Automatic splice water drip nose cone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9948083-B2
Application number	US-201615356858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2011
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A device for preventing the intrusion of water or other liquids into the interior of an automatic splice. The device may be constructed in a single-piece or two-piece design and includes a series of fingers that contact the cable stranding and wick water away from the cable and out of the connector. These fingers could be integrally molded into the cable cone or molded as a separate piece and inserted. They could also be constructed of any typical brush material such as metal, plastic, rubber, or fiber. The fingers could be arranged in a variety of configurations.

First claim

I claim:

1. A device for removal of liquids from a cable entering an automatic splice comprising
a. an outer casing comprising a first portion of said outer casing and a second portion of said outer casing, said outer casing configured to surround a length of said cable when said first portion of said outer casing and said second portion of said outer casing are joined together and to interface with said automatic splice; and
b. a plurality of arrays of fingers protruding inwardly from an interior surfaces of each of said first portion of said outer casing and said second portion of said outer casing, wherein said fingers are capable of wicking liquids away from said cable.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said outer casing is further configured to cause said liquids to drip away from said automatic splice.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are made of plastic.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are made of metal.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are made of rubber.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are made of fiber.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are arranged in a pattern selected from the group consisting of longitudinal comb rows along said interior surface, longitudinal spiraled rows along said interior surface, and a brush covering said interior surface.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said fingers are constructed of at least one separate piece to be inserted into said device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing comprises a nose cone and an end piece.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing are narrower than a funnel guide of said automatic splice.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein each of said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing further comprises a stop wall.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing are larger than a funnel guide of said automatic splice.

13. A device for splicing a first cable and a second cable comprising:
a. an automatic splice;
b. at least one outer casing comprising a first portion of said outer casing and a second portion of said outer casing, said outer casing configured to surround a length of said first cable when said first portion of said outer casing and said second portion of said outer casing are joined together and to interface with said automatic splice; and
c. a plurality of arrays of fingers protruding inwardly from an interior surface of said first portion of said outer casing and said second portion of said outer casing into said interior space, wherein said fingers are capable of wicking liquids away from said first cable.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein said outer casing is further configured to cause said liquids to drip away from said automatic splice.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are made of plastic.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are made of metal.

17. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are made of rubber.

18. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are made of fiber.

19. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are arranged in a pattern selected from the group consisting of longitudinal comb rows along said interior surface, longitudinal spiraled rows along said interior surface, and a brush covering said interior surface.

20. The device of claim 13 , wherein said fingers are constructed of at least one separate piece to be inserted into said device.

21. The device of claim 13 , wherein each of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing comprises a nose cone and an end piece.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing are narrower than a funnel guide of said automatic splice.

23. The device of claim 22 , wherein each of said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing further comprises a stop wall.

24. The device of claim 21 , wherein said end pieces of said first portion and said second portion of said outer casing are larger than a funnel guide of said automatic splice.

25. The device of claim 13 , wherein said at least one outer casing is two outer casings.

Assignees

• Thomas & Betts Int Llc

Inventors

• Cawood Matthew D

Classifications

• H02G15/18 Primary

  protected by sleeves, e.g. for communication cable (two-part covers H02G15/10 {; preforms having internal stresses B29C61/00}) · CPC title

• H01R13/5227

  with evacuation of penetrating liquids · CPC title

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title