GB2126022A

GB2126022A - A method of terminating an electrical cable by forming a cable gland

Info

Publication number: GB2126022A
Application number: GB08323218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony James Gray
Original assignee: PEPPERS OF WOKING Ltd
Current assignee: PEPPERS OF WOKING Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-27
Filing date: 1983-08-30
Publication date: 1984-03-14
Also published as: GB2126022B; GB8323218D0

Abstract

A mass 23 of elastomeric material is moulded (fig. 2) around an exposed bundle 12 of conductors of an armoured cable 10 so that it adheres closely to each conductor and fills the interstices between them, by filling a cavity of a mould 24 with unset liquid cold setting resin and subjecting it to a head of pressure as it sets. Assembly of a mechanical cable gland is then completed (fig. 1), including fitting an annular gland body 18 having a portion complementary to the outer surface of the moulded mass 23 and bringing the complementary surfaces into face to face contact under pressure by the final assembly step. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of terminating an electrical cable, a kit for use in that method and a cable gland produced thereby This invention relates to a method of terminating an electric cable, to a gland formed during such a method and to a kit for use in carrying out such a method.

British Patent Specification No. 1,524,684 describes and claims termination of electric cables and British Patent Specification No.

1,524,683 describes and claims a cable gland.

There is some doubt that a cable gland assembled as described and claimed in British Patent Specifications Nos. 1,524,683 and 1,524,684 will meet the current official hydraulic pressure test requirements for flameproof cable glands.

Basically, the present invention comprises, after a cable end has been prepared such that a single conductor or a bundle of conductors projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable, forming by moulding around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors, a mass of elastomeric material which adheres closely to the or each conductor and, in the case of the bundle of conductors, fills the interstices between each conductor, the mass of elastomeric material being formed by filling a mould cavity which is positioned around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors with cold setting resin in its unset liquid state, subjecting the liquid resin in the mould cavity to the pressure of a head of such liquid resin and allowing the resin to set whilst so pressurised, and then completing assembly of a mechanical cable gland including fitting an annular gland body which is formed with a portion complementary to the outer surface of the moulded mass and bringing the two complementary surfaces into face to face contact under pressure by the final step of assembling the mechanical cable gland.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a method of terminating an electic cable containing either a single electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, wherein the method comprises, after the cable end has been prepared such that the single conductor or the bundle of conductors projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable, 1) fitting a mould body around the projecting single conductor or bundle of conductors and either, in the case of an unarmoured cable, an adjacent end of a bush provided for termination of an unarmoured cable, or, in the case of an armoured cable, an adjacent end of armourgripping means provided for termination of an armoured cable, the mould body forming, at either end, an aperture through which the single conductor, the bundle of conductors or the protective layer of unarmoured cable extends, and a substantially closed annular cavity around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors between the apertures; 2) introducing cold setting resin substance in its unset liquid state into the annular cavity in sufficient volume to fill the space that comprises the annular cavity, in the case of a single conductor, or the annular cavity and the interstices that are formed between the portions of the bundle of conductors that are surrounded by the annular cavity; having made provision for sealing against escape of the liquid resin substance from said space around the single conductor or each conductor of the bundle through either the lower aperture if the axis of the annular cavity is not substantially horizontal or through both apertures if said axis is substantially horizontal; 3) subjecting the liquid resin substance that fills said space to the pressure of a head of such liquid resin substance and maintaining that head of pressure whilst allowing the volume of resin substance within said space to set to form a moulded plug of cold set elastomeric material which surrounds the single conductor or bundle of conductors and, in the latter case, fills the interstices formed by the conductors; 4) removing the mould body;; 5) assembling a mechanical cable gland around the single conductor or bundle of conductors, the gland comprising a tubular gland cap, an annular seal assembly which co-operates with the gland cap and the surrounding protective layer of the cable to form a seal therebetween, and an annular gland body which is formed with a through passage of which a portion is formed so that it has substantially the same form as the surface of the annular cavity of the mould body, the gland cap and the annular gland body being fastened together when the cable gland is assembled so that the outer surface of the moulded plug is in face to face contact with a complementary surface portion of the annular gland body.

