US4375720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of end-to-end cable joining for use with small diameter, armored cable having compressed mineral insulation
Assignee: Cables de Lyon SA
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Filing: 1981-07-06
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Granted: 1983-03-08
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Expires: 2001-07-06
Abstract
Abstract Cable ends (1 and 2) are to be joined. The cables are armored by stainless steel sheaths, and have two conductors (9 & 11, and 8 & 10 respectively) insulated by means of compressed mineral insulation (14). The cables are typically for thermocouples and have an outside diameter of a few millimeters. Joining proceeds as follows: The cable ends are reduced in diameter by swaging, e.g. with initial conical portions (5,4) followed by smaller diameter portions (7,6). The ends of the swaged portions are stripped to reveal the conductors which are joined end-to-end by welding. A longitudinally slotted length of tubing (3) is placed around the join, and the tubing is filled, via its slot, with powdered mineral insulation. The length of tubing 3 is then closed by welding, and the entire join is drawn down around the join to ensure that the entire joined cable is of uniform outside diameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Bourget
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/58; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49194; Y10T29/49195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of end-to-end cable joining for use with small diameter, armoured cable having compressed mineral insulation, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a length of longitudinally slotted tubing made of the same metal as the cable armour sheath, and having a slightly larger outside diameter; (b) swaging a portion of the sheath of each of the cable ends to be joined to reduce the outside diameter of said portion to less than the inside diameter of said length of tubing, said swaged portions each extending over a distance of slightly less than half the length of said length of slotted tubing; (c) stripping the ends of the swaged portions of cable; (d) welding together the ends of corresponding conductors as revealed by step (c); (e) placing said slotted length of tubing around the ends of the cables as joined by step (d), and temporarily fixing it in place with a few tacking welds; (f) filling the inside of said slotted tubing via its slot with powdered mineral insulation, thereby reconstituting the mineral insulation of the conductors therein; (g) radially compressing said longitudinally slotted tubing to bring the edges of the slot together, and closing said slot by welding; (h) permanently fixing the ends of said tubing to the sheaths of the cables by welding or brazing; (i) filling in, by brazing, any discontinuities in the outer surface of the joined cables in the vicinity of the ends of said tubing; and (j) drawing out the cable around the joint to ensure a uniform outside diameter matching the outside diameter of the rest of the cable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
268 words
A method of end-to-end cable joining for use with small diameter, armoured cable having compressed mineral insulation, said method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a length of longitudinally slotted tubing made of the same metal as the cable armour sheath, and having a slightly larger outside diameter; (b) swaging a portion of the sheath of each of the cable ends to be joined to reduce the outside diameter of said portion to less than the inside diameter of said length of tubing, said swaged portions each extending over a distance of slightly less than half the length of said length of slotted tubing; (c) stripping the ends of the swaged portions of cable; (d) welding together the ends of corresponding conductors as revealed by step (c); (e) placing said slotted length of tubing around the ends of the cables as joined by step (d), and temporarily fixing it in place with a few tacking welds; (f) filling the inside of said slotted tubing via its slot with powdered mineral insulation, thereby reconstituting the mineral insulation of the conductors therein; (g) radially compressing said longitudinally slotted tubing to bring the edges of the slot together, and closing said slot by welding; (h) permanently fixing the ends of said tubing to the sheaths of the cables by welding or brazing; (i) filling in, by brazing, any discontinuities in the outer surface of the joined cables in the vicinity of the ends of said tubing; and (j) drawing out the cable around the joint to ensure a uniform outside diameter matching the outside diameter of the rest of the cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the welding operations are performed by arc welding under an inert gas and without adding any metal to the parent members so joined.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ends of the cables to be joined are swaged in diameter in step (b) via a cone with a peak angle of about 20°.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2393935A
Cited
US3903595A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-07 | 1986-09-06 | 1987-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-07 | 1990-09-06 | 1991-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-07 | 1994-09-06 | 1995-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |