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WO1992008257A1 - Procede de scellement etanche d'un appareil electrique et article dudit scellement - Google Patents

Procede de scellement etanche d'un appareil electrique et article dudit scellement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992008257A1
WO1992008257A1 PCT/GB1991/001904 GB9101904W WO9208257A1 WO 1992008257 A1 WO1992008257 A1 WO 1992008257A1 GB 9101904 W GB9101904 W GB 9101904W WO 9208257 A1 WO9208257 A1 WO 9208257A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sealing material
cover means
article
cover
sealing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1991/001904
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jos Marie Roger Brants
Original Assignee
N.V. Raychem S.A.
Raychem Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by N.V. Raychem S.A., Raychem Limited filed Critical N.V. Raychem S.A.
Publication of WO1992008257A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992008257A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/70—Insulation of connections

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the environmental protection of electrical apparatus and more particularly to an article and method for sealing or isolating sensitive electrical apparatus to avoid the adverse effects of contact with the environmental.
  • Telecommunications cross-connector modules are usually mounted in outside plant such as road-side cabinets or pedestals, and are used, for example to connect large pair-count cables from the exchange to the smaller cables of the local network of subscribers.
  • the large pair-count cable is permanently attached to the rear of the connector module, but access must be provided at the front for the installer to re-route and re-distribute the smaller cables of the local network.
  • a cross-connector module is to function properly over its desired lifetime, which may be twenty years or more, environmental influences, for example dust, insects, and particularly moisture, must be kept at bay.
  • the road-side cabinets and pedestals are frequently sited in exposed positions and are subject to extreme changes of temperature giving rise to condensation problems and corrosion.
  • a typical cross-connector cabinet or pedestal may contain a rectangular array of around 140 connector modules.
  • Each connector module has provision on its front face for the inter ⁇ connection of a number of pairs of telephone wires, normally consisting of a number of screw-threaded holes into which screws or connectors with screw threaded shanks can be fitted.
  • the front face of the connector block is usually exposed to the environmental inside the cabinet or pedestal and corrosion is a frequent problem.
  • European Patent 0108518 describes and claims an apparatus for protecting a substrate comprising a support member, an encapsulant which is adherent to the support member and has a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (lO'lmm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, and means for deforming the encapsulant into close and conforming contact with the substrate.
  • the means (c) being capable of maintaining the sealing material under compression after step (2) and after some subsequent displacement of the sealing material further into the indentations.
  • the present invention provides a method of environmentally sealing an electrical apparatus having a surface provided with a plurality of wire interconnection means, by means of an article comprising:
  • the plurality of wire interconnection means comprises a plurality of screw-threaded holes and the cover means is provided with one or a plurality of holes which align with corresponding screw-threaded holes in the surface.
  • Another aspect of the invention provides a method of environmentally sealing an electrical apparatus having a surface provided with a plurality of screw-threaded holes, by means of an article comprising: (a) a sealing material; and
  • the cover may have one or more fixing holes or other means of attachment to the surface, but usually four such fixing points are sufficient.
  • the cover means may be held fixed by a bar plate or flange.
  • the wire interconnection means comprises a screw-threaded hole in the surface of the electrical apparatus and a cooperating screw
  • removal of the screw aligning of the holes in the cover and the surface and replacement of the screw, enables the cover to be fixed relative to the surface. Further tightening of the screw compresses the sealing material between the cover means and the surface to provide the required environmental seal.
  • the cover is provided with one or more, preferably at least two, most preferably 4, upstanding projections which can cooperate with a compression bar, plate, or flange, laid across the cover so as to maintain the sealing material under compression against the substrate.
  • the projections are at the edges of the cover means and form a central channel within which the compression means can rest, the projections preventing slippage of the cover and fixing it against substantial movement with respect to the surface.
  • the projections can be conveniently moulded into the cover when the cover is formed.
  • the compression means may extend wholly or partly across the width or length of a cabinet, and in this way many connector module covers may be secured at the same time, obviating the need for removing the screws from each connector.
  • the cover is provided both with fixing holes and upstanding projections so that the greatest versatility in use can be obtained.
  • the cover means is desirably moulded or otherwise formed from a rigid thermoplastic material, and is preferably in the form of a shallow tray, or container.
  • the thickness of the cover means is preferably from 1.0 to 2.0 mms, especially from 1.5 to 1.6 mm.
  • the cover may be provided with one or more moulded-in reinforcing ribs.
  • the cover and the sealing material can be readily removed so that repeated access to the connector module can be obtained. It is highly preferable that re ⁇ entry be clean ie that on removal of the article from the surface the sealing material comes away cleanly from the surface and remains intact, preferably adhered to the cover means. For this reason the cohesive strength of the sealing material is preferably high.
