20.
Also, slip-on spring fasteners may be used over the cover and the bottom. A ru~ber seal 22 is located between the cover and the bottom covcr of the case to inhibit moisture ~rom entering the case. A pair of cables 24 and 26 enter the s~lice case throuyh holes 28 and 30 in the cover. Raised portions 32 and 34 also receive the respective cables 24 and 26 and act as a seal to inhibit moisture from entering the splice box through the cable entry holes. The entry ports may ~lso be positioned through the sides of the case at a downward angle so that the cable need not be bent so much.
As can be seen, the corresponding individual insulated conductors 36 and 38 of the respective cables are spliced togeth~
er as indicated by splices 40 by a method known to those skilled in the art. The insulation from the individu~l conductors are first stripped from the ends to permit a splice, thus exposing the ends of the conductors to the elements outside of their in-sulation. ~lso~ insulation piercing connector may be used. One major problem, as stated previously, particularly in using under-73~
groulld splic~s, l~as becn that moisture could attac~ and deyrade the e~los~d ~etallic conductors ~hcre they are splicc-d. In order to overcollle this prob]em, the-e is included an arnount of â fluid of 42 in the sL~lice case, which completely covers the individual splic~s. In one embodiment o this invention, the fluid is an oil and the pr~ferred oils are silicone ~luids, such as Dow Corn-in~ 230 fluid, being methyl alkyl polysiloxane, commercially available from Dow Corning Company, and another is General Elec-tric SG 1080 methyl alkyl polysiloxane silicone f]uid, available from the General Electric Company. The fluid 42 should be a good electrical insulator with goo~ dielectric strength. It is pre ferable that the fl~id be substantially insoluble with water, and, most importantly, it must have a s~ecific gravity greater than l, that is, a specific gravity greater than water. The Dow Corning 230 fluid has a speci~ic gravity of from 1.006 to 1.012 at 25~C. Other electrical fluids which have a specific gravity greater than one, and have proper insulation characteristics will âlso provide the desired results. The oil should not chemically attack the cabLe or the splices.
Since material 42 is in the fluid state, in order for it to be an effective seâlant for splices 40, the fluid covere~
splices 40 should be lower than the cover portion 16. Thus the fluid 42 will not readily run out the entry ports 28 and 30. The need for fluid to have a specific gravity greater than l will become more apparent below.
In the event that water were to en~er the splice case, say, for example, through seal 22 or through the entry ports 28 or 30, it would accumulate on top of the sealant fluid in the space indica~ed at 46. E~en if the mois~ure were to come in through the ends of the cable 48 and 50, since the fluid is ~L~5~73~L

preferabl~ sub~t~ntially insolubl~ in watcr and sinc~ it has cl speciic gravity greater than w2ter, the water wo~ld tend to ascend to the top of the fluid, and again, accumulate in space 46. ~?ith ~he watcr now on top of the seal~nt fluid, gravitati~n-S al effects woulcl cause hydraulic pressure from the water to press down on the fluid, creating an even tighter seal about the splices 40 from the now pressurized sealant fluid. Th~s, quite unexpectcdly, the entry of some water into the splice case ac~u-ally enhances the seal and protection of the individual splices 40, which are immersed in fluid sealant 42.
The splice box itself may be made of metal or plastic.
The c~bles are ordinary multi-pair telephone cable. The seals are ordinary ru~h~?r seal;, and the splices are made as other splices have been done by those s~iilled in the art.
Experi~ental laboratory splice cases as suhstan~ially described herein have been constructed and tested. A pyrex beak er was partially filled with Dow Corning 230 fluid and tensil bars were added. These bars were made of, respectively, polyeth-ylene, polypropolene, and polycarbonate, whcih are telephone cable and splice materials. The tensil bars were heated at 100~
for five days. The tensil strength of the bars was tested, and there was no change in tensil or elongation. In another test, a 110 volt light bulb was in~ersed in a top open container housing the Dow Corning 230 fluid. This open container, with the top off, was immersed in a large container of water. The water came into contact with the top of the oil. The bulb was connected to an A.C. source. The bulb was left on for 48 hours with the bulb insulated from the water with no aegradation.
The application of this invention could further be ap~
plied to other elec~rical and electronic devices which are housed ~ l5~733L
hous~d in boxes where Inoi.,ture L~en~tration is a probleln. I~xam~
ples are spliccs which feed an under~3round ~o~er ee~er to dis-tribution cahle, ancl electronic circ~it c~rds~ which are housi~cl in a riepeater housing, wherehy the electronic components and connections are maintained within the ~luid having a specific gravity greater than one.
From the foregoing description of the embodiments of the inventioll, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It will be understood, however, that this embodi-ment of the invention is intended as an exemplification of the invention only, and that the invention is not limited thereto.
It is to be understood, therefore, that it is intended, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications that fall within the tr-ue spirit and scope of the invention.

_7

Claims (10)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An electrical splice case including a container housing electrical wire splices, entry holes located above the position of the splices; the entry holes for receiving electrical cable, the improvement comprising:
a fluid sealant received in said container and covering said splices, said fluid sealant being substan-tially a silicone oil having a specific gravity greater than 1, whereby if water should enter said container, the water will remain on top of said fluid sealant, placing hydraulic pressure on said fluid sealant, thereby increasing the intimacy of the seal on the splices.
2. A splice case astset forth in claim 1, wherein said fluid sealant is an electrical insulator.
3. A splice case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fluid sealant is substantially insoluble with water.
4. A splice case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said silicone fluid is methhl alkyl polysiloxane.
5. A splice case as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container includes a bottom pan and a top cover, said top cover having holes therethrough for receiving the electrical cable.
6. A system for sealing electrical components from moisture comprising:
a container, said container housing said electrical components;
at least one entry hole for receiving an electrical cable in said housing;
a fluid sealant received in said container and covering said electrical components, said fluid sealant being substantially a silicone oil having a specific gravity greater than 1, whereby if water should enter said container, the water will remain on top of said fluid sealant, placing hydraulic pressure on said fluid sealant, thereby increasing the intimacy of the seal on the components.
7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fluid sealant is an electrical insulator.
8. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said fluid is substantially insoluble with water.
9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said silicone fluid is methyl alkyl polysiloxane.
10. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said housing includes a top cover and a bottom pan portion, said top cover having holes therein for receiving electri-cal cable connected to said electrical components.
CA000362073A 1980-10-09 1980-10-09 Filled electrical splice case Expired CA1158731A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000362073A CA1158731A (en) 1980-10-09 1980-10-09 Filled electrical splice case

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000362073A CA1158731A (en) 1980-10-09 1980-10-09 Filled electrical splice case

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1158731A true CA1158731A (en) 1983-12-13

Family

ID=4118122

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000362073A Expired CA1158731A (en) 1980-10-09 1980-10-09 Filled electrical splice case

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1158731A (en)

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