초록 ▼

A splice housing is configured to slide over and engage with a metallic connector that couples together cable conductors in an electrical distribution system. The splice housing has a first end arranged to engage a first cable, a second end arranged to engage a second cable and a central portion set

A splice housing is configured to slide over and engage with a metallic connector that couples together cable conductors in an electrical distribution system. The splice housing has a first end arranged to engage a first cable, a second end arranged to engage a second cable and a central portion set between the first and second ends that engages the metallic connector. A first support core holds the first end in an expanded state, while a second support core holds the second end in an expanded state. The first and the second ends are molded so that they have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than a relaxed internal diameter of the central portion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A splice housing comprising: a first end constructed and arranged to engage a first cable;a second end constructed and arranged to engage a second cable;a central portion disposed between the first and second ends and constructed to engage a connector that mechanically couples the first cable to

1. A splice housing comprising: a first end constructed and arranged to engage a first cable;a second end constructed and arranged to engage a second cable;a central portion disposed between the first and second ends and constructed to engage a connector that mechanically couples the first cable to the second cable;a first support core to hold the first end in an expanded state; anda second support core to hold the second end in an expanded state;wherein the first end and the second end are formed to have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than an internal diameter of the central portion;wherein the first end and the second end each comprise a seal flap configured to respectively form a seal over the first cable and the second cable, each seal flap foldable back upon itself; andthe connector comprises a notch or protrusion configured to engage with a corresponding protrusion or notch in the central portion. 2. The splice housing of claim 1 wherein the internal diameter of the central portion is defined by an insert, the insert configured to mechanically and thermally engage with the connector. 3. The splice housing of claim 2 wherein an insulating material is disposed between the insert and an exterior of the central portion. 4. The splice housing of claim 3 wherein exteriors of the first and second ends are formed from materials that are different from a material used to form the exterior of the central portion. 5. The splice housing of claim 3 further comprising a test point structure disposed in the central portion to test an electrical state of the connector, the first cable or the second cable. 6. The splice housing of claim 1 wherein a relaxed internal diameter of each seal flap is greater than the corresponding relaxed internal diameters of the first and second ends. 7. The splice housing of claim 2 wherein ends of the insert extend partially into the first end and the second end. 8. The splice housing of claim 1 wherein a release material is disposed between each support core and the first and second ends. 9. The splice housing of claim 1 wherein an exterior of the central portion is made from a material that is different from respective materials used for exteriors of the first end and the second end. 10. The splice housing of claim 1 further comprising a sealing material disposed between the seal flaps and the corresponding first cable and second cable. 11. A splice housing comprising: a first end constructed and arranged to engage a first cable;a second end constructed and arranged to engage a second cable;a central portion disposed between the first and second ends and having an internal diameter defined by an insert, the insert configured to mechanically and thermally engage a connector that mechanically couples the first cable to the second cable;an insulating material disposed between the insert and an exterior of the central portion;a first support core to hold the first end in an expanded state;a second support core to hold the second end in an expanded state; anda test point structure disposed in the central portion to test an electrical state of the first or second cables, the test point structure comprising a test point disposed within the insulating material and extending out of the exterior of the central portion;wherein the first end and the second end are formed to have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than the internal diameter of the central portion. 12. The splice housing of claim 11 wherein exteriors of the first and second ends are formed from materials that are different from the material used to form the exterior of the central portion. 13. The splice housing of claim 12 wherein ends of the insert extend partially into the first end and the second end. 14. The splice housing of claim 11 wherein the first end and the second end each comprise a seal flap folded foldable back upon itself. 15. The splice housing of claim 14 wherein a relaxed internal diameter of each seal flap is greater than the corresponding relaxed internal diameters of the first and second ends. 16. The splice housing of claim 11 wherein the metallic connector comprises a notch or protrusion configured to engage with a corresponding protrusion or notch in the central portion. 17. The splice housing of claim 11 wherein a release material is disposed between each support core and the first and second ends. 18. The splice housing of claim 11 wherein an exterior of the central portion is made from a material that is different from respective materials used for exteriors of the first end and the second end. 19. The splice housing of claim 14 further comprising a sealing material disposed between the seal flaps and the corresponding first cable and second cable. 