Grounded surface distribution apparatus

A cable terminal for a high potential grounded sheath cable for underground distribution systems comprising:

• a cylindrical conductive grounding housing open at one end defining an electrical tap, said housing including a conical skirt;
• a hard dielectric filler secured in said housing and having a convex sealing surface projecting in the direction of said open end;
• a conductive grounding cover for said open end conductively engaging said housing;
• means for grounding said cover to the grounded sheath of a cable;
• a soft dielectric filler in said cover having a concave sealing surface making void-free interfacial engagement with said convex surface;
• and
• a plurality of spring biased latch members provided on said cover engageable over said skirt in any radial direction.

A grounded surface control unit for controlling a plurality of circuits and comprising:

• a plurality of parallel positioned cable terminals for high potential grounded sheath cables for underground distribution systems, each of said cable terminals including:
• a cylindrical conductive grounding housing open at one end,
• a hard dielectric filler secured in said housing and having a convex sealing surface extending in the direction of said open end,
• said hard dielectric filler having a longitudinally elongated central cavity opening toward said open end, and
• connector components in said central for releasably receiving an electrical coupling pin;
• some of said plurality of cable terminals including means for attachment to a different high potential grounded sheathed cable;
• a grounding member;
• and
• electrically conducting grounding bracket means supporting said cable terminals from said grounding member at fixed distances to provide for interchangeability with removable interfitting electrical connecting units to provide flexibility of the control unit.

A grounded surface control unit for controlling a plurality of circuits and comprising:

• a plurality of parallel positioned cable terminals for high potential grounded sheath cables for underground distribution systems, each of said cable terminals including:
• a cylindrical conductive grounding housing open at one end to define an electrical tap,
• a hard dielectric filler secured in said housing and having a convex sealing surface extending in the direction of said open end,
• said hard dielectric filler having a longitudinally elongated central cavity opening toward said open end, and
• connector components in said central cavity for releasably receiving an electrical connector pin;
• a ground of said plurality of electrical taps being interconnected to form a multitap manifold and including:
• a common lower housing element connecting said group of electrical taps, said housing being conductive and electrically engaging the cylindrical conductive grounding housing of each tap of said group,
• a dielectric within said lower housing, and
• electrical conducting means in said lower housing interconnecting the connector components in said group.

An electrical connector for a high potential grounded sheath cable for underground distribution systems comprising:

• a first insulating member having a projecting frustoconical sealing surface and a pin cavity defined therein,
• a first electrically conductive contact member in said cavity,
• a second insulating member having a connection inlet with an inner sealing frusto-conical surface conforming to the first-mentioned sealing surface to produce a seal upon engagement of said surfaces.
• a second electrically conductive contact member in said inlet for engagement with the first-mentioned conductive contact member on insertion of said second contact member into said pin cavity.
• a shield of low electrical resistance stainless steel covering at least a portion of the outer surface of said second insulating member, said shield being formed of a pair of mating portions welded together, and
• means for electrically connecting said shield to the grounded sheath of a high potential grounded sheath cable.