WO1996021964A1

WO1996021964A1 - Splash-proof cover for electrical tap connector

Info

Publication number: WO1996021964A1
Application number: PCT/IB1995/001125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luís BATTLÓ ROSÉS; Julían PEREZ HERANDEZ
Original assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date: 1995-01-10
Filing date: 1995-12-14
Publication date: 1996-07-18
Also published as: GB9500376D0

Abstract

A splash-proof cover (24) for a power cable tap connector (2) comprises a flexible housing (26) having a seam (39) for splitting apart of the cover and positioning over the connector and cables. Flange portions (38, 44) are provided along the seam and comprise complementary T-profiles and grooves continuously along the seam for latching together of the seam when the cover is positioned around the connector and cable assembly. The latter thus provides a continuous closure along the seam of the cover for more effective sealing. The cover further comprises conical cable sections (28, 30, 34) that can be trimmed to different lengths for adaptation to different cable sizes. Due to the continuous T-profile and corresponding T-groove of the seam, closure thereof always extends to the extremities (40, 42, 46) of the cable sections (30, 34, 28).

Description

SPLASH PROOF COVER FOR ELECTRICAL TAP CONNECTOR

This invention relates to a cover for sealing an electrical connector, in particular a connector for tapping off a power line.

Medium or low voltage power lines for electrical power distribution often comprise inner conducting strands and an outer insulative layer, whereby electrical power can be tapped from this cable by removing a section of the outer insulation and connecting the bared inner strands to a tap connector. Such a connector is shown in Figure 1 as the connector 2 which interconnects a main power supply cable 4 having outer insulation 6 and inner conducting strands 8, to a subsidiary cable 10 also having an outer insulation layer 12 and inner conducting strands 14. As the conductors 4,10 and connector 2 are exposed to the environment, they need to be sealed from the environment to prevent corrosion, and in the case of buried conductors to prevent electrical contact with the earth. One way of sealing the tab connector is to provide a cover that is positionable around the connector and cable, the cover comprising discrete latching members for closing the cover around the tab connector and exposed portions of cable. Such covers can be filled with a resin or gel for surrounding the exposed conductors and preventing any water or dirt ingress within the cover.

One of the problems with such prior art covers is that the discrete cover latching means does not provide a sufficiently effective means for preventing ingress of dirt and liquids. Furthermore, such covers are not well adapted for application to cables of different diameters, and therefore different covers are required for different diameter cables. It would be desirable to provide a cover for a power tap connector that has improved sealing as well as being adaptable to different wire sizes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cover for a power line tap connector that is adaptable to different cable sizes yet providing reliable sealing.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a cover for sealing a power line tap connector, the cover having improved closing means for more effective sealing, in a simple and cost-effective manner.

The objects of this invention have been achieved by providing a cover for a power line tap connector, the cover comprising a shell forming a cavity therein for receiving a power line tap connector and sections of bared conductor, the shell having opposed surfaces along a perimeter thereof, the surfaces being separable for sliding the shell over the cables and tap connector for reception within the cavity, the opposed perimetral surfaces latchable together continuously therealong for closing the cover around the tap connector and cables. The cover comprises outlets for receiving the cables therethrough to the connector, the outlets formed by conical sections that can be severed from the cover in order to vary the diameter of the outlet to correspond to that of the cable.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the figures, whereby;

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a tap connector interconnecting power lines, and a cover prior to mounting to the connector, showing the cover latching member;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the cover mounted over the connector and cables;

Figure 3 is a partial detailed view of circle 3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the cover;

Figure 5 is a view in the direction of arrow 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in the direction of arrow 6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through lines 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view through lines 8-8 of Figure 4; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through lines 9-9 of Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through lines 10- 10 of Figure 9. Referring first to Figure 1, the tap connector 2 comprises a C-shaped member 16 and a wedge element 18 that wedges between the main cable 4 and the subsidiary cable 10 by thrusting the bared section of cable 8 and 14 against opposing inner curved surfaces 20,22 respectively of the C-shaped member 16 for electrical contact thereto. The C-shaped element 16 tapers slightly in the direction of the cables such that the wedge element 18 can be wedged tightly between the cables thereby securely fixing the tap connector 2 to the cables. This tap connector is known in the prior art, and is typically used for medium to low voltage power distribution cables, for example for supplying electricity to factories and residential areas. Referring now to Figures 1-9, an insulative cover 24 moulded from a flexible material comprises a body section 26, cables sections 28,30 extending from one end 32 of the body section 26, and a further cable section 34 extending from the other end 36 of the body section 26 in a direction substantially opposed to the cable section 28. The cover 24 further comprises a flange 38 extending along the outer periphery of the cover from an extremity 40 of the cable section 30 to an extremity 42 of the cable section 34, and a further flange 44 extending along the periphery between the extremity 40 of the cable section 30 and an extremity 46 of the cable section 28. The flanges 38 and 44 are split into two sections 48,50 by a seam 3a, each section directly attached to opposing sides 52,54 of the cover 24 such that the opposing sections 48,50 can be pulled apart as indicated by the arrows A in Figure 1 for positioning of the cover over the connector 2, cable 4 and cable 10. The cover 24 is made of a sufficiently flexible material to allow prising apart of the flange sections 48,50.

