Patent Description:
In recent years, environmentally sustainable power generation became increasingly relevant. For instance, wind turbines are suitable for sustainable power generation, and are especially effective in offshore installations. However, floating and stationary offshore applications come with several additional parameters, which have to be considered when designing the wind turbine, the platform, the cable run, the kind of cables used, connections between elements and cables, the environmental conditions, like sea water and the swell of the sea, and so on. In particular, the connection between cables is especially demanding in offshore applications, since the single elements of an offshore installation may move in and with the sea.

For instance, two or more wind turbines of an offshore installation may be connected to each other by cables, and/or each of the wind turbines may be connected to a platform carrying a voltage transformation substation. If bad environmental conditions appear, such as a storm, an unforeseen swell, an earthquake or the like, the cable connection between the single elements of an offshore application may break and may cause severe damage. For instance, the cables may get tangled up with all consequences of an unforeseen contact between current-carrying cables. In other scenarios, the connector, or another part of the cable connection may break up. In any case, repairing such damages is difficult, especially in offshore installations. Additionally, the cables may intentionally be disconnected for replacement and maintenance reasons onto floating wind turbines.

Especially cable to cable connections should be protected against severe damage in a wind turbine installation, and should allow an easy disconnection of the cables for replacement and maintenance reasons. Cable to cable connections are often realized by cable lugs allowing an electrical connection between two current carrying conductors. Some cable lugs are known using plug connections of the cables, other cable lugs use screw fastening for the cables to be connected. However, none of the known cable lugs is able to protect the cables, the connectors and/or the bushings in case of an emergency, or allow an easy disconnection for repair and maintenance.

<CIT> discloses a cable breakaway device for use with a power cable connector and a power cable. The power cable connector comprises a sheath and a bearing surface. The cable breakaway device comprises a body with an elongate channel passing therethrough, one or more sharp protrusions radially extending from the body to cut the sheath as the cable is pulled through the channel, allowing the bearing surface to engage the breakaway device without impeding the movement of the connecting device.

<CIT> discloses a connector comprising a male part and a female part as well as an elastic ring for guaranteeing a certain level of holding between the two parts.

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to overcome at least some of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

In view of the above, an emergency break cable lug device according to claim <NUM> is disclosed. The emergency break cable lug device includes a pin element for fixing a cable; and a socket element, in which the pin element can be inserted and which is configured to be connected to an external conductor, in particular an external cable or wire. The pin element exits the socket element upon a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element and/or the socket element.

The cable lug device further includes a sacrifice element breaking up upon a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element and/or the socket element and effecting a release of the pin element out of the socket element.

The pin element includes a fixing part for fixing a cable to the pin element; and a pinning part being configured to be inserted in a respective receiving part of the socket element of the cable lug device.

The socket element includes a receiving part configured for receiving a pinning part of the pin element of the cable lug device; and a palm part for electrically connecting the socket element to an external conductor, in particular an external cable or wire.

A method for mounting an emergency break cable lug device having a pin element and a socket element is described. The method includes inserting the pin element into the socket element for forming the emergency break cable lug device, and providing at least one elastic element between the pin element and the socket element for allowing the pin element exiting the socket element upon a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element and/or the socket element.

Further advantages, features, aspects and details that can be combined with embodiments described herein are evident from the dependent claims, claim combinations, the description and the drawings.

The details will be described in the following with reference to the figures, wherein.

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in each figure. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with any other embodiment to yield yet a further embodiment. It is intended that the present disclosure includes such modifications and variations.

Within the following description of the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to the same or to similar components. Generally, only the differences with respect to the individual embodiments are described. Unless specified otherwise, the description of a part or aspect in one embodiment can be applied to a corresponding part or aspect in another embodiment as well.

According to embodiments described herein, a cable lug device is a device by which two electrical conductors can be connected, especially electrically connected. In particular, a cable lug device is a device for connecting two cables with each other; especially a cable lug device is a device for electrically connecting two cables with each other. Typically, a cable lug device has a receiving part, in which a first cable can be inserted and fixed. Further, a cable lug device also has a contacting part, which is contacted by a second cable, the contacting part being e.g. in the form of a loop part or an eye part. Typically, the loop can either contact the second conductor with a plane or the second conductor may be passed through the "hole" of the loop.

A cable lug device according to embodiments described herein is an emergency break cable lug device. That means that the cable lug device has an emergency break function for the case of an emergency (as for instance mentioned above for offshore wind turbine installations: storm, high swell, earthquake and the like). In some embodiments, the emergency break function may be used for (intentionally) disconnecting the cables, e.g. for replacement or maintenance reasons. In particular, with the emergency break cable lug device according to embodiments described herein, a cable connected to the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein can be pulled out of the cable lug device without damage, in particular without damaging the cables, the bushings, and/or a connector device. Typically, the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein will give the cable free, if a force on the cable and/or the cable lug device is above a defined threshold value, especially a tension force.

The emergency break cable lug device allows pulling out the cable without severe damage by providing a pin element and a socket element, wherein the pin element can be inserted into the socket element to form the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein. A pin element as referred to in embodiments described herein may be understood as a pin- like element or a bolt-like element being adapted for being inserted in a socket element to form a cable lug device. A socket element as referred to in embodiments described herein may be understood as a socket-like element or a sleeve-like element being adapted for receiving the pin element for forming the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein. Typically, both the pin element and the socket element may be adapted to fit to each other and hold each other (especially up to a predefined force acting on the cable lug device). Typically, further elements may be provided between the pin element and the socket element, and respective receiving parts may be provided in one of the pin element and the socket element, or both.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a pin element <NUM> as described herein. The pin element <NUM> is a pin element for an emergency break cable lug according to embodiments described herein. The pin element <NUM> includes a fixing part <NUM> for fixing a cable to the pin element <NUM>. Typically, the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> may have a substantially tube-like shape or cylinder-like outer shape having a round basis area, or a polygon- like basis area, such as a hexagonal basis area. According to some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the fixing part <NUM> may be adapted for fixing a cable to the fixing part <NUM> by crimping (resulting e.g. in a press fit of the cable in the fixing part <NUM>) or/and screwing.

<FIG> shows the pin element <NUM> according to <FIG> having a cable <NUM> fixed to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element.

The pin element <NUM> according to embodiments described herein further includes a pinning part <NUM>, which is configured to be inserted in a respective receiving part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> explained in detail below. In particular, the pinning part <NUM> may have a bolt-like shape or a plug-like shape. The pinning part <NUM> being configured for being received by the receiving part <NUM> of a socket element <NUM> according to embodiments described herein may be adapted by size and shape to fit in the receiving part of the socket element, in particular adapted by length, diameter, surface (such as surface material, surface roughness, surface quality), material, fitting shape, receptacles, notches, threads and the like.

In the pin element <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a receptacle, in particular an elastic element receptacle <NUM> for an elastic element, such as a spring-like element, is provided. According to some embodiments, the elastic element receptacle may be a notch or notch area. Two elastic elements <NUM>, <NUM> are exemplarily shown in the embodiment shown in <FIG>. For instance, the spring-like element may be a spring. According to some embodiments, the elastic element may be a specifically wound device made of an elastic material, such as metal. In some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the elastic element may be wound in an angular or inclined manner. In some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the elastic element may be made from a first elastic material, such as a metal (e.g. copper) and may be coated with a second material. According to some embodiments, the elastic element may be made from one (or two) electrically conducting material(s).

The elastic element as described herein is provided between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM> for increasing or ensuring an electrical contact between the pin element and the socket element. The elastic elements provide a sliding contact securing the current flow, especially the current flow between the pin element and the socket element of the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein. The elastic element being provided between the pin element and the socket element is in contact with both, the pin element and the socket element.

