High voltage cable connector

A method for terminating a shielded cable including a main conductor, an inner insulating layer, a shield layer and an outer insulating layer, the method comprising:

• a) removing an end portion of the outer insulating layer from the shielded cable which exposes a terminating portion of the shield layer;
• b) inserting said end portion through a generally cylindrical inner bore of a generally cylindrical metal collar, said inner bore having a top opening and a bottom opening, said top opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the outer insulating layer and said bottom opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the shield layer;
• c) folding said terminating portion back over an exterior portion of said collar proximate said bottom opening where said terminating portion exits, with said terminating portion overlapping said exterior portion;
• d) placing a terminating ferrule over said terminating portion that overlaps said exterior portion;
• and thereafter;
• e) joining said terminating ferrule to said terminating portion in such a way as to provide an electrical communication between the shield layer and said collar, the termination ferrule being securely fitted onto the exterior portion so as to provide a strain relief for the shielded cable disposed within said inner bore.

A termination system for a pair of shielded cables electrically coupled to a pair of contacts through an enclosure wall, each shielded cable including a main conductor, an inner insulating layer, a shield layer and an outer insulating layer, comprising:

• a pair of collars, one for each shielded cable, each collar including a generally cylindrical housing provided with a generally cylindrical inner bore, said inner bore having a top opening and a bottom opening, said top opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the outer insulating layer and said bottom opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of the shield layer wherein the shielded cable including the outer insulating layer enters into said top opening and wherein the shielded cable excluding the outer insulating layer exits said bottom opening with a terminating portion of the shield layer exposed and returned over an exterior portion of said collar proximate said bottom opening with said terminating portion overlapping said exterior portion;
• and
• a pair of termination ferrules, one termination ferrule for an associated one of said pair of collars, each termination ferrule joined to said terminating portion that overlaps said exterior portion of said associated collar and providing an electrical communication between the shield layer and said associated collar, the termination ferrule being securely fitted onto the exterior portion so as to provide a strain relief for the shielded cable disposed within said inner bore of said associated collar;
• wherein the enclosure wall includes a pair of cylindrical bores, each bore associated with one of the contacts;
• wherein each collar is seated at a seating reference in a different one cylindrical bore provided in the enclosure wall;
• wherein a first distance from said collar seating reference of a first cylindrical bore to the first contact is different from a second distance from said collar seating reference of a second cylindrical bore to the second contact;
• wherein a first shielded cable configured for connection to the first contact through said first cylindrical bore has a first length of the main conductor extending from said first collar associated with said first shielded cable sufficient to engage the first contact when said first collar is seated at said collar seating reference of said first cylindrical bore;
• wherein a second shielded cable configured for connection to the second contact through said second cylindrical bore has a second length of the main conductor extending from said second collar associated with said second shielded cable sufficient to engage the second contact when said second collar is seated at said collar seating reference of said second cylindrical bore;
• wherein said first length of the main conductor is unable to engage the second contact when said first collar is seated in said second cylindrical bore;
• and
• wherein said second length of the main conductor is unable to engage the first contact when said second collar is seated in said first cylindrical bore.