The cover body section 26 forms a cavity 56 therein for receiving the connector. The cover cable sections 28, 34 have holes 58,60 respectively at their extremities to allow passage of the main cable 4, and the cable section 30 also has a hole 62 for allowing passage of the subsidiary cable 10 to the connector 16. The cable sections 28,34,30 are conical with their small diameters extending away from the body section 26, the cable sections having circumferential marks indicating the cable diameter size. The conical cable sections can thus be cut at one of the circumferential marks such that the diameter of the hole 58,60, or 62 corresponds to that of the cable

4 or 10, to provide a good fit. The latter thus allows the cover to be used with a number of different cable sizes.

The flanges 38 and 44 comprise on the one side 48 a latching protrusion 70 that is T-shaped and engages in a corresponding groove 72 on the other flange section 50. The T-shaped protrusion 70 comprises opposing hook portions 74 that engage behind complementary hook portions 76 extending towards the mouth 78 of the groove 72. The T- shaped protrusion 70 and complementary groove 72 form the latching member for closing the cover 24 around the connector and cables 2,4,10. The latching member extends continuously along the whole periphery of the seam 39. The latching member as described above enables the conical cable sections 28,30,34 to be trimmed to the correct diameter whereby the cover latching means always extend to the extremities 40,46,42.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, three centering studs 80 are positioned on one of the flange sections 50 and complementary stud latching holes 82 are found on the other flange section 48. The studs not only provide an additional cover latching means, but, in particular, provide a means for correctly positioning the opposing sections 52,54 of the cover with respect to each other. Referring to Figure 9, the cover can be supplied with a grease or resin 84,86 therein for additional sealing around the connector 2. The grease may be positioned across the cable sections 29,30 to flow around the cables 4,10 when the cover is closed thereover, thus preventing ingress of dirt and liquid through the cable outlet holes 58,60,62.

Advantageously therefore, continuous latching along the seam of the cover by means of a continuous T-shaped profile engaging in a continuous channel provides effective, sealed closure of the cover around a tap connector and cables connected thereto. Furthermore, such latching enables trimming of conical cable sections for adjustment to different cable diameters whilst always latching up to the extremities. Furthermore, the tapered cable sections enable use of the cover for different cable sizes.

Claims

1. An insulative cover (24) for an electrical power line tap connector (2) , the cover comprising a body section (26) forming a cavity (56) for receiving the connector (2) therein, and cable outlet sections (28,34,30) extending from the body section and having holes (58,60,62) for extension of electrical cables connected to the connector therethrough, the body section and cable outlet sections split by a peripheral seam (39) extending between cable outlet extremities (46,40,42) of the cable outlet sections (28,30,34) respectively to enable mounting of the cover (24) over the connector and portions of the cables (4,10) characterized in that the seam (39) is closable substantially continuously along its whole length by a latching member extending therealong and having at least one protrusion (70) on one side (48) of the cover engageable in at least one complementary groove on an opposing side of the cover.

2. The cover of claim 1 characterized in that cable outlet sections (28,30,34) are substantially conical, with the smaller diameter towards their extremities (46,40,42) distant from the body section (26) .

3. The cover of claim 2 characterized in that the cable outlet sections have circumferential marks (64) indicating the cable outlet diameter.

4. The cover of any preceding claim characterized in that the cover comprises a peripheral flange extending from the cable outlet (28,30,34) and body sections (26) on which the complementary latching protrusion (70) and groove (72) are arranged.

5. The cover of any preceding claim characterized in that the cover comprises three cable outlet sections (28,30,34), a first and second cable outlet (28,34) extending in opposed directions from body section (26) for passage of a main cable (4) therethrough, and a third extending from one end of the body section for entry of a subsidiary cable.

6. The cover of claim 5 characterized in that the first and third cable outlet sections have a peripheral flange (44) extending between extremities (46,40) of these outlets, the flange having a latching member positioned thereon and extending substantially from one extremity (46) to the other (40).

7. The cover of any preceding claim characterized in that the cover is made of an elastomeric material.

8. The cover of any preceding claim characterized in that the protrusion is T-shaped and comprises hook portions (74) engageable behind extensions (76) projecting into a mouth (78) of the groove (72) .