# US 10,770,873 B2 · Flexible vulcanized joint between two electric power cables and process for producing said joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,873 B2 - Document ID: US10770873B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/778,548 - Filed: 2015-11-23 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-23 - Assignees: NKT HV Cables AB - Applicants: NKT HV Cables AB - Inventors: Hossein Ghorbani; Eric Rèbillard; Svetlana Zlatkovic; Sofie Lindahl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770873B2 ## CPC - H02G 1/14: for joining or terminating cables - H01B 3/441: {from alkenes} - H02G 15/003: {Filling materials, e.g. solid or fluid insulation} - H02G 15/18: protected by sleeves, e.g. for communication cable (two-part covers H02G15/10 {; preforms having internal stresses B29C61/00}) - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) ## Abstract A process for producing a flexible vulcanized joint between two electric power cables includes the steps of: producing an exposed conductor joint between each end of the two cable ends to be joined; producing an inner semi-conducting layer thereby radially surrounding and covering the exposed conductor joint; winding an insulation tape including an organic peroxide around the inner semi-conducting layer thereby radially surrounding and covering the inner semi-conducting layer; curing the insulation tape to produce an insulation layer; and producing an outer semi-conducting layer thereby radially surrounding and covering the insulation layer. The step of winding the insulation tape around the inner semi-conductor layer is performed under an oxygen-free atmosphere. The present invention also provides a flexible vulcanized joint produced by this process, and an electric power cable including such a joint. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for producing a flexible vulcanized joint between two electric power cables, each cable having a metal conductor and an electric insulation system radially surrounding the conductor, the electric insulation system having an inner semi-conducting layer, an insulation layer, and an outer semi -conducting layer, the process comprising the following steps: i) Producing an exposed conductor joint between each end of the two cable ends to be joined; ii) Producing an inner semi-conducting layer that radially surrounds and covers the exposed conductor joint; iii) Winding an insulation tape including an organic peroxide around the inner semi-conducting layer thereby radially surrounding and covering the inner semi-conducting layer; iv) Curing the insulation tape and thereby producing an insulation layer; and v) Producing an outer semi-conducting layer that radially surrounds and covers the insulation layer; wherein the step iii) of winding the insulation tape around the inner semi -conductor layer is performed under an oxygen-free atmosphere. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen -free atmosphere includes at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or a noble gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the step iii) of winding the insulation tape around the inner semi-conducting layer is performed in a glovebox at a gas pressure in excess of an ambient atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the insulation tape comprises a polyolefin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the organic peroxide used in step iii) for producing the insulation layer is selected from one of dicumyl peroxide, bis(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, 2,5-di(t -butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane, n-butyl-4,4′-di(t-butylperoxy)valerate, 1,1′-di(t -butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the step ii) of producing the inner semi-conducting layer includes the sub-steps of: ii)a. Winding a semi-conducting film including an organic peroxide around the exposed conductor joint thereby radially surrounding and covering the exposed conductor joint, the organic peroxide being selected from one of bis(t -butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, 2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane, n-butyl-4,4′-di(t-butylperoxy)valerate, 1,1′-di(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, or mixtures thereof; ii)b. Curing the semi-conducting film and thereby producing the inner semi -conducting layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the step v) of producing the outer semi-conducting layer includes the sub-steps of: v)a. Winding a semi-conducting film including an organic peroxide around the insulation layer thereby radially surrounding and covering the insulation layer, the organic peroxide being selected from one of bis(t-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, 2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane, n-butyl-4,4′-di(t -butylperoxy)valerate, 1,1′-di(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, or mixtures thereof; v)b. Curing the semi-conducting film and thereby producing the outer semi -conducting layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The process according to claim 6, wherein the sub-step ii)a is performed under an oxygen-free atmosphere, wherein the oxygen-free atmosphere includes at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or a noble gas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The process according to claim 6, wherein the sub-step ii)a is performed in a glovebox at a gas pressure in excess of an ambient atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The process according to claim 4, wherein the polyolefin is LDPE polyethylene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The process according to claim 5, wherein the organic peroxide is dicumyl peroxide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The process according to claim 7, wherein the sub-step v)a is performed under an oxygen-free atmosphere, wherein the oxygen-free atmosphere includes at least one of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or a noble gas. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The process according to claim 7, wherein the sub-step v)a is performed in a glovebox at a gas pressure in excess of an ambient atmospheric pressure.