MXPA99004218A - Cable splice closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable splice closure, comprising first and second casing parts (1, 3), opposing edges (5, 5') of which may be brought together to close the closure, a series of protrusions (7) extending along the exterior of the first casing part (1) adjacent to a said edge (5') of the second casing part (3) in an extending wall (9) which, when the closure is closed, overlaps the exterior of the first casing part (1) such that each protrusion (7) is resiliently interlocked with a respective opening (11), characterised in that second casing part (3) includes a plurality of apertures (13) in its extending wall (9) for receiving a lever to force the casing parts (1, 3) together such that the respective protrusions (7) and openings (11) interlock and/or to force the casing parts (1, 3) apart such that the respective protrusions (7) and openings (11) disengage.

Description

CABLE SPLICE ENCLOSURE The present invention relates to cable splice enclosures, for example for telecommunication cables. U.S. Patents 471 1975 and 4492812 each disclose cable splice enclosures in which the enclosure half-shells are held together by interlocking projections and openings placed along opposite edges of the half shells. The cable splice enclosures as described in these two patents have the disadvantage that they are generally difficult to open and close. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cable splice enclosure, comprising first and second enclosure portions, the opposite edges of which can be joined to close the enclosure, a series of projections extending along the exterior of the first part of the enclosure adjacent said edge, and a series of openings extending adjacent said edge of the second enclosure part in an extension wall which, when the enclosure is closed, overlaps the exterior of the first part of enclosure so that each projection is intertrabada of elastic way with a respective opening, characterized in that the second part of enclosure includes a plurality of openings in its extension wall to receive a lever to force the enclosure parts together so that the projections and respective openings intertwined and / or force the parts of the enclosure to be separated in a manner that the respective projections and openings are decoupled. The cable splice enclosure according to the invention has the advantage that it is usually easier to open and close than the known enclosures, because the second enclosure part includes openings in its extension wall which allows the use of a lever (for example a screwdriver or the like) for forcing the enclosure parts together and / or apart. The known enclosures do not have this advantage, so they must be opened and closed normally by hand, without the use of tools. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, each opening extends completely through the extension wall from an exterior surface to an interior surface of the wall, thereby allowing a lever to be inserted through the opening from the outer surface. of the wall and in engagement with the exterior of the first part of the enclosure, in order to force the enclosure parts together. Preferably, the exterior of the first enclosure part includes at least one shoulder positioned to be engaged by a lever received in an opening when the enclosure portions are forced together. Additionally or alternatively, each opening preferably comprises a recess in an inner surface of the extension wall which opens towards a front edge of the wall, thereby allowing a lever to be inserted between the extension wall and the exterior of the wall. the first part of the enclosure, in order to uncouple the respective projections and openings when they are interlocked in the use. Preferably the openings in the extension wall are arranged in a series along the wall. Advantageously each opening may be associated with a respective opening may be associated with a respective opening, or a pair of respective openings, for example. Each opening is preferably located between at least one respective opening in the extension wall and the front edge of the wall, additionally or alternatively, each opening can be located between a respective pair of openings in the extension wall. The first and second enclosure parts preferably comprise half-shells. In some preferred embodiments, the first and second enclosure portions are completely separable from one another, having for example two pairs of opposite edges that are substantially parallel to the direction in which the cables extend within the enclosure in use. In other modalities, the first and second enclosure parts are hinged together, ie they have only a pair of opposite edges, which are substantially parallel to the direction of the cables. The enclosure parts are preferably formed from a polymer, for example polyethylene or polypropylene. Each pair of opposite edges is preferably sealed, in use, by at least one sealing member. The or each sealing member is preferably elastic, that is to say it has a low compression group. The compression group of the member material sealer (s) is preferably not greater than 40%, more preferably not greater than 30%, as measured in accordance with ISO 81 5, ie 50% compressive strength at 70 ° C for 22 hours, med after a recovery time of 30 minutes. The elasticity and the low compression set of the preferred sealing member have the advantage that they can contribute to the maintenance of a good seal with time. Additionally, they can also have the advantage of facilitating the opening of the enclosure, pushing the two reclining parts as the projections and the openings are decoupled from each other. The or each sealing member is preferably hollow, that is to say generally tubular and / or formed from a foam material.

The material of the seller member is preferably polymeric, ie elastomeric. A particularly preferred material is natural or synthetic rubber, for example a silicone or h E le E P DM. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows two separate enclosure parts of an enclosure according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the enclosure parts of Figure 1 fastened together; Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the enclosure parts of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows one of the enclosure parts of the previous figures, in themselves.

