Termination arrangement for an overhead electrical cable including a tensile strain sheath
AssigneeCTC Global Corporation
InventorsWilliam Webb, Christopher Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A termination arrangement for securing an overhead electrical cable and a method for securing an overhead electrical cable. The termination arrangement includes a longitudinally-extending sheath having a high tensile modulus that is configured to receive a strength member of the overhead electrical cable therein.
Claims26
A termination arrangement for securing an overhead electrical cable comprising a strength member and an electrical conductor disposed around the strength member, the termination arrangement comprising:
- a steel connector comprising a fastener disposed at a first end of the connector and a connector body extending from the fastener toward an end of the connector that lies opposite the fastener, wherein the connector body comprises a longitudinally-extending internal chamber that is accessible through a chamber inlet;
- a longitudinally-extending sheath having a tensile modulus of at least about 125 GPa and comprising a central bore extending through the length of the sheath that is configured to receive a strength member within the central bore, where the internal chamber of the connector body is configured to operatively receive the sheath therein when the termination arrangement is assembled;
- and
- a conductive sleeve configured to be disposed over:
- (i) an end of the electrical cable, (ii) the sheath, and (iii) at least a portion of the connector body when the termination arrangement is operatively assembled.
A termination arrangement secured to an overhead electrical cable, the overhead electrical cable comprising a fiber-reinforced composite strength member and an electrical conductor disposed around the composite strength member, the termination arrangement comprising:
- a steel connector comprising a fastener disposed at a first end of the connector and a connector body extending from the fastener toward an end of the connector that lies opposite the fastener, wherein the connector body comprises a longitudinally-extending internal chamber that is accessible through a chamber inlet at the end opposite the fastener;
- a longitudinally-extending sheath having a tensile modulus of at least about 125 GPa and comprising a central bore extending through the entire length of the sheath and that is operatively disposed over and compressed onto a portion of the strength member to operatively grip the strength member;
- and
- a conductive sleeve that is disposed over (i) an end of the electrical cable, (ii) the sheath, and (iii) at least a portion of the connector body;
- wherein the sheath is operatively attached to the connector body by being disposed within the longitudinally-extending chamber and having the connector body crimped onto the sheath.
A method for the termination of an overhead electrical cable comprising a fiber-reinforced composite strength member and an electrical conductor disposed around the fiber-reinforced strength member, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing the electrical conductor from a termination end of the overhead electrical cable to expose an end portion of the fiber-reinforced composite strength member;
- placing the exposed end portion of the fiber-reinforced composite strength member through a central bore disposed within a longitudinally extending steel sheath;
- operatively attaching the steel sheath to a connector, the connector comprising a fastener disposed at a first end of the connector and a connector body extending from the fastener toward an end of the connector that lies opposite the fastener, the attaching comprising disposing the sheath within a chamber in the connector body and crimping the connector body onto the steel sheath;
- and
- disposing a conductive sleeve over:
- (i) an end of the electrical cable, (ii) the steel sheath, and (iii) at least a portion of the connector body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.