Patent Abstract:
A system for splicing together heavy duty electric cables, especially underground cables, consisting of a static friction block and a clamping friction block located on ends of cables to be spliced. A block and tackle mechanism is interposed between the friction block and the clamping block to provide a force to move various elements on the cables to various and final predetermined locations to make up the splice. The block and tackle mechanism has a wind-up spool thereon to wind-up ends of cords of the block and tackle mechanism. The wind-up spool provides the necessary force to accomplish the move of the various elements.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention involves the splicing together of high power electrical wires or cables, especially underground cables. There is no known device that can be used in splicing together the above noted cables, other than hand tools, because they are large in diameter and the outer layer is made of a plastic or rubber material that must be and remain water resistant for obvious reasons. Most all of the connections made are made by hand, especially when applying a connection sleeve over the wire splice once they have been made. The connection sleeve or housing has to have an extreme tight fit to be water proof. The only way to slide the connection sleeve or housing over the splice is by hand because any tools used can damage the outer circumference which is highly undesirable and may distort the cable or the housing out of round whereby the integrity of the water tight fit is violated. It takes extreme strong hands to accomplish the task of connection and it is very time consuming and labor intensive.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The inventive device involves a power element such as a block and tackle. The cable to be connected to another cable receives a clamping block having interior friction mediums therein. The clamping block completely surrounds the outer circumference of the cable without distorting the same. The friction medium used inside the clamping block does not damage the outer material of the cable but is designed so as not to move relative to the cable when a pulling force is applied to the clamping block. The pulling force is derived from a block and tackle element. One end of the block and tackle element is located in a stationary manner while the other end of the block and tackle is movable, such as when attached to the clamping block. The cord of the block and tackle element is attached to a wind-up device. When the cord is wound up the force generated thereby exerts a moving force on the clamping block to effortless move the same in its designated path which will be explained below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first stage of making a splice;  
         [0004]      FIGS. 1A-1D  show different elements used in making electrical splices  FIG. 2  is a representation of a second stage of making an electrical splice;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a final stage of making an electrical splice;  
         [0006]      FIG. 4A  shows a detailed illustration of a clamping block;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4B  shows clamping elements used in a clamping block;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4C  shows the clamping block of  FIG. 4A  in an open position;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4D  illustrates retaining pins for a spool shown in  FIG. 4A ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4E  shows a spool for a wind-up of a block and tackle;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4F  illustrates a clamping block being hinged in a diagonal manner;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4G  shows the clamping block of  FIG. 4F  in an open position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first stage of attaching a permanent adapter to a cable;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a retaining block used in various applications;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a static bar;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a flexible sling used when making a T-connection;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a permanent adapter used when making certain connections;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a pull-on plate used when making T-connections;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a cable protector and an alignment tool;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a pull-through rod for a clamping block;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11A  shows a pull-through rod with a an expandable cable connector;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a system for making a T-shaped connection;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  shows a system for installing a splice housing with a different pull back collar;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13A  shows the pull back collar by itself;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  shows another and different pull-back collar;  
         [0026]      FIG. 14A  shows a friction insert for the pull-back collar of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  shows a system for installing a splice housing including the pull-back collar of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 15A  is a different embodiment of creating friction between a housing and pull-back collar;  
         [0029]      FIG. 16  illustrates a first stage of making a Y-connection;  
         [0030]      FIG. 17  shows the second stage of making the Y-connection of  FIG. 16   