The elastic element <NUM>, <NUM> placed between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM> is provided as a holding element or clamping element for increasing or ensuring a proper halt of the pin element in the socket element. In some embodiments, the elastic element provides a suitable elasticity or tension force. For instance, the elastic element being provided between the pin element and the socket element is designed and adapted (e.g. by size, shape, and/or material(s)) to perform a holding function, in particular to perform the holding function up to a predefined force (e.g. a tensile force) acting on the cable fixed to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> or the cable lug device. The elastic element holds the pin element <NUM> in the socket element <NUM> up to a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element <NUM> and/or the socket element and/or the cable being fixed to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>. When a force exceeding the predefined threshold value acts on the cable lug device, the pin element is no longer held in the socket element, e.g. due to a break of the elastic element. For instance, the predefined threshold value for a break of the connection between the pin element and the socket element by the elastic element may be adjusted by adapting the size, shape, or material of the elastic element.

For instance, the elastic element being adapted for breaking at a predefined threshold value of force acting on the cable fixed to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> (or on the socket element of the emergency break cable lug device), breaks in case of an emergency exceeding the predefined threshold value of force (e.g. due to a storm, or swell acting on the cable of an offshore installation) and releases the connection between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM> of the cable lug device. The pin element <NUM> is halted in the socket element by a fastening device, such as a shear off fastening device, as will be described in detail below. The cable lug device has a sliding (electrical) contact (typically between pin element and socket element, more typically provided by an elastic element) and a fastening device with shear off function.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the pin element <NUM> having two elastic element receptacles <NUM>, <NUM>, which may for instance be two notches acting in particular as a receptacle for two elastic elements as described in detail above. According to some embodiments, the number of elastic elements (and thus the number of elastic element receptacles in the pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device) may be chosen according to the respective application and the operational conditions of the application. As an example, the pin element may typically provide more than <NUM> elastic element receptacle, more typically more than <NUM> elastic element receptacles, and even more typically more than <NUM> elastic element receptacles.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a pin element <NUM> for a cable lug device according to some embodiments described herein. The pin element <NUM> as shown in the example of <FIG> provides a fastening device receptacle <NUM> for a fastening device, such as a screwing device, in particular a shear off screwing device. Typically the pin element <NUM> as exemplarily shown in <FIG> also provides two elastic element receptacles <NUM>, <NUM> for elastic elements as described above. The fastening device, which may be placed in the fastening device receptacle <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>, provides a holding function between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM>. The holding function of the fastening device is provided additionally to the holding function of one or more elastic elements. Especially, the fastening device is described in detail below with respect to the socket element and the cable lug device.

<FIG> shows a pin element <NUM> according to some embodiments described herein. The pin element <NUM> of <FIG> has two elastic element receptacles <NUM>, <NUM> for an elastic element (as for instance described above), and a fastening device receptacle <NUM> for a fastening device. According to some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the pin element <NUM> of <FIG> has a pin stopper part <NUM> with a contact area for standing in contact with a respective area of the socket element, when assembled together to a cable lug device according to embodiments described herein. Typically, the pin stopper part <NUM> may act as an assembling aid, or an additional contact area for the pin element and the socket element when assembled. For instance, the pin stopper part may stop movements of the pin element <NUM> into the socket element <NUM> and may ensure a proper function of the elastic elements and/or the fastening device (in particular by limiting a force acting as a compressive force onto the pin element <NUM> in direction of the socket element <NUM>).

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the pin element <NUM> as exemplarily shown in <FIG>. The pin element <NUM> of <FIG> additionally shows examples of two elastic elements <NUM>, <NUM>, in particular in the elastic element receptacles <NUM>, <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> according to embodiments described herein. The elastic elements <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be elastic elements as described above.

<FIG> shows a socket element <NUM> for an emergency break cable lug device. The socket element <NUM> includes a receiving part <NUM> configured for receiving a pinning part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>, typically a pinning part of a pin element <NUM> with one or more elastic elements mounted thereon. The receiving part <NUM> is adapted by size, shape, surface properties and material to the pinning part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>. For instance, the receiving part <NUM> is adapted so that a pin element <NUM> with one or more elastic elements mounted to the pin element <NUM> can be inserted in the receiving part <NUM> of the socket element. According to some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described herein, the one or more elastic element may be designed and adapted that the elastic element(s) may partially be compressed for the montage so that the pin element together with the (one or more) elastic element can be inserted in the receiving part of the socket element <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the receiving part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> is provided with at least one first receiving receptacle <NUM> (such as a notch or notch area). The at least one first receiving receptacle <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> is adapted to carry the elastic element <NUM> together with the elastic element receptacle <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>. That is, the first receiving receptacle <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> and the elastic element receptacle <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> hold the elastic element <NUM> between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM>. In particular, the first receiving receptacle <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> and the elastic element receptacle <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> form together a gap or a cavity for the elastic element.

