US4818310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressurized cable splice closure apparatus and method
Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property Inc
•
Filing: 1987-05-05
•
Granted: 1989-04-04
•
Expires: 2007-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for enclosing a splice joining at least first and second cable segments prevents water from entering the splice. The apparatus includes a flexible reservoir sealingly attachable to a sealing surface of an end plate assembly. The end plate assembly is sealingly attachable to the cable segments. The pressurized splice closure sections sealingly engage one another and the end plates. The method includes forming a reservoir about the splice, sealing the reservoir to the first and second conductor segments or to the end plates, forming an opening in the reservoir, pouring a curable encapsulant into the reservoir, working the encapsulant into intersitices between the conductors in the cable segments, sealing the reservoir, enclosing the reservoir in a splice closure and pressurizing the splice closure. This method combines a curable encapsulant such as a two-part polyurethane with a pressurized closure such as a 2-type, gas pressurized closure.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. McNeal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:21
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/10; H02G15/117
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second multiconductor cable segments, comprising: forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the first and second multiconductor cable segments; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the first and second multiconductor cable segments; sealing said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; and injecting a compressed gas into said splice closure and pressurizing said splice closure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second multiconductor cable segments, comprising: forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the first and second multiconductor cable segments; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the first and second multiconductor cable segments; sealing said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; and injecting a compressed gas into said splice closure and pressurizing said splice closure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein working said encapsulant includes removing air bubbles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said encapsulant is liquid and flowable into the interstices in the uncured state and is not flowable in the cured state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein working said encapsulant includes kneading said encapsulant and urging said encapsulant into the interstices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising wrapping at least one layer of tape around said reservoir sealing the encapsulant in said reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 5 including applying the tape at a uniform pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 5 including dispensing the tape from a roll of tape mounted on a dispenser and setting the pressure at which the tape is dispensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 including pressurizing said splice closure to a pressure sufficient for preventing retrenchment of the encapsulant from the interstices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 including pressurizing said splice closure to a pressure sufficient for forcing the encapsulant into the interstices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 including pressurizing said splice closure to at least 10 psi.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 including pressurizing said splice closure to a pressure sufficient for holding back a 20-foot water head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 including pressurizing said splice closure to a pressure sufficient for holding back a 30-foot water head.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second cable segments in a multiconductor cable, comprising: sealingly attaching first and second end plate assemblies to the first and second cable segments, respectively, each of said end plate assemblies including an end plate having at least one blocking spool extending from the end plate toward the splice; forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the blocking spools of the first and second end plate assemblies; forming an opening in said reservoir between said blocking spools; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; sealing said reservoir, attaching a splice closure to said first and second end plates enclosing said reservoir in said splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas thereby compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; and curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second cable segments in a multiconductor cable, comprising: sealingly attaching first and second end plate assemblies to the first and second cable segments, respectively, each of said end plate assemblies including an end plate having at least one blocking spool extending from the end plate toward the splice; forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the blocking spools of the first and second end plate assemblies; forming an opening in said reservoir between said blocking spools; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; sealing said reservoir, attaching a splice closure to said first and second end plates enclosing said reservoir in said splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas thereby compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; and curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 13 including mounting retention clamps outside said splice closure.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first, second and third cable segments in a multiconductor cable, comprising: sealingly attaching a first end plate assembly to said first cable segment, said first end plate assembly including an end plate having a blocking spool extending from the end plate toward the splice; sealingly attaching a second end plate assembly to said second and third cable segments, said second end plate assembly including at least first and second blocking spools extending from the end plate toward the splice and a crutch plug positioned between the first and second blocking spools forming an end plate assembly attachment surface; forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the blocking spool of the first end plate assembly and to the attachment surface of the second end plate; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; sealing said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; and curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first, second and third cable segments in a multiconductor cable, comprising: sealingly attaching a first end plate assembly to said first cable segment, said first end plate assembly including an end plate having a blocking spool extending from the end plate toward the splice; sealingly attaching a second end plate assembly to said second and third cable segments, said second end plate assembly including at least first and second blocking spools extending from the end plate toward the splice and a crutch plug positioned between the first and second blocking spools forming an end plate assembly attachment surface; forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the blocking spool of the first end plate assembly and to the attachment surface of the second end plate; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; sealing said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; and curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 15 including mounting retention clamps outside said splice closure.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second cable segments in a multiconductor cable, each cable segment having an outer sheath, comprising the steps of: forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the outer sheaths of the first and second cable segments; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; closing said reservoir; wrapping at least one layer of tape around said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas thereby compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first and second cable segments in a multiconductor cable, each cable segment having an outer sheath, comprising the steps of: forming a reservoir about the splice; sealing said reservoir to the outer sheaths of the first and second cable segments; forming an opening in said reservoir; pouring a curable encapsulant into said reservoir through said opening; working said encapsulant into interstices between conductors in the cable; closing said reservoir; wrapping at least one layer of tape around said reservoir; enclosing said reservoir in a splice closure; pressurizing said splice closure with a compressed gas thereby compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant; curing said encapsulant thereby forming a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first, second and third multiconductor cable segments, comprising: a first end plate assembly sealingly attachable to the first cable segment, said first end plate assembly including an end plate having at least one blocking spool extending therefrom toward the splice; a second end plate assembly sealingly attachable to the second and third cable segments, said second end plate assembly including an end plate having at least two blocking spools extending therefrom toward the splice and a crutch plug positioned between the first and second blocking spools forming an end plate assembly attachment surface; a reservoir sealingly attachable to the blocking spools of the first and second end plate assemblies for receiving a curable encapsulant; and a splice closure attachable to said first and second end plate assemblies enclosing said reservoir therewithin, in response to being gas pressurized, said splice closure compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant whereby said cured encapsulant forms a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for preventing water from infiltrating a splice joining first, second and third multiconductor cable segments, comprising: a first end plate assembly sealingly attachable to the first cable segment, said first end plate assembly including an end plate having at least one blocking spool extending therefrom toward the splice; a second end plate assembly sealingly attachable to the second and third cable segments, said second end plate assembly including an end plate having at least two blocking spools extending therefrom toward the splice and a crutch plug positioned between the first and second blocking spools forming an end plate assembly attachment surface; a reservoir sealingly attachable to the blocking spools of the first and second end plate assemblies for receiving a curable encapsulant; and a splice closure attachable to said first and second end plate assemblies enclosing said reservoir therewithin, in response to being gas pressurized, said splice closure compressing said reservoir and pressurizing said encapsulant whereby said cured encapsulant forms a water impenetrable seal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said reservoir is attachable to said end plate assembly attachment surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3203544A
Cited
US3361605A
Cited
US3419669A
Cited
US3455336A
Cited
US3879249A
Cited
US3895180A
Cited
US3944183A
Cited
US3919460A
Cited
US3992569A
Cited
US4298641A
Cited
US4070746A
Cited
US4135553A
Cited
US4466843A
Cited
US4545830A
Cited
US4545830B1
Cited
US4500371A
Cited
US4511415A
Cited
US4686327A
Cited
US4736071A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |