Multitube cable splice assembly and method of making same

Claim 2

A cable splice assembly electrically and mechanically interconnecting shielded high voltage electrical cable ends, which assembly comprises: an electrically conducting cable connecting means that axially joins the electrical conductors of said ends; a plurality of elastomeric, coaxial, inner, stress relief tubes bridging between said cables and overlying said connecting means, said tubes integrally including axial, high dielectric strength insulating portions and axial semiconducting portions, which semiconducting portions of adjacent inner tubes are interleaved to serve as extensions of the electrostatic shielding of said cables; and an elastomeric semiconductive outer tube coaxial with said inner tubes and electrically connecting with at least one of said extensions of said shielding to form with the inner tubes an electrostatic shield over the splice region.

Claim 3

A splice assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer tube electrically connects with said extensions of said shielding to complete a path of conduction between the shields of said cables.

Claim 4

slipping onto at least one of the cables inner elastomeric tubes having semiconducting portions and insulating portions and an elastomeric semiconducting outer tube, which tubes are prestretched and mounted on removable cores of various diameters;

Claim 5

slipping onto at least one of the cables inner elastomeric tubes having semiconducting portions and insulating portions and an elastomeric semiconducting outer tube, which tubes are prestretched and mounted on removable cores of various diameters;

Claim 6

connecting the conductors of said cables with connecting means; and

Claim 7

connecting the conductors of said cables with connecting means; and

Claim 8

A splice assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said assembly further includes: an intermediate tube coaxially interposed between said inner tubes and said outer tube and having a semiconducting portion electrically connecting one of said shield extensions with said outer tube and an insulating portion that forms an electrical break between the other shield extension and said outer tube; and wherein each of said inner, outer and intermediate tubes has insulating portions forming an insulating cover over said assembly preventing impurities from producing an electrical short across said break.

Claim 9

A splice assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said inner and outer tubes has a frictional fit with another of said tubes to operatively form an integral unit.

Claim 10

successively positioning each of said inner and outer tubes into a coaxial relationship with one another and thereupon removing each of said tube cores to permit said tubes to shrink and form a frictional fit with an adjacent tube to operatively form an integral unit, with the semiconductive portions of adjacent inner tubes interleaved to serve as extensions of the electrostatic shielding of said cable and with the outer tube electrically connecting with at least one of said extensions of said shielding to form with the inner tubes an electrostatic shield over the splice region.

Claim 11

successively positioning each of said inner and outer tubes into a coaxial relationship with one another and thereupon removing each of said tube cores to permit said tubes to shrink and form a frictional fit with an adjacent tube to operatively form an integral unit, with the semiconductive portions of adjacent inner tubes interleaved to serve as extensions of the electrostatic shielding of said cable and with the outer tube electrically connecting with at least one of said extensions of said shielding to form with the inner tubes an electrostatic shield over the splice region.

Claim 12

A splice assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said insulating portions of said inner tubes are central portions and said semiconducting portions of said inner tubes are end portions.

Claim 13

A splice assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein there is a gap between the insulation of said cables and said assembly further includes: a stiff, electrically conducting support member closing the gap between the insulation of said cable segments and preventing said elastomeric tubes from collapsing into said gap; and an innermost tube of said inner tubes has a central semiconducting portion overlying said support means to evenly distribute electrical stress produced by said support means.

Claim 14

A cable splice assembly electrically and mechanically interconnecting two segments of a shielded and insulated high voltage electrical cable, which splice comprises: an electrically conducting cable connecting means that joins one end of the electrical conductors of each segment axially together; A plurality of elastomeric, coaxial, inner, stress relief tubes bridging between said cable segments and enshrouding said connecting means, said tubes integrally including high dielectric strength insulating portions and semiconducting portions, which semiconductive portions of adjacent tubes are interleaved to serve as extensions of the electrostatic shielding of said segments; and an elastomeric, semiconductive, outer tube coaxial with said inner tubes and electrically connecting said extensions of said shielding to complete the electrostatic shield between the shielding of said segments.

Claim 15

A cable splice assembly electrically and mechanically interconnecting two segments of a shielded and insulated high voltage electrical cable, which splice comprises: an electrically conducting cable connecting means that joins one end of the electrical conductors of each segment axially together; A plurality of elastomeric, coaxial, inner, stress relief tubes bridging between said cable segments and enshrouding said connecting means, said tubes integrally including high dielectric strength insulating portions and semiconducting portions, which semiconductive portions of adjacent tubes are interleaved to serve as extensions of the electrostatic shielding of said segments; and an elastomeric, semiconductive, outer tube coaxial with said inner tubes and electrically connecting said extensions of said shielding to complete the electrostatic shield between the shielding of said segments.