Method and apparatus for joining ends of wires and the like

A combination including cables and a connector, the connector for joining the interfacing ends of the cables, one to another, the combination comprising:

• at least two cables, each cable comprising a first plurality of conductor strands, each of the ends having an enlarged terminal portion of greater diameter than the cable adjacent said end, and
• a connector comprising:
• a connecting tube, and
• an explosive layer provided about at least a portion of an outside surface of the connecting tube, the explosive layer comprising a first portion of explosive and a second portion of explosive separated therefrom by an intervening interportion distance, wherein each of said first and second portions has a greater thickness than at said interportion distance, and wherein said first and second portions are disposed on the outside surface of said connecting tube such that said interportion surrounds each of said enlarged terminal portions of said ends of said cables and said first and second portion surround said cables adjacent said ends, prior to detonation of the explosive layer, as to effect a greater explosive compaction force onto said cables adjacent said ends relative to the forces exerted on said terminal portions,
• wherein said ends include a terminal enlarging member, having a diameter less than a diameter of said cable prior to enlargement at the ends, longitudinally of said cable extending through said terminal portion to effect said enlargement.