NL1011866C2 - Hardened watertight cap for end of electrical cable, consists of meshed material which is wound around end of cable and covered by foil sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

The sealing cap is produced on the free end (6) of an electrical cable (1). The material is a mesh (12) of fiber which is made using a chain and lock stitch. The material has greater stretch in one direction than the other. The material is wrapped around the end of the cable with overlapped turns. The material is then covered with a foil (4) and a hardening material is injected to form a solid mass.

Description

Title: Winding sleeve and method for manufacturing a winding element therefor.

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The invention relates to a winding sleeve, suitable for sealing a cable end or cable connection. Such a winding sleeve is known from practice.

This known winding sleeve comprises a band-shaped winding element with a relatively rigid mesh structure, which winding element is wound around a sealable end of a cable or around a cable connection and is then sprayed with a hardening, waterproof mass such as a synthetic resin. Such a wrapping sleeve is easy to use and offers a good seal, but is relatively expensive and, moreover, the wrapping element has to be applied very precisely, in particular because it has to fit well against the or each cable outer side. This also has the drawback that applying it to irregularly shaped surfaces or to cables of different diameters and in particular to cable connections is particularly time-consuming and presents a high risk of irregularities.

Furthermore, a winding element is known in practice, for use with a winding sleeve of the subject type, which winding element is of tubular design and, in flat-pressed condition, is wound around a cable end or connection. This winding element is made somewhat elastic so that differences in diameter or unevenness can be easily absorbed. However, this known winding element has the drawback that it is tubular, so that a relatively large amount of material is used. In addition, the elasticity of this known winding element results in that positioning thereof, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the or each cable, is made more difficult, and after at least partial hardening of the mass movement of cables relative to each other or, for example, covered cores at least relative to the jacket, so that there is still the risk of leakage.

The object of the invention is to provide a winding sleeve of the type described in the introduction, in which the disadvantages of the wrapping sleeves discussed are avoided, while the advantages thereof are retained. For this purpose a winding sleeve according to the invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 1.

A winding sleeve according to the present invention offers the advantage that the winding element used therewith is elastic in said first direction, at least considerably more elastic than in said second direction, such that said first direction can be sealed substantially along the surface of the or each cable or cable connection can extend substantially in the circumferential direction thereof, while said second direction can extend approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the or each said cable. This means that the winding element can be wound in a slightly elastically deformed manner, thereby fitting tightly to the or each mentioned cable, while a substantially in-elastic connection is obtained in the longitudinal direction of the or each relevant cable. A winding sleeve is hereby obtained which connects particularly well sealingly to the or each cable, can easily follow irregularities in the surfaces thereof and yet forms a sufficiently rigid, at least tight bond or seal.

In a first advantageous embodiment, a winding sleeve according to the present invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 4.

Use of a winding element with warp and weft threads, in which the warp threads are relatively little elastic and the weft threads are relatively little elastic, offers the advantage that a winding element can be obtained relatively easily which is relatively elastic in a first direction and relatively in-elastic in a 3 second direction, by suitable main direction of the warp and weft threads. Moreover, in such a winding element, a large number of meshes are formed between the different weft and warp threads, through which the curing mass can be introduced, such that the winding element will extend in the form of a reinforcement after curing.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a winding sleeve according to the present invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 5.

Manufacturing the winding element by means of an extrusion technique offers the advantage that it can be manufactured quickly and relatively simply, which is economically advantageous. Moreover, such a winding element is easy to manufacture integrally.

In a further elaboration, a winding sleeve according to the present invention is further characterized by the measures according to claim 7.

Surprisingly, it has been found that in a winding element in which the mesh-shaped openings between warp threads and weft threads are parallelogram-shaped, in particular diamond-shaped, particularly suitable care is provided for increased elasticity in a first direction relative to the elasticity in a second direction. In addition, it has been found to be particularly advantageous when the short diagonal of each said opening extends approximately in the first direction and the long diagonal approximately in the second direction. It is then preferred when the wires are connected to each other in, at least near the corner points of the said mesh-shaped openings and are preferably fixed to each other in a position-fixed manner.

In an alternative embodiment, a winding sleeve according to the present invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 9.

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Use of a weaving technique for manufacturing a winding element for a winding sleeve according to the present invention offers the advantage that such a winding element can be manufactured relatively easily in virtually any desired size, while moreover different types of material and / or threads of different cross-sections can be used. for the warp threads and the weft threads (warp and weft), so that the desired properties can be obtained in any direction. Moreover, with the aid of suitable weaving techniques, a winding element can be obtained wherein, for example, warp threads and weft threads have some freedom of movement relative to each other, whereby the deformability thereof is further increased in a desired direction, without adversely affecting the further advantageous properties thereof. .

In a first advantageous embodiment, such a winding sleeve according to the present invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 11.

By using relatively elastic warp threads, which extend substantially in said first direction, while using zigzag weft threads which interconnect the warp threads, which weft threads extend substantially parallel to said second direction, a simple woven wrapping element becomes obtained with the desired properties. The loops of the weft threads hereby offer the advantage that, when a force is exerted on the winding element, approximately in a direction parallel to the second direction, the parts of the respective weft threads forming each respective loop can move towards each other, while slightly flattening out the loop shape of the or each respective loop, such that the respective warp threads connected by the respective loop can move slightly apart, thereby allowing slight deformation of the winding element in the respective second direction. Preferably, a somewhat stiff elastic weft thread is used, such that upon removal of said force, the or each deformed loop will substantially return to its original shape, thereby moving the warp threads concerned back into their original position. The warp threads are preferably interlocking loops formed from relatively elastic threads. As a result, a high elasticity is obtained in the first direction, both due to the elasticity of the wires and due to the deformation possibilities of the loops.

In a winding sleeve according to the present invention, the winding element is preferably made in one layer, so that winding is relatively simple, relatively little material has to be used and, moreover, the properties of the winding element over the entire width thereof can be substantially the same.

In an alternative embodiment, in a winding sleeve according to the present invention, the winding element 20 is characterized in that it is formed by means of a weaving technique, in which substantially all intersecting warp threads and weft threads are secured together in the respective intersection. It is preferred that the wires which extend substantially in the first direction run in a zigzag successive manner in each case below and above the wires, which extend substantially in the second direction, the latter wires at least with an undeformed winding element. are straight and in one plane, or at least only 30 are slightly undulating.

The invention further relates to a sleeve formed around a cable end or a cable connection, characterized by the features of claim 14.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a winding element for

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Use with a wrapping sleeve according to the present invention, characterized by measures according to claim 15.

Manufacture of a winding element by first manufacturing a tubular element and then cutting it into strips in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular element offers the advantage that a winding element can be obtained in a particularly effective manner, the first direction is located substantially in the longitudinal direction of the or each strip obtained, while the second direction is located substantially in the width direction thereof. The tubular element is preferably extruded, so that the desired tube element is quickly and simply in a desired length and diameter can be obtained.

In a first advantageous embodiment, such a method is characterized by the measures according to claim 16.

By first cutting annular elements from the tubular element and then cutting them open, strips are obtained in a simple manner with a width corresponding to the height of the annular elements and a length which maximally corresponds approximately to the circumference of the respective annular element.

In an alternative embodiment, a method according to the present invention is characterized by the measures according to claim 17.

Spiral cutting of the tubular element offers the advantage that a strip can be obtained with a length greater than the circumference of the tubular element.

The invention further relates to a winding element characterized by the measures according to claim 18.

Further advantageous embodiments of a wrapping sleeve or a method according to the present invention are given in the subclaims.

