Nexans

Jo De Buyst

Josef Cardinaels

Eddy Van Boxstael

A connector for connecting two medium-voltage electrical power cables each including at least one conductor surrounded by an insulative jacket includes tubular screw contacts which connect together stripped ends of the conductors inserted into the contacts and retained by screws. An extension attached to at least one end of the connector covers a portion of the insulative jacket of the cable over a length greater than 10 mm.

Connector for connecting two electrical power cables and a connection including the connector

A cable joint for high voltage electric power cables ( ) and with an improved smooth screen connection is provided. This cable joint is formed by first applying a cold shrinkable insulating joint-body ( ) over a semiconductive plate covering a junction connector and ends of the semi-conductive screens ( ) of the cable. A copper mesh ( ) is then provided over this insulating joint-body. Ends of the wires of the wired-screens ( ) of the cables are bent back over the copper mesh and spread so as to cover the whole circumference thereof. A copper plate ( ) is then rolled around the joint, covering the conductive wires of the wired-screens. Finally, a cold shrinkable insulating joint-cover ( ) is applied over the joint, covering and exerting a permanent pressure onto the conductive plate ( ) over the wires of the wired-screens ( ). Because the wire are equally distributed over the perimeter of the copper mesh, the joint has a smooth design with a constant diameter. Additionally, because of the symmetrical cylindrical pressure on underlying insulating mastic, the latter is prevented to flow away in any direction preventing so the risk of partial discharges and product failure.

Cable joint with improved screen connection

A semi-conductive tubular assembly ( ) or molded rubber cap is used in a cable joint for medium voltage electric power cables ( ). The conductors ( ) of the cables are connected together by a connector ( ) constituted by a bolted contact assembly having a tubular shape and wherein the conductor ends are maintained by bolts. Two rubber caps ( ) preferably overlap each other in the middle of the connector. Each cap has an internal shape adapted to compensate for the gap resulting from the difference in diameter between the conductor insulation and the connector, as well as for the eccentric position of the latter with respect to the conductors. By mating the change of shape ( ) between the underlying connector ( ) and the conductor insulation ( ), the caps provide a relatively cheap and efficient solution for an electrically reliable product, e.g. by reducing local electric stresses. In addition covering the sharp edges, mainly of the underlying connector, the molded rubber cap has an outer surface that provides a conical transition with a relatively slow slope for smoothing the above diameter transition.

Cable joint using a semi-conductive tubular assembly and method to obtain a smoothly shielded connector

A joint adapted to ensure the interconnection of two electrical cables, each cable including a central conductor, an insulation layer (,), a semi-conductive coating layer (,), a metallic cable screen (,) and an outer cable jacket (,). The joint includes mechanically shrink-fittable materials adapted to ensure, when shrunken, a dielectric continuation (,) of the insulation layer, a continuation of the cable screen by a metallic joint screen (,), and an outer protection (,). The invention more particularly concentrates on an improvement of the screen continuation of the cable. The joint includes therefore, a layer of conductive material (,) placed underneath the metallic cable screen (,) at the location where this cable screen is in contact with the joint screen (,). As a result, the joint shows a relatively low electrical resistance between the cable screen and the joint screen, is cost effective and is easy to install. It can furthermore withstand, after installation, the impact of sharp heavy items without damaging either the joint or the cable because there are no cutting items under the outer cable jacket (,).

Growing community of inventors

Lede, Belgium

Jo De Buyst