Electrical cable joint and electrical cable termination and methods of

Abstract

A joint structure for covering a joint between cables is provided in which an insulation structure extends over and beyond cut back ends of insulation layers of the cables, but terminates at a distance ahead of cut back ends of insulation shield layers of the cables. The insulation structure of the joint structure includes a multi-layered, heat shrinkable tube with its ends beveled or 'feathered'. In assembling the joint, the tube is positioned to overlie the cable conductors and the insulation layers of the cables and is shrunk thereover so as to terminate at a distance from the cut back ends of the insulation shield layers of the cables. The heat shrinkable tube can be manufactured with feathered edges, so that no additional time or labor is required to shape the sleeve when the joint is assembled. The joint structure also includes a semiconductive conductor shield member applied in successive convoluted layers over the exposed conductors of the joint prior to application of the heat shrunk tube. The conductor shield member is an elongated strip formed with a narrowed forward portion and a somewhat wider rear portion, which is feathered along either longitudinal edge and overlaps the cable insulation layers. The conductor shield member is constructed to be pre-curled so as to speed assembly of the joint. A termination of a single conductor is also disclosed.