The socket element <NUM> includes a palm part <NUM> for electrically connecting the socket element <NUM> to an external conductor <NUM>, in particular an external cable or wire. For instance, the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> provides a surface, by which an external conductor, such as a wire or cable, may electrically be contacted. In some embodiments, the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> may include a hole <NUM> for electrically contacting an external conductor, such as a wire or cable, especially by guiding the external conductor through the hole.

<FIG> shows a side view of the socket element <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the side view of the exemplary embodiment of <FIG>, it can be seen that the palm part <NUM> contacts an external conductor <NUM> through the hole <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Further, <FIG> shows that the receiving part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> may have a cylinder-like shape in some embodiments, especially a hollow cylinder-like shape.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the socket element <NUM>, which may in particular correspond and fit to the embodiment of the pin element <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The socket element <NUM>, and in particular the receiving part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM>, provides in the embodiment shown in <FIG> two first receiving receptacles <NUM> and <NUM>. Typically, the two first receiving receptacles <NUM> and <NUM> offer space for two elastic elements <NUM> and <NUM>, as explained in detail above.

<FIG> shows a further embodiment of the socket element <NUM>. The socket element <NUM> of <FIG> provides two first receiving receptacles <NUM> and <NUM> and, additionally, a second receiving receptacle <NUM> for a fastening device <NUM> for fastening the pin element <NUM> in the socket element <NUM> of the cable lug. According to some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the second receiving receptacle <NUM> may be adapted for a fastening device, such as a screw, a bolt, a pin, or the like. The fastening device (such as a fastening device <NUM> exemplarily shown in <FIG>) provided in the second receiving receptacle <NUM> is a fastening device with a shear off function, typically a screw, and more typically a shear bolt or shear screw. In particular, a fastening device including a shear off function allows breaking the screw (in some applications removing the screw head) after having fastened the fastening device. The fastening device with shear off function, such as a shear off screw, is capable of limiting a force, especially a tensile force, acting on the cable.

The fastening device with shear off function is adapted to break at a predetermined threshold value of force, for instance, if tensile force acting on the pin element <NUM> placed in the socket element <NUM> and/or the socket element <NUM> becomes too large. Such a defined breaking point of the shear screw or shear bolt supports the emergency break function of the cable lug device. In particular, the fastening device breaking at a predefined threshold value of force allows the pin element <NUM> leaving the socket element <NUM> without severe damage of the respective parts (apart from the shear off screw). According to some embodiments described herein, a fastening device with shear off function may break at forces of typically between about <NUM> N and about <NUM> N, more typically between about <NUM> N and about 1100N, and even more typically between about <NUM> N and about 1000N.

In other words, the fastening device acts as a holding element holding the pin element <NUM> in the socket element <NUM> during normal operation, either additionally or alternatively to the elastic element described above.

Going back to the embodiment of the socket device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, one can say that the socket element having a second receiving receptacle may be combined with different embodiments of pin elements <NUM>. For instance, the socket element <NUM> of <FIG> may be combined with the pin element <NUM> shown in <FIG> having a fastening device receptacle <NUM> according to some embodiments described herein. That means that the fastening device <NUM> may be held by both the fastening device receptacle <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> and the second receiving receptacle <NUM> of the socket element. In some embodiments, the socket element <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be combined with a pin element <NUM> as for instance shown in <FIG> without a substantial fastening device receptacle. In this case, the fastening device may be used like a fastening and clamping device clamping the pin element within the socket element.

