Patent ID: 6765775
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A branching unit for joining power feed lines of at least three submarine cables, comprising:first, second, and third cable terminations each coupled to a power feed line of a respective submarine cable; a ground termination; a current limiter positioned in series between the ground termination and sea earth; and first, second, and third high-voltage relays each having a coil and a contact, the coil of each high-voltage relay being positioned between two of the cable terminations respectively and having an energized state when a threshold amount of current passes through the coil and a de-energized state when the threshold amount of current does not pass through the coil, the contact of each high-voltage relay being positioned to connect the respective third cable termination with the ground termination when the respective coil is in an energized state and to connect the respective third cable termination with at least another of the cable terminations when the respective coil is in a de-energized state.