This invention relates to sealed*jointing apparatus for use in the connection of conduit sections at a connection zone, and more specificificially, but not necessarily, relates to a flexible hermetically sealed cable splice/jointing point.

The present invention will find particular use in the telecommunications and electric industrial fields. However it can also be used in gas or water pipe systems to enable greater flexibility in these systems. Up until now, in telecommunication cable work with different types of cables, such as coaxial, fibre optical and multi-core, all types of cable closure method used the outside of the cable sheath for affixing the seal. Therefore the outer sheath of any cable had to enter into' the area which would contain the conductor splices.

It has been well recognized within the electrical and telecommunication fields that -this type of splice closure method often failed at the point of seal between the cable sheath and the main splice/joint sleeve, with the result that moisture could penetrate the joint thereby causing the failure of the contained circuits. In order to overcome these deficiences, the industries have used additional method steps which includes (1) air pressurization of the system and (11) splice/joint encapsulation using resins or jelly substances and oil filling of the splice area. These methods had the disadvantage of being expensive and labour intensive and in most cases the flexibility of the system was greatly impaired.

Also in this type of splice, the cables' aluminium screen had to be jumped across the splice by affixing a continuity wire to the butts of all cables contained within.

To enter previous straight through joints, cable seals have always had to be broken which again is expensive

and time-consuming and depending on the size and type of cable very possibly a two-man operation.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages and to provide a jointing point which can be both quickly entered and closed.

According to the present invention, sealed jointing apparatus for use in the connection of conduit sections, at a connection zone, especially but not exclusively telecommunication cable sections, comprises end closure means bounding the connection zone and surrounding the respective conduit sections; first seal means .for location between the end closure means and the conduit sections; casing means surrounding end portions of the conduit sections at said connection zone, and releasable securing means for sealingly securing the casing means.

By means of the present invention, the conductor splices in joined telecommunication cable sections can be contained in a hermetically sealed zone bounded by the end closure means and the casing, and access can be had to the cable splices simply by releasing the releasable securing means and pushing the casing aside: the end closure means remain in position and the first seal means are untouched. Closure of the joint simply comprises the reverse of this operation. It will be understood that such access without breaking the cable seal (i.e. said first seal) provides considerable operational and economic advantages.

Preferably, the releasable securing means comprises at least one end cap located at the end of the casing, and preferably the end cap couples the casing to the end closure means.

Preferably, the end cap includes two coupling threads one of which threads threadingly engages an external thread on the casing while the other thread engages an internal thread on the end closure means, whereby the casing is

coupled to the end closure means.

In a preferred embodiment, the end closure means comprises at least one and preferably two annular members associated with a respective conduit section. Preferably, the or each annular member includes a rigid axially- extending auxiliary sleeve arranged such that there is formed in the annular member a closed-bottom annular slot to receive an end part of a telecommunication cable sheath, with the sleeve located between the sheath and a core part of the cable, so that functionings of the said first seal means is facilitated. The sleeve can be of metal and can be used to provide screen continuity for the .telecommunicat¬ ion cable.

Preferably, the first seal means comprises at least one gland seal on a respective annular member. Alternatively, the first seal means may involve injection welding or heat shrinking between or around the an annular member and one or more respective conduit sections.

Preferably, a pair of annular members are provided, and spacer means serve to axially space the annular members by a predetermined amount.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by ay of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows a side view of a flexible hermetically sealed cable splice/jointing apparatus or joint, part of one end of which is a section;

Fig. 2 shows a part end view of an end portion of the joint of Fig. 1 with part of an end closure cut-away. Figs. 3A and 3B shows respectively a side view and an end view of a conductuity tubular sleeve.

Figs. 4A and 4B shows respectively a side view and an end view of a locating ring; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show isometic "exploded" views of respective ends of the joint of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a jointing point 1 for the splicing of two telecommunication cable sections 2A,

2B is symmetrical above a mid-transverse median plane and if.; of flexible construction. The significant constructional feature of the joint 1 resides in the ends (which in fact are identical) and part of one end is shown in detail in Fig. 1. Thus at each end, there is provided a radial end plug 3 forming an end closure means for the jointing or connection zone of the cable sections and the plug 3 includes a cylindrical portion 4 closely surrounding the cable section and a pair of axial walls 5, 6. Wall 5 carries an internal thread 7.

The end plug 3 includes an auxiliary conductivity tubular sleeve 11 (Fig. 3A, 3B) or metal extending parallel to the wall 6 such that a closed-bottom annular slot 12 is present between the sleeve 11 and the wall 6. The sleeve 11 has a metal retaining ring 14 welded thereto.

The ring 14 has three-equi-spaced holes 13 alignable with bases 10 provided in plug 3 as shown.

The two end plugs 3 are axially spaced at a predetermined distance by spacer means comprising a pair of bars, rods or tubes 16 which are secured by means of socket screws 15 tightened through holes 13 and into bosses 10. The metal sleeve 11, ring 14 and tubes 16 provide screen continuity for the cable. Finally, a casing 17 (or main sleeve) linking the end plugs 3 defines a peripheral boundary of the cable connection zone. Each end of the casing 17 carries an external thread 18 and an annular end cap 19 carries a pair of opposed threadings 20, 21 so that the cap 19 can be screwed onto the threads 7, 18 to secure the casing 17 to the end plug 3. The axial length of the spacer tubes 16 is precisely set to permit accurate positioning of the threads, 7, 18 at each end. The casing ends and axial walls 5 of end plugs 3 at their contiguous ends have a series of recessed housings 9, and a locating ring 25 is provided (Figs. 4A and 4B) on one face of which a series of complementary shaped keys 26 are provided to locate in the housings 9. The space intervals between

the housings 9 and keys 26 is selected as shown so that there is only one possible registry location. The ring 25 is a laminate of a poly-vinyl-chloride (P.V.C.) washer moulded with the keys 26 and a silicone rubber washer fitted over the keys 26 to abut, in use, against the ends of the casing 17 and wall 5 as shown in Fig. 1. The locating ring 25 in conjunction with the first seal means ensures that the cable connection zone is hermetically sealed. The end cap 3 and casing 17 are of a plastics material having a ϋ-V stabiliser such as carbon black as may the end plug. The cap 3 can be knurled (as shown) to facilitate tighten¬ ing. The first seal means can be in different ^" forms depending on the use of the joint. In the form shown in the drawings, the seal is either a heat shrinkable collar or a jointing compound injection welded between the wall 6 and cable sections. A hand jointing tool to facilitate the splicing operation can be provided in the casing 17.

The jointing (splicing) operation is carried out as follows:- Prior to preparation of the cable sections 2 the appropriate parts are placed over the respective cable section and in the following sequence: end cap 19 and then end plug 3. The casing 17 can be placed over any one of the two sections 2. The following description relates generally to the operation at one end of the joint; the operation at the other end is similar. The cable end is now prepared for splicing by removing a length of the outer sheath 23 taking care not to disrupt the core formation 24 as this will make the placing of the end plug difficult and could cause damage to the insulation of the conductors contained in the cable. The cable core 24 is now fed through the metal sleeve 11 of the plug and the cable sheath 23 fully inserted into the slot 12 so that the sleeve 11 is placed between the sheath 23 and the core shield (not shown) to provide screen contunuity.

The spacer tubes 16 are now placed in position joining

both end plugs 3, and secured by the socket screws 15. As will be noted, the axial length of the tubes 16 is significant since it controls the marriage of the end plug 3 to the main sleeve or casing 17 by means of the double threaded end cap 19.

The conductor pairs of the cable sections 2 are now ready for splicing, and splicing is facilitated by the hand tool so leaving the hands free for the splicing operation. When splicing has been completed, the casing 17 is positioned between the end plug 3 and secured by the end caps 19 which are screwed onto the casing 17 and into the end plug 3 in the same operation. Final tightening of the- end cap 19 should be done using two strap wrenches, one to hold the casing 17 and the other to tighten the end cap 19. The locating ring 25 and keys 26 prevent relative movement between casing 17 and end plug 3 during the tightening operation.

To re-enter the joint at any time only the end caps 19 need be unscrewed with the casing 17 pushed aside; the cable gland seal and screen continuity will remain in position untouched. The rigid nature of the sleeve 11 will ensure effectiveness of the first seal means. The above splice joint provides the additional significant advantage of the sheath not having to be brought into the splicing area, since ' the sheath end is located in the slot 12. By this arrange¬ ment the possibility of splice failure.due to ingress of moisture is virtually ruled out. Modifications are of course possible. Thus, for example, only one end of the joint may conform to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. Also the casing may only have one entry i-.e. the other end may be blind.

The above description relates only to one cable joint; however by providing an end plug with two or more spaced bores each with axial wall projections, two or more cable joints can be made. Also, the bores may be initially provided blind to be made through bores only when required. While the example describes a splice joint for a telecommunication cable, it is also applicable to an electrical cable and • substant&lly similar apparatus could be used for the connection

of conduits in gas and water pipe systems; in this case it would probably not be necessary to include the auxiliary sleeve 11.

The first seal means selected for use with fibre optic cables and primary or main cables is preferably the jointing compound between the wall 6 and cable sections obtained by injection welding; with secondary cables and cable T.V. cables is preferably a heat shrinkage collar fitted over the end of the wall 6 and heat shrunk onto the cable section; and with fluid pipes, the wall 6 has an external screw thread 8 to receive a sealing gland nut 9 (Fig. 7) to be tightened thereonto, a gland seal of a silicone rubber 0-ring 32 being located to be tightened against the conduit section. In a further modification, the spacer means may comprise 3 rods or tubes 16 or may be a fibre optic tray suitably secured into the end plugs; for example the tray may be provided with projecting pins or stub rods for ease in securing the tray to the plugs. The end caps are preferably provided with an ^" annular channel 28 to be in registry with a bore 29 provided in a shoulder 30 of the casing 17 as shown. A security bolt 31 is screwed into bore 29 and impinges into the walls of the channel to hold the cap in position against unauthorised entry.