Injection electrical connector

1. An insert for constructing a cable accessory used to inject a fluid into a cable, the cable comprising a conductor, the cable accessory comprising an outer body defining an interior configured to house the conductor of the cable, the outer body comprising an injection port with an internal channel configured to receive the fluid, the cable being couplable to a subassembly comprising a housing, a first seal, and a second seal, the housing having a third through-channel and an inlet, the insert comprising:

a first portion configured to line a portion of the interior, the first portion comprising a first through-channel extending along a first axis, the first through-channel being configured to house the subassembly with the first seal forming a first fluid tight seal between the housing and the first portion, and the second seal forming a second fluid tight seal between the housing and the first portion, the first portion comprising a sealed chamber defined between the first and second fluid tight seals, the third through-channel being configured to allow the conductor to pass at least partway therethrough along the first axis; and

a second portion configured to line the internal channel of the injection port, the second portion comprising a second through-channel in fluid communication with the first through-channel, the second through-channel extending along a second axis outwardly beyond the first through-channel, the second axis being different from the first axis, the sealed chamber being in fluid communication with the second through-channel and receiving the fluid therefrom, the fluid flowing from the sealed chamber through the inlet and into the third through-channel, the insert being less permeable to the fluid than the outer body of the cable accessory.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are separate from one another.

3. The insert of claim 1 for use with the subassembly comprising a valve positioned in the inlet, the valve being openable to allow the fluid to flow therethrough into the third through-channel from the sealed chamber, wherein the second through-channel is configured to receive the fluid from an injection probe configured to open the valve.

4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert is rigid and molded into the outer body.

5. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert is rigid and constructed from fiberglass reinforced nylon.

6. The insert of claim 5 , wherein the insert is configured to withstand a pressure from 30 psi to 1000 psi.

7. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the second through-channel tapers toward the first through-channel.

8. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the second through-channel is configured to receive the fluid from an injection probe.

9. The insert of claim 8 , wherein the second through-channel tapers along its length by 0.5 degrees to 30 degrees.

10. The insert of claim 1 , further comprising:

an internal shoulder that extends into the second through-channel and is positioned near the first through-channel, the second through-channel being configured to receive a flash prevention plug, the internal shoulder being configured to prevent the flash prevention plug from entering the first through-channel.

11. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert is non-permeable with respect to the fluid such that the fluid cannot permeate through the insert.

12. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the fluid diff uses through the insert at a first rate that is slower than a second rate at which the fluid diffuses through the outer body, the first rate being slower than the second rate by at least 10 times, at least 100 times, or at least 1000 times.

13. The insert of claim 1 for use with the outer body having a first solubility in the fluid, wherein the insert has a second solubility in the fluid, and

the first solubility is at least five times, at least 20 times, or at least 100 times greater than the second solubility.

14. The insert of claim 1 for use with the outer body having a first solubility in the fluid, wherein the insert has a second solubility in the fluid, and

the second solubility is less than 5% w at 90° C., less than 1% w at 90° C., or less than 0.1% w at 90° C.

15. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert and the fluid have a diffusion coefficient of less than 10 −7 cm 2 /s at 90° C., less than 10 −8 cm 2 /s at 90° C., or less than 10 −9 cm 2 /s at 90° C.

16. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the second through-channel is a conically shaped axial bore.

17. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the second through-channel extends at least a portion of a tracking distance defined between the conductor and a ground potential.

18. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the second portion has an exterior portion that extends outwardly from the injection port, and

the exterior portion comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock an external component to the injection port.

19. The insert of claim 18 , wherein the external component comprises first threads, and

the locking mechanism includes second threads configured to engage the first threads of the external component.

20. The insert of claim 18 , wherein the external component comprises a first portion of a twist lock mechanism, and

the locking mechanism includes a second portion of the twist lock mechanism configured to engage the first portion of the twist lock mechanism.

21. The insert of claim 18 , wherein the external component is a cap or an injection probe.

22. A cable accessory for use with a cable comprising a conductor, the cable accessory comprising:

a body configured to withstand at most a first fluid pressure, the body comprising an outer insulation shield surrounding at least a portion of an insulation portion, the insulation portion surrounding at least a portion of an inner layer, both the outer insulation shield and the inner layer being semi-conductive; and

an insert lining a first lined portion of the inner layer and a second lined portion of the insulation portion, the insert being constructed from a material that is configured to withstand at most a second fluid pressure that is greater than the first fluid pressure, a fluid through-channel extending outwardly from and being in fluid communication with an interior chamber, the interior chamber extending along a first axis through at least a portion of the first lined portion of the body, the fluid through-channel extending along a second axis through at least a portion of the second lined portion of the body, the second axis being different from the first axis, a cable treatment fluid being injectable into the interior chamber through the fluid through-channel, the interior chamber being configured to house the cable treatment fluid at a third fluid pressure that is greater than the first fluid pressure, the insert protecting the body from the third fluid pressure inside the interior chamber; and a subassembly that is couplable to the cable, the subassembly comprising a housing, a first seal, and a second seal, the housing having a conductor through-channel and an inlet, the conductor through-channel being configured to allow the conductor to pass therethrough, wherein the interior chamber is configured to house the subassembly with the first seal forming a first fluid tight seal between the housing and the insert, the second seal forming a second fluid tight seal between the housing and the insert, the insert comprising a sealed chamber defined between the first and second fluid tight seals, the sealed chamber being in fluid communication with the fluid through-channel and receiving the cable treatment fluid therefrom, the cable treatment fluid flowing from the sealed chamber through the inlet and into the conductor through-channel.

23. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the body swells when soaked in the cable treatment fluid, and

the insert is less soluble to the cable treatment fluid than the body.

24. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the subassembly comprises a valve positioned in the inlet,

the valve is openable to allow the cable treatment fluid to flow therethrough into the conductor through-channel from the sealed chamber, and

the fluid through-channel is configured to receive an injection probe configured to open the valve and supply the cable treatment fluid to the sealed chamber therethrough.

25. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the insert is molded into the body.

26. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the second fluid pressure is within a range of 30 psi to 1000 psi.

27. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the fluid through-channel tapers toward the interior chamber.

28. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the insert further comprises an internal shoulder that extends into the fluid through-channel and is positioned near the interior chamber, the fluid through-channel being configured to receive a flash prevention plug, the internal shoulder being configured to prevent the flash prevention plug from entering the interior chamber.

29. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the insert is non-permeable with respect to the cable treatment fluid such that the cable treatment fluid cannot permeate through the insert.

30. The cable accessory of claim 22 , wherein the cable treatment fluid diffuses through the insert at a first rate that is slower than a second rate at which the cable treatment fluid diffuses through the body.

31. A cable accessory for injecting a fluid into a cable comprising a conductor, the cable accessory comprising:

an outer body comprising first, second, and third layers, the third layer being at least partially surrounded by the second layer, the second layer being at least partially surrounded by the first layer, the first and third layers being semi-conductive, the outer body comprising an interior through-channel and an injection port, the interior through-channel having a different portion formed in each of the first, second, and third layers, the interior through-channel being configured to house the conductor of the cable, the injection port having an internal channel formed at least partially in the second layer and configured to receive the fluid; and

an inner body at least partially surrounded by the outer body, the inner body being less permeable to the fluid than the outer body, the inner body lining the internal channel and a lined portion of the interior through-channel formed in the third layer, the lined portion of the interior through-channel extending along a first axis, the lined internal channel extending outwardly along a second axis from the lined portion of the interior through-channel, the second axis being different from the first axis, the lined internal channel being in fluid communication with the lined portion of the interior through-channel and supplying the fluid thereto, the inner body being constructed from a different material than the first, second, and third layers of the outer body.

32. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the inner body has an exterior portion that extends outwardly from the injection port, and

the exterior portion comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock an injection probe or a plug to the injection port.

33. The cable accessory of claim 31 , further comprising:

a subassembly that is couplable to the cable, the subassembly comprising a housing, a first seal, and a second seal, the housing having a conductor through-channel and an inlet, the conductor through-channel being configured to allow the conductor to pass therethrough, the lined portion of the interior through-channel being configured to house the subassembly with the first seal forming a first fluid tight seal between the housing and the inner body, and the second seal forming a second fluid tight seal between the housing and the inner body, the lined portion of the interior through-channel comprising a sealed chamber defined between the first and second fluid tight seals, the sealed chamber being in fluid communication with the lined internal channel and receiving the fluid therefrom, the fluid flowing from the sealed chamber through the inlet and into the conductor through-channel.

34. The cable accessory of claim 33 , wherein the subassembly comprises a valve positioned in the inlet,

the valve is openable to allow the fluid to flow therethrough into the conductor through-channel from the sealed chamber, and

the lined internal channel is configured to receive an injection probe configured to open the valve and supply the fluid to the sealed chamber therethrough.

35. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the inner body is molded into the outer body.

36. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the inner body is configured to withstand a pressure from 30 psi to 1000 psi.

37. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the lined internal channel tapers toward the lined portion of the interior through-channel.

38. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the inner body comprises an internal shoulder that extends into the lined internal channel and is positioned near the lined portion of the interior through-channel, the lined internal channel being configured to receive a flash prevention plug, the internal shoulder being configured to prevent the flash prevention plug from entering the lined portion of the interior through-channel.

39. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the inner body is non-permeable with respect to the fluid such that the fluid cannot permeate through the inner body.

40. The cable accessory of claim 31 , wherein the fluid diffuses through the inner body at a first rate that is slower than a second rate at which the fluid diffuses through the outer body.