Preferably the outer surface of the moulded plug and the complementary surface portion of the annular gland body which are in face to face contact when the cable gland is assembled, are frusto conical surface portions, that of the gland body tapering away from the part of the gland body that is adapted to be fastened to the gland cap and that of the moulded plug tapering away from said end of the surrounding protective layer.

Preferably, where there is a bundle of conductors, in order to provide for sealing against escape of the liquid resin substance from said space, a mass of a plastic material which is impervious to the liquid resin is pressed by hand or otherwise into the interstices formed by the portions of the conductors that extend either through the lower aperture if said axis is not substantially horizontal or through both apertures if said axis substantially horizontal before the liquid resin is introduced into said space, the plastic material serving to inhibit leakage of the liquid resin from said space through the interstices formed by the portions of the conductors that extend through the respective aperture.

The liquid resin substance may be introduced into the annular cavity by being injected until it emerges from the annular cavity through a vent, which is formed at the top of the annular cavity, to form said head of liquid resin substance. Where the cable is armoured and said mould cavity axis is not substantially horizontal, the vent conveniently comprises the upper aperture formed by the mould body. On the other hand, where said mould cavity axis is substantially horizontal, the vent conveniently comprises a suitably located hole in the mould body.A receptacle for liquid resin substance may be fitted to the mould body with its interior in communication with the vent hole whereby to receive liquid resin substance which emerges from the annular mould cavity through said vent hole and to serve as a top-up reservoir for said space, as well as accommodating the liquid resin substance that forms the head of pressure. Where said mould cavity axis is not substantially horizontal, the liquid injected into the mould cavity is pressurised by the head of pressure of the liquid resin substance that emerges from the mould cavity through the upper aperture.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a kit for use for terminating an electric cable containing either a single. electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, the kit comprising: 1) a mould body forming a passage through it and adapted to be fitted around a single conductor or a bundle of conductors which projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable such that the single conductor or the bundle of conductors extends through a substantially closed annular cavity which is formed by that part of the through passage which extends between the apertures at the ends of the through passage; and 2) components of a mechanical cable gland comprising a tubular gland cap, an annular seal assembly which is adapted to co-operate with the gland cap and with the surrounding protective layer of a cable to form a seal therebetween, and an annular gland body which is formed with a through passage of which a portion is formed so that it has substantially the same form as a portion of the through passage of the mould body which forms a surface of the annular cavity when the mould body is fitted around a single conductor or a bundle of conductors, the gland cap and the annular gland body being adapted to be fastened together end to end around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors that project from the surrounding protective layer of the cable.

The kit preferably also includes a volume of cold setting resin and a separate volume of the usual hardener, conveniently in dispensing packs.

A pair of gloves may also be provided.

Preferably the surface of the through passage formed by the mould body and the through passage portion of the annular gland body are frusto conical surface portions, that of the gland body tapering away from the part of the gland body that is adapted to be fastened to the gland cap.

Conveniently, the kit also includes a volume of a plastic material which is impervious to the liquid resin. A top-up reservoir for the mould body may be provided, the reservoir being adapted to contain liquid resin and to be fitted to the mould body so that liquid resin in the top-up reservoir forms part of a head of liquid which pressurises liquid resin within the mould cavity.

According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a mechanical cable gland comprising: 1) an electric cable containing either a single electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, one end of the cable having been prepared such that the single conductor or the bundle of conductors projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable; 2) a moulded plug of a cold set elastomeric material which surrounds the projecting single conductor or bundle of conductors, and, in the latter case fills the interstices formed by the conductors; 3) a tubular gland cap; 4) an annular seal assembly which co-operates with the gland cap and with the surrounding protective layer of the cable to form a seal therebetween; and 5) an annular gland body which is formed with 'a through passage of which a portion is formed so that its surface is complementary to the outer surface of the moulded plug; the gland cap and the annular gland body being fastened together end to end around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors that projects from the surrounding protective layer of the cable and around the moulded plug so that the complementary surfaces of the annular gland body and the moulded plug are in face to face contact.

