JP6280460B2 - Power cable connection unit and power cable connection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power cable connecting unit and a power cable connecting method.

  As a technique for connecting a pair of power cables in a straight line with their axes aligned, for example, a connection structure described in Patent Document 1 is known.

JP-A-9-238422

  A cover member that covers the outer periphery of the connection portion is provided at the connection portion of the power cable. If the cover member is displaced in the axial direction of the power cable, the connecting portion may be exposed, leading to a decrease in insulation and water resistance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing a displacement of a cover member that covers an outer periphery of a connection portion of a power cable.

According to one aspect of the invention,
A power cable connecting unit for connecting a pair of power cables each having a conductor and an insulating layer covering the outer periphery of the conductor in a straight line while matching the axes of each other,
A conductor connecting portion that connects the pair of conductors exposed by partially removing the end of the insulating layer; and
A pair of the insulations straddling the conductor connection part by enclosing the outer periphery of the conductor connection part and both ends extending along the axial direction, and the extended both ends holding the pair of insulating layers, respectively. An insulating layer connecting portion for connecting the layers;
Covering the outer periphery of the insulating layer connecting portion and extending both ends along the axial direction, and integrally covering the outer periphery of the pair of insulating layers across the insulating layer connecting portion, thereby connecting the conductor And a cover member for ensuring insulation of the insulating layer connecting portion,
The both ends of the insulating layer connecting portion are formed with diameter-expanded portions that gradually increase in outer diameter from the central side in the axial direction of the insulating layer connecting portion toward both ends. Is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention,
A power cable connection method for connecting a pair of power cables each having a conductor and an insulating layer covering the outer periphery of the conductor in a straight line while matching the axes of each other,
Connecting the pair of conductors exposed by partially removing the end portions of the insulating layer using a conductor connecting portion; and
Surrounding the outer periphery of the conductor connecting portion, both ends extend along the axial direction, and the extended both ends are configured to grip the pair of insulating layers, respectively, and both end sides from the axial center side A step of connecting a pair of insulating layers across the conductor connecting portion using an insulating layer connecting portion formed on each of the both ends with an enlarged diameter portion whose outer diameter gradually increases as it goes to
A cover member configured to cover the outer periphery of the insulating layer connecting portion and have both ends extending in the axial direction so as to integrally cover the outer periphery of the pair of insulating layers across the insulating layer connecting portion. And securing the insulation properties of the conductor connecting portion and the insulating layer connecting portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to prevent the position shift of the cover member which coat | covers the outer periphery of the connection part of an electric power cable.

It is a schematic block diagram of the unit for connection in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the insulating layer connection part in one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the insulating layer connection part in one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of a connection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connection unit 100 is configured to connect a pair of power cables 10a and 10b in a straight line with their axes aligned. The power cables 10a and 10b to be connected include conductors 11a and 11b and insulating layers 12a and 12b covering the outer circumferences of the conductors 11a and 11b, respectively. The conductors 11a and 11b are made of, for example, a metal material such as a copper (Cu) alloy or an aluminum (Al) alloy. The insulating layers 12a and 12b are made of an insulating resin material such as cross-linked polyethylene, for example.

  The connection unit 100 includes a conductor connection portion 20, an insulating layer connection portion 30, and a cover member 40.

  The conductor connection portion 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive material, for example, the same kind of metal material as the conductors 11a and 11b. The conductor connecting portion 20 is configured to integrally hold (hold) the ends of the pair of conductors 11a and 11b exposed by partially removing the ends of the insulating layers 12a and 12b within the hollow portion. It is configured. The conductor connection part 20 having conductivity grips the ends of the conductors 11a and 11b, whereby the conductors 11a and 11b are electrically connected. The conductor connection portion 20 can also be referred to as a conductor connection tube or a conductor connection terminal.

  The insulating layer connecting portion 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive material, for example, a lightweight Al alloy. The insulating layer connecting portion 30 is configured to surround the outer periphery of the conductor connecting portion 20 in a state where the conductor connecting portion 20 holds the conductors 11a and 11b. The insulating layer connecting portion 30 is configured such that both ends thereof extend along the axial direction of the power cables 10a and 10b. Both extended ends of the insulating layer connecting portion 30 are configured to grip the outer peripheries of the pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b, respectively. Thereby, the edge part of a pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b will be in the state connected linearly across the conductor connection part 20. FIG. By connecting the end portions of the insulating layers 12a and 12b to each other, the phenomenon that the end portions of the insulating layers 12a and 12b move in the axial direction of the power cables 10a and 10b, that is, the so-called shrinkback phenomenon is suppressed. Is possible. The insulating layer connecting portion 30 can also be called a holding jig, a holding member, or a sleeve cover. The insulating layer connecting portion 30 is not limited to a metal material, and may be made of a non-metallic conductive material such as carbon.

