Apparatus for bonding and protecting electrical cable shields

In an electrical power distribution system including:

• a first cable having a first electrical conductor defining two ends, two spaced apart shielded sections, each of which is electrically disconnected from the other and an insulated shield extension which is electrically connected at one of its ends to one of said shielded sections;
• and
• a second cable, disposed generally parallel to said first cable, having a first electrical conductor defining two ends, two spaced apart shielded sections, each of which is electrically disconnected from the other and one insulated shield extension which is electrically connected at one of its ends to that one of the two shielded sections on said second cable which is disposed adjacent to the other of the shielded sections on the first cable having apparatus comprising:
• a. an insulated electrical housing defining a connecting cavity and a protection cavity each of which is open to the exterior of said housing;
• b. insulated cover means, removably connected to said housing, for covering said connecting cavity;
• c. a first electrical conductor having one end which is adapted to be electrically connected to the free end of one of said shield extensions and an opposite end disposed within said connecting cavity;
• d. a second electrical connector having one end which is adapted to be electrically connected to the free end of the other shield extension and an opposite end disposed within said connecting cavity;
• e. link means, carried by said cover means, for removably and electrically connecting together said opposite ends of said first and second electrical conductors;
• f. plug means, carried by said housing, for plugging said protection cavity of said housing;
• and
• g. a first electrical terminal, carried by said plug means and having one end disposed outwardly from said housing for electrically connecting said link means to the exterior of said housing when said cover means is connected to said housing,
• whereby oppositely disposed shielded sections of said first cable and said second cable are cross-bonded together and connected to said first electrical terminal when said cover means is connected to said housing.

Apparatus for cross-bonding, single-point bonding or multipoint bonding electrical power cables, comprising:

• a. an insulated electrical housing, having a connecting cavity open to the exterior of said housing, adapted to receive a first electrical conductor having one end disposed to the exterior of said housing and an opposite end disposed within said connecting cavity and a second electrical conductor having one end disposed to the exterior of said housing and an opposite end disposed within connecting cavity;
• b. insulated cover means, removably carried by said housing, for covering said connecting cavity;
• c. linking means, removably carried by said cover means, for removably and electrically connecting together those ends of said first and second electrical conductors which are disposed within said connecting cavity;
• and
• d. connecting means, carried by said housing, for electrically connecting said linking means to the exterior of said housing,
• whereby said first and second electrical conductors are electrically connected together and to the exterior of said housing when said cover means is in place.