Corona free coupling assembly for coaxial cables

Claim 1

A corona free coupling structure comprising a pair of high voltage coaxial cables having outer shielding systems and a coupling assembly including a filler body of elastomeric insulating material having an elongated bore open at opposite ends receiving the end portions of said pair of cables; tubular, conductive inner shield means embedded in said body in coaxial alignment in said bore and spaced from said opposite ends thereof; a tubular connector sleeve inserted into said bore and said inner shield means connecting the central conductors of said cables in end-to-end relation; conductive contact means mounted on said conductor sleeve including a deflectable free end portion biased outwardly thereof making electrical contact between said sleeve and said inner shield means; conductive outer shield means around said insulating body connecting the outer shielding systems of said cables; said inner shield means having an internal diameter greater than the diameter of opposite end portions of said bore in said filler body extending outwardly in opposite directions from the opposite ends thereof, said inner shield means defining an annular space around said connector sleeve and cables within said body for accommodating the deflectable free end portion of said conductive contact means; and a pair of concentric, rigid, insulating spacer rings at opposite endS of said inner shield means, said rings having an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said end portions of said bore and defining end walls of said annular chamber, one of said end walls being engageable by the free end of said conductive contact means to prevent withdrawal of said cables and conductor sleeve from said body in a longitudinal direction opposite the direction of insertion.