Encapsulation system with pressurization means

Abstract

The long term water intrusion resistance of cable splice systems that use a gelable encapsulant that is pressurized prior to geletion can be improved by providing pressurization means that maintain the pressure on the cured encapsulant above a given pressure p.sub.2 >p.sub.o, where p.sub.o is the ambient pressure. Absent such pressurization means, the pressure on the encapsulant typically decreases with time due to creep or relaxation of nominally rigid components, e.g., a polymeric closure around the encapsulated splice, or varies due to differential thermal contraction. The pressurization means comprises one or more energy storage elements, e.g., an elastic member such as a spring, or a volume of compressed gas. In a preferred embodiment, an elastomeric "bag" is formed around the completed cable splice, the two halves of a plastic closure placed around the bag, the two halves fastened together with a spring clamps, liquid encapsulant introduced into the bag, and the encapsulant pressurized to a pressure p.sub.1 >p.sub.2. The spring clamps typically are dimensioned such that a gap exists between the two halves of the plastic closure for any pressure .gtoreq.p.sub.2, at any temperature within a specified temperature range, at least up to the design life of the splice system. The existence of the gap assures that the spring clamps maintain pressure on the encapsulant within the closure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.