Patent US1681779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4262913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High pressure gland for optical fibres and/or electrical conductors
Assignee: STC PLC
•
Filing: 1979-08-31
•
Granted: 1981-04-21
•
Expires: 1999-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A high pressure gland for optical fibres and/or electrical conductors has a tubular member through which the fibres/conductors are loosely passed. The bore of the tube is then filled with an encapsulating plastics material which adheres to both the fibres/conductors and the wall of the tube bore. The outside of the tubular member is shaped so as to be mechanically secured and sealed in an aperture in a bulkhead or the like. The construction of the gland is such that it can withstand a high axial pressure differential such as might be experienced on the sea bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin S. Parfree
- 👤 Duncan A. Gunn
- 👤 John C. Crownshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B17/00; H01B17/26; H01B17/30; H01B17/303; H01B17/306; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4427; G02B6/4428; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/013; H02G15/08; H02G15/10; H02G15/12; H02G15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A high pressure gland inserted through an aperture of a submarine bulkhead for a telecommunication cable comprising: a plurality of conductors, an inner tubular strength member enclosing said conductors and extending through said gland, an encapsulating plastic material in said inner tubular member which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductors, a sheathing surrounding said inner tubular member, a second tubular member secured to the outside of said sheathing by means of an injection moulded plastic material, said injection moulded plastic material forming a tapered joint around said second tubular member, said second tubular member having at least one annular groove, a radial flange and a first shoulder section, O-ring seals disposed in said annular grooves, said submarine bulkhead comprising a second shoulder section, a compressible seal disposed between said first shoulder and said second shoulder sections, and a gland retaining ring having clamping bolts for securing said gland to said bulkhead and applying pressure to said compressible seal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A high pressure gland inserted through an aperture of a submarine bulkhead for a telecommunication cable comprising: a plurality of conductors, an inner tubular strength member enclosing said conductors and extending through said gland, an encapsulating plastic material in said inner tubular member which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductors, a sheathing surrounding said inner tubular member, a second tubular member secured to the outside of said sheathing by means of an injection moulded plastic material, said injection moulded plastic material forming a tapered joint around said second tubular member, said second tubular member having at least one annular groove, a radial flange and a first shoulder section, O-ring seals disposed in said annular grooves, said submarine bulkhead comprising a second shoulder section, a compressible seal disposed between said first shoulder and said second shoulder sections, and a gland retaining ring having clamping bolts for securing said gland to said bulkhead and applying pressure to said compressible seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A gland according to claim 1 wherein the encapsulating material is an epoxy resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A gland according to claim 1 or 2 in which the tubular inner strength member is made of metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A gland as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner tubular member comprises an elongate metal tube having a sheathing of extruded plastic material thereon, the metal tube forming an electrical conductor for supplying electrical energy through the bulkhead and forming also a pressure-resistant sheath around the conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A gland as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tubular strength member comprises a first tubular part secured to and through a second tubular part with moulded plastics material, the second tubular part being adapted to be mechanically secured through the aperture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of forming a high pressure gland for sealing and securing at least one conductor through an aperture in a bulkhead comprising: providing an inner tubular strength member enclosing said conductor and extending through said gland, introducing an encapsulating plastic material into said inner tubular member which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductor, placing a sheathing around said inner tubular member, providing a second tubular member secured to the outside of said sheathing by means of an injection moulded plastic material, said injection moulded plastic material forming a tapered joint around said second tubular member, said second tubular member having at least one annular groove, a radial flange and a first shoulder section, O-ring seals disposed in said annular grooves, said bulkhead comprising a second shoulder section, inserting a compressible seal between said first shoulder and said second shoulder sections, and providing a gland retaining ring having clamping bolts for securing said gland to said bulkhead and applying pressure to said compressible seal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of forming a high pressure gland for sealing and securing at least one conductor through an aperture in a bulkhead comprising: providing an inner tubular strength member enclosing said conductor and extending through said gland, introducing an encapsulating plastic material into said inner tubular member which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductor, placing a sheathing around said inner tubular member, providing a second tubular member secured to the outside of said sheathing by means of an injection moulded plastic material, said injection moulded plastic material forming a tapered joint around said second tubular member, said second tubular member having at least one annular groove, a radial flange and a first shoulder section, O-ring seals disposed in said annular grooves, said bulkhead comprising a second shoulder section, inserting a compressible seal between said first shoulder and said second shoulder sections, and providing a gland retaining ring having clamping bolts for securing said gland to said bulkhead and applying pressure to said compressible seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the encapsulating plastic material is an epoxy resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising preparing a cable end leaving a length of optical fibre projecting, feeding the length of fibre through the member, and sealing the fibre through the member with said encapsulating plastics material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of sealing and securing a conductor through an aperture in a conductive bulkhead comprising providing an elongate conductive tube, preparing a cable end to leave said conductor projecting, passing the conductor through the tube, introducing a quantity of encapsulating plastic material in the remaining space between the bore of the tube and the conductor which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductor, securing the tube through a gland body, and mechanically securing the gland body with pressure seals through the aperture in the bulkhead, the tube being electrically insulated from the bulkhead.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of sealing and securing a conductor through an aperture in a conductive bulkhead comprising providing an elongate conductive tube, preparing a cable end to leave said conductor projecting, passing the conductor through the tube, introducing a quantity of encapsulating plastic material in the remaining space between the bore of the tube and the conductor which adheres to both the wall of the bore and the conductor, securing the tube through a gland body, and mechanically securing the gland body with pressure seals through the aperture in the bulkhead, the tube being electrically insulated from the bulkhead.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR849268A
Cited
GB769452A
Cited
US3104277A
Cited
GB916224A
Cited
GB889080A
Cited
US3290427A
Cited
FR1473304A
Cited
US3739076A
Cited
US3781456A
Cited
US4015329A
Cited
US4103136A
Cited
US4152538A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-04-20 | 1984-10-20 | 1985-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-20 | 1988-10-20 | 1989-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-20 | 1992-10-20 | 1993-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |