Splice closure apparatus for continuous optical ground wire communications cable and splicing system

A splice closure apparatus comprising:

• (a) a container having an opening;
• (b) an end cap adapted to close said opening, said end cap including an aperture via which a cable can be extended through said end cap and into said container;
• (c) a first cable clamp attached to a first side of said end cap, said first cable clamp including a first clamp opening which is aligned with said aperture in said end cap and including means for clamping said cable as it extends through said end cap by constricting said first clamp opening;
• and
• (d) a second cable clamp attached to a second side of said end cap opposite said first side, said second cable clamp including a second clamp opening which is aligned with said aperture in said end cap and including means for clamping said cable as it extends through said end cap by constricting said second clamp opening.

A splice closure apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongate container open in at least one end, said container being constructed of a material which is resistant to weather;
• (b) a first end cap adapted to cover the open end of said container, said first end cap including at least a pair of apertures via which a cable can be extended through said first end cap and into said container and thence through said first end cap and out of said container;
• and
• (c) an outer and an inner cable clamp attached, respectively, to the outside and the inside of said first end cap, each said cable clamp including openings which are aligned with said apertures in said end cap and including means for clamping said cable at two positions as it extends through said first end cap by constricting said openings.

A system for splicing a multi-layer optical ground cable which extends between supports of an elevated transmission system, the system comprising:

• (a) a splice closure apparatus for containing and protecting a splice of said multi-layer optical ground cable, said splice closure apparatus allowing a continuous multi-layer cable to be introduced and secured therein for splicing without requiring it to be severed;
• (b) a quantity of excess cable on either side of the splice closure apparatus which is sufficient to allow the splice closure to be lowered to the ground from an elevated position without being severed;
• and
• (c) means for mounting the splice closure apparatus in said elevated position on one of said supports.

A splice closure apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongate container open in at least one end;
• (b) a first end cap adapted to cover the open end of said container, said first end cap including at least a pair of apertures via which a cable can be extended through said first end cap and into said container and thence through said first end cap and out of said container;
• said first end cap also comprising
• (i) a pair of relatively rigid plates;
• (ii) an elastomeric seal positioned between said plates;
• (iii) means for drawing said plates toward each other to thereby compress said elastomeric seal, causing it to expand radially;
• and
• (iv) each of said plates includes at least a pair of slots extending from the periphery thereof to respective ones of said apertures.