KR20070017121A - Re-enterable splice enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

The refillable enclosure for the splice between the cables has an inner wall configured to form a cavity 7, 9 for enclosing the cable splice when the lid members 1, 3 are joined together in a closed position. Two cover members 1 and 3 are included. The at least one lid member also has inner walls 15, 17 that are configured to form an enclosed space that at least partially surrounds the cavities 7, 9. In use, such an enclosed space may comprise a sealant material 27. At least one inner wall in one lid member can fit into the enclosed space of the other lid member, so that if the sealant material is included there, it will be compressed when the lid members are joined to each other in the closed position. By varying the sealing space used to contain the sealant material 27, different levels of protection against moisture can be provided for the common cable splice.

Description

Refillable Splice Enclosure {RE-ENTERABLE SPLICE ENCLOSURE}

The present invention relates to an enclosure for splices between cables, the enclosure being of a form that can be reopened, reentrant and preferably subsequently resealed to allow access to the cable splice if necessary. For example, the cable is a communication cable, a power cable or an optical fiber cable.

Cable splices are, for example, splices extending in the longitudinal direction (i.e., splices usually extending from the opposite direction) or so-called "pig-tails", or butts, splices (i.e. usually extending from the same direction). Splices between the cables.

In general, cable splices require protection from the effects of the environment in which they are located, and more particularly, protection against mechanical shock and the ingress of moisture. Protection of the cable against strain will also often be required. Various enclosures are already available that provide varying degrees of protection against cable splices, including so-called retractable enclosures that can be reopened to allow access to the splice whenever needed.

Known refillable splice enclosures often take the form of a two-part reopenable housing that forms a cavity around the splice and includes a sealant material. The housing, together with the sealant material, protects the splice against mechanical shock and protects the cavity to the required level against ingress of moisture while allowing access to the splice upon reopening of the housing. In some cases, the cavity is filled with a sealant material (see, eg, splice enclosure disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,169,250), and in other cases, the sealant material is attached to a cable bushing located at the end of the housing. Preformed into a specific form by molding for use (see eg splice enclosure disclosed in WO02 / 063736).

The present invention does not require the cavity surrounding the splice to be filled with any suitable sealant material, and the sealant material does not need to be preformed into a relatively complex form for the cable bushing, while the cable is resistant to mechanical impact and moisture ingress. The present invention relates to providing a refillable splice enclosure capable of adequately protecting a splice. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to the provision of a refillable splice enclosure capable of adequately protecting cable splices against mechanical shock and ingress of moisture while relatively simply assembling using a relatively small amount of sealant material. will be.

The present invention provides a refillable enclosure for splices between cables, the enclosure comprising a first and an inner wall configured to form a cavity for enclosing the cable splice when the lid members are joined together in a closed position; A second cover member,

(i) at least one of the lid members has an inner wall suitable for containing a sealant material and configured to form an enclosed space portion at least partially surrounding the cavity,

(ii) At least one inner wall in one lid member can fit inside the sealed space of the other lid member, thereby compressing the sealant material contained therein when the lid members are joined to each other in the closed position.

Preferably, at least one of the lid members comprises a strain relief structure associated with a cable entry passage into the cavity. The enclosure then provides protection against the effects of cable strain as well as protection against mechanical shock provided by the cover member and any ingress of moisture provided by the cover member with any sealant material in the enclosed space. It can be provided to the splice.

By way of example only, a splice enclosure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the following figures.

1 is a perspective view of an exemplary splice enclosure showing the interior of a lid member in an open state.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the splice enclosure of FIG. 1 in the direction of arrow II. FIG.

3 is an enlarged view of one end of one of the lid members of FIG.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows another exemplary splice enclosure in which a lid member is included in the lid member.

Figure 5 shows a longitudinal cross section taken along line 5-5 of the splice enclosure of Figure 4 in the closed state.

Figure 6 shows the splice enclosure of Figure 4 in an open state waiting to be closed around the cable splice.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 1 and shows a sealant material included in the lid member.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the splice enclosure of Figure 7 in the direction of arrows 8-8.

9 is an enlarged scale end view of a portion of a splice enclosure showing a modified hinge.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of another splice enclosure showing the interior of the lid member in the open state.