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To clarify the invention, a number of embodiments of a wrapping sleeve, a method and a wrapping element according to the present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows in side view a cable end with a sleeve according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of a part of a winding element according to the invention in a first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a part of a winding element according to the invention in a second embodiment; Fig. 3A a winding element in section along the line IIIA-IIIA in Fig. 3; Fig. 3B a winding element in section along the line IIIB IIIB in Fig. 3, Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a part of a winding element according to the invention in a third embodiment, and Fig. 5 shows a tubular element for the manufacture of a winding element according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a cable 1, for example an electric cable, with a winding element 2 wrapped around an end thereof, which is wrapped around the end and is then wound around the cable 1 in a direction away from the end 6. Then, for example, a foil-shaped sleeve 4 (schematically shown in broken lines) is slid over the winding element 2, with an insertion opening 8 through its end 6 located at the end 6, through which a curing mass, such as an epoxy resin, can be introduced into the sleeve 4 around and in the winding element 2. The sleeve 4 closes with a neck 10 against the outside of the cable 1, so that the hardening mass is prevented from emerging from the sleeve 4.

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The winding element 2 is substantially mesh-shaped with mesh-shaped openings 12 in which and through which the hardening mass can pass. The winding element 2 has a first direction P2 and a second direction P2. The first direction p2 and the second direction P2 enclose an angle α, which is preferably between 45 and 135 °. In the embodiment shown, this angle α is approximately 90 °. The elasticity of the winding element 2 is considerably greater in the first direction P2 than the elasticity in the second direction P2, which effect can be obtained in a manner to be described hereinafter. During the winding of the winding element 2, the second direction P2 extends substantially parallel to, at least along the longitudinal axis L of the cable 1. This second direction P2 encloses an acute angle β with this longitudinal axis L. Due to the relatively high elasticity of the winding element in the first direction P2, the winding element can can be wound relatively tightly around the cable end and around itself, whereby elastic deformation at least partly ensures that the winding element is confined 20. Moreover, irregularities in the surface can hereby be easily absorbed, while the relatively low elasticity of the winding element 2 in the second direction P2 offers the advantage that during the winding the width of the winding element 2 is maintained, t while, moreover, overlapping parts of the wrapping element 2 will continue to overlap during use. Moreover, this has the advantage that, in particular when such a winding element is used in a winding sleeve for covering a connection between two cables 1 (not shown), the movement of the relevant cables relative to each other, at least in the longitudinal direction, thereby substantially countered. This produces a sleeve that provides and retains a good seal.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a part of a winding element 2 according to the present invention, in a first embodiment, which winding element 2 is built up from a series of first wires 14 extending parallel to each other in a first plane and a second series, in a second plane, substantially parallel to each other second wires 16. The first wires 14 lie on the second wires 16. Intersecting first wires 14 and second wires 16 are interconnected at an intersection 18, such that movement of the first wire 14 relative to the second wire 16 at the relevant intersection 18 is substantially prevented. Between the two adjacent first wires 14a, 14b and two adjacent second wires 16a, 16b, an aforementioned mesh-shaped opening 12 is provided, which is substantially parallelogram-shaped, in particular diamond-shaped 15. The short diagonal of each opening 12 20 substantially parallel to the first direction P2 and the long diagonal 22 substantially parallel to the second direction P2 A winding element according to Fig. 2 can be produced, for example, by extrusion or by, for example, fusion or adhesion of the first wires 14 and second wires 16 As a result of the direction of the first wires 14 and the second wires 16, deformation of the winding element 2 according to Fig. 2 in the first direction is relatively simple, while bending the wire parts located between the different intersections 18, while deformation in the second direction P2 is hardly possible or only possible at very high forces, it will be clear d In the longitudinal direction of the wires 14, 16, deformation is only possible by stretching the respective wires 30, 14 and 16. At least by adjusting the ratio between the short diagonal 20 and the long diagonal 22 of the various openings 12, the ratio between the elasticity in the first direction Pj and the second direction P2. As the short diagonal 20 is shorter relative to the long c '- w 10 diagonal 22, the elasticity Px will in principle increase in proportion to the elasticity in the second direction P2.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a winding element 2 according to the invention, consisting essentially of first warp threads 14 to be called threads and second weft threads 16, to be called weft threads 16. In top view, the warp threads 14 lie substantially parallel to each other in a first direction and the weft threads 16 parallel to each other in a second direction, the first and second directions Plf-P2 mutually enclosing an angle of approximately 90 °. The warp threads 14 are relatively flexible, at least elastic, the weft threads 16 are relatively stiff, at least in elastic. The weft threads 16 and warp threads 14 are passed alternately, above and below each other in a regular weaving pattern, as is also particularly apparent from Figures 3A and 3B, and are interconnected at the intersections 18. With a winding element 2 according to Fig. 3, the elasticity in the first direction Px is greater than in the second direction P2, due to the greater elasticity of the first wires 14 and due to the greater freedom of movement thereof. After all, when a force is exerted on the warp threads 14 in the direction Ρ2, they will be stretched somewhat, so that movement of the weft threads 16 is possible, already without elastic deformation of the warp threads 14 concerned. Preferably, the warp threads 14 are made of a material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the weft threads 16. However, the higher elasticity of the warp threads 14 can also be obtained or possibly increased further by varying the cross section thereof.

In a second alternative embodiment of a winding element 2, in Fig. 4 an enlarged part is shown, comprising a part of two warp threads 14, 35 built up of a plastic thread 24 interwoven in a number of loops 26 and a number of zigzag between the two warp threads 14 tapering weft threads 16, 16a, 16b.

As stated, each warp thread 14 is composed of a regular series of loops 26 which interlock, the weft thread 16 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 being taken through the upper loop 26a of the right warp thread 14a from above, then through the upper loop 26a of the left warp thread 14b, bent back through 180 ° and inserted through the second loop 10 26b of the left warp thread 14b seen from above, in the direction of the right warp thread 14a. Then, the weft thread 16 is passed through the seen from above, second loop 26b of the right warp thread 14a, bent back through 180 ° and passed through the third loop 26c of the right-hand warp thread 14a in this way. extends in zigzag between the right warp thread 14a and an adjacent further warp thread 14a, not shown in Fig. 4, while the weft thread 14b extends in zigzag fashion between and through the left warp thread 14b and a further warp thread 14, not shown in fig.

As shown in Fig. 4, the warp threads 14a, 14b can be moved slightly together, whereby the bends 28 formed by the weft thread 16 will slide through the loops 26. However, if the warp threads 14 are moved away from each other, the weft thread 16 will be deformed at least between the warp threads 14, whereby the respective parts of the weft threads 16 are moved slightly towards each other, flattening out the weft parts and the connecting bend. 28 formed loop 29 such that additional movement of the warp threads 16 apart. It is then preferred that the weft threads 16 are made of a less elastic material than the threads 24 from which the warp threads 14 are formed. The weft threads 16 are preferably rigidly elastic such that they deform in the second direction P2 only at relatively great forces, without breaking. The mobility of the weft threads 16 with respect to the warp threads 14 can have the advantage that when the fabric is applied over, for example, a bulge on a cable, these deformations can be monitored even better. After all, the warp threads 14 can move slightly together and / or away from each other, if necessary. In an advantageous embodiment, the warp threads (the relatively elastic threads) are made from a polyurethane elastomer, the weft threads (the relatively little elastic threads) from a polyester. However, the same materials can also be used for the weft thread 16 and the thread 24 for the warp threads 14. Other weaving techniques in which comparable effects are obtained are, of course, also considered to be covered by the present patent.

In Fig. 5 a tubular element 30 is shown, for example extruded, with a wall structure of a desired winding element, for example according to Fig. 2, 3 or 4, in Fig. 5 symbolically represented by a diamond pattern 32. The tubular element 30 is shown on Shaped such that the desired first direction Pj is in the lateral surface of the tubular element 30 and extends in substantially the circumferential direction, while the second direction P2 is located in the lateral plane approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis S of the tubular element 30 As indicated by cut lines 34, the tubular member 30 is then cut. In the upper part of the tubular element 30 shown in Fig. 5, a number of cutting lines 34 located in parallel planes are shown, whereby annular strips 36, which are closed in themselves, are obtained, which second cutting lines are located substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis S. 38 in straight 13 strips can be cut or cut to obtain winding elements 2 having a width corresponding to the height H of each annular strip 36 and a length corresponding to the circumference of the tubular element 30. In FIG. 5, the lower part shown shows a spiral cutting line 34, such that a strip 36 is obtained with a width corresponding to the pitch H of the helically cutting line 34. The length of the strip 36 is then relatively large, at least greater than the circumference of the tubular element 30 and can be divided into a desired length to obtain winding elements 2. For example, a tubular element 30 may have a diameter of 1 m and therefore a circumference of about 3.14 m. A tubular element 30 of Fig. 5 is preferably extruded with a structure substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 2 or 3, wherein the warp threads are slightly thinner than the weft threads. However, weaving techniques can also be used, as well as extrusion techniques for forming, for example, a structure with rectangular, in particular square openings.

