Method and apparatus for terminating a shielded high voltage cable

Claim 1

A terminator for jacketed concentric neutral (JCN) shielded high voltage cable which has been prepared by removing a portion of the jacket and conductive cable shield adjacent one end thereof to expose a cable portion having the cable insulation exposed, a cable portion having the conductive shield of the cable exposed and a cable portion having the conductive shield and overlying concentric neutral conductors exposed comprising: a. a thin-walled, flexible, elongate insulating elastomeric housing having a plurality of rain sheds about the outer periphery of said housing; b. a first bore in said housing extending from a first substantially closed end to a second open end; said substantially closed first end providing an aperture extending through said first end; c. said first bore having zones of differing inside diameter to permit the walls of said terminator housing defining said first bore to grip the cable insulation of the prepared JCN shielded high voltage cables of differing cable jacket outside diameters inserted into said terminator housing while minimizing the installation forces required to install the terminator upon the cable; d. a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, conductive elastomeric stress relief portion having a first end and a second end, said first end of said stress relief portion being coupled to said second open end of said housing, e. a second bore in said stress relief portion extending from said portion second end to said portion first end and in communication with said first bore in said housing; f. said second bore having an inside diameter to permit the walls of said stress relief portion to grip the cable insulation and conductive cable shield beyond the exposed concentric neutral conductors of the prepared JCN shielded high voltage cable inserted within said stress relief portion bore; g. and a thin-walled, flexible, cylindrical, elongate skirt having a first open end and a second free open end, said skirt first open end coupled to said housing adjacent said housing second open end; said skirt having an interior diameter greater than the external diameter of said stress relief portion to provide a continuous space between the external surface of said stress relief portion and the inner surface of said skirt for substantially the entire length of said stress relief portion to permit at least a portion of said skirt to overlie the concentric neutral conductors of the prepared JCN shielded high voltage cable inserted into said terminator.

Claim 22

The method of installing a terminator upon a jacketed concentric neutral (JCN) shielded high voltage cable has been prepared by removing a portion of the jacket and conductive cable shield adjacent one end thereof to expose a cable portion having the cable insulation exposed, a cable portion having the conductive shield of the cable exposed and a cable portion having the conductive shield and overlying concentric neutral conductors exposed, the terminator having a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, insulating, elastomeric housing with a plurality of rain sheds on the outer surface and a first bore in said housing from a first substantially closed and having a dilatable aperture therethrough to a second, open end, said first bore having at least one zone of decreased inner diameter, a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, conductive elastomeric stress relief portion having a second bore from a first end of said stress relief portion which first end is coupled to said second, open end of said housing to a second open end of said stress relief portion, said second bore being in communication with said first bore and a thin-walled, flexible, cylindrical, elongate skirt having a first open end and a second free open end, said skirt first open end coupled to said housing adjacent said housing second open end; said skirt having an interior diameter greater than the external diameter of said stress relief portion to provide a continuous space between the external surface of said stress relief portion and the inner surface of said skirt portion for substantially the entire length of said stress relief portion to permit at least a portion of said skirt to overlie the concentric neutral conductors of a prepared JCN shielded high voltage cable inserted into said terminator; the free open end of said skirt being initially folded back upon itself comprising the steps of: a. removing a portion of the exposed cable insulation from the end of the prepared JNC shielded high voltage cable to expose the metallic central conductor; b. placing a crimp barrel at one end of a connector having an extending contact rod at the other end over the exposed metallic central conductor of the cable; c. crimping said crimp barrel to said exposed metallic central conductor so as to have said contact rod extend beyond said cable end; d. expanding said zone of decreased inner diameter of said first bore by insertion of said cable insulation therein; e. expanding said aperture to accept said contact rod therein and forming a seal therewith; and f. unfolding said skirt from its original position to overlie at least a portion of the exposed concentric neutral conductors.

Claim 23

The method of installing a terminator upon a jacketed concentric neutral (JCN) shielded high voltage cable has been prepared by removing a portion of the jacket and conductive cable shield adjacent one end thereof to expose a cable portion having the cable insulation exposed, a cable portion having the conductive shield of the cable exposed and a cable portion having the conductive shield and overlying concentric neutral conductors exposed, the terminator having a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, insulating, elastomeric housing with a plurality of rain sheds on the outer surface and a first bore in said housing from a first substantially closed and having a dilatable aperture therethrough to a second, open end, said first bore having at least one zone of decreased inner diameter, a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, conductive elastomeric stress relief portion having a second bore from a first end of said stress relief portion which first end is coupled to said second, open end of said housing to a second open end of said stress relief portion, said second bore being in communication with said first bore and a thin-walled, flexible, cylindrical, elongate skirt having a first open end and a second free open end, said skirt first open end coupled to said housing adjacent said housing second open end; said skirt having an interior diameter greater than the external diameter of said stress relief portion to provide a continuous space between the external surface of said stress relief portion and the inner surface of said skirt portion for substantially the entire length of said stress relief portion to permit at least a portion of said skirt to overlie the concentric neutral conductors of a prepared JCN shielded high voltage cable inserted into said terminator; the free open end of said skirt being initially folded back upon itself comprising the steps of: a. removing a portion of the exposed cable insulation from the end of the prepared JNC shielded high voltage cable to expose the metallic central conductor; b. placing a crimp barrel at one end of a connector having an extending contact rod at the other end over the exposed metallic central conductor of the cable; c. crimping said crimp barrel to said exposed metallic central conductor so as to have said contact rod extend beyond said cable end; d. expanding said zone of decreased inner diameter of said first bore by insertion of said cable insulation therein; e. expanding said aperture to accept said contact rod therein and forming a seal therewith; and f. unfolding said skirt from its original position to overlie at least a portion of the exposed concentric neutral conductors.