20. A splice housing comprising: a first end constructed and arranged to engage a first cable;a second end constructed and arranged to engage a second cable;a central portion disposed between the first and second ends and constructed to engage a connector that mechanically couples the first cable to the second cable;a first support core to hold the first end in an expanded state; anda second support core to hold the second end in an expanded state;wherein the first end and the second end are formed to have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than an internal diameter of the central portion;wherein the internal diameter of the central portion is defined by an insert, the insert configured to mechanically and thermally engage with the connector, ends of the insert extending at least partially into the first end and the second end. 21. The splice housing of claim 20 wherein the first end and the second end each comprise a seal flap foldable back upon itself. 22. The splice housing of claim 20 wherein an insulating material is disposed between the insert and an exterior of the central portion. 23. The splice housing of claim 22 wherein exteriors of the first and second ends are formed from materials that are different from the material used to form the exterior of the central portion. 24. The splice housing of claim 22 further comprising a test point structure disposed in the central portion to test an electrical state of the connector, the first cable or the second cable. 25. The splice housing of claim 24 wherein the test point structure comprises a test point disposed within the insulating material and extending out of the exterior of the central portion. 26. The splice housing of claim 20 wherein a release material is disposed between each support core and the first and second ends. 27. The splice housing of claim 20 wherein the metallic connector comprises a notch or protrusion configured to engage with a corresponding protrusion or notch in the central portion. 28. The splice housing of claim 21 wherein a relaxed internal diameter of each seal flap is greater than the corresponding relaxed internal diameters of the first and second ends. 29. The splice housing of claim 20 wherein an exterior of the central portion is made from a material that is different from respective materials used for exteriors of the first end and the second end. 30. The splice housing of claim 21 further comprising a sealing material disposed between the seal flaps and the corresponding first cable and second cable. 31. A splice housing comprising: a first end constructed and arranged to engage a first cable;a second end constructed and arranged to engage a second cable;a central portion disposed between the first and second ends and constructed to engage a connector that mechanically couples the first cable to the second cable;a first support core to hold the first end in an expanded state; anda second support core to hold the second end in an expanded state;wherein the first end and the second end are formed to have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than an internal diameter of the central portion;wherein a release material is disposed between each support core and the first and second ends. 32. The splice housing of claim 31 wherein the internal diameter of the central portion is defined by an insert, the insert configured to mechanically and thermally engage with the connector. 33. The splice housing of claim 32 wherein an insulating material is disposed between the insert and an exterior of the central portion. 34. The splice housing of claim 33 wherein exteriors of the first and second ends are formed from materials that are different from a material used to form the exterior of the central portion. 35. The splice housing of claim 33 further comprising a test point structure disposed in the central portion to test an electrical state of the connector, the first cable or the second cable. 36. The splice housing of claim 35 wherein the test point structure comprises a test point disposed within the insulating material and extending out of the exterior of the central portion. 37. The splice housing of claim 32 wherein ends of the insert extend partially into the first end and the second end. 38. The splice housing of claim 31 wherein the first end and the second end each comprise a seal flap foldable back upon itself. 39. The splice housing of claim 38 wherein a relaxed internal diameter of each seal flap is greater than the corresponding relaxed internal diameters of the first and second ends. 40. The splice housing of claim 31 wherein the connector comprises a notch or protrusion configured to engage with a corresponding protrusion or notch in the central portion. 41. The splice housing of claim 31 wherein an exterior of the central portion is made from a material that is different from respective materials used for exteriors of the first end and the second end. 42. The splice housing of claim 38 further comprising a sealing material disposed between the seal flaps and the corresponding first cable and second cable. 43. A method for attaching a first cable to a second cable, the method comprising: using a connector to mechanically and electrically couple the first cable to the second cable;sliding a splice housing over the connector so that an insert within a central portion of the splice housing contacts the connector;removing a first support core from a first end of the splice housing so that the first end of the splice housing constricts onto the first cable; andremoving a second support core from a second end of the splice housing so that the second end of the splice housing constricts onto the second cable;wherein an internal diameter of the central portion is defined by the insert, the insert configured to mechanically and thermally engage with the connector, ends of the insert extending at least partially into the first end and the second end. 44. The method of claim 43 further comprising: applying a sealing material to the first cable and to the second cable;unfolding a first seal flap folded over on the first end of the splice housing onto the first cable, the first seal flap engaging with the sealing material; andunfolding a second seal flap folded on the second end of the splice housing onto the second cable, the second seal flap engaging with the sealing material. 45. The method of claim 43 further comprising utilizing a test point structure in the central portion of the splice housing to test an electrical state of the first cable, the second cable or a splice between the first and second cables.