Preferably, the outer surface of the moulded plug and the complementary surface of the annular gland body are frusto conical surface portions tapering to an end of the annular gland body spaced from the part of the annular gland body which is fastened to the gland cap.

a cable and cable gland installation in which this invention is embodied, together with a method of terminating a cable and a kit for use in carrying out that method, the method and the kit also embodying this invention, are described now by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a longitudinally sectioned view of the cable and cable gland installation, the cable being armoured and extending substantially horizontally through a vertical apparatus casing wall; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an intermediate stage of the installation of the cable gland shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mould body shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a similar stage of the installation of a similarly oriented unarmoured cable; and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a similar stage of the installation of an armoured cable which extends substantially vertically through an apparatus casing wall.

Figure 1 shows an end of an armoured cable 10 which comprises a bundle of insulated electric conductors within an inner sheath or bedding of armour wire which is itself sleeved within an outer sheath 11. The inner and outer sheaths of the cable end portion shown in Figure 1 have been cut back in the usual way to expose lengths of the conductors 12 and of the armour wire 13.

An outer seal assembly 1 4 is sealingly engaged with the outer sheath 11 near the exposed length of armour wire 13 and is screwed onto one end of a tubular gland cap 1 5. The exposed armour wire 13, which is surrounded by the gland cap 15, is trapped between an armour clamp ring 1 6 and a tapered outer surface of an armour cone member 1 7. The ring 16 is seated within an annular shoulder which is formed by the bore of the gland cap 1 5. The armour cone member 17 has a cylindrical outer surface portion at its larger diameter end, which is the end further from the outer sheath 11, and a central through bore through which the exposed length of the bundle of conductors 12 extends with circumferential clearance.The larger diameter end of the armour cone member 1 7 is spigotted into a larger diameter end portion of the bore of a flanged tubular gland body 18 onto which the gland cap 1 5 is screwed. The bore of the tubular gland body 18 has an intermediate portion 1 9 which tapers from the end face of the armour cone member 1 7 therewithin to a smaller diameter cylindrical end bore portion which extends to the other end of the gland body 1 8. The diameter of the smaller diameter end bore portion of the gland body 18 is greater than the diameter of the bundle of conductors 12 which extend therethrough.The gland body 18 has a hexagonal flange 20 and is screwed into an aperture 21 which is formed in a vertical casing wall 22 of electrical apparatus to which the conductors 12 are connected; the flange 20 being in abutment the casing wall 22 so that the conductors 12 extend substantially horizontally through the gland assembly and the aperture 21 in the casing wall 22.

A mass 23 of elastomeric material fills the tapered annular cavity formed between the tapered intermediate bore portion 19, the bundle of conductors 1 2 and the larger diameter end of the armour cone member 17, as well as filling the interstices formed between the portions of the conductors 12 of the bundle that are surrounded by that tapered annular cavity and extending into the annular gap between the bundle of conductors 12 and the armour cone member 17.

It is believed that provision of a mass 23 of elastomeric material, which is moulded in situ during assembly of the cable gland shown in Figure 1, as is described below, enables the gland assembly to withstand a high pressure drop between the outer seal assembly 1 4 and the opposite side of the casing 22 than have previously proposed forms of similar cable gland arrangements.

Figure 2 illustrates moulding of the mass 23 of elastomeric material during assembly of the cable gland installation shown in Figure 1. After the cable 10 has been cut back in the usual way and the exposed length of armour 13 located between the clamp ring 1 6 and the armour cone member 17, within the gland cap 15, the gland cap 1 5 and the outer seal assembly 1 4 are slid back over the outer sheath 11, away from the exposed portions of the conductors 1 2 to expose the larger diameter end of the armour cone member 1 7. The exposed portions of the bundle of conductors 1 2 are then unravelled and splayed radially outwardly from the end of the bore of the armour cone member 17 at the larger diameter end of that member 1 7.Plasticine is forced by hand, with the aid of a spatula, into the bundle of conductors 12 from the end that has been exposed by radially outwardly splaying the exposed portions of the conductors 12. Once sufficient plasticine has been applied to fill the interstices formed by the bundle of conductors 12 at that end of the bore of the armour cone member 17, the outwardly splayed portions of the conductors are rearranged as the axially extending exposed projecting portion of the bundle of conductors 12 of the cable 11 so as to be suitable for insertion through the bore of the flanged tubular gland member 18 which has been screwed into the aperture 21.

