Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Brian K Molitor

Lawrence C Chor

A cable closure assembly using a cold shrink, or pre-stretched, tube has a flowable material in the assembly, and an extra support core which reinforces the conventional support core that maintains the tube in a radially expanded state. The flowable material may be used to fill voids, or provide improved bonding or water resistance. The extra, or secondary, support core has an outer diameter which is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the primary support core. The secondary support core is sufficiently long to substantially support the area where the flowable material abuts the primary support core. In one embodiment particularly suited for power applications, the elastomeric tube is electrically insulative and the flowable material provides electrical stress control, and another elastomeric tube is provided having a high permittivity. The primary support core may have a varying diameter such that the tubular member has different zones with different expanded diameters. The secondary support core is preferably removed just prior to product application (leaving the larger core intact) so as to increase the product's shelf life.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Brian K Molitor