Interconnection seal
A seal for a cable and connector interconnection includes a unitary elastic body with a bore therethrough. The bore is provided with a cable outer diameter seal portion at a cable end, the cable outer diameter seal portion adjacent a connector cavity portion, the connector cavity portion adjacent a coupling nut cavity portion, and the coupling nut cavity portion adjacent a connector neck seal portion with a bulkhead seal at a connector end. The coupling nut cavity portion is longitudinally aligned with a coupling nut of the connector and is provided with a greater inner diameter than the cable outer diameter seal portion and the connector neck seal portion. The bulk head seal is provided with an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the connector neck seal portion.
1. A method for sealing an interconnection between a cable terminated by a connector and a bulkhead connector, comprising the steps of:
providing a seal for a cable and connector interconnection, comprising:
a unitary elastic body with a bore therethrough;
the bore provided with a cable outer diameter seal portion at a cable end, the cable outer diameter seal portion adjacent a connector cavity portion, the connector cavity portion adjacent a coupling nut cavity portion, the coupling nut cavity portion adjacent a connector neck seal portion provided at a connector end;
the coupling nut cavity portion longitudinally aligned with a coupling nut of the connector and provided with a greater inner diameter than the connector neck seal portion; and
the seal further comprising a plurality of grip fins protruding radially from an outer diameter of the body, wherein the grip fins extend radially outwardly beyond the coupling nut cavity portion;
inserting the cable through the bore;
interconnecting the connector and the bulkhead connector to form a connector to bulkhead connector interconnection;
pulling two of the grip fins in opposite directions to stretch the seal; and
positioning the stretched seal over the connector and bulkhead connector interconnection, the coupling nut cavity portion longitudinally aligned with a coupling nut of the connector and the connector neck seal portion sealing against a neck of the bulkhead connector.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein two of the grip fins are aligned at opposing sides along a longitudinal cross-section of the seal.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grip fins includes four grip fins that are arrayed around the body of the seal equidistant from one another.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the grip fins are longitudinally-extending grip fins.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cable outer diameter seal portion is provided with a smooth cylindrical inner sidewall.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the grip fins are continuous along a length of the seal.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling nut cavity portion is provided with a greater inner diameter than the cable outer diameter seal portion.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the connector cavity portion is provided with a single inner diameter between the cable outer diameter seal portion and the coupling nut cavity portion.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the body is self-supporting, maintaining a dimension of the cable outer diameter seal portion, the connector cavity portion and the coupling nut cavity portion prior to installation.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein two of the grip fins extend from the coupling nut cavity portion.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein two of the grip fins extend from the cable outer diameter seal portion.