Method of protecting a cable splice with a splice closure having pressure measuring means

Claim 1

A method of protecting a cable splice, which comprises: (a) providing a cable splice between two cables; (b) wrapping a tape around each cable at a position adjacent the splice to form first and second tape wraps; (c) placing a pressure measuring tube across the first tape wrap such that it has one end adjacent the splice and an opposite end further away from the splice than said first tape wrap; said pressuring measuring tube being sealed at said opposite end, and having a transparent or translucent wall; (d) positioning a flexible reservoir around the splice and around the first and second tape wraps and around the pressure measuring tube such that said one end of the tube lies within the reservoir and said opposite end lies outside the reservoir; (e) then introducing a curable sealant into the reservoir via an opening therein; (f) then closing the opening to seal the reservoir; (g) then compression wrapping a tape around the reservoir thereby subjecting the curable sealant to compression; (h) observing through the wall of the pressure measuring tube the extent to which curable sealant is displaced into the tube and thereby the pressure to which the sealant is subjected; (i) then curing the curable sealant while the sealant is thus observable.

Claim 2

A method of protecting a cable splice, which comprises: (a) providing a cable splice between two cables; (b) wrapping a tape around each cable at a position adjacent the splice to form first and second tape wraps; (c) placing a pressure measuring tube across the first tape wrap such that it has one end adjacent the splice and an opposite end further away from the splice than said first tape wrap; said pressuring measuring tube being sealed at said opposite end, and having a transparent or translucent wall; (d) positioning a flexible reservoir around the splice and around the first and second tape wraps and around the pressure measuring tube such that said one end of the tube lies within the reservoir and said opposite end lies outside the reservoir; (e) then introducing a curable sealant into the reservoir via an opening therein; (f) then closing the opening to seal the reservoir; (g) then compression wrapping a tape around the reservoir thereby subjecting the curable sealant to compression; (h) observing through the wall of the pressure measuring tube the extent to which curable sealant is displaced into the tube and thereby the pressure to which the sealant is subjected; (i) then curing the curable sealant while the sealant is thus observable.