GB2255453A

GB2255453A - Spacer for two or more cables or cable cores.

Info

Publication number: GB2255453A
Application number: GB9207293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Hellbusch; Frank Freiwald; Herbert Dust
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1991-05-03
Filing date: 1992-04-02
Publication date: 1992-11-04
Also published as: GB9207293D0; ITRM920313A1; AU1470992A; JPH05129044A; KR920022321A; IT1254332B; DE4114428A1; CN1066535A; ITRM920313A0

Description

225 3455 SPACER FOR TWO OR MORE CABLES OR CABLE CORES The invention refers

to a spacer for two or more cables or cable cores.

German patent specification 23 31 672 discloses a star-shaped spacer for three cable cores in a cable connection. The radial arms of the known spacer are dimensioned to support a metallic sleeve encompassing the cable connection. By this method, the cable cores are retained at a predetermined distance from each other and from the metallic sleeve. Owing to the relatively long length of the arms, the spacer is difficult to assemble.

Further, the known spacer is not in a position to withstand the radially outwardly-directed forces on the cable cores caused by a dynamic short-circuit current.

Various integral spacers for each cable core are disclosed by German patent specification 14 90 263 which has keyhole-like passages. The'known spacers have to be assembled and positioned on the cable before the cable connection is made.

German utility model 90 04 349.discloses a spacer for two or more cabljes br-cable cores, comprising a star-shaped body of.relatively stiff material adapted to receive and hold cables between radial arms. The star-shaped body is encompassed by an annular member of relatively stiff material which is designed to be connected to the star-shaped body to form a unit therewith. Preferably, the annular member consists of two portions in order to assemble the' spacer after the cable connectio.n has been installed. The known spacer captures the cables andrestrains them against radial movement inwardly or outwardly. It is designed to withstand radially outwardly-directed forces on the cable cores caused by a dynaric short circuit current and, thus, can be used for electrical cables and cable connections, respectively, for 10 KV and more. The known spacer consists of three individual parts which are to be separately manufactured and assembled at the cable connection.

The invention provides a spacer for two or more cable or cable cores which can be easily handled and manufactured with a minimum of expenditure.

The spacer according to the invention consists of an integral body of suitable plastic material. The integral, disc-shaped body comprises at least two body portions interlinked through a hinge portion, with the body portions adapted to be swung in a common plane between a closed and an open position. The portions have facing edges which are formed with recesses adapted to define cable receiving openings when the body portions are in the closed position.

The spacer according.to the invention can be manufacted with a minimum of expenditures since only a single forming tool is necessary. Due to the integral shape the stock costs are minimal. The spacer.according to the invention can be. easily'assembled ater the installation of a cable connectio. n and radially supports the cables or cable coress4fely about its complete circumference. The cable or cable cores are accurately spaced in the area of the spacer.

The body portions-of the spacer are interconnected through hinge or joint portions. According to an embodiment of the invention, the hinge portions are definEid by radial-recesses vhich extend radially outwardly of the openings. Preferably, the openings are symmetrical to the radius which extends through the recess or the hinge portion, respectively.

1 According to a further embodiment of the invention, the individual portions of the spacer are restrained in the closed position by cooperating locking means. In one embodiment, a circumferentially extending projection is formed on one portion which cooperates with a corresponding locking recess in the adjacent portion. Locking projection and locking recess may be provided with a serration or the like in order to achieve a snapping connection. Alternatively, projection and recess can be provided with an undercut in order to restrain the locking portions in the locked position. According to a further embodiment of the invention, a flexible arm on one portion extends in circumferential direction, a radially inwardly facing locking projection being formed at the free end thereof. The locking projection cooperates with a radially outwardly opened locking recess of the adjacent portion.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the body portions have sub-portions located radially inwards which are engaged in the closed position like puzzle parts. A particUlar effective radially inward support of the cables or cable cores is achieved.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the body portions have an axial passage- through which allows the flow.of cast resin to embed a cable connection.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the margins of.the recesses are provided with a plurality of radial flexible pro.jections which coact with the circumference of a cable or a cable core at circumferentially spaced positionsin the closed position of the body portions. The flexible projections permit an adaptation of theopenings'to different diameters of the cables or cable cores.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the body portions have flexible fingers which define a bifurcated portion in the closed position extending radially into the respective openings. Preferably, the fingers are bent away from each other at the free ends thereof. Such a structure also allows adaptation to different diameters of the cables or cable cores. In particular, this configuration is suited for cable or 5 cable cores having a non-circular cross section.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a spacer according to the invention during assembly to three cables of a cable connection.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the spacer of Fig. 1 after its final assembly.

Fig. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of a spacer according to the invention in an open position.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the spacer of Fig. 3 in the closed position.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of a spacer according to the invention in_its closed position.

A spacer 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 consists of three portions 12, 14 and 16., The portion's 12'and 16 are interlinked through a hinge 18. The portions 14 and 16 are interlinked through a hinge 20. The portions 12, 14, 16 can be swung in a common plane relative to each other from an opened position shown in Fig. 1 to a closed position shown in Fig. 2-and vice versa.

Each portion 12, 14, 16 includes two semi-circular recesses 22, 24 formed in facing edges. 'Inthe closed position of the portions 12, 14, 16 the recesses 12, 24 form circular openings 26, 28, 30. They serve for the receipt of three cables 32, 34 and 36 or cable cores, respectively, of a cable connection, not shown.

k_ The portion 12 includes a hook-shaped locking portion 38 at a radially outward end which cooperates with a corresponding hook-shaped locking portion 40 of portion 14 when the portions 12, 14, 16 are in the closed position (Fig. 2).

As can be seen, portions 12, 14 and 16 form an integral body defining circular flat disc in the closed position (Fig. 2). The hinge portions 18, 20 are formed by cuts 42, 44 extending radially outwardly from openings 26 or 30, respectively. In the closed position, spacer 10 supports the cables 32, 34 and 36 radially so that the cables maintain their relative position. As can be seen in Fig. 1, spacer 10 can be assembled after the installation of the cable connection.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a spacer 50 is shown comprising three portions 52, 54 and 56 which are interlinked by hinge portions 58 and 60. Each portion 52, 54 and 56 includes semicircular recesses 62, 64 which define circular openings 66, 68, 70 for cables or cable cores in the closed position (Fig. 4). The portions 52, 54 and 56 have a passage-through 72 of substantially triangular shape. The passages 72 are provided for the through-flow of flowable resin-when the cable connection is to be provided with an enclosdre of resin.

The free end of-portion 54 has a flexible arm 74 extending in circumferential direction, with a radially inwardly facing locking projection 76 formed at the free end of the flexible arm. At the free end portion 52 has a radially oUtwardly opening locking recess 78 which is engaged by the locking projection 76 in the closed position of spacer 50 (Fig. 4).

The recesses 62, 64 each are provided with three radially inwardly extending segments 80. The segments have a reducedthickness with respect to the remaining spacer 50 and are relatively flexible. The segments engage the citcumference of a cable or a cable core, respectively, in the closed position of the spacer (Fig. 4). This allows an adaption to different diameters of a cable to some extent.

Each portion 52, 54 and 56 has a radially inwardly facing sub-portion 82, 84, and 86 which are interengaged like a puzzle in the closed position of the spacer (Fig. 4) in order to achieve mutual support.

The spacer 90 of Fig. 5 indludes three portions 92, 94 and 96 interlinked through hinge portions 98 and 100. The portions 92, 94 and 96 each have three semicircular recesses which define openings 102, 104, 106 for the receipt of cable or cable cores in the closed position shown in Fig. 5. Each portion 92, 94, 96 has a substantially triangular passage 108. Portion 94 has a circumferentially extending projection 110 which cooperates with a corresponding recess 112 of portion 92. Projection 110 and recess 112 are provided with a serration so that a locking takes place in the closed position.

Each recess is provided with a flexible finger 114 whereby an approximately radially extending bifurcated part 116 is formed for each opening 102, 104, 106. As shown in connection with the openings 104 and 106, the bifurcated parts 116 serve for the support of a cable or cable core, respectively, having a sector-like cross section with a 'sector -angleo f 150 in one case and of 165 in the other case.' The cable or cable cores are pressed radially-outwardly against the outer wall of opening 104 or 106 by the bifurcated-part or the fingers 114. The outwardly bent.ends 1 18 of fingers 114 facilitate the'receipt of the cables or cable cores and an uniform spreading of the fingers 114-. The portions 92, 94 and 96 have inner sub-portions 120, 122 and 124 interengaged like puzzle parts similar to the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4..

6 - i 11

Claims

1. A spacer for two or more cables or cable cores comprising an integral body of plastic material having at least two body portions interlinked through a hinge portion, said body portions being adapted to be swung in a common plane between a closed and an opened position, with the facing edges of said body portions being formed with recesses which co-operatively form openings in said closed position of said body portions for receipt of said cables or cable cores.

2. A spacer as claimed in Claim 1 in which three body portions are provided for three cables or cable cores.

3. A spacer as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which said hinge portion is formed by a radial recess extending radially outwardly of said opening.

4. A spacer as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which said body portions have locking means co operating in said closed position to restrain said body portions in said closed position.

5. A spacer as claimed in Claim 4 in which said body portions have radially inwardly-extending sub-portions which are interengaged in said closed position.

6. A spacer as claimed in any preceding Claim in -which said body portions haveaxial passages.

7. A spacer as claimed in any precediig Claim in which said recesses.have a plurLlity of flexible segments which co-operate with the circumference of a cable.

8. A spacer as claimed in any preceding Claim in which said body portions have-flexible projections which define a bifurcated portion for each opening in said - closed position, said bifurcated portions extending substantially radially"outwardly into said opening.

9. A spacer as claimed-in'Claim 8 in which the free ends of said projections are bent outwardly away from each other.

10. A spacer substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.