Figure 1 shows a cable splice enclosure according to the invention, comprising a first part of enclosure 1 and a second part of enclosure 3, each of which is in the form of a half shell. The enclosure has two opposite (longitudinal) edge pairs 5 and 5 'that can be joined to close the enclosure (as shown in Figure 2). The first enclosure part has a series of ramp or wedge-shaped projections 7 extending along the exterior of the first enclosure part adjacent to each edge 5. The second enclosure part 3 has two extension walls 9, each of which is adjacent to a respective edge 5 'and extends towards the first part of enclosure 1. Each extension wall 9 has a series of openings 1 1 therein. As shown in Fig. 2, when the enclosure is closed, each pair of opposite edges 5 and 5 'are joined and each extension wall 9 overlaps the exterior of the first part 1 of the enclosure, with the ramp-shaped projections or wedge 7 in engagement with the respective openings 1 1. Each extension wall 9 also includes a series of openings 13 that extend completely through the extension wall from its outer surface toward its interior surface. As more clearly shown in Figure 4, each opening 13 also comprises a recess in the interior surface of the extension wall 9, the recess of which is open towards the front edge 15 of the extension wall. This recess is achieved by means of curved portions 17 of each extension wall, although they could be used other designs to produce a similar feature, (in Figure 4, only one of the extension walls has the details of the openings 11, openings 13 and the curved portions 17 illustrated). The first part of enclosure 1 has a shoulder 19 extending along its exterior, which is positioned so that it can be coupled by a lever (for example a screwdriver, etc.) inserted into an opening 13, a in order to force the two enclosure parts together, and in particular to cause the intertrabe projection 7 with a respective opening 1 1. In this way, each projection 7 can be urged to couple its respective opening 1 1 by inserting the lever into each of the openings, or the selected openings, in turn, and forcing the first and second enclosure parts one toward the other. When it is necessary to open the enclosure, the screwdriver or other lever can be inserted into each of the openings 13 through the open end of the recess in the front edge 15 of the extension wall 9, in order to force the extension wall 15 laterally away from the first enclosure part, thereby causing each projection 7 to disengage from its respective opening 1 1. Each edge 5 of the first enclosure part 1 contains a longitudinal slot 20 for containing a sealing member sealing between the opposite edges 5 and 5 '. When an elastic sealing member is used, its elasticity will normally help the separation of the first and second parts of the enclosure forcing them to separate when the lever disengages the projections of the openings. Also illustrated in the drawings are the cable ports 21 and the cavities 23 at the ends of the enclosure parts to contain the sealant (eg, gel sealant) to seal around the cables.

Claims (12)

1 . A cable splice enclosure, comprising first and second enclosure portions, opposing edges that can be joined to close the enclosure, a series of projections extending along the exterior of the first enclosure portion adjacent said enclosure, and a series of openings extending adjacent said edge of the second enclosure part in an extension wall which, when the enclosure is closed, overlaps the exterior of the first enclosure part so that each projection is intertrabada in a manner elastic with a respective opening, characterized in that the second enclosure part includes a plurality of openings in its extension wall to receive a lever for forcing the enclosure parts together so that the respective projections and openings interfere with and / or force the enclosures. parts of the enclosure to be separated so that the respective projections and openings are decoupled. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein each opening extends completely through the extension wall from an exterior surface to an interior surface thereof, thereby allowing a lever to be inserted through the wall. the opening from the outer surface of the wall and in engagement with the exterior of the first enclosure part, in order to force the enclosure parts together. An enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the exterior of the first enclosure part includes at least one shoulder positioned to be engaged by the lever received in said opening when the enclosure parts are forced together. 4. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein each opening comprises, or additionally comprises, a recess in an anterior surface of the extension wall that is open towards a front edge of the wall, thereby allowing that a lever is inserted between the extension wall and the exterior of the first part of the enclosure, in order to uncouple the respective projections and openings when they were intertwined in use. 5. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein each opening is located between at least one respective opening in the extension wall and a front edge of the wall. 6. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein each opening is located between a respective pair of said openings in the extension wall. 7. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, in which the first and second enclosure parts are completely separable from one another. An enclosure according to claim 7, which has two pairs of opposite edges, which are substantially parallel to the direction in which the cables extend within the enclosure in use. 9. An enclosure conforming to any one of the claims 1 to 6, in which the first and second enclosure parts are hinged together. An enclosure according to claim 9, which has only one pair of opposite edges, which are substantially parallel to the direction in which the cables extend within the enclosure in use. 11. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second enclosure parts comprise half-shells. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each pair of opposite edges is sealed, by at least one elastic sealing member that facilitates the opening of the enclosure by pushing the two enclosure parts as the projections and openings they uncouple one from the other. SUMMARY A cable coupling enclosure, comprising first and second enclosure parts (1, 3), opposite edges (5, 5 ') of which can be joined to close the enclosure, a series of projections (7) extending to along the outside of the first part of enclosure (1) adjacent to said edge (5 ') of the second enclosure part (3) in an extension wall (9) which, when the enclosure is closed, it overlaps the outside of the first enclosure part (1) so that each projection (7) is intertrabada with a respective opening (1 1), characterized in that the second enclosure part (3) includes a plurality of openings (13) in its extension wall (9) to receive a lever for forcing the enclosure parts (1, 3) together so that the respective projections (7) and openings (11) intertwine and / or force the enclosure parts (1, 3) apart so that the respective projections (7) and openings (11) are decoupled.