Plural phase cable couplers

Abstract

A cable coupler is disclosed for interconnecting a first plurality of plural-phase high voltage cables with a second plurality of plural-phase high voltage cables. The first plurality of cables is coupled to a like number of female terminals, whereas the second plurality of cables is connected to a like number of male terminals adapted to matingly contact the female terminals. The female terminals are adapted to be mounted within a female housing by a mounting means illustratively taking the form of a disc with openings spaced from each other to receive the female terminals. Similarly, there is included a male housing having a similar disc for mounting the male terminals in a spaced relationship with each other and in an aligned relationship with the female terminals. The mounting means and in particular the discs are comprised of a material whose conductivity is selected to be sufficiently high to establish a conductive path therethrough to a ground, whereby if a fault-producing voltage is applied to any one of the male or female terminals that a path will be readily provided from that terminal to ground, thus substantially reducing the occurrence of a phase-to-phase fault. In a further aspect of this invention, each high voltage cable is connected to its male or female terminal, the terminal being disposed within an insulator tube having an opening for receiving the terminal and a cylindrical portion defining a recess for receiving an end of its cable. A plug member made of a resilient insulating material and having a central opening for receiving its cable, and a stress cone made of a resilient insulating material and having a central opening for receiving its cable, are disposed by a pressure plate that abuts against the stress cone and forces it under mechanical pressure against the plug member, whereby an intimate, substantially air space free-relationship is achieved between the insulator tube, the plug member, the stress cone and the terminal.