         [0031]      FIG. 18  illustrates a support post to simplify installations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first stage of the process when splicing an electrical underground cable. The reason there are several stages is the fact that various pulling forces on the elements of the splice occur in different or opposite directions. In this first stage there is a stationary block  1  and there is a stationary clamping block  2 . The reason why these blocks are stationary is that various elements that make up the splice have to move independently of the cable that is clamped or will be by the clamping block  2 . Both the clamping block and the stationary block are held in their position by the static rods  3 . The static block  1  is shown in more detail below in  FIG. 1C . The static rods  3  are shown in more detail in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  below. The static block  1  consists of pegs  6  which can and will receive at least one end of the static bar  3  in  FIG. 1 . The pegs  6  can be threaded or be smooth depending of n the manufacturer. The clamping block  2  is made up of two halves  10  and  11  ( FIG. 4A ) which are connected by a hinge  12  ( FIGS. 4A and 4C ). The clamping block  2  carries at an upper end thereof a wind-up spool  21  which will wind-up cords of a block and tackle system  7  (which will be explained in more detail below. The wind-up spool is held in place in its cradle by retaining pins  24  and  25 . Prior to making a connection between a cable and the block and tackle, the system has to be threaded by way of a threading tool  16  which passes through a splice housing  31 , a temporary adapter  30  and through the center of the clamping block  2  and then on to a connection  41  on the block and tackle  7 . The spool  21  has a wind-up stem  22  which can be connected to a socket of a ratchet tool or an electric appliance (not shown). One end  40  of the threading tool  26  is connected to the receiving eyelet  41  of the block and tackle element  7 . The threading tool  26  includes an expanding screw connector which will be received within the compression connection  42 . The connector also includes the crimped ends  34  of the bare cable  43 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates the second stage of making an electrical splice in an underground cable. In this illustration it can be seen that the block an tackle  7  ( FIG. 1 ) has pulled the cable including the splice housing  31  into the clamping block  2  including the temporary adapter  30  ( FIG. 1 ) into a proper concentric position. At this point the crimped end  34  of the incoming cable including a compression connection is ready for receiving a housing  31 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates the reverse movement of the block and tackle. In this third stage of making a splice, the clamping block  2  is stationarily supported on an outgoing cable assembly. There is a gripping adapter  44  which frictionally grips the cable at that point. There is a counter stationary block  1  (also shown in  FIG. 5A ) which acts as a counter force to the clamping block  2  because of the presence of the static bars  3 . The object of this third splicing stage is to apply the splice housing  31  over the previously crimped ends  34  and  35  which are covered by a compression connection. To this end, the housing  31  is pulled over the splices  34  and  35  by way of a pulling collar  32  (also shown in  FIG. 13A ). The pulling collar  32  abuts against a ridge (not shown) on the housing  31 . In this pulling stage, there is a dual block and tackle wherein the ends of the cords are threaded into the spool  21 . The other ends of the cords are attached to attachment hooks  33  on the pulling collar  32 . The return ends of the block and tackle are attached at  5   a  and  5   b  on the stationary block  1 . Also see  FIG. 5A .  
         [0035]      FIG. 4A  is a detailed illustration of the clamping block  2  shown in  FIG. 1  The basic clamping block has been identified as  2  ( FIG. 1 ). The clamping block  2  consists of two halves  10  and  11  which are hinged together by a hinge  12 . The two halves  10  and  11  are clamped together by way of a compression clamp  13 . There are two eyelet hooks  20  which receive the ends of a cord coming from the block and tackle elements. The clamping block  2  also has a winding spool  21  mounted therein for the purpose of winding the ends of the cords coming from the block and tackle elements. The ends of the rewinding spool  21  are held in place by retaining pins  24  and  25 . The end  22  of the spool is designed to receive a pair of pliers, a wrench or a socket of a ratchet handle in order to wind the same. Turning now to  FIG. 4B , there is shown to halves  14  and  15  of friction elements that are installed within each halve of the clamping block. Each of the halves  14  and  15  have a holding pin  18  attached thereto to penetrate each of the halves  14  and  15  and to be securely held in place by outside lock nuts  19 . The inside of each of the halves has ribs  16  made therein to act as gripping surfaces so that the clamping block can grip the outer surface of a cable to be pulled. Other friction surfaces could be used such as layers of sandpaper.  FIG. 4A  also shows eyelets  20  which are used to anchor each end of the block and tackle cords therein. The clamping segments  14  and  15  each have a central and outer centering ridge thereon to be received in a groove  17   a  in each of the clamping halves  10  and  11 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 4C  shows the clamping block  2  of  FIG. 4A  in an open position. The same reference characters are being used as were shown in  4 A. No further explanation of this Fig. seems to be necessary.  FIG. 4C  also illustrates the wind-up spool  21  which has flanges  23  thereon and at one end thereof shows an attachment for a tool such as a socket of a ratchet handle.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4D  illustrates the retaining pins  24  and  25 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 4E  illustrates a friction insert  16  that is to inserted into the clamping halves  14  and  15  which are located in the clamping block  2  ( FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 A). The ridge  17  is clearly shown which will be received in the groove  17   a  ( FIG. 4C ) to stabilize the same. The retaining pin  18  can also be seen which is held in place by the lock nut  19  in  FIG. 4A . As explained above, the friction insert  16  has friction ribs therein to securely grip the outer circumference of a cable being operated on.  
         [0039]      FIG. 4F  illustrates the clamping block  2  of  FIG. 1  including the same reference characters but this illustration depicts the clamping block being split on the diagonal instead of being split in half from a square block. This arrangement has a big advantage in that the wind-up spool  21  does not have to be removed from the clamping block every time when the clamping block of  FIG. 1  is being opened for inserting a cable therein.  FIG. 4G  has been opened and it can be seen that the wind-up spool  21  is still in place.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a different embodiment in that it shows the first stage of attaching or installing a T-shaped connector ( FIG. 12 ). This embodiment includes the clamping block  2  including the various elements and reference characters of  FIG. 1  but further showing a dual block and tackle mechanism  60 . The incoming cable has an outer insulation which is clamped within the clamping block  2  ( FIG. 1 ). The dual block and tackle mechanism is attached at one end on the eyelets  20  on the clamping block and at another end to the wind-up spool  21 . There is a permanent adapter  50 , having different steps  50   a  and  50   b  thereon, being slid over the end of the insulation on the cable  61 . This permanent adapter will be supplied in different sizes to accommodate differently sized cables. Each end of the dual block and tackle is attached to an eyelet  20  on the clamping block  2  and the other ends are attached to the wind-up spool  21 . The two intermediate sections of the dual block and tackle are each attached to an eyelet (only  52  is shown) which are fastened to a pulling plate  52 . It can be seen that when the wind-up spool  21  is activated by rotating the end  22 , the dual block and tackle  60  will pull the pulling plate  52  against the adapter and force the same over the existing cable  61 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 5A  shows the static block  1  of  FIG. 3  in more detail. There are two eyelets  5   a  which will each receive the intermediate ends of the block and tackle  7  ( FIG. 1 ). There are also two pins  5   a  which receive the ends of the static rods  3  ( FIGS. 1-3  and  6 ) to stabilize the clamping block  2  and the stationary block  1  when the system is in operation.  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates a skirt  51  which will be wrapped around a T-shaped tubing  65  as will be explained below with regard to  FIG. 12 . The eyelets  51   a  and  51   b  will receive the intermediate sections of the block and tackle  60  ( FIG. 12 ).  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows the permanent adapter  50  of  FIG. 5  in more detail in that there are shown the various steps  50   a  and  50   b  to be received over the differently sized outer cable circumferences that can be spliced using the inventive system.  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  illustrates the pulling plate  52  of  FIG. 5  including the eyelets  52   a  and  52   b.    
         [0045]      FIG. 10  appears to be a simple length of tubing, however, it is a wire protector and an alignment guide for the adapter shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 11  illustrates a different pulling tool  26  useful for pulling the block and tackle through the various elements as is shown in  FIG. 1 . The same reference characters have been used in this Fig. This tool is a simplified version of the pulling tool  26  in  FIG. 1 . The hook  26   a  will receive the intermediate section  41  of the block and tackle and the handle  26   b  will be used to pull the rigid rod  26  through the various elements in a similar manner that the hook  40  ( FIG. 1 ) will pull the block and tackle  41  through the same various elements.  
         [0047]      FIG. 12  illustrates the attachment of a T-shaped tubing to an incoming cable. These T-shaped elements are used when heavy duty underground cables are connected within electrical distribution cabinets. To connect the T-shaped tubing to a splice within the T-shaped tubing. the same inventive elements are being used, that is, the block and tackle power system.  FIG. 12  shows the same reference characters that were used in previous Figs. In this illustration, the pulling skirt can clearly be seen at  51  as being wrapped around the T-shaped tubing  65 . The intermediate sections  52   a  and  52   b  ( FIG. 5 ) of the block and tackle system are received in the eyelets  51   a  and  51   b  ( FIG. 7 ). Thus, it can be seen that when the forces of the dual block and tackle system are activated, The T-shaped tubing  65  will be pulled and forced over the adapter  50  until firmly seated against the cable outer periphery.  
         [0048]      FIG. 13  is a different embodiment of a pulling element in a simplified version. It consists of a three quarter ring which can be slipped over an adapter  74  in  FIG. 15 . The dual block and tackle  72  and  73  can be attached to the hooks  79   a  and  79   b.    
         [0049]      FIG. 14A  illustrates a different embodiment of a pulling housing or block  81  over finished splices  75  in  FIGS. 15 and 15 A. In this embodiment there is the clamping block with its hinge  12  which is clamped over an adapter  74  which may consist of different sizes depending on the size of the cable being spliced. This embodiment is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 3 . The static block  1  ( FIG. 1 ) has been modified to appear in a semi-circular configuration  70 . This particular embodiment includes the static bars  71  located between the clamping block (illustrated by the presence of the hinge  12  and the static block  70 . The pulling force to be applied to moving the housing  74  to be moved over the splicing  75 ,  76  is received from the force of the block and tackle  72 ,  73 . The block and tackle system is attached to a pull-back collar  79  ( FIG. 13 ). The pull-back collar abuts against a rib on the housing  74 . The pull-back collar  79  has attached thereto eyelet hooks  79   a  and  79   b  which will receive the intermediate sections of the block and tackle system  72 ,  73 . It can now be seen that, when the block and tackle system is activated, the pull-back collar  79  will be pulled against a rib on the housing  74  and will be forced over the splice  75 ,  76  and will completely and hermetically seal the spliced cable.  
         [0050]      FIG. 14  illustrates a different embodiment of a pulling collar or a clamping block. To this end, the pulling collar  81  consists of two halves which are hingedly connected to each other by way of a hinge  12  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) and connected together by way of a connector  82 . The interior of both halves have a centering ridge  85 . The interior of the clamping block  81  will receive friction elements  87  which have a friction surface  89  thereon. The outer circumferences of the friction elements  87  have a retention groove  88  therein which is designed to match the centering ridges  85  of the halves of the pulling collar. The pulling collar  81  further has attached thereto pull eyelets  86  for attaching intermediate sections of the block and tackle ( FIG. 15 ).  
         [0051]      FIG. 15  shows the pulling collar  81  installed in a system for moving the housing  74  over the splice  75 ,  76 . The pulling collar  81  abuts against a ridge on the housing  81 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 15A  shows yet a different pulling collar  81  which is adapted to accommodate different sizes of cables. To this end, the pulling collar has carriage bolts  120  installed therein by way of threaded connections. The heads of the carriage bolts  120  being placed inwardly of the pulling collar  81 . The size of the depressions  82  can change because of a different cable size being operated upon, but the effect of the pulling collar can only be changed by changing the position (inwardly or outwardly) of the carriage bolts  120  that make contact with the depressions  82  ( FIG. 15 ) in the housing  74 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 16  illustrates a different embodiment of splicing a heavy duty cable in different formations such as Y, T or H-shaped formations.  FIG. 16  illustrates a connection involving a Y-shaped formation. In this illustration, there is a first electric branch  96  being connected to a second electric branch  95 . A third electric branch  98  is to be spliced into a permanent electric connector  95 . The splicing itself will be undertaken again by a block and tackle system which again, as explained above, will involve a stationary static block  1  and a clamping block  99  similar to the clamping block  2  in  FIG. 1 . The block and tackle block  100  is a dual system that will connect to both sides of the splice housing, similar to splicing systems of  FIGS. 12 and 13 .  FIG. 16  shows the initial set-up prior to activating the block and tackle system and  FIG. 17  illustrates the final system wherein the housing  103  has arrived at the final connection position.  
         [0054]      FIG. 18  illustrates a support device to be used when making the above noted splices in the various embodiments. The support device consists of an upstanding rod or stand  110  which can be driven into the ground wherever underground splices are to be made. This driving into the ground can involve the foot steps  111 . The upper section of the rod  110  includes a section  113  having an upper pin  114  that can be connected to the clamping block  2  in  FIG. 1  by way of a bore in the bottom of the clamping block  2  and the lowest section  115  can be driven into the ground. The upstanding  110  rod further can include hooks  112  or shelves for receiving items needed in the splicing of the various cables, although very few items or tools are needed when making the above noted splices.  
         [0055]     From all of the above, it can be seen that an inventive splicing system has been presented that takes the labor intensive effort out of the manual drudgery of making splices in the splicing of underground cable, no matter what sizes they are.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8