1 shows two elongated lid members 1, 3 used to form a cylindrical protective enclosure for a longitudinal cable splice (not shown) which will be described later. The lid members 1, 3 are molded parts molded from a suitable plastic material, for example polypropylene or polyamide, and are joined to each other along the inner longitudinal edge 2 by a hinge 5. As shown, the hinge 5 comprises a reduced thickness area which is molded integrally with the lid members 1, 3 and forms the bending axis of the hinge. This type of hinge is well known and is often referred to as a "living" hinge.

Both lid members 1, 3 comprise inner walls (described in more detail below) which form central cavity regions 7, 9, respectively. When the lid members 1, 3 are folded together about the hinge 5 and joined together to close the splice enclosure, the cavity areas 7, 9 open a centrally sealed cavity to contain the cable splice to be protected. Form together. In order to hold the lid members 1, 3 together in the closed position, the latching tab 11 protrudes upward from the inside of the outer longitudinal edge 10 of the upper lid member 1 so that the lower lid member 3 is closed. It will slide into the latching space 10A on the outside of the outer longitudinal edge 10 and engage at each recess 12. In addition, in order to reduce the possibility of any relative movement between the lid members 1, 3, once they are in the closed position, the lower lid member 3 is fitted with the holes 14 of the upper lid member 1. A pin 13 is provided. In that way, the stress placed on the hinge 5 in the use of the splice enclosure is limited, and the risk of inadvertently releasing the latching tab 11 from the opening 12 is minimized.

The cavity area 7 of the upper lid member 1 is formed between the side wall 15 and the double end wall 17 standing up from the inner surface of the lid member. The side wall 15 is located slightly inside of the inner and outer longitudinal edges 2, 10 of the lid member and extends parallel thereto. The double end walls 17 extend between the ends of the side walls 15 and are arranged at a distance from each end 19 of the lid member 1, creating a space 20 at each end of the top lid member. In the use of the splice enclosure, each such space 20 is adapted to receive a respective upright cable strain relief structure 21 formed at the corresponding end of the lower cover member 3. The strain relief structure 21 will be described below. The space portion 17A between the two walls of each double end wall 17 also provides a sealed space for the sealant material described below.

The cavity area 9 of the lower lid member 3 is formed between the end wall 23 and the side wall 22 which stand up from the inner surface of the lid member. The side wall 22 is located slightly inside of the inner longitudinal edge 2 of the lid member and the inner wall 10B of the latching space 10A and extends parallel thereto. The end walls 23 extend between the ends of the side walls 22 and are each arranged at a distance from each strain relief structure 21. Thus, the space portion formed around the cavity area 9 provides a sealed space for the sealant material, as described below, on the outside of the side walls and the end walls 22, 23.

The side wall 15 and the double end wall 17 of the cavity region 7 in the top cover member 1 stand up above the level of the outer edge of the cover member, and the cover members 1, 3 are folded together and closed position The walls 15 and 17 are positioned to fit into the enclosed space around the cavity area 9 of the lower lid member 3 when it is to be turned into.

In addition, the cable entry passage to the splice enclosure is formed by the semicircular depression 25B on the end wall of the lid member 1 and the end wall 17 of the cavity region 7.

Referring now to FIG. 3, which is an enlarged view of one end of the lower lid member 3, each strain relief structure 21 is arranged three spaced apart parallel to the adjacent end 19 of the lower lid member 3. It can be seen that the wall 25 is included. The wall 25 includes cable openings 25A that are offset from each other to form a helical cable entry passage to the splice enclosure. The cable entry passage to the splice enclosure is also formed by semicircular depressions 25B on the end wall of the lid member 3 and the end wall 23 of the cavity region 9. If necessary, any surface 26 that leads the cable to the cavity region 9 and provides further strain relief is connected with the depression 25B of the end wall 23.

Splice enclosures comprising cover members 1, 3 can be used without the addition of any sealant material (ie in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 3), as well as protection against mechanical shock and cable strain, Provides a base level protection against moisture for longitudinal splices between two cables. First the cable splice is prepared, then the cable is placed on the lower cover member 3 together with the splice itself located in the cavity region 9 and the opening 25A and the wall 19 of the strain relief structure 21. Extends out of the opposing ends of the lid member along the passage formed by the depressions 25B of 17 and 23. The upper lid member 1 is then folded around the hinge 5 onto the lower lid member 3 and latched in the closed position. Although the cable splice is now protected against mechanical impact and protected against moisture by the cover members 1, 3, it is easily accessible by simply unlatching the top cover member and moving it to the open position.

