US5171940A — Expanded cable joint elastic sleeves with permiss…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 304 words

A storable tubular element for covering electrical cable joints and adapted to be applied to a group of cables of several different outer diameters, said element comprising: a tubular support having an internal diameter at least equal to the largest diameter of the cable in said group and having a predetermined outer diameter; an elastic sleeve removably mounted on said support in radially stretched condition, said sleeve having an inner diameter in its unstretched condition less than said predetermined outer diameter of said support and less than the diameter of the cable in said group having the smallest diameter and said support having sufficiently rigidity to maintain said sleeve in said radially stretched condition, said sleeve comprising an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material and at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and each layer reducing in internal diameter to a diameter smaller than the stretched diameter thereof upon removal of said tubular support by reason of the elasticity thereof and without heating thereof, at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating and the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after said sleeve has been mounted on said support in stretched condition for at least twenty-four months at room temperature and upon removal of said support and the elastic modulus and radial thickness of the material of said innermost layer being selected to cause said innermost layer, upon removal of said support, to apply a predetermined radially inward pressure on the cables in said group to which the sleeve is applied including the cable in said group having the smallest diameter.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 304 words

A storable tubular element for covering electrical cable joints and adapted to be applied to a group of cables of several different outer diameters, said element comprising: a tubular support having an internal diameter at least equal to the largest diameter of the cable in said group and having a predetermined outer diameter; an elastic sleeve removably mounted on said support in radially stretched condition, said sleeve having an inner diameter in its unstretched condition less than said predetermined outer diameter of said support and less than the diameter of the cable in said group having the smallest diameter and said support having sufficiently rigidity to maintain said sleeve in said radially stretched condition, said sleeve comprising an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material and at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and each layer reducing in internal diameter to a diameter smaller than the stretched diameter thereof upon removal of said tubular support by reason of the elasticity thereof and without heating thereof, at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating and the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after said sleeve has been mounted on said support in stretched condition for at least twenty-four months at room temperature and upon removal of said support and the elastic modulus and radial thickness of the material of said innermost layer being selected to cause said innermost layer, upon removal of said support, to apply a predetermined radially inward pressure on the cables in said group to which the sleeve is applied including the cable in said group having the smallest diameter.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said temporary residual deformation of said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50%.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 2 wherein said temporary residual deformation of said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50% for at least 40 days at 65° C.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least as great as the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 4 wherein the radial thickness of said innermost layer is less than 25% of the radial thickness of said sleeve and said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least 1.5 times the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 4 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 10 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.03 MPa to 6 MPa.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 4 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range from 1 MPa to 5 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 3 MPa.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are co-extruded.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

A storable tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are jointly cross-linked.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

A storable tubular element as in claim 1 wherein said predetermined radially inward pressure is at least 0.1 MPa.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 180 words

An electric cable joint between two cables, each cable having a conductor encircled by insulation and the conductor of one cable being electrically and mechanically connected at its end to the end of the conductor of the other cable, and an elastic sleeve encircling the connected conductor ends and portions of the insulation of each cable, said sleeve comprising: an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material and at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating, said innermost layer and the layers therearound being radially stretched condition with said innermost layer applying a predetermined radially inward pressure to the insulation of each cable and the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after the materials of the layers have been in stretched condition for at least 24 months at room temperature.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 180 words

An electric cable joint between two cables, each cable having a conductor encircled by insulation and the conductor of one cable being electrically and mechanically connected at its end to the end of the conductor of the other cable, and an elastic sleeve encircling the connected conductor ends and portions of the insulation of each cable, said sleeve comprising: an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material and at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating, said innermost layer and the layers therearound being radially stretched condition with said innermost layer applying a predetermined radially inward pressure to the insulation of each cable and the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after the materials of the layers have been in stretched condition for at least 24 months at room temperature.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

A joint as set forth in claim 11 wherein said temporary residual deformation of said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50%.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 40 words

A joint as set forth in claim 12 wherein said temporary residual deformation said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50% for at least 40 days at 65° C.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

A joint as set forth in claim 11 wherein said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least as great as the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 49 words

A joint as set forth in claim 14 wherein the radial thickness of said innermost layer is less than 25% of the radial thickness of said sleeve and said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least 1.5 times the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

A joint as set forth in claim 14 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 10 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.03 MPa to 6 MPa.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

A joint as set forth in claim 14 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range of 1 MPa to 5 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 6 MPa.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

A joint as set forth in claim 11 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are co-extruded.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

A joint as set forth in claim 11 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are jointly cross-linked.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

A storable tubular element as in claim 11 wherein said predetermined radially inward pressure is at least 0.1 MPa.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 104 words

An elastic sleeve for covering an electric cable joint, said sleeve comprising: an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material; at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating, the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after the material of the layers have been in stretched condition for at least 24 months at room temperature.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 104 words

An elastic sleeve for covering an electric cable joint, said sleeve comprising: an innermost layer of cross-linked polymeric material; at least one outer layer of cross-linked polymeric material coaxial with said innermost layer, each layer being bonded to the next adjacent layer and at least one of the layers around said innermost layer being electrically insulating, the material of said innermost layer, in the cross-linked state, having a temporary residual deformation less than the temporary residual deformation of the material of the layers outwardly thereof after the material of the layers have been in stretched condition for at least 24 months at room temperature.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 21 wherein said temporary residual deformation of said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50%.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 22 wherein said temporary residual deformation of said innermost layer is less than 15% when said innermost layer has been maintained under an expansion of 50% for at least 40 days at 65° C.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 21 wherein said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least as great as the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 49 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 24 wherein the radial thickness of said innermost layer is less than 25% of the radial thickness of said sleeve and said innermost layer has a modulus of elasticity at least 1.5 times the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 47 words

A sleeve as, set forth in claim 24 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 10 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.03 MPa to 6 MPa.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 47 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 24 wherein the modulus of elasticity of said innermost layer is in the range from 1 MPa to 5 MPa and the modulus of elasticity of the layers outwardly thereof is in the range from 0.5 MPa to 3 MPa.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 35 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 21 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are co-extruded.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

A sleeve as set forth in claim 21 wherein each layer is made of an elastomeric material having a chemical affinity with the elastomeric material of the layer adjacent thereto and the layers are jointly cross-linked.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-12-15	1996-06-15	1996-12-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-12-15	2000-06-15	2000-12-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-12-15	2004-06-15	2004-12-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Expanded cable joint elastic sleeves with permissible residual deformation after storage

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