  The cover member 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a rubber material having contractibility. The cover member 40 is configured such that the conductor connecting portion 20 holds the conductors 11a and 11b and the insulating layer connecting portion 30 covers the outer periphery of the insulating layer connecting portion 30 in a state where the insulating layers 12a and 12b are connected. Has been. The cover member 40 is configured such that both ends thereof extend along the axial direction of the power cables 10a and 10b. By covering the outer periphery of the pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b so that the cover member 40 straddles the insulating layer connecting portion 30, it is possible to ensure insulation and water resistance at the connection portions of the power cables 10a and 10b. It becomes possible. The cover member 40 can also be called a rubber unit or a molded rubber.

  Note that the cover member 40 may partially include a semiconductive material. The cover member 40 in the present embodiment is made of, for example, a semiconductive rubber material, and is made of a semiconductive coating layer 40a that covers the outer peripheral surface of the insulating layer connecting portion 30 and an insulating rubber member. And an insulating coating layer 40b that covers the outer peripheral surface and the like of the semiconductive coating layer 40a. As described above, by providing the semiconductive layer partially inside the cover member 40, it is possible to appropriately control the electric field distribution around the connection portion of the power cables 10a and 10b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both ends in the axial direction of the insulating layer connecting portion 30, that is, portions that respectively hold the pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b, are annular (ring-shaped) enlarged diameter portions. 30a is formed. Each of the enlarged diameter portions 30a is configured such that the outer diameter thereof gradually increases from the central side in the axial direction of the insulating layer connecting portion 30 toward both ends. In addition, the side wall of the insulating layer connection part 30 pinched | interposed by a pair of enlarged diameter part 30a is comprised as the recessed part 30b. The enlarged diameter part 30a can also be called a taper part, a slope part, a convex part, or a convex structure part. Moreover, the recessed part 30b can also be called a recessed structure part and a constriction structure part.

  The outer peripheral surface of the insulating layer connecting portion 30, that is, the outer peripheral surface of the pair of enlarged diameter portions 30 a and the outer peripheral surface of the recess 30 b are covered with the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 40 in an airtight manner without any gap. It is configured. In other words, the outer peripheral surface of the pair of enlarged diameter portions 30a, the outer peripheral surface of the concave portion 30b, and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 40 are configured to abut (fit). The positional deviation along the axial direction of the cover member 40 is suppressed by the contact between the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 30a and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 40.

  A protrusion structure 30c is formed on the inner periphery at the tip of the enlarged diameter portion 30a. The protrusion structure 30c is configured as, for example, an annular flange member. As described above, the protruding structures 30c are respectively engaged with the outer peripheries of the insulating layers 12a and 12b, so that the end portions of the pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b straddle the conductor connecting portion 20 and are linearly connected. It will be. The protruding structure 30c can also be referred to as an anchor member, a wedge member, or a locking member.

  As in the present embodiment, by providing the protruding structure 30c on the inner periphery of the enlarged diameter portion 30a, it is possible to improve the gripping force of the insulating layers 12a and 12b by the insulating layer connecting portion 30. This is because, for example, when a force is applied to the cover member 40 along the axial direction, the enlarged diameter portion 30a that contacts the inner peripheral portion of the cover member 40 has a direction in which the outer diameter is reduced. Stress will be applied. At this time, the protruding structure 30c formed on the inner periphery of the enlarged diameter portion 30a is pressed toward the insulating layers 12a and 12b. Thereby, it is possible to increase the gripping force of the insulating layers 12a and 12b by the insulating layer connecting portion 30, that is, the connecting force of the insulating layers 12a and 12b. The same effect can be obtained not only when a force is applied to the cover member 40 along the axial direction but also by setting the contraction force of the cover member 40 large.

  In addition, it is preferable that the angle (angle A shown in FIG. 3) between the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 30a and the outer peripheral surface of the concave portion 30b is an angle within a range of 155 ° to 170 °, for example. .

  If the above-mentioned angle A is too small, for example, close to 150 °, a gap is formed between the insulating layer connecting portion 30 and the cover member 40. For example, discharge occurs in this gap, or in this gap. Water or the like may enter and insulation properties may deteriorate. Further, if the above-described angle A is too large, for example, close to 174 °, it is difficult to obtain the effect of suppressing the displacement of the cover member 40. In addition, it is difficult to obtain an effect of improving the gripping force of the insulating layers 12a and 12b by the insulating layer connecting portion 30.

  Further, the depth of the recess 30b (depth D shown in FIG. 3), that is, the height at the location where the outer diameter is the largest in the enlarged diameter portion 30a and the location where the outer diameter is the smallest among the enlarged diameter portions 30a. The difference (radius difference) is preferably in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm, for example. Moreover, it is preferable that the width | variety (width W shown in FIG. 3) of the enlarged diameter part 30a shall be in the range of 15 mm or more and 25 mm or less, for example.

  Hereinafter, a method for connecting the power cables 10a and 10b using the connection unit 100 will be described.

  First, the end portions of the insulating layers 12a and 12b are partially removed from the power cables 10a and 10b, respectively. Thereafter, the exposed end portions of the pair of conductors 11a and 11b are inserted into the conductor connection portion 20 and are held in the hollow portions, thereby electrically connecting the conductors 11a and 11b. Thereafter, the pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b are connected to each other using the insulating layer connecting portion 30 described above. Then, the outer periphery of a pair of insulating layers 12a and 12b is integrally covered using the above-described cover member 40 across the insulating layer connecting portion 30. Thus, the connection work of the power cables 10a and 10b is completed.

  According to the present embodiment, the following one or more effects are achieved.

(A) The position along the axial direction of the cover member 40 due to the structure in which the outer peripheral surface of the pair of enlarged diameter portions 30a provided at both ends of the insulating layer connecting portion 30 and the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 40 abut. The shift can be suppressed. In other words, not only the contraction force of the cover member 40 but also the interference between the enlarged diameter portion 30a and the cover member 40 can be used to effectively suppress the displacement of the cover member 40 along the axial direction. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to maintain the insulation and water resistance at the connecting portions of the power cables 10a and 10b, that is, the reliability of the connecting portions.

(B) By providing the protrusion structure 30c on the inner periphery at the tip of the enlarged diameter portion 30a, it is possible to increase the gripping force of the insulating layers 12a and 12b by the insulating layer connecting portion 30. As a result, it is possible to more reliably suppress the occurrence of the shrink back phenomenon.

(C) The above-described effects can be obtained without increasing the number of parts of the connection unit 100, that is, without complicating the configuration. Thereby, the increase in the manufacturing cost of the connection unit 100 can be avoided. Further, the reliability of the connection unit 100, that is, the reliability of the connection portion of the power cables 10a and 10b can be maintained.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described concretely, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can change variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  The power cable was connected using the following samples, and the displacement resistance (axial resistance) along the axial direction of the cover member was evaluated.

(Sample 1)
Both ends of the insulating layer connecting portion: There is an enlarged diameter portion Depth of the recessed portion of the insulating layer connecting portion D: 5 mm
Width W of the expanded diameter part: 20mm
Angle A: 166 °

(Sample 2)
Both ends of the insulating layer connection part: No expanded diameter part

  As a result, the axial strength of the cover members of Samples 1 and 2 were 5.9 kN and 4.5 kN, respectively. That is, it was found that the sample 1 with the enlarged diameter portion improved the axial strength by 30% or more compared to the sample 2 without the enlarged diameter portion. It was also confirmed that the same high axial strength as in Sample 1 could be obtained even when the depth D was 5 mm, the width W was 50 mm, and the angle A was 174 °.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a, 10b Power cable 11a, 11b Conductor 12a, 12b Insulating layer 20 Conductor connection part 30 Insulating layer connection part 30a Diameter expansion part 40 Cover member 100 Connection unit

Claims (5)

A power cable connecting unit for connecting a pair of power cables each having a conductor and an insulating layer covering the outer periphery of the conductor in a straight line while matching the axes of each other,
A conductor connecting portion that connects the pair of conductors exposed by partially removing the end of the insulating layer; and
Surrounding the outer periphery of the conductor connection portion and extending both ends along the axial direction, and having a protruding structure for holding the pair of insulating layers at the extended both ends , straddling the conductor connection portion An insulating layer connecting portion that connects the pair of insulating layers;
Covering the outer periphery of the insulating layer connecting portion and extending both ends along the axial direction, and integrally covering the outer periphery of the pair of insulating layers across the insulating layer connecting portion, thereby connecting the conductor And a cover member for ensuring insulation of the insulating layer connecting portion,
The both ends of the insulating layer connecting portion are respectively formed with enlarged diameter portions whose outer diameters gradually increase from the axially central side of the insulating layer connecting portion toward both ends. Cable connection unit. 2. The power cable according to claim 1, wherein positional displacement along the axial direction of the cover member is suppressed by abutting the enlarged diameter portion and the cover member. Connection unit. By stress is applied in a direction to be to narrow the outer diameter of the front Symbol enlarged diameter portion, the projection structure is pressed toward the insulating layer, as the gripping force of the insulating layer by the insulating layer connecting portion is increased The power cable connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the power cable connection unit is configured. The angle between the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion formed at both ends of the insulating layer connecting portion and the outer peripheral surface of the concave portion of the insulating layer connecting portion sandwiched between the pair of enlarged diameter portions is 155 ° or more. The power cable connection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the angle is within a range of 170 ° or less. A power cable connection method for connecting a pair of power cables each having a conductor and an insulating layer covering the outer periphery of the conductor in a straight line while matching the axes of each other,
Connecting the pair of conductors exposed by partially removing the end portions of the insulating layer using a conductor connecting portion; and
Surrounding the outer periphery of the conductor connecting portion and extending both ends along the axial direction, and having a protruding structure for gripping the pair of insulating layers at the extended both ends , and both ends from the axial center side A step of connecting a pair of insulating layers across the conductor connecting portion using an insulating layer connecting portion formed on each of the both ends with an enlarged diameter portion whose outer diameter gradually increases as it goes to
A cover member configured to cover the outer periphery of the insulating layer connecting portion and have both ends extending in the axial direction so as to integrally cover the outer periphery of the pair of insulating layers across the insulating layer connecting portion. And securing the insulation of the conductor connecting portion and the insulating layer connecting portion. A method for connecting a power cable, comprising:

Images