Elastically recoverable silicone splice cover

An elastically recoverable splice cover being suitable for use covering a joint connector in a cable conductor, said splice cover comprising a central body having two distal opposing geometric cones capped by extended endseals, said body comprising three contiguous layers,

• a) a semiconductive outer shield layer,
• b) an inner toroidal electrode disposed along a central axis having a length less than that of said body,
• c) and interposed therebetween, an intermediate insulative layer having a length equal to that of said body and said geometric cones, and
• said outer shield layer and said electrode having been formed from a thermally conductive silicone elastomer, all of said layers having been formed from a silicone elastomer having a tear strength of at least about 15 N/mm, and an elongation of at least about 400%, said insulative layer further including from about 10% to about 35% of an electrically insulative filler, said insulative layer having a minimum thermal conductivity of at least about 0.18 W/mK,
• wherein after 30 alternating load current cycles said connector has maintained a temperature of about 10.degree. C. cooler than said cable conductor beyond said splice, wherein all of said layers are formed by injection molding.

An elastically recoverable elastomeric splice cover suitable for use covering a joint connector in a cable conductor, said splice cover comprising a central body having two distal opposing geometric cones capped by extended endseals, said body comprising three contiguous layers,

• a) a semiconductive outer shield layer,
• b) an inner toroidal electrode disposed along a central axis having a length less than that of said body, wherein said electrode has rounded ends, including at least one undercut extending inwardly from at least one of the ends and from an inner surface to a point intermediate to said inner surface and an outer surface,
• c) and interposed therebetween, an intermediate insulative layer having a length equal to that of said body and said geometric cones, and
• said outer shield layer and said electrode having been formed from a thermally conductive silicone elastomer, all of said layers having been formed from a silicone elastomer having a tear strength of at least about 20 N/mm, and an elongation of at least about 400%, said insulative layer further including from about 10% to about 35% of an electrically insulative thermally conductive filler, said insulative layer having a minimum thermal conductivity of at least about 0.18 W/mK,
• wherein after 30 alternating load current cycles said connector has maintained a temperature of about 10.degree. C. cooler than said cable conductor beyond said splice.

An elastically shrinkable splice cover wherein said cover is formed by injection molding, suitable for use covering a joint connector in a cable conductor, said splice cover comprising a central body having two distal opposing geometric cones capped by extended endseals, said body comprising three contiguous layers,

• a) a semiconductive outer shield layer,
• b) an inner toroidal electrode disposed along a central axis having a length less than that of said body, wherein said electrode has rounded ends, including at least one undercut extending inwardly from at least one of the ends and from an inner surface to a point intermediate to said inner surface and an outer surface,
• c) and interposed therebetween, an intermediate insulative layer having a length equal to that of said body and said geometric cones, and
• said outer shield layer and said electrode having been formed from a thermally conductive silicone elastomer, all of said layers having been formed from a silicone elastomer having a tear strength of at least about 20 N/mm, and an elongation of at least about 400%, said insulative layer further including from about 10% to about 35% of an electrically insulative filler, said insulative layer having a minimum thermal conductivity of at least about 0.18 W/mK,
• wherein after 30 alternating load current cycles said connector has maintained a temperature of about 10.degree. C. cooler than said cable conductor beyond said splice.