Further plasticine is then forced into the annular gap around the bundle of conductors 12 within the bore of the armour cone member 1 7, again by hand, with the aid of a spatula, from the larger diameter end of the armour cone member 17.

A mould body 24 is then assembled around the exposed bundle of conductors 12 and fitted onto the exposed larger diameter end of the armour cone member 1 7.

Figure 3 shows a mould body 24 as seen from the end that is fitted onto the armour cone member 17. The mould body 24 is tubular and is longitudinally slit into two semi-circular halves.

Each mould body half is formed of rigid polystyrene and snap fit connecting and locating means are provided for connecting the two halves together to complete assembly of the mould body 24 around the conductors 12 and the armour cone member 17. The bore of the assembly mould body 24 has four portions. The four bore portions comprise a smaller diameter cylindrical end bore portion 25 which extends from one end of the body 24, an intermediate bore portion 26 which is frusto conical, tapering towards the smaller diameter bore portion 25, from a right cylindrical intermediate diameter bore portion 27, and an end bore portion 28 which is a larger diameter cylindrical portion at the other end of the body 24. A step is formed at the junction of the larger diameter end bore portion 28 and the right cylindrical intermediate diameter bore portion 27.

Two holes 31 and 32 extend through the body 24 from the bore to the outer surface and are spaced from one another in a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular body 24. The hole 31 communicates with the smaller diameter bore portion 25. The hole 32 communicates with the right cylindrical intermediate diameter bore portion 27. The holes 31 and 32 are only partially formed during formation of the respective mould half, a thin puncturable membrane being left which closes the respective holes 31, 32. The holes 31 and 32 are opened by puncturing the respective membrane at a convenient instant during assembly of the mould body 24. For convenience the two mould halves are formed as identical mouldings but the puncturable membranes are opened in one of them only, those of the other mould half being left unopened.

When the tubular body 24 is fitted onto the armour cone member 17, the armour cone member 17 is spigotted into the larger diameter end bore portion 28 and is brought into abutment with the shoulder between the larger diameter end bore portion 28 and the right cylindrical intermediate bore portion 27. Clipping means may be provided to retain the mould body 24 fitted onto the armour cone member 17 with the armour cone member 17 in abutment with the shoulder between the larger diameter end bore portion 28 and the right cylindrical intermediate diameter bore portion 27.

The portion of the bundle of conductors 12 that projects outwards from the bore of the mould body 24 at the end of the mould body 24 remote from the armour cone member 1 7 is then unravelled and splayed radially outwardlly.

Plasticine is forced into the bundle of conductors 12 in substantially the same way as before to fill the interstices formed by the conductors 12 at that end of the mould body 24. Once sufficient plasticine has been applied to fill the interstices, the outwardly splayed portions of the conductors 1 2 are again rearranged as the axially extending exposed projecting portion of the bundle of conductors 1 2 of the cable 11 so as to be suitable for insertion through the bore of the flanged tubular gland member 18. Further plasticine is then forced into any annular gap that may be formed around the bundle of conductors 12 within the smaller diameter end bore portion 25 of the mould body 24.

The tubular mould body 24 is fitted onto the armour cone member 17 with the opened holes 31 and 32 at the top of the mould body 24. A tubular conduit 33 of. a top-up reservoir 34 is spigotted into the hole 32. The opened holes 31 and 32 communicate with a space within the mould body 24 which comprises the tapered annular cavity formed around the bundle of conductors 1 2 by the frusto conical intermediate bore portion 26 and the interstices formed by the portions of the conductors 12 between the plasticine inserted within the bore of the armour cone member 17 and the plasticine inserted at the outer end, beyond the hole 31, of the smaller diameter end bore portion 25 of the mould body 24. It will be appreciated that the spaced masses 29 and 30 of plasticine serve to close the ends of the space.

A liquid cold setting resin mixture is prepared by mixing a basic resin with the usual hardener.

The mixture is injected in its liquid state through the opened hole 31. The liquid resin infiltrates the interstices of the bundle of conductors 12 between the two masses 29 and 30 of plasticine and flows into the annular cavity that is formed around the bundle of conductors 12 and between the armour cone member 1 7 and the remote end of the intermediate bore portion 26. Injection of liquid resin into the hole 31 is continued until it is seen to rise into the reservoir 34 through the opened hole 32 and the conduit 33. The masses 29 and 30 of plasticine prevent escape of liquid resin passed them from the space between them.

It will be understood that air is displaced from that space through the opened hole 32 by the liquid resin that is injected into the space through the hole 31. The emergence of liquid cold setting resin mixture from the tubular mould body 24 into the reservoir 34 is an indication that sufficient liquid cold setting resin mixture has been introduced into the mould cavity. The liquid resin in the mould cavity is pressurised by the head of pressure of the liquid resin in the reservoir 34 and the conduit 33. Hence the mould cavity is kept fuil, with liquid resin as that resin settles, any entrapped air which escapes being replaced by liquid resin from the reservoir 34. Sufficient time, say one hour, is allowed for the resin mixture to set, whereafter the mould body 24 is dismantled and removed.

In addition to being selected so that it will flow into all the spaces around the conductors 12 within the mould cavity, the liquid cold setting resin mixture is selected so that the resultant elastomeric material formed when it sets, adheres to the sheathing of the electrical conductors 1 2 and is also sufficiently resilient in itself after setting or curing to ensure good sealing around the conductors 1 2. Furthermore, it is selected so that it sets or cures at a suitable speed, that is to say as fast as is reasonably practicable without it being so fast as to hegin to solidify and lose its liquid characteristics before sufficient time has been allowed for all the air to have been displaced from the space within the mould body 24 and for it to completely infiltrate and fill that space, including the interstices between the electrical conductors 1 2.

Figure 4 shows that the mould body 24 can be adapted similarly to form a similar moulded plug around the conductors 1 2 of an unarmoured cable 1 OA. The usual form of cable gland for an unarmoured cable does not include an armour cone member 1 7 since there is no armour. It comprises a tubular gland body, a flanged bush which is received within the gland body in a similar manner to the armour cone member of a cable gland for an armoured cable, and an annular seal which is clamped between the bush and the gland body, the bush being held in position by a nut which is screwed onto the gland body.

The mould body 24 is assembled around the exposed bundle of conductors 1 2 of the unarmoured cable 1 OA, after the sheath 11 of the cable 1 OA has been cut back, the nut slid back over the sheath 11 and the flanged bush 35 located at the cut end of the sheath 11. The bush 35 is spigotted into the larger diameter end bore portion 28 of the mould body 24 in place of the armour cone member 1 7.

Where the cable 10 extends vertically, as shown in Figure 5, with the exposed conductors 12 depending from the outer sheath 11 , the mould body 24 is orientated with its larger diameter end bore portion 28 at the top so that the mould body 24 depends from the armour cone member 1 7 which is spigotted into the larger diameter end bore portion 28. Again, holding means for holding the mould body 24 in position on the armour cone member 17 conveniently are provided. Only the lower one, 31 of the two holes 31 and 32 of one of the two mould halves is opened by puncturing the respective membrane, the remaining three holes being left closed.

It is not necessary to apply plasticine to the portions of the conductors 12 within the armour cone member 17 but a mass 30 of plasticine is forced by hand into the portion of the bundle of conductors 12 at the lower end of the smaller diameter bore portion 25 and into any annular gap around that bundle of conductors 12 within that bore portion 25. Liquid cold setting resin is then injected into the cavity of the mould body 24 through the opened hole 31. Injection of liquid cold setting resin into the mould cavity continues until liquid resin is seen to start emerging from within the mould cavity upwards through the bore of the armour cone member 17. The liquid resin in the mould cavity is pressurised by the head of pressure of the liquid resin that rose through the bore of the armour cone member 1 7 and which serves as a reservoir of liquid resin.The liquid cold setting resin within the mould cavity is then allowed to cure whereupon the mould body 24 is dismantled and removed from the cable 10.

A similar moulded plug of elastomeric material can be formed in a similar way where the exposed bundle of conductors 12 projects upwards from the sheath 11. However the single hole that would be opened is the hole 32 of one of the mould halves. Also the mass of plasticine would be applied to the portion of the bundle of conductors 12 within the bore of the armour cone mernber 1 7 and the reservoir of liquid resin that pressurises the liquid resin in the mould cavity would be located in the upper part of the smaller diameter end bore portion 25.

Referring again to Figure 1, assembly of the mechanical cable gland is completed by screwing the gland cap 1 5 onto the flange tubular gland body 18, thereby bringing the frusto conical bore portion of the body 1 8 into face to face contact with the frusto conical outer surface of the moulded elastomeric plug 23 with which it is complementary.

Any suitable plastic material which is impervious to liquid cold setting resin may be used instead of the plasticine.

A kit of parts may be supplied for use to terminate a cable. The kit may comprise the usual components of a mechanical cable gland, including the special gland body which has a tapered intermediate bore portion. The kit may also comprise a cold-setting resin dispensing pack which comprises a sachet of liquid resin and a sachet of hardener, a tubular mould body 24 and a pair of gloves.

Claims

1. A method of terminating an electric cable comprising, after an end of the cable has been prepared such that a single conductor or a bundle of conductors projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable, forming by moulding around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors, a mass of elastomeric material which adheres closely to the or each conductor and, in the case of the bundle of conductors, fills the interstices between each conductor, the mass of elastomeric material being formed by filling a mould cavity which is positioned around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors with cold setting resin in its unset liquid state, subjecting the liquid resin in the mould cavity to the pressure of a head of such liquid resin and allowing the resin to set whilst so pressurised, and then completing assembly of a mechanical cable gland including fitting an annular gland body which is formed with a portion complementary to the outer surface of the moulded mass and bringing the two complementary surfaces into face to face contact under pressure by the final step of assembling the mechanical cable gland.

2. A method of terminating an electric cable containing either a single electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, wherein the method comprises, after the cable end has been prepared such that the single conductor or the bundle of conductors project from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable, 1) fitting a mould body around the projecting single conductor or bundle of conductors and either, in the case of an unarmoured cable, an adjacent end of a bush provided for termination of an unarmoured cable, or, in the case of an armoured cable, an adjacent end of armourgripping means provided for termination of an armoured cable, the mould body forming, at either end, an aperture through which the single conductor, the bundle of conductors or the protective layer of unarmoured cable extends, and a substantially closed annular cavity around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors between the apertures; 2) introducing a cold setting resin substance in its unset liquid state into the annular cavity in sufficient volume to fill the space that comprises the annular cavity, in the case of a single conductor, or the annular cavity and the interstices that are formed between the portions of the bundle of conductors that are surrounded by the annular cavity; having made provision for sealing against escape of the liquid resin substance from said space around the single conductor or each conductor of the bundle through either the lower aperture if the axis of the annular cavity is not substantially horizontal or through both apertures if said axis is substantially horizontal; 3) subjecting the liquid resin substance that fills said space of the pressure of a head of such liquid resin substance and maintaining that head of pressure whilst allowing the volume of resin substance within said space to set to form a moulded plug of cold set elastomeric material which surrounds the single conductor or bundle of conductors and, in the latter case, fills the interstices formed by the conductors; 4) removing the mould body;; 5) assembling a mechanical cable gland around the single conductor or bundle of conductors, the gland comprising a tubular gland cap, an annular seal assembly which co-operates with the gland cap and the surrounding protective layer of the cable to form a seal therebetween, and an annular gland body which is formed with a through passage of which a portion is formed so that it has substantially the same form as the surface of the annular cavity of the mould body, the gland cap and the annular gland body being fastened together when the cable gland is assembled so that the outer surface of the moulded plug is in face to face contact with a complementary surface portion of the annular gland body.

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the moulded plug and the complementary surface portion of the annular gland body which are in face to face contact when the cable gland is assembled, are frusto-conical surface portions, that of the gland body tapering away from the part of the gland body that is adapted to be fastened to the gland cap, and that of the moulded plug tapering away from said end of the surrounding protective layer.

4. A method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein, where there is a bundle of conductors, in order to provide for sealing against escape of the liquid resin substance from said space, a mass of a plastic material which is impervious to the liquid resin is pressed by hand or otherwise into the interstices formed by the portions of the conductors that extend either through the lower aperture if said axis is not substantially horizontal or through both apertures if said axis is substantially horizontal before the liquid resin is introduced into said space, the plastic material serving to inhibit leakage of the liquid resin from said space through the interstices formed by the portions of the conductors that extend through the respective aperture.

