US4054743A — Fluid assisted installation of electrical cable a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 134 words

In an electrical cable accessory having a tubular member of elastomeric material which is to be installed over a cylindrical surface to grip the cylindrical surface, when in appropriate assembled relation therewith, with a predetermined gripping force established by dilation of the tubular member, said tubular member having opposite ends and a wall portion extending between said opposite ends, the improvement comprising: means in the tubular member for enabling the introduction of fluid under pressure through said wall portion and between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface to reduce said gripping force during installation of the tubular member over the cylindrical surface; and means adjacent at least one end of the tubular member for impeding the escape of said fluid from between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface at said one end.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 134 words

In an electrical cable accessory having a tubular member of elastomeric material which is to be installed over a cylindrical surface to grip the cylindrical surface, when in appropriate assembled relation therewith, with a predetermined gripping force established by dilation of the tubular member, said tubular member having opposite ends and a wall portion extending between said opposite ends, the improvement comprising: means in the tubular member for enabling the introduction of fluid under pressure through said wall portion and between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface to reduce said gripping force during installation of the tubular member over the cylindrical surface; and means adjacent at least one end of the tubular member for impeding the escape of said fluid from between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface at said one end.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention of claim 1 wherein: said means for enabling the introduction of fluid includes fluid-introduction means located adjacent said one end; and said means for impeding the escape of fluid includes sealing means between the fluid-introduction means and said one end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 2 wherein the sealing means includes a selectively releasable seal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The invention of claim 1 wherein: said means for enabling the introduction of fluid includes fluid-introduction means located adjacent each of said opposite ends; and said means for impeding the escape of fluid includes sealing means between each fluid-introduction means and a corresponding one of said opposite ends.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 4 wherein each sealing means includes a selectively releasable seal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

The invention of claim 1 wherein the wall portion of said tubular member has an internal surface and an outside surface, said means for enabling introduction of a fluid under pressure including a passage between said internal surface and said outside surface for admitting the fluid from a source outside the wall and through the wall to enter between the inside surface and the cylindrical surface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The invention of claim 6 wherein the passage is located adjacent said one end; and said means for impeding the escape of fluid includes sealing means between the passage and said one end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention of claim 7 including a fitting passing through said wall and providing said passage, said fitting including a stem.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 11 words

The invention of claim 8 wherein said stem is selectively removable.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 103 words

The invention of claim 1 wherein the tubular member has an internal surface, an outside surface and a wall between the internal surface and the outside surface, said means for enabling introduction of a fluid under pressure including a passage located adjacent each of said opposite ends, each passage extending between said internal surface and said outside surface for admitting the fluid from a source outside the wall, through the wall and between the inside surface and the cylindrical surface, and said means for impeding the escape of fluid includes sealing means between each passage and a corresponding one of said opposite ends.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 10 wherein each sealing means includes a selectively releasable seal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The invention of claim 11 including a fitting passing through said wall adjacent each said end, each fitting providing one of said passages and each fitting including a stem.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 11 words

The invention of claim 12 wherein each stem is selectively removable.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a method of installing an electrical cable accessory having a tubular member of elastomeric material which is to be installed over a cylindrical surface to grip the cylindrical surface, when in appropriate assembled relation therewith, with a predetermined gripping force established by dilation of the tubular member, said tubular member having opposite ends and a wall portion extending between said opposite ends, the improvement comprising: introducing fluid under pressure through said wall portion and between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface as the tubular member is placed over the cylindrical surface; and simultaneously impeding the escape of said fluid from between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface at least at one of said opposite ends to dilate the tubular member and establish a fluid layer between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface, thereby reducing said gripping force during installation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a method of installing an electrical cable accessory having a tubular member of elastomeric material which is to be installed over a cylindrical surface to grip the cylindrical surface, when in appropriate assembled relation therewith, with a predetermined gripping force established by dilation of the tubular member, said tubular member having opposite ends and a wall portion extending between said opposite ends, the improvement comprising: introducing fluid under pressure through said wall portion and between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface as the tubular member is placed over the cylindrical surface; and simultaneously impeding the escape of said fluid from between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface at least at one of said opposite ends to dilate the tubular member and establish a fluid layer between the tubular member and the cylindrical surface, thereby reducing said gripping force during installation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 14 including: introducing said fluid under pressure at a location adjacent said one of the opposite ends of the tubular member; and impeding the escape of said fluid under pressure by establishing a seal between said location and the one end, whereby said fluid under pressure will be urged toward the other of said opposite ends of the tubular member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said one of the opposite ends is the end first placed over the cylindrical surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 16 including sealing the fluid introduced into the tubular member against escape from said one end as the one end is advanced along the cylindrical surface during installation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 17 including simultaneously enabling escape of said fluid under pressure adjacent the other of the opposite ends.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the fluid is a liquid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 19 wherein the liquid is an oil having good dielectric properties, such as a silicone oil.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the fluid is a gas.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the gas is a gaseous fluorocarbon.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 21 wherein the gas is gaseous sulfur hexafluoride.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

The invention of claim 1 wherein said wall portion comprises electrically conductive material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-10-17	1981-04-18	1981-10-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-10-17	1985-04-18	1985-10-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-10-17	1989-04-18	1989-10-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid assisted installation of electrical cable accessories

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag