Abstract:
An electric-cable-splicing system and method has a bidirectional jack that includes a bidirectional actuator ( 6,16,18 ) on a jack rod ( 9 ). Cable collars ( 11, 15, 17 ) and jacket collars ( 10 ) can be positioned as advantageous and convenient for holding cable ( 3 ) and for positioning cable jackets ( 13 ) on the cable while the cable is being spliced or joined. The cable collars can be sized and positioned on the jack rod as needed for particular cable-working requirements. The jacket collars are movable bidirectionally on the jack rod with the bidirectional jack. The bidirectional jack slides tight-fitting cable jackets onto cables in a first direction before cable splices ( 14 ) and joints are made. After the splices and joints are made, the bidirectional jack then slides the tight-fitting cable jackets oppositely in a second direction to a covering position of linearly overlapping and circumferentially surrounding the splices or joints. Sealant can be added to surfaces of the cable and the cable jackets selectively. One or more of the bidirectional jacks can be positioned on the jack rod and provided with jacket collars and cable collars selectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to splicing electric cable for repair and end joining.  
           [0002]    Dangerous, difficult and time-consuming work is required to repair, splice and join underground cables that frequently get damaged by construction and various excavation activities, as well as deteriation due to age. Currently, coverings known as jackets, also called “boots” are placed over a splice. Much hazardous manual labor is required. There are known splicing devices and methods, but none with convenient, fast and safe bidirectional cable positioning and jacket covering in a manner taught by this invention.  
           [0003]    Examples of most-closely related known but different devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,588, issued to Coil on Jan. 23, 1973; U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,955 issued to Bonser, et al. on Nov. 18, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,436 issued to Silva on Sep. 23, 1980; Denmark Patent No. DEN 29066 issued on Dec. 13, 1921; U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,662issued to Finke, et al. on Apr. 28, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,373 issued to Hudzinski on Jan. 5, 1965; U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,348 issued to Taylor on Mar. 28, 1967; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,140 issued to McCoy on Jul. 6, 1971.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide an electric-cable-splicing system and method which:  
           [0005]    positions cable conveniently while being trimmed and spliced;  
           [0006]    slides tight-fitting sleeves or jackets onto cable and into sealing positions over splices and end joints;  
           [0007]    is cable-size adaptable;  
           [0008]    fits into relatively smaller working spaces of holes dug for cable repair;  
           [0009]    has cable-axis operation of mechanical features that avoid twist and rotation of cables; and  
           [0010]    is adaptable to safety procedures and devices.  
           [0011]    This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with an electric-cable-splicing system and method having a bidirectional jack with a jack rod on which cable collars and cable-jacket collars can be positioned as advantageous and convenient for holding cable and for positioning cable jackets on the cable while the cable is being spliced or joined. The cable collars can be sized and positioned on the jack rod as needed for particular cable-working requirements. The cable-jacket collars are movable bidirectionally on the jack rod with the bidirectional jack. The bidirectional jack slides tight-fitting cable jackets onto cables in a first direction before splices and joints are prepared. After the splices and joints are prepared, the bidirectional jack then slides the tight-fitting cable jackets oppositely in a second direction to a covering position of linearly overlapping and circumferentially surrounding the splices or joints. Sealant can be added to surfaces of the cable and the cable jackets selectively. One or more of the bidirectional jacks can be positioned on the jack rod and provided with cable-jacket collars and cable collars selectively.  
           [0012]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of a first end and a second end of a cable that has been prepared for splicing;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of a bidirectional jack having a bidirectional actuator with a jacket collar attached to a cable jacket in a temporary position proximate a cable-collar position at which a cable collar on a first end of a jack rod is attached to a first end of a cable to be spliced;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is the FIG. 2 illustration with a cable splice joining the first end and the second end of the cable;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is the FIG. 3 illustration with the cable jacket slid over the cable splice by actuating the bidirectional jack in a direction of the second end of the cable;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a side view of a cable being held for cable splicing by a bidirectional jack with a cable collar attached to the cable-collar position proximate the first end of the cable and a cable collar on a bidirectional actuator having two actuator levers attached to the second end of the cable while the cable is being prepared for splicing and while another of the bidirectional actuators with an open jacket collar is positioned on the jack rod;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is the FIG. 5 illustration with a cable jacket in the jacket collar slid to a temporary position and with a cable splice joining the first end and the second end of the cable;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is the FIG. 6 illustration with the cable jacket slid over the cable splice by actuating the bidirectional jack in a direction of the second end of the cable;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view of a bidirectional actuator having two actuator levers that pivot on lever axles on an actuator housing that is actuated to slide on a jack rod having a plurality of bidirectional actuator buttresses;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway end view of a jack rod that is a rectangular tube having bidirectional actuator buttresses that are walls of indentations in a side of the jack rod;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a top view of a portion of the jack rod shown in FIGS.  8 - 9 ,  11  and  13 - 14 ;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a bidirectional actuator that is a single-lever actuator in a single-lever housing that is slidable linearly on the jack rod with first and second latches and a bidirectional stop latch on a single lever;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is the FIG. 7 illustration modified to show use of single-lever actuators as an option to bidirectional actuators having two actuator levers for a method to use this cable-splicing system;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is the FIG. 8 illustration showing use of a wire spring as an option to leaf springs;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is the FIG. 11 illustration showing use of a bidirectional actuator latch as an option to first and second latches;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a top view of the FIG. 14 illustration;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway side view of a portion of a jack rod having orthogonal sides in a cross wall of a channel rod; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is an end view of the jack rod shown in FIG. 16.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description.  
                                                    1. First joint end            2. Second joint end            3. Cable            4. Insulated core            5. Outside barrier            6. Bidirectional actuator            7. First end of jack rod            8. Second end of jack rod            9. Jack rod           10. Jacket collar           11. Cable collar           12. Cable-collar position           13. Cable jacket           14. Cable splice           15. First cable collar           16. First bidirectional actuator           17. Second cable collar           18. Second bidirectional actuator           19. Polygonal tube           20. Walls           21. Indentations           22. Actuator housing           23. Slide walls           24. Slide rollers           25. First actuator lever           26. First lever axle           27. Second actuator lever           28. Second lever axle           29. Handle connections           30. First-direction stop latch           31. First-stop pivot end           32. First-stop buttress end           33. Second-direction stop latch           34. Second-stop pivot end           35. Second-stop buttress end           36. First-direction actuation latch           37. First-actuation pivot end           38. First lever position           39. First-actuation buttress end           40. Second-direction actuation latch           41. Second-actuation pivot end           42. Second lever position           43. Second-actuation buttress end           44. First stop spring           45. First actuator spring           46. Second stop spring           47. Second actuator spring           48. Single-lever housing           49. Bidirectional lever           50. Single-lever axle           51. Bidirectional stop latch           52. First end of bidirectional stop latch           53. Second end of bidirectional stop latch           54. First latch           55. First latch axle           56. Buttress end of first latch           57. Second latch           58. Second latch axle           59. Buttress end of second latch           60. First stop spring           61. Second stop spring           62. First latch spring           63. Spring base           64. Second latch spring           65. Bidirectional actuator latch           66. Central actuator axle           67. First buttress end           68. Bidirectional actuator           69. Second buttress end           70. Bidirectional actuation spring           71. Direction-control member           72. Direction-control knob           73. First wire ratchet spring           74. First regulator bolt           75. First regulator slot           76. First regulator knob           77. Second wire ratchet spring           78. Second regulator bolt           79. Second regulator slot           80. Second regulator knob                      
 
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 4 , a cable-splicing system and method includes splicing or otherwise joining a first joint end  1  to a second joint end  2  of a cable  3  which includes a high-power electrical cable that generally is positioned centrally in an insulated core  4  which is encompassed circumferentially by an outside barrier  5  that usually contains conductor wires to ground out or otherwise deflect exterior current from lightning and other cables or sources of interference current.  
         [0033]    One embodiment of the cable-splicing system has a bidirectional jack with a bidirectional actuator  6  that is actuated bidirectionally intermediate a first end  7  and a second end  8  of a jack rod  9 . The bidirectional actuator  6  includes a jacket collar  10 . A cable collar  11  is attached to the jack rod  9  at a desired position proximate the first end  7  of the jack rod  9 . The jacket collar  10  and the cable collar  11  are side-loadable.  
         [0034]    A method for using this embodiment includes the steps of:  
         [0035]    preparing a first joint end  1  and a second joint end  2  of the cable  3  to be spliced;  
         [0036]    attaching the cable collar  11  to the cable  3  at a cable-collar position  2  on the cable  3  that is a sufficient distance from the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  to allow temporary positioning of a cable jacket  13  intermediate a cable splice  14  and the cable-collar position  12 ;  
         [0037]    attaching the jacket collar  10  to the cable jacket  13 ;  
         [0038]    positioning a first end of the cable jacket  13  for receiving the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  into a circumferential internal periphery of the cable jacket  13 ;  
         [0039]    actuating the bidirectional actuator  6  in a first direction that is towards the cable-collar position  12  for sliding the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  a sufficient distance through the cable jacket  13  to expose the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  for being spliced to the second joint end  2  of the cable  3 ;  
         [0040]    splicing the first joint end  1  to the second joint end  2  of the cable  3  with the cable splice  14 ;  
         [0041]    actuating the bidirectional actuator  6  in a second direction that is away from the cable-collar position  12  for sliding the cable jacket  13  from the temporary position to a splice-sealing position on the cable splice  14 ; and  
         [0042]    removing the bidirectional jack by removing the jacket collar  10  from the cable jacket  13  and removing the cable collar  11  from the first joint end  1  of the cable  3 .  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS.  5 - 7  and  12 , another embodiment of the cable-splicing system has a bidirectional jack with one or more bidirectional actuators that are actuated bidirectionally intermediate the first end  7  and the second end  8  of the jack rod  9 . A first cable collar  15  is attached to the jack rod  9  proximate the first end  7  of the jack rod  9  at a desired cable-collar position  12  that is proximate the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  to be spliced. The jacket collar  10  is on a first bidirectional actuator  16  and a second cable collar  17  is on a second bidirectional actuator  18   
         [0044]    A method for using this embodiment includes the steps of:  
         [0045]    attaching the first cable collar  15  to the first joint end  1  of a cable  3  to be spliced;  
         [0046]    attaching the second cable collar  17  to the second joint end  2  of the cable  3 ;  
         [0047]    actuating the second bidirectional actuator  18  selectively for the cable  3  to be held as desired intermediate the first cable collar  15  and the second cable collar  17 ;  
         [0048]    preparing the cable  3  for splicing intermediate the first cable collar  15  and the second cable collar  17 ;  
         [0049]    attaching a cable jacket  13  to the jacket collar  10 ;  
         [0050]    positioning the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  for entry into the cable jacket  13 ;  
         [0051]    actuating the first bidirectional actuator  16  in a first direction towards the cable-collar position  12  for sliding the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  into the cable jacket  13  and for sliding the first joint end  1  a sufficient distance through the cable jacket  13  to place the cable jacket  13  at a temporary position intermediate the first joint end  1  of the cable  3  and the cable-collar position  12 ;  
         [0052]    splicing the first joint end  1  to the second joint end  2  of the cable  3  with the cable splice  14 ;  
         [0053]    actuating the first bidirectional actuator  16  in a second direction away from the cable-collar position  12  for sliding the cable jacket  13  from the temporary position in a direction towards the second joint end  2  to a splice-sealing position that covers the cable splice  14 ; and  
         [0054]    removing the bidirectional jack by removing the jacket collar  10  from the cable jacket  13 , removing the first cable collar  15  from the first joint end  1  and removing the second cable collar  17  from the second joint end  2  of the cable  3 .  
         [0055]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6  and  8 - 10 , the jack rod  9  on which the bidirectional actuator  6  has bidirectional actuation includes a plurality of bidirectional actuator buttresses juxtaposed in series linearly on an outside periphery of the jack rod  9 . The jack rod  9  can include a polygonal tube  19  and the plurality of bidirectional actuator buttresses can be walls  20  of indentations  21  that preferably are elongate in an outside periphery of the jack rod  9 .  
         [0056]    For a two-lever embodiment, the bidirectional actuator  6  has an actuator housing  22  that is slidable linearly on the jack rod  9  in contact preferably with slide walls  23  and slide rollers  24 .  
         [0057]    A first actuator lever  25  is pivotal on a first lever axle  26  proximate a first end of the actuator housing  22 . A second actuator lever  27  is pivotal on a second lever axle  28  proximate a second end of the actuator housing  22 . Handle connections  29  can be extended from the first actuator lever  25  and from the second actuator lever  27 .  
         [0058]    A first-direction stop latch  30  has a first-stop pivot end  31  attached pivotally to the first lever axle  26 . The first-direction stop latch  30  has a first-stop buttress end  32  extended pivotally to engage first sides of the bidirectional actuator buttresses, which include the walls  20  of indentations  21 , one actuator buttress at a time. A second-direction stop latch  33  has a second-stop pivot end  34  attached pivotally to the second lever axle  28 . The second-direction stop latch  33  has a second-stop buttress end  35  extended pivotally to engage second sides of the bidirectional actuator buttresses, which include the walls  20  of indentations  21 , one actuator buttress at a time.  
         [0059]    A first-direction actuation latch  36  has a first-actuation pivot end  37  attached pivotally to the first actuator lever  25  at a first lever position  38  that is outwardly from the first lever axle  26 . The first-direction actuation latch  36  has a first-actuation buttress end  39  extended pivotally from the first actuator lever  25  to engage the bidirectional actuator buttresses, which include the walls  20  of indentations  21 , one actuator buttress at a time. A second-direction actuation latch  40  has a second-actuation pivot end  41  attached pivotally to the second actuator lever  27  at a second lever position  42  that is outwardly from the second lever axle  28 . The second-direction actuation latch  40  has a second-actuation buttress end  43  extended pivotally from the second actuator lever  27  to engage the bidirectional actuator buttresses, which include the walls  20  of indentations  21 , one actuator buttress at a time.  
         [0060]    The first-direction stop latch  30  faces the second-direction stop latch  33  and the first-direction actuator latch  36  faces the second-direction actuator latch  40 .  
         [0061]    A first stop spring  44  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the first-directional stop latch  30  and the first-direction actuation latch  36  for actuating the first-direction stop latch  30  in a direction of the bidirectional actuator buttresses one actuator buttress at a time. A first actuator spring  45  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the first actuator lever  25  and the first-direction actuation latch  36  for actuating the first-direction actuator latch  36  in a direction of the bidirectional actuator buttresses one actuator buttress at a time.  
         [0062]    A second stop spring  46  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the second-directional stop latch  33  and the second-direction actuation latch  40  for actuating the second-direction stop latch  33  in a direction of the bidirectional actuator buttresses one actuator buttress at a time. A second actuator spring  47  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the second actuator lever  27  and the second-direction actuation latch  40  for actuating the second-direction actuator latch  40  in a direction of the bidirectional actuator buttresses one actuator buttress at a time.  
         [0063]    Referring to FIGS.  11 - 12 , each of a plurality or one of the bidirectional actuators can be single-lever actuators having a single-lever housing  48  that is slidable linearly on the jack rod  9 . Each of the single-lever actuators has a bidirectional lever  49  that is pivotal on a single-lever axle  50  on the single-lever housing  48 . A bidirectional stop latch  51  also is pivotal on the single-lever axle  50 . The bidirectional stop latch  51  has a first end  52  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses one buttress at a time on a first side of the single-lever axle  50  for stopping second-direction travel of the bidirectional actuator on the jack rod  9 . The bidirectional stop latch  51  has a second end  53  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses one buttress at a time on a second side of the single-lever axle  50  for stopping first-direction travel of the bidirectional actuator on the jack rod  9 .  
         [0064]    A first latch  54  on the first side of the bidirectional lever  49  has a lever end attached pivotally to a first latch axle  55  on the first side of the bidirectional lever  49 . The first latch  54  has a buttress end  56  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses one buttress at a time on the first side of the single-lever axle  50  for actuating the bidirectional actuator in a first direction by pivoting the bidirectional lever oppositely in the second direction from the single-lever axle  50  selectively.  
         [0065]    A second latch  57  on the second side of the bidirectional lever  49  has a lever end attached pivotally to a second latch axle  58  on the second side of the bidirectional lever  49 . The second latch  57  has a buttress end  59  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses one buttress at a time on the second side of the single-lever axle  50  for actuating the bidirectional actuator in a second direction by pivoting the bidirectional lever oppositely in the first direction from the single-lever axle  50  selectively.  
         [0066]    A first stop spring  60  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the first end  52  of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and the first latch  54 . A second stop spring  61  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the second end  53  of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and the second latch  57 .  
         [0067]    A first latch spring  62  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the first latch  54  and a spring base  63  that is outwardly from the first latch spring  62  on the bidirectional lever  49 . A second latch spring  64  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the second latch  57  and the spring base  63 .  
         [0068]    The push-expansion pressure on the first latch spring  62  and the push-expansion pressure on the second latch spring  64  are adjustable with the spring base  63 . The push-expansion pressure on the first latch spring  62  being increased and the push-expansion pressure on the second latch spring  64  being decreased for actuation of the bidirectional actuator in the first direction. The push-expansion pressure on the second latch spring  64  being increased and the push-expansion pressure on the first latch spring  62  being decreased for actuation of the bidirectional actuator in the second direction.  
         [0069]    Referring to FIGS.  14 - 17 , optionally different than described in relation to FIG. 11, a bidirectional actuator latch  65  is pivotal on a central actuator axle  66  outwardly from the single-lever axle  50  on the bidirectional lever  49 . The bidirectional actuator latch  65  has a first buttress end  67  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses on the first side of the single-lever axle  50  for actuating a bidirectional actuator  68  in a first direction by pivoting the bidirectional lever  49  oppositely in the second direction from the single-lever axle  50  selectively. The bidirectional actuator latch  65  has a second buttress end  69  that engages the bidirectional actuator buttresses on the second side of the single-lever axle  50  for actuating the bidirectional actuator  68  in a second direction by pivoting the bidirectional lever  49  oppositely in the first direction from the single-lever axle  50  selectively.  
         [0070]    A first stop spring  60  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the first end  52  of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and the first buttress end  67  of the bidirectional actuator latch  65 . The second stop spring  61  has push-expansion pressure applied intermediate the second end  53  of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and the second buttress end  69  of the bidirectional actuator latch  65 .  
         [0071]    A bidirectional actuation spring  70  is attached to a direction-control member  71  extended from the single-lever axle  50 . The bidirectional actuation spring  70  is bifurcated centrally from the direction-control member  71 .  
         [0072]    The direction-control member  71  is pivotal in a first direction to apply push-expansion pressure of a first leg of the bidirectional actuation spring  70  against the first end  52  of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and to remove the push-expansion pressure from the second leg of the bidirectional actuation spring  70  for actuating the bidirectional actuator  68  in the first direction from the single-lever axle  50  by pivoting the bidirectional lever  49  oppositely in the second direction from the single-lever axle  50 .  
         [0073]    The direction-control member  71  is pivotal in a second direction to apply push-expansion pressure of a second leg of the bidirectional actuation spring  70  against the second end of the bidirectional stop latch  51  and to remove the push-expansion pressure from the second leg of the bidirectional actuation spring  70  for actuating the bidirectional actuator  68  in the second direction from the single-lever axle  50  by pivoting the bidirectional lever  49  oppositely in the first direction from the single-lever axle  50 .  
         [0074]    The direction-control member  71  is attached to a direction-control knob  72  having controlled pivotal positioning.  
         [0075]    The jack rod  9  can include orthogonal sides and the actuator buttresses can be the walls  20  of the indentations  21  in one of the sides of an outside periphery of the jack rod  9  that is channeled or otherwise orthogonal as shown in FIGS.  16 - 17 .  
         [0076]    Referring to FIG. 13 and to FIG. 8 further, functions of the first stop spring  44  and the first actuator spring  45  shown and described in relation to FIG. 8 can be provided by a first wire ratchet spring  73  having a first end attached to the first-direction stop latch  30  and a second end attached to the first-direction actuation latch  36  as shown in FIG. 13. The first wire ratchet spring  73  is routed through a first regulator bolt  74  that is extended through a first regulator slot  75  in a first side of the actuator housing  22 .  
         [0077]    The first regulator bolt  74  has machine threading with which it is screwed into a first regulator knob  76 . The first regulator slot  75  is angled for positioning the first regulator bolt  74  in order to position the first wire ratchet spring  73  therein predeterminedly near the walls  20  of the actuator buttresses for actuating ratchet engagement of the first-direction stop latch  30  and the first-direction actuation latch  36  predeterminedly removed from the actuator buttresses to prevent the ratchet engagement of the first-direction stop latch  30  and the first-direction actuation latch  36  with the walls  20  of the actuator buttresses selectively.  
         [0078]    Correspondingly for an opposite direction of actuation, functions of the second stop spring  46  and the second actuator spring  47  shown and described in relation to FIG. 8 can be provided by a second wire ratchet spring  77  having a first end attached to the second-direction stop latch  33  and a second end attached to the second-direction actuation latch  40  as shown in FIG. 13. The second wire ratchet spring  77  is routed through a second regulator bolt  78  that is extended through a second regulator slot  79  in a second side of the actuator housing  22 .  
         [0079]    The second regulator bolt  78  has machine threading with which it is screwed into a second regulator knob  80 . The second regulator slot  79  is angled for positioning the second regulator bolt  78  in order to position the second wire ratchet spring  77  therein predeterminedly near the walls  20  of the actuator buttresses for actuating ratchet engagement of the second-direction stop latch  33  and the second-direction actuation latch  40  predeterminedly removed from the actuator buttresses to prevent the ratchet engagement of the second-direction stop latch  33  and the second-direction actuation latch  40  with the walls  20  of the actuator buttresses selectively.  
         [0080]    A new and useful electric-cable-splicing system and method having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention.