Cover assemblies for cables and electrical connections and methods for making and using the same
An integral, unitary cover assembly for covering an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables each having a primary conductor and a neutral conductor includes an inner elastomeric sleeve, an outer elastomeric sleeve, and a collapsible duct. The inner elastomeric sleeve defines a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables. The outer elastomeric sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve. The collapsible duct is interposed radially between the inner and outer sleeves. The duct defines a neutral conductor passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough. The duct is selectively collapsible from an initial open configuration to a collapsed configuration about the at least one neutral conductor.
1. An integral, unitary cover assembly for covering an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables each having a primary conductor and a neutral conductor, the cover assembly comprising:
an inner elastomeric sleeve defining a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables;
an outer elastomeric sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve; and
a collapsible duct interposed radially between the inner and outer sleeves, the duct defining a neutral conductor passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough;
wherein the duct is selectively collapsible from an initial open configuration to a collapsed configuration about the at least one neutral conductor.
2. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein a cross-sectional area of the neutral conductor passage at an axial location in the collapsed configuration is less than a cross-sectional area of the neutral conductor passage at the axial location in the open configuration.
3. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein a height of the neutral conductor passage at an axial location in the collapsed configuration is greater than a height of the neutral conductor passage at the axial location in the open configuration.
4. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein a circumference of the duct at an axial location in the collapsed configuration is greater than a circumference of the duct at the axial location in the open configuration.
5. The cover assembly of claim 1 configured such that, when the at least one neutral conductor extends through the neutral conductor passage and the duct is in the collapsed configuration, the duct is radially compressively loaded against the at least one neutral conductor.
6. The cover assembly of claim 5 configured such that, when the at least one neutral conductor extends through the neutral conductor passage and the duct is in the collapsed configuration, the duct is radially compressively loaded against the at least one neutral conductor by a recovery force of the outer elastomeric sleeve.
7. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the duct includes a collapse control mechanism operable by an operator to selective convert the duct from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration.
8. The cover assembly of claim 7 wherein:
the duct includes a tubular duct body member;
the collapse control mechanism includes a retention member mounted on the duct body member; and
the retention member holds the body member open in the open configuration and is removable from the duct body member to permit the body member to radially collapse into the collapsed configuration.
9. The cover assembly of claim 8 wherein the collapse control mechanism includes an integral retention feature on the duct body member and that engages the retention member in the open configuration to hold the duct body member open.
10. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the duct member includes a substantially tubular duct body member including first and second axially extending, laterally opposed wall sections;
the first and second wall sections slide relative to one another as the duct is converted from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration; and
the first and second wall sections overlap in the collapsed configuration.
11. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the duct is formed of a polymeric material.
12. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the duct is formed of an electrically conductive material.
13. The cover assembly of claim 12 wherein the duct is formed of an electrically conductive polymer.
14. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the duct is semi-rigid.
15. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the duct is tubular.
16. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover assembly extends along a lengthwise axis from a cover first end to a cover second end, and the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve and the duct each extend lengthwise and have a respective first end proximate the cover first end and a respective second end proximate the cover second end.
17. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein:
the outer sleeve is formed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber;
the inner sleeve is formed of silicone rubber;
the cover assembly includes a Faraday cage sleeve mounted within the inner sleeve and formed of an electrically conductive elastomer;
the cover assembly includes a stress cone sleeve mounted within the inner sleeve proximate an end thereof, wherein the stress cone sleeve is formed of an electrically conductive elastomer; and
the cover assembly includes a semiconductor layer mounted on an outer side of the inner sleeve.
18. The cover assembly of claim 1 further including a removable holdout device mounted within the inner sleeve, wherein the holdout device is operative to temporarily maintain the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve in an expanded state.
19. The cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover assembly is a cold shrinkable cover assembly.