5. A method according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the liquid resin substance is introduced into the annular cavity by being injected until it emerges from the annular cavity through a vent, which is formed at the top of the annular cavity, to form said head of liquid resin substance.

6. A method according to Claim 5, wherein, where the cable is armoured and said mould cavity axis is not substantially horizontal, the vent comprises the upper aperture formed by the mould body.

7. A method according to Claim 5, wherein, where said mould cavity axis is substantially horizontal, the vent comprises a hole in the mould body.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein a receptacle for liquid resin substance is fitted to the mould body with its interior in communication with the vent hole whereby to receive liquid resin substance which emerges from the annular mould cavity through said vent hole and to serve as a top-up reservoir for said space, as well as accommodating the liquid resin substance that forms the head of pressure.

9. A method according to Claim 6, wherein the liquid injected into the mould cavity is pressurised by the head of pressure of the liquid resin substance that emerges from the mould cavity through the upper aperture.

1 0. A kit for use for terminating an electric cable containing either a single electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, the kit comprising: 1) a mould body forming a passage through it and adapted to be fitted around a single conductor or a bundle of conductors which projects from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable such that the single conductor or the bundle of conductors extends through a substantially closed annular cavity which is formed by that part of the through passage which extends between the apertures at the ends of the through passage; and 2) components of a mechanical cable gland comprising a tubular gland cap, an annular seal assembly which is adapted to co-operate with the gland cap and with the surrounding protective layer of a cable to form a seal therebetween, and an annular gland body which is formed with a through passage of which a portion is formed so that it has substantially the same form as a portion of the through passage of the mould body which forms a surface of the annular cavity when the mould body is fitted around a single conductor or a bundle of conductors, the gland cap and the annular gland body being adapted to be fastened together end to end around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors that project from the surrounding protective layer of the cable.

1 A kit according to Claim 10, including a volume of cold setting resin and a separate volume of an appropriate hardener.

12. A kit according to Claim 1 wherein the separate volumes of resin and hardener are in respective dispensing packs.

13. A kit according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the surface of the through passage formed by the mould body and the through passage portion of the annular gland body are frusto-conical surface portions, that of the gland body tapering away from the part of the gland body that is adapted to be fastened to the gland cap.

14. A kit according to any one of Claims 10 to 13, including a volume of a plastic material which is impervious to the liquid resin.

1 5. A kit according to any one of Claims 10 to 14, wherein a top-up reservoir for the mould body is provided, the reservoir being adapted to contain liquid resin and to be fitted to the mould body so that liquid resin in the top-up reservoir forms part of a head of liquid resin which pressurises liquid resin within the mould cavity.

16. A mechanical cable gland comprising: 1) an electric cable containing either a single electric conductor or a bundle of electric conductors, one end of the cable having been prepared such that the single conductor or the bundle of.conductors project from an end of a surrounding protective layer of the cable; 2) a moulded plug of a cold set elastomeric material which surrounds the projecting single conductor or bundle of conductors, and, in the latter case, fills the interstices formed by the conductors; 3) a tubular gland cap; 4) an annular seal assembly which co-operates with the gland cap and with the surrounding protective layer of the cable to form a seal therebetween; and 5) an annular gland body which is formed with a through passage of which a portion is formed so that its surface is complementary to the outer surface of the moulded plug; the gland cap and the annular gland body being fastened together end to end around the single conductor or the bundle of conductors that project from the surrounding protective layer of the cable and around the moulded plug so that the complementary surfaces of the annular gland body and the moulded plug are in face to face contact.

1 7. A mechanical cable gland according to Claim 16, wherein the outer surface of the moulded plug and the complementary surface of the annular gland body are frusto-conical surface portions tapering to an end df the annular gland body spaced from the part of the annular gland body which is fastened to the gland cap.

18. A method of terminating an electric cable substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 9. A kit for use for terminating an electric cable containing either a single conductor or a bundle of electric conductors substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A mechanical cable gland substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A mechanical cable gland according to Claim 20 and as shown in Figure 1.