According to some embodiments, any combination of first and second receiving receptacles in the socket element may be used, as suitable for the respective application. For instance, any number of first receiving receptacles for elastic elements may be combined with any number of second receiving receptacles for fastening devices.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the embodiment of the receiving part <NUM> of the socket element shown may provide a socket stopper part <NUM> with a contact area for standing in contact with a respective stopper part or area <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>, when assembled. According to some embodiments, the stopper part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> and the stopper part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> may allow a better assembly and a secure stop against compression forces acting on the pin element in direction of the socket element, as exemplarily explained with respect to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the cable lug device <NUM> being an emergency break cable lug device and includes a pin element <NUM> for fixing a cable <NUM> and a socket element <NUM>, in which the pin element <NUM> is insertable and which is configured to be connected to an external conductor <NUM>, in particular an external cable or wire. The pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device <NUM> may be a pin element as described in embodiments above. The socket element <NUM> of the cable lug device <NUM> may be a socket element as described in embodiments above. The cable lug device <NUM> is designed and adapted so that the pin element <NUM> exits the socket element upon a predefined threshold value of force, especially a tensile force, acting on the pin element <NUM> and/or the socket element <NUM>. The function of an exiting pin element of the cable lug device is provided by an elastic element, as described in embodiments before and a respective fastening device as described in embodiments before (in particular a shear off screw, a shear off bolt or the like). For instance, the shape and size of the elastic element receptacles of the pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device and the parameters (such as size, shape and material) of the elastic element and/or the size and shape of the second receiving receptacle of the socket element and the parameters (such as size, shape, material, and shear off function) of the fastening device may contribute to the function of the cable lug device to fall into the single pieces pin element and socket element under defined circumstances. In some embodiments, the materials and the geometry of the pin element and the socket element may lead to the effect of the cable lug device falling into the single pieces at appearance of a predefined threshold value (especially without the need for an elastic element or a fastening device). For instance, the pin element and/or the socket element may be provided with geometric implementations, such as spikes or the like, for ensuring the emergency break function of the cable lug device.

The function of separating the mounted parts of the cable lug device (i.e. at least the pin element and the socket element) is triggered at a predefined threshold value of tensile force acting on the pin element and/or the socket element. In particular, a tensile force coming from the cable <NUM> fixed to the fixing part of the pin element <NUM> and/or a tensile force coming from an external conductor being in contact with the palm part of the socket element <NUM> affects the separation of the pin element and the socket element.

The pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM> are made of an electrically conductive material, such as a metal. Typically, the pin element <NUM> and/or the socket element <NUM> may be made or may contain non-ferrous materials, in particular materials like copper, copper-alloys, aluminum, and/or aluminum alloys. The cable lug device <NUM> provides an electrically conducting path from the cable <NUM> fixed to the pin element <NUM> to an external conductor <NUM> being in contact with the socket element <NUM>, in particular a palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross- sectional view of an emergency break cable lug device according to some embodiments described herein. The cable lug device shown in <FIG> includes a pin element <NUM> and a socket element <NUM> with a palm part <NUM>. A cable <NUM> is shown in <FIG> being fixed to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM>. The cable <NUM> (and the cables described herein) may typically be a high voltage cable (e.g. by size, shape, material and isolation). Generally, HV cables particularly may include a conductor, an insulating layer, shield wires, and an outer sheath. The cables described herein may in particular be cables suitable for offshore applications. According to some embodiments, the cable <NUM> fixed to the pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device may have a core insulation <NUM> and a stress cone <NUM>.

In the context of the present disclosure, a high voltage (HV) is particularly to be understood as a voltage higher than <NUM> kV for alternating currents or higher than <NUM>,<NUM> kV for direct currents.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a cable lug device <NUM> having a pin element <NUM> and a socket element <NUM> being placed in a connector device <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, a cable <NUM> is fixed to the pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device. According to some embodiments, the connector device <NUM> includes a receiving part <NUM> for receiving and housing the cable lug device and a part of the cable <NUM> according to embodiments described herein. Further, the connector device <NUM> may include a contact part <NUM> housing the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> of the cable lug device as described in embodiments described herein. Typically, the contact part <NUM> houses the palm part of the cable lug device and the external conductor, which may electrically be connected to the cable <NUM> fixed in the pin element <NUM> of the cable lug device. In some embodiments, the external conductor may be an external cable (such as cable <NUM> shown in <FIG>) being guided through the hole <NUM> of the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> of the cable lug device <NUM>. According to some embodiments, the contact part <NUM> of the connector device <NUM> may provide a path <NUM> for the external conductor to be connected to the cable fixed by the cable lug device.

With the emergency break cable lug device <NUM>, a cable fixed to the cable lug device can be pulled out of the connector device <NUM> if a specific force (in particular a tensile force) on the cable <NUM> becomes to high.

Additionally, a method is provided for mounting an emergency break cable lug device <NUM> having a pin element <NUM> and a socket element <NUM>. The pin element <NUM> is a pin element <NUM> as described in detail in embodiments above. The socket element <NUM> is a socket element as described in detail in embodiments above. The method <NUM> is exemplarily shown as a flow chart in <FIG>. The method <NUM> includes in block <NUM> inserting the pin element <NUM> into the socket element <NUM> for forming the emergency break cable lug device <NUM>. In block <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes providing at least one elastic element <NUM> between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM> and a fastening device <NUM> between the pin element <NUM> and the socket element <NUM>. The elastic element between the pin element and the socket element allows or enables, as described in detail above, that the pin element <NUM> exits the socket element <NUM> upon a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element <NUM> and/or the socket element <NUM>. In particular, the force causing a separation of the pin element and the socket element of the cable lug device may be a tensile force, especially a tensile force acting on a cable being fixed to the pin element of the cable lug device (as for instance shown in <FIG>) and/or a tensile force acting on the socket element of the cable lug device (for instance via the palm part of the socket element). According to some embodiments, the elastic element provided between the pin element and the socket element may be a sliding electrical contact, especially for ensuring the current flow, especially the current flow between the pin element and the socket element of the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein.

Additionally or alternatively, the pin element and the socket element may be adapted (such as by shape, geometrical implementations such as spikes or the like, material, or surface properties, such as surface roughness) to be separated at appearance of a predefined threshold value of force acting on the cable lug device.

According to some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, an elastic element (e.g. a spring element as described above) may be mounted to the pin element <NUM> before the pin element <NUM> is inserted into the socket element <NUM> for forming the cable lug device <NUM> according to embodiments described herein. <FIG> shows an example of a pin element <NUM> being equipped with two elastic elements <NUM>, <NUM> before being inserted into a socket element of a cable lug device.

The method <NUM> as schematically shown in <FIG> includes in block <NUM> connecting (especially electrically connecting) at least a first cable <NUM> and a second cable or an external conductor <NUM> to each other with the cable lug device <NUM>. In particular, the first cable <NUM> may be fixed to the pin element <NUM> (especially the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> as exemplarily described above). Typically, the second cable or external conductor <NUM> may be connected (or be in electrically conductive contact) with the socket element, in particular the palm part of the socket element of the cable lug device (as exemplarily shown in <FIG>). The pin element and the socket element being made from an electrically conductive material and being connected via the elastic element <NUM> offer an electrically conductive path from the first cable <NUM> through the pin element <NUM> further through the socket element <NUM> to the second cable or external conductor <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, which may be combined with other embodiments described herein, the method may further include fixing the first cable <NUM> to the fixing part <NUM> of the pin element <NUM> and aligning the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> to the second cable or external conductor <NUM>. Typically, the aligning may be performed after the pin element <NUM> has been inserted in the socket element <NUM>, and in particular before a fastening device (if any) is inserted in the respective receptacle (s) of the socket element and the pin element. Typically, the pin element <NUM> is rotatable within the socket element (especially before a fastening device is applied). A heavy offshore cable being connected to a known cable lug cannot be rotated for aligning the palm to a connector device. The cable lug device according to embodiments described herein (and especially the respective mounting method) allows a rotation and, typically, an alignment of the cable lug device to the second cable or external conductor <NUM> after having fixed the first cable <NUM> to the cable lug device <NUM> according to embodiments described herein. In particular, the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein enables a rotation of the pin element within the socket element (typically at least in a mounting stage and, more typically, before a fastening device is applied). This improves the montage of the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein, particularly of a cable lug device for high voltage applications, and even more particularly of a cable lug device for offshore applications.

The method may further include providing a fastening device in a second receiving receptacle of the socket element of the cable lug device. Typically, the fastening device may also be provided in a fastening device receptacle of the pin element of the cable lug device. As described in detail above, the fastening device may be a fastening device with a shear off function, which typically breaks up at appearance of a predefined force. The fastening device with a shear off function limits the force, especially the tensile force, acting on the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein or on one of the cable connected by the cable lug device.

In some embodiments, the method may further include connecting the cable lug device <NUM> to or into a connector device, such as a connector device <NUM> exemplarily shown in <FIG>. Typically, the connector device is pushed over the cable lug device onto the stress cone of the cable <NUM>. Typically, once the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein is placed in the connector device (more typically with a first cable fixed to the cable lug device), an external conductor, such as a second cable may be put in contact with the palm part <NUM> of the socket element <NUM> of the cable lug device. For instance, a second cable may be guided through the path <NUM> of the connector device for being electrically connected to the cable lug device according to embodiments described herein.

Before the pin element is inserted into the socket element to form a cable lug device according to embodiments described herein, the cable <NUM> may be prepared, e.g. by pushing on a stress cone, especially onto the core insulation of the cable <NUM>. Further, the pin element <NUM> may be pushed onto the cable <NUM> and fixed to it, e.g. by crimping, especially hexagonal crimping, or by screwing or the like. When pushing the socket element over the pin element (typically carrying one or more elastic elements), the elastic elements may catch with the socket and are placed in the first receiving receptacle(s) of the socket element (as e.g. explained in detail above). The connector device may further be pushed onto a bushing and fixed to it.

According to the invention, the cable lug device as well as the method for mounting a cable lug device allows an easy separation of the electrically conductive connection provided by the cable lug device. In particular, the separation of the pin element and the socket element upon acting of a predefined force prevents the breakage of parts of the cable lug device, the connector, the bushing or the cable.

Claim 1:
An emergency break cable lug device (<NUM>) comprising:
- a pin element (<NUM>), comprising:
a fixing part (<NUM>) for fixing a cable (<NUM>) to the pin element (<NUM>); and
a pinning part (<NUM>);
- a socket element (<NUM>) comprising:
- a receiving part (<NUM>) configured for receiving the pinning part (<NUM>) of the pin element (<NUM>) of the cable lug device (<NUM>); and
- a palm part (<NUM>) for electrically connecting the socket element (<NUM>) to an external conductor (<NUM>),
wherein the receiving part (<NUM>) of the socket element (<NUM>) comprises at least one first receiving receptacle (<NUM>; <NUM>);
- at least one elastic element (<NUM>; <NUM>) held between at least one elastic element receptacle (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the pin element (<NUM>) and a first receiving receptable (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the socket element (<NUM>), the at least one elastic element (<NUM>; <NUM>) electrically connecting the pin element (<NUM>) to the socket element (<NUM>) of the emergency break cable lug device (<NUM>) and the at least one elastic element (<NUM>; <NUM>) holding the pin element (<NUM>) in the socket element (<NUM>) of the emergency break cable lug device (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one first receiving receptacle (<NUM>; <NUM>) is placed and adapted to hold the at least one elastic element (<NUM>; <NUM>) together with the at least one elastic element receptacle (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the pin element (<NUM>);
wherein the pin element (<NUM>) exits the socket element upon a predefined threshold value of force acting on the pin element (<NUM>) and/or the socket element (<NUM>), the elastic element (<NUM>; <NUM>) being adapted for breaking at a predetermined threshold value of force acting on the cable (<NUM>) fixed to the fixing part (<NUM>) of the pin element (<NUM>); and
a fastening device (<NUM>) for fastening the pin element (<NUM>) to the socket element (<NUM>), wherein the fastening device is held in a second receiving receptacle (<NUM>) of the socket element (<NUM>); and wherein the fastening device (<NUM>) is a fastening device with shear off function.