  • a cohesive strength we mean a cohesive strength greater than the adhesive strength of the material to the surface (which will be determinable in practice by the skilled man who will be conversant with the limited materials that will serve as surfaces in this art).
  • the absolute value of the cohesive strength will depend on the nature of the re-entry operation and the frequency with which it is to be performed.
  • the cohesive and adhesive strength will vary according to the rate at which one attempts to remove the sealing material from the surface. The above consideration is to be taken at slow removal, at which cohesion is more likely to be greater than adhesion. If the sealing material is attempted to be removed quickly a layer may acceptably remain on the surface.
  • sealing materials in this invention may be found not to have the requisite cohesive strength. They may still however be used, if they are reinforced, for example by incorporating them in a porous support, such as an open cell foam, which can reduce the bulk elongation of the material.
  • the sealing material comprises a soft, high-temperature-slump-resistant, springy gel composition, by which is meant a liquid-extended polymer composition having a cone penetration value (measured by a modified version of ASTM D217, as described in European Patent Application No. 0371641) within the range from 100 to 400, (preferably 100 to 350), (10 -1 ) millimetres); an ultimate elongation (measured by ASTM D412 as described below) greater than 100%, with substantially elastic deformation (i.e.
  • the composition may either contain a three- dimensional network of cross-linked molecular chains (gels) or may merely behave as if it contained such a network (gelloids), both being included in the term "gels" as used hereinafter.
  • gel compositions comprising at least 4% by weight of the gelling polymer and a least 5000 parts by weight of extender liquid per 100 parts by weight of the polymer, in which the gelling polymer mainly (more than 50%, preferably more than 75%, more preferably more than 90%, and especially more than 95%, by weight, or substantially entirely, comprises a styrene-alkylene-styrene block copolymer having relatively hard polystyrene blocks and relatively elastomeric (preferably hydrogenated rubber) blocks.
  • copolymers include styre-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene- ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymers.
  • the sealing material will of course preferably be electrically insulating (although there are applications where it need not be) and it preferably has a volume resistivity of at least 10 ⁇ ohms cm. Additionally, it will preferably be hydrolytically stable, moisture insensitive, and substantially inert towards the surface.
  • the force required to maintain the sealing material under compression can be chosen to be high enough to counter any intrusion of water or other contaminants, but low enough to allow for easy installation and no or limited displacement of the sealing material from the cover means. This force can easily be varied for example, by merely tightening or loosening the screws holding the cover fixed to the surface of the connector module, or adjusting the height of the compression means.
  • Figure 1A shows a plan view of a typical telecommunications connector module:
  • Figure IB shows the same connector module in side elevation
  • Figure lc shows a section along the line A-A of Figure lb;
  • Figure 2 shows in plan view an article according to the invention;
  • Figure 3 shows the same article in side elevation
  • Figure 4 shows the article in end elevation.
  • Figures 1(a), (b) and (c) show a typical connector module of the type DP or XCC as used by the Vietnamese PTT.
  • the module 1 has threaded screw holes 2 on its front face and screws 3 which can be tightened to make the appropriate electrical connections with telephone wire pairs (not shown).
  • a cover plate 4 1.6 mms in thickness, is moulded in black plastics material to approximately the same dimensions as the connector module.
  • the cover plate has connecting holes 5 and a reinforcing rib 6 (as shown in Figure 2).
  • the upstanding projections 7 project above the surface so as to form a lateral channel within which a compression bar can be seated.
  • the cover plate is filled with gel 8, and the mass of gel extends a little below the side walls 9.
  • the gel may be a homogenous mass of material, or it may be provided in two or more adherent layers (not shown) which can be peeled off. In this way, by peeling off all or part of a bottom layer, the thickness of the gel material can be varied to suit a particular application.
  • the concept of providing a multiply- layered gel which can be adjusted in height or depth to suit a particular application is an independent feature of the invention.
  • the article may be applied by removing four screws on the connector module corresponding to the connecting holes 5 on the cover plate, applying the article to the face of the connector module and re-inserting the screws through the connecting holes 5 into the threaded screw holes 2.
  • the four screws 3 may be replaced with headless threaded bolts, and wing nuts used to fix the cover plate to the connector module. Adjustment of the screws 3, or the wing nuts if used, enables pressure on the gel to be varied. It can readily be judged by eye when the gel has been sufficiently compressed to seal the connections on the face of the connector module.
  • a compression bar can be laid across the cover 4 between the projections 7, and resting on the reinforcing rib 6.
  • the bar can be mounted at any suitable point on the cabinet and is preferably provided with adjustable mounting means so that the compression force on the connector modules can be varied.
  • the viscosity of the gel is such that it does not extrude to any substantial extent though the fixing holes in the cover, which in this method are of course not used.