The invention is by no means limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the description and the figures. Many variations thereof are possible within the scope of the invention as claimed in the accompanying claims.

For example, a winding element can be wound differently to obtain a winding sleeve according to the present invention, while other types of curing agents can be used to form such a sleeve. A curing mass can also be applied directly to the winding element, without the sleeve shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, a winding element according to the present invention can be at least one-sided adhesive in order to obtain an even better adhesion to a cable and / or to already wound parts of the winding element concerned. This also improves the adhesion of the curing mass to the winding element. It will be clear that also with, for example, a winding element according to Fig. 3, the openings 12 can be designed in a different shape, for example parallelogram, in particular diamond-shaped, while techniques can be used in which, for example, multiple warp threads and / or weft threads are used. These and many comparable variations are understood to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (18)

Winding sleeve for sealing cable ends and cable connections, comprising at least one winding element and an at least partially hardening mass to be applied thereon, wherein the winding element is at least in a flat state in a first direction located in said plane and in a the second direction lying substantially in the same plane is relatively little elastic, the first and second directions mutually including an angle between 45 ° and 135 °. A winding sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the first and second directions include an angle of about 90 °. Winding sleeve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the winding element comprises at least warp threads and weft threads. Winding sleeve according to claim 3, wherein the warp threads are relatively elastic and the weft threads are relatively little elastic. Winding sleeve according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the winding element is manufactured by extrusion technique. Winding sleeve according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the warp threads and the weft threads enclose an angle with each other, such that a substantially diamond-shaped or parallelogram-shaped opening is always enclosed between two adjacent warp threads and two adjacent weft threads. A winding sleeve according to claim 6, wherein the short diagonal of each diamond or parallelogram shaped opening is located approximately in a first direction and the long diagonal approximately in a second direction. Winding sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding element is made of elastomer, in particular polyethylene or polyurethane. Owl * v * Winding sleeve according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the winding element is manufactured by weaving technique. The winding sleeve according to claim 3 or 4 and 9, wherein the warp threads extend approximately in the first direction. 11. Winding sleeve according to claim 10, wherein two warp threads extending approximately parallel to one another are mutually connected by a weft thread, which weft thread extends in a zigzag fashion, alternately looping at least a part of the two warp threads. 12. Winding sleeve according to claim 11, wherein each warp thread is built up from a series of interlocking loops built up from one flexible thread, wherein the loops of the weft threads are always diverted around the flexible thread, preferably between the loops of the warp threads, all this in such a way that when two warp threads move apart in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length direction of the warp threads, the loops 20 in the intermediate weft threads are at least partially flattened. Winding sleeve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding element is of one-layer design. 14. Sleeve formed about a cable end or a cable joint formed by a winding sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second direction extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the or each cable, while the first direction extends substantially in circumferential direction thereof. A method of manufacturing a winding element for use with a winding sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a tubular element is manufactured, in particular extruded, the first direction in the circumferential direction and the second direction in the longitudinal direction of the tubular element is located, the tubular element being cut into strips in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular element. A method according to claim 15, wherein the strips are cut in an annular fashion, after which the annular strips 5 are cut open approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction to form substantially straight strips. 17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the tubular element is spirally cut open to form at least one substantially straight strip "with the relatively elastic first direction in the longitudinal direction of the strips. Winding element for use with a winding sleeve according to any one of claims 1-13, a sleeve according to claim 14 or 15 obtained by a method according to any one of claims 15-17. -Ί '