Referring to Fig. 4, when the cable splice requires a higher level of protection against moisture, a sealant material 27 is provided in the enclosed space at the ends of the cavity regions 7 and 9. In the case of the cavity region 9, the lower lid member 3 in order to ensure that the sealant material 27 is retained (and does not enter the enclosure at the side) at the end of the cavity. Wall 23 extends outwardly at each end to provide blocking 23A. As a result, the depression 15A is cut at the top surface of the wall 15 of the top cover member 1 to accommodate the top surface of the blocking portion 23A when the splice enclosure is closed.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 6 showing the enclosure of FIG. 4 in the process used to protect the longitudinal splice between the two cables 28, the cable splice is then prepared and the cable is It is arranged on the lower cover member 3. The cable is shown to include two pairs of wires 28A (although not necessarily) and is located on the lower cover member 3 to connect the connection 28B between one cable and the individual wires 28A of the other cable. In the cavity region 9 in which the cable 28 extends from its opposite end along a passage formed by the opening 25A of this strain relief structure 21 and the depression 25B of the walls 19, 23. Position it. The splice enclosure is then closed as described above, so that the top surface of the blocking portion 23A of the lower lid member 3 is located at each recess 15A of the upper lid member 1. At the same time, the double wall 17 (with sealant material 27 therebetween) at the end of the cavity region 7 shows the central longitudinal cross section of the splice enclosure with the cable omitted for clarity. As shown in FIG. 5, it will fit into the sealant material 27 at the end of the cavity region 9. As a result, the sealant material 27 is compressed at both ends of the inner cavity of the splice enclosure and effective sealing contact is made between the cable and the adjacent surface of the lid member. Depending on the nature, the sealant material also tends to flow out of the enclosed space along the outside of the cable in a limited range, improving the sealing effect. The cable splices are now protected to a higher level of protection against moisture, mechanical shock and cable strain, but are still easily accessible by simply unlatching the top cover member and moving it to the open position.

The sealant material 27 for the enclosure of FIG. 4 may be provided in the form of a piece of pre-shaped gel which is located in the enclosed space at the ends of the cavity regions 7, 9. Alternatively, the sealant material may be provided in liquid form, in which case it is poured into the enclosed space and cured to a gel-like consistency before use. The propensity for the liquid sealant material to overflow from the enclosed space through the adjacent depressions 25A, 25B can be limited by using a high viscosity sealant material having a short curing time.

Referring to FIG. 7, if the cable splice requires a much higher level of protection against moisture, the additional sealant material 29 may be added before the spliced cable is disposed on the lower cover member 3 as described above. ) Is also provided in the enclosed space along the side of the cavity region 9. In this case, the relevant depression 15A and blocker 23A in Fig. 4 are not required and can be omitted. The splice enclosure is then closed as described above, so that the double end wall 17 as well as the side wall 15 of the cavity region 7 (with sealant material 27 therebetween), As shown in the cross-sectional views of 5 and 8, they will fit into the sealant material 29, 27 at the ends and sides of the cavity region 7, respectively. As a result, the inner cavity of the splice enclosure is surrounded by a compressed sealant material and the cable splice is protected to a much higher level of protection against moisture (and for mechanical shock and cable strain) than before, but simply It can still be easily accessed by unlatching and moving it to the open position.

As noted above, the sealant materials 27, 29 for the enclosure of FIG. 7 are preformed gels located in the enclosed space at the end of the cavity region 7 and at the ends and sides of the cavity region 9. It may be provided in the form of pieces. Alternatively, the sealant material may be provided in liquid form, in which case it is poured into the enclosed space and cured to a gel-like consistency before use.

A particular advantage of splice enclosures comprising cover members 1, 3 as described above is that some form of enclosure has some level of protection against moisture by containing only sealant material at a suitable location within the cover member. It can be used to provide. Indeed, the splice enclosure shown in FIG. 4 can be used to provide three different levels of protection, shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, despite the fact that the break 23A is not required in all cases. have. For each level of moisture protection, effective protection against splices against mechanical shock and cable strain is also provided.

Splice enclosures are simple to configure and use relatively few parts, making them easy to assemble in difficult or even impossible locations.

The modifications required to change the level of protection (i.e. addition of the sealant material) can be easily carried out by the manufacturer or installer, especially when liquid sealant materials are used, because of the preforming of the gel into a particular form. Because there is no need to stock the pieces. The maximum amount of sealant material (FIG. 7) only needs to be used when absolutely necessary, for example less than the amount used in the refillable splice enclosure in which the entire splice cavity is filled with the sealant material. As a result, the cost of the splice enclosure comprising the cover members 1, 3 as described above may be less than the whole of the splice cavity is filled with the sealant material. In addition, the fact that the hollow areas 7 and 9 are empty allows many splices to be accommodated in a single enclosure, providing better environmental conditions for long-term placement of the splice, and for splice enclosures that are reopened, Simplify the approach.

Since only one sealant material is used in the splice enclosures shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the figures, the interface between the various sealant materials (eg, the bonding of sealant materials 27 and 29 in FIG. 7). Or at the junction between the sealant material 27 in the upper and lower lid members 1, 3. In addition, the specific configuration of the splice enclosure [as described, allows the double end wall 17 of the top cover member 1 and the sealant material contained therein to cause the bottom cover material to be closed when the enclosure is closed. So that the cable 28 is entirely surrounded by the sealant material 27 in an area just outside of the central cavities 7 and 9 of the enclosure. To ensure. Thus it can occur if the sealant material 27 of the upper lid member 1 is simply in face-to-face contact with the sealant material 27 of the lower lid member, and if so, the moisture is present in the central cavity 7, 9. The possibility of air gaps around the cable in this position, which can be taken into the path, is eliminated.

Preferably, the sealant materials 27, 29 have sufficient long term elasticity to close the lid members 1, 3 and once compressed to ensure that an effective seal is maintained until the splice enclosure is reopened. Preferably, the sealant material is such that the splice in closure is then resealed (and, if necessary, reopened and resealed again and again) to continuously provide the same level of protection for the cable splice. Suitable sealant materials are disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 770,095, filed February 2, 2004, entitled "MICROSPHERE-FILLED SEALANT MATERIALS", which is incorporated herein by reference. However, if desired, one or more outer elastic members can be positioned in a known manner at the appropriate positions of the lid members 1, 3 so as to apply the required compressive force against the sealant material when the splice enclosure is closed.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the construction of the lid members 1, 3 without affecting the protective function of the splice enclosure. In one variant, a single hinge 5 between two lid members 1, 3 is replaced by two hinges 5A, 5B as shown in FIG. 9. Such a deformation makes it possible to close the splice enclosure by moving the lid member only 90 ° relative to the adjacent hinge, thereby reducing the strain applied on each hinge. As shown in Fig. 2, when a single hinge 5 is used, it is not necessary for the hinge to be molded integrally with the lid member, alternatively in the form of a film or tape which is insert molded or attached, for example by an adhesive. It can be a separate part. It is also possible to modify the shape, position and number of latches 11 and 12 used to hold the lid members together in the closed position.

Although convenient, the provision of strain relief structures 21 in the splice enclosure will limit the size of the cable that can be used with the splice enclosure. Strain relief structures 21 can be omitted for use with larger diameter cables and conventional cable ties can be used instead. Alternatively, the strain relief structure 21 may be designed to accommodate the largest diameter cable intended for use with the splice enclosure, and some additional mechanism is provided to allow the enclosure to be used with smaller diameter cables. Can be. For example, FIG. 10 shows that each strain relief structure 21 is designed to accommodate five pairs of cables and the cover member 3 has a smaller diameter cable (e.g., two pairs of cables). It shows a splice enclosure extending at each end to provide a compartment 30 that can be secured with. For that purpose, each compartment 30 has a seat 32 that is aligned with the cable opening 25A of the adjacent strain relief structure 21 and supports the cable entering the splice enclosure. If the cable is too small to be properly secured by the strain relief structure 21, the cable 32 (not shown) is passed through the holes 34 of the lid member 3 around the cable and the seat to the seat 32. Can be fixed.

With the benefit of the technical construction of this patent, one skilled in the art can apply the present invention to any size cable or any desired pair counts.

In the splice enclosure shown in Fig. 10, the lid member 1 also extends at each end in the same range as the lid member 3, so that when the lid members 1, 3 are closed around the cable splice, the sheet ( Compartment 30 comprising 32 will be closed. In a modified form, the cable seat 32 may simply be provided as an enlargement of the cover member and remains exposed when the splice enclosure is closed.

FIG. 10 also shows the weakness 36 (one in each compartment 30) of the two regions of the lid member 3, which may be perforated by screws to allow the enclosure to be secured to a flat surface, as desired. In form, another variant of the splice enclosure is shown. As another alternative, a location for the screw may be provided in the enlargement of the lid member 3 so that it is exposed and accessible when the splice enclosure is closed.

10 also shows that at the ends of the cavity areas 7, 9 the cable openings / depressions 25A, 25B of the wall of the enclosed space are all closed by the breakable wall part 26 before use of the splice enclosure. Illustrated. Such wall portion 26 allows the liquid sealant material to be poured into the sealed space up to the top level of the wall and retained during curing. Then, since the wall portion 26 is breakable, it is removed by the execution of placing the cable in place of the associated openings / depressions 25A, 25B, so that the cable is effectively embedded in the sealant material. Similar breakable wall portions can be used in any other splice enclosure described above with reference to the drawings.

10 also shows the provision of the raised continuum 40 adjacent to the hinge 5 on the intermediate wall 25 of each of the strain relief structures 21. Each raised continuum 40 is engageable in each hole 41 on the other side of the hinge in the lid member 1 to provide additional protection for the hinge when the lid members 1, 3 are closed.

Splice enclosures of the same general type as shown in the figures are called "pigtails", or butts, splices (i.e., splices between cables extending generally in the same direction rather than in the opposite direction, as shown in FIG. It will also be appreciated that it can be used to protect In that case, the splice enclosure (including strain relief structure 21) requires a change in the cable to enter the enclosure from substantially the same direction rather than in the opposite direction as shown in the figure.

Another variant of the cable entry passage of any of the splice enclosures described above with reference to the drawings is a splice between various numbers of cables, for example, between one cable extending in one direction and two cables extending in another direction. Allows protection against longitudinal splices to be provided.

Claims (23)

Refillable enclosure for splices between cables, The enclosure includes first and second lid members with inner walls configured to form a cavity for enclosing the cable splice when the lid members are joined to each other in a closed position, (i) at least one of said lid members has an inner wall adapted to form a sealant material and configured to form a sealed space portion at least partially surrounding the cavity, (ii) one or more inner walls in one lid member can fit into the enclosed space of the other lid member so that when the lid members are joined to each other in the closed position, the splice enclosure compresses the sealant material contained therein. . The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein the inner wall is configured to form an enclosed space that encloses a cable entry passage into the cavity, the cable passageway traversing the enclosed space. The splice enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the sealed space portion is formed by inner walls of the two cover members. 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein there are inner walls configured to form a sealed space in the two lid members, and in one lid member the sealed space can be fitted into the sealed space of the other lid member such that the lid members are mutually closed in a closed position. A splice enclosure which, when joined, compresses the sealant material contained in the two enclosed spaces. The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein no enclosed space comprises a sealant material. The splice enclosure of claim 2, wherein the enclosed space comprises a sealant material. The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one enclosed space comprises a sealant material that is cured after being poured into the enclosed space. The splice enclosure of claim 1 wherein all of the enclosed spaces comprise the same sealant material. The splice enclosure of claim 1 wherein the cavity for cable splice encapsulation is essentially free of sealant material. 3. The splice enclosure of claim 2, wherein at least one of the cover members comprises a strain relief member associated with the cable entry passageway. The splice enclosure of claim 1 wherein the cavity is elongated and the splice enclosure comprises a cable entry passage from the opposite end to the interior of the cavity. 12. The splice enclosure of claim 11, wherein the inner wall is configured to form a transverse sealed space at said opposite end of the cavity. 13. The splice enclosure of claim 12, wherein a cable entry passageway traverses the lateral enclosed space. The splice enclosure of claim 13, wherein the transverse enclosed spaces are formed by inner walls of the two cover members. 15. The transverse sealed space portion of claim 14, wherein the inner wall forming the transverse sealed space portion in one lid member can be fitted into the transverse sealed space portion in the other lid member so that the transverse sealed space portions when the lid members are engaged with each other in the closed position. A splice enclosure for compressing the sealant material contained in the. 13. The splice enclosure of claim 12, wherein an inner wall of at least one of the lid members is configured to provide a longitudinal enclosed space that extends along both sides of the cavity between opposing ends. 17. The splice enclosure of claim 16, wherein an inner wall of the other lid member can intervene into the longitudinally sealed space to compress the sealant material contained therein when the lid members are joined to each other in the closed position. 17. The splice enclosure of claim 16, wherein no enclosed space is essentially free of sealant material. The splice enclosure of claim 16, wherein the transverse enclosed space comprises a sealant material. 20. The splice enclosure of claim 19, wherein the longitudinal enclosed space comprises a sealant material. The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lid members are joined to each other by one or more hinges. The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lid members are releasably engageable with each other. The splice enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lid member is a molded part.

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