Electrical connection sealing device

Claim 1

An article for sealing the exposed portion of an electrical connection comprising: (A) an envelope, having an opening at one end, of a material having a flexural modulus of at least 1,000 psi at 23° C.; (B) the envelope containing a polymeric gel having a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10 -1 mm) and an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%; and (C) a retaining means to retain the polymeric gel and envelope on the exposed portion of an electrical connection wherein the polymeric gel comprises a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer (a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or (b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule; said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )x dynes/cm 2 wherein x is less than 5×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140° C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70° C.; and a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )y poises wherein y is less than 1×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

Claim 28

A method for sealing the exposed portion of an electrical connection of two or more cables which comprises (A) providing an envelope, having an opening at one end, of a material having a flexural modulus of at least 1,000 psi at 23% C.°, containing a polymeric gel having a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10 -1 mm) and an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%; (B) positioning the envelope and polymeric gel over the exposed portion of the electrical connection such that the cable connection is sealed; and (C) engaging a retaining means to retain the envelope and polymeric gel on the exposed portion of electrical connection wherein the polymeric gel comprising a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer (a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or (b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule; said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )x dynes/cm 2 wherein x is less than 5×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140° C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70° C.; and a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )y poises wherein y is less than 1×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.

Claim 29

A method for sealing the exposed portion of an electrical connection of two or more cables which comprises (A) providing an envelope, having an opening at one end, of a material having a flexural modulus of at least 1,000 psi at 23% C.°, containing a polymeric gel having a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 400 (10 -1 mm) and an elongation of from about 25% to about 850%; (B) positioning the envelope and polymeric gel over the exposed portion of the electrical connection such that the cable connection is sealed; and (C) engaging a retaining means to retain the envelope and polymeric gel on the exposed portion of electrical connection wherein the polymeric gel comprising a crosslinked non-silicone polymer having an olefinic unsaturated content of less than 10 mole percent and having dispersed therein a liquid in an amount of from about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the liquid and polymer and from 0 to 0.3 volume fraction of a filler, said cross-linked polymer (a) if derived from a solid, relatively high molecular weight polymer, having a gel fraction of at least about 50%, or (b) if derived from a liquid, relatively low molecular weight polymer, having at least about 0.1 crosslinks per weight average molecule; said composition having a storage modulus of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )x dynes/cm 2 wherein x is less than 5×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C., and v is the volume fraction of the filler, with the proviso that if the crosslinked polymer is prepared from a solid high molecular weight polymer, the storage modulus at 140° C. is at least about 70% of the storage modulus at 70° C.; and a dynamic viscosity of (1+2.5v+14.1v 2 )y poises wherein y is less than 1×10 5 at 30° C. and greater than 5×10 2 at 90° C. and v is the volume fraction of the filler, said composition exhibiting first degree blocking.