Landscapes

  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé de scellement étanche d'un appareil électrique ayant une surface comportant plusieurs dispositifs d'interconnexion électriques, grâce à un article comprenant: (a) un matériau d'étanchéité; et (b) un dispositif de couvercle pour contenir ledit matériau d'étanchéité; ledit procédé consistant à: (1) appliquer l'article sur la surface de telle sorte que le matériau d'étanchéité se comprime contre ladite surface; et à (2) fixer le dispositif de couvercle en place pour empêcher tout déplacement ultérieur de celui-ci par rapport à ladite surface soit (i) en le connectant à l'un ou plusieurs des dispositifs d'interconnexions électriques de manière à maintenir ledit matériau d'étanchéité dans un état comprimé entre le dispositif de couvercle et le substrat, soit (ii) en appliquant un dispositif de compression sur ledit dispositif de couvercle, celui-ci coopérant avec des prolongements verticaux se trouvant sur le dispositif de couvercle, de manière à maintenir ledit matériau d'étanchéité dans un état comprimé entre le dispositif de couvercle et le substrat.
PCT/GB1991/001904 1990-11-06 1991-10-30 Procede de scellement etanche d'un appareil electrique et article dudit scellement WO1992008257A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909024101A GB9024101D0 (en) 1990-11-06 1990-11-06 Environmental protection of electrical apparatus
GB9024101.9 1990-11-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992008257A1 true WO1992008257A1 (fr) 1992-05-14

Family

ID=10684939

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1991/001904 WO1992008257A1 (fr) 1990-11-06 1991-10-30 Procede de scellement etanche d'un appareil electrique et article dudit scellement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0556227A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB9024101D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1992008257A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6500027B1 (en) 1997-01-28 2002-12-31 Ludovicus Cornelis Van Der Sanden Seal for an electrical connector, method for manufacturing a seal and use of a seal
US6971897B1 (en) 2003-10-29 2005-12-06 Tyco Electronics Corporation Gel-filled telephone jack

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0108518A2 (fr) * 1982-10-12 1984-05-16 RAYCHEM CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Appareil de protection d'un substrat
US4718678A (en) * 1985-06-13 1988-01-12 N. V. Raychem S.A. Method and article for sealing protection of terminal blocks
US4741709A (en) * 1985-11-22 1988-05-03 Raychem Corporation Gel filled enclosure
US4909756A (en) * 1985-01-04 1990-03-20 Raychem Corp. Splice case

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0108518A2 (fr) * 1982-10-12 1984-05-16 RAYCHEM CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Appareil de protection d'un substrat
US4909756A (en) * 1985-01-04 1990-03-20 Raychem Corp. Splice case
US4718678A (en) * 1985-06-13 1988-01-12 N. V. Raychem S.A. Method and article for sealing protection of terminal blocks
US4741709A (en) * 1985-11-22 1988-05-03 Raychem Corporation Gel filled enclosure

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6500027B1 (en) 1997-01-28 2002-12-31 Ludovicus Cornelis Van Der Sanden Seal for an electrical connector, method for manufacturing a seal and use of a seal
US6971897B1 (en) 2003-10-29 2005-12-06 Tyco Electronics Corporation Gel-filled telephone jack

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9024101D0 (en) 1990-12-19
EP0556227A1 (fr) 1993-08-25

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