CA1145825A - Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal - Google Patents

Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal

Info

Publication number
CA1145825A
CA1145825A CA000378581A CA378581A CA1145825A CA 1145825 A CA1145825 A CA 1145825A CA 000378581 A CA000378581 A CA 000378581A CA 378581 A CA378581 A CA 378581A CA 1145825 A CA1145825 A CA 1145825A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
sealing means
conductors
electrical cord
electrical
cavity
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000378581A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John F. Campbell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GSW Inc
Original Assignee
GSW Inc
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 GSW Inc filed Critical GSW Inc
Priority to CA000378581A priority Critical patent/CA1145825A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1145825A publication Critical patent/CA1145825A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02GINSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G15/00Cable fittings
    • H02G15/02Cable terminations
    • H02G15/04Cable-end sealings
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01BCABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B17/00Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by their form
    • H01B17/26Lead-in insulators; Lead-through insulators
    • H01B17/30Sealing

Landscapes

  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the present invention a new electrical cord assembly is provided for sealing in a liquid cooled pump and/or a submersible pump. The one piece preformed electrical cord assembly comprises an insulated electrical cord having at least two individual insulated electrical conductors extending from one end thereof, and a sealing means positioned intermediate the ends of the electrical cord assembly. The sealing means is at least partially deformable and encapsulates a portion of the conductors and the end of the insulated electrical cord. The sealing means may be compressively loaded to provide a seal within a cavity of a pump casing while maintaining the seal with the electrical conductors. The sealing means is made of an electrically insulating material to avoid shorting between the bared conductors. This assembly can be preformed and tested prior to installation in the electrical appliance.

Description

~58Z5 ___ _ _ _________ The present invention relates to an electrical cord assembly for use in appliances being used in a liquid environment. More particularly the invention relates to an electrical assembly for use in a submersible pump for separating the oil environment within the pump from the liquid environment to the exterior thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_____ ___ A number of sealing arrangements for electrical cords have been developed as illustrated by United States Patents 3,772,453 which issued to O'Brien November 13, 1973 and United States Patent 4,226,432 which issued to Nakamizo October 7, 1980. The structures disclosed in these patents are adapted to seal an electrical cord assembly for applicances such as submersible pumps however are not suitable for providing a sealing arrangement separating two liquid environments. In this regard, United States Patent 4,128,735 which issued December S, 1978 to Zehren and United States Patent 3,781,456 which issued to Knowles et al. December 25, 1973 provide sealing between two liquid environments however the first structure is quite complicated and the second structure requires the seal to be established during the manufacture of the pumping unit and as such is not suitable for all applications.
The present invention seeks to mitigate the above problems by providing a simple structure which can be preformed on an electrical cord and easiiy installed during the manufacture of a submersible pump or other appliance. Because the unit is preformed it may also be l~S8ZS

1 pretested to ensure the individual electrical conductors are not shorted and thereby reduce quality control problems with respect to the finished units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention a one-piece preformed electrical cord assembly is possible comprising an insulated electrical cord having at least two individual insulated electrical conductors which extend from one end of the cord and sealing means intermediate the ends of the electrical cord assembly. The sealing means is at least partially deformable and encapsulates a portion of the conductorsO The portion of the conductors encapsulated within the sealing means includes a length stripped of insulation whereby the sealing means provides a liquid seal with the conductors and the sealing means may be compressibly loaded to provide a liquid seal within a cavity while maintaining the seal with the electrical conductors. The sealing means is made of an electrically insulating material to isolate individual conductors. The individual conductors which extend from the sealing means may be easily connected to electrical terminals of the pump or appliance without the requirement to seal the ends of these connections as a seal is established between the bared electrical conductors within the sealing means.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention the individual conductors are multi-strand wires and the bared portion of these electrical conductors are tinned prior to being encapsulated within the sealing means. This embodi-ment assures that wicking of fluid along the strands does not occur whereas the sealing means about bared solid ~SB2~

1 conductors assures that wicking does not occur between the conductors and their insulating coating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE_DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electrical cord assembly passing through a wall of the pump which has been cut away for illustrative purposes;
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through a wall of the pump unit with the sealing means being compressed within a chamber of the pump casing wall;
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the electrical cord and the individual conductors and the sealing means;
Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along line A-A of Figure 3, and;
Figure 5 is a cross-section taken along line B-B of Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The electrical cord assembly generally shown as 2 in Figures 1 and 2 provides a liquid seal between the liquid environment 16 to the interior of the pump casing 10 and the exterior liquid environment 18. The electrical cord 4 is sealed within the sealing means 6 with the individual electrical conductors 8 extending beyond the sealing means and into the pump casing.
As can be seen with respect to Figures 1 and 2, nut 14 is threadably received within the sidewall of the pump casing 10 to compressiqely load the sealing block 6 within the wall of the pump casing. As the nut is screwed ~14582S

1 inwardly against friction washer 39, the sealing block is compressed and deformed to generally thicken and move outwardly against the sides of the apperture 19 and form a seal therewith. The movement of the nut 14 inwardly also causes the end of the block to abut and at least partially seal along surface 21. The friction washer provides a simple means of isolating the rotation of nut 14 relative to the sealing block as rotation may reduce the seal effectiveness.
With respect to Figure 3 it can be seen that the individual conductors 8A and 8B of the electrical cord 4 have been bared over a portion 42 and have a tinned area 40 for sealing the individual strands of the electrical conductor. The sealing block 14 is cast or molded about the individual conductors to separate the individual conductors, to electrically insulate between them and ~o provide a seal along each conductor length. This block seals with the outer plastic coating 11 of the individual conductors but provides an intimate seal against the tinned area 40 of each individual conductor to stop movement of liquid from one environment to the other.
This tinned area in the case of a multi-strand conductor avoids problems due to wicking of the liguid between the individual strands of the conductor which could occur if not for the tinned portion.
This can be more fully appreciated with respect to Figures 4 and 5 wherein the individual strands of Figure 4 are not tinned and spaces occur between the individual strands 50. These spaces allow the liquid to wick along the length of the conductor and eventually move to the 11~582S

1 opposite end of the electrical cord. However as can be seen with respect to Figure 5 the tinned area provides a solid cross-section having substantially eliminated all the spacing between the individual conductors such that wicking is no longer possible. Furthermore because the tinned area 40 provides an intimate bond with the sealing block 6, no liquid can pass to the exterior surfaces of this tinned area. Once the block has set the individual conductors are locked in place and the tinned area is generally centrally located within the block 6. This central location assures the seal between the tinned area and the block remains intact during compression of the block member and thereby positively isolates the liquid environment 16 from the liquid environment 18 disposed the other side of the sealing block.
Returning to Figure 3, it can be seen that the sealing block 6 is provided with a reduced stem portion 7 which positively engages the electrical cord 4. This electrical cord has an outer casing 5 of a PVC type material, which is encapsulated within the stem 7 to provide a positive seal between these components. Within the electrical cord and between the individual conductors is an insulating-type material which is also sealed from the liquid environment to the exterior of the sealing block 6.
In order to produce this electrical cord assembly one merely has to remove the outer casing 5 from one end of the electrical cord and therewith any insulating material between individual conductors, bare a portion of the individual conductors and in the case of multi-strand 1 conductors, tin a portion of the conductor (epoxy or a potting compound could be used instead of the tinning step) and then locate the cord within a chamber into which an injection moldable electrically insulating is injected to produce the sealing block 6. As can be appreciated the individual conductors 8A and 8~ must be physically separated to avoid shorting between the conductors. The block material is preferrably made of an injection molding PVC to assure good adhesion to the cord however other materials are possible such as a thermoplastic urathane.
After the unit has been produced it may be electrically tested to assure the conductors have not shorted prior to assembly in a pump. This structure avoids problems common with use of potting compounds where the terminal ends of the oonductors are are coated to provide a seal with the conductors and the plastic insulating material thereof. This requires careful installation to assure the potting compound is not damaged during connection of the conductors with the pump motor. With the present assembly one merely has to insert the conductors through the pump casing, tighten a bolt member to deform the sealing block and provide a seal. As can be appreciated these electrical cord assemblies may be mass produced inexpensively, and greatly simplify the installation of the cord assembly to the pump.
Therefore the present invention provides a simple method for sealing an electrical cord and separating two ; liquid environments. The invention utilizes the inherent sealing affinity of the electrical conductors and the insulating material to the material of the sealing block 1:145825 1 as well as the resilient deformation of the sealing means when compressibly loaded.
Although the invention has been described herein in detail it can be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A one piece preformed electrical cord assembly comprising an insulated electrical cord having at least two individual insulated electrical conductors extending from one end thereof for connection with electrical terminals and sealing means intermediate the ends of said electrical cord assembly, said sealing means being at least partially deformable and encapsulating a portion of said conductors, the portion of said conductors encapsulated within said sealing means including a length stripped of insulation wherein said sealing means provides a liquid tight seal with said conductors and said sealing means may be compressively loaded to deform and provide a seal between said sealing means and a cavity of slightly larger dimensions into which the sealing means may be inserted while said sealing means maintains the seal with said electrical conductors; said sealing means being of an electrically insulating material.
2. A one piece preformed electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical conductors are multi-strand wires and the bared portions of said conductors are treated to avoid wicking prior to encapsulation in said sealing means.
3. A one piece preformed electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 2 for use in an oil cooled submersible pump wherein said sealing means encapsulates both a portion of said conductors and the end of said electrical cord adjacent said extending conductors to seal one end of said cord assembly adjacent said sealing means.
4. A one piece electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sealing means is made of an injection molding PVC
material formed about said conductors and cord end to seal therewith.
5. A one piece electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein said sealing means is circular in cross-section and includes a reduced stem portion encapsulating the end of said electrical cord.
6. A one piece electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the treated portions of said conductors are located generally centrally within the length of said sealing means.
7. A one piece electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim l wherein said conductors are multi-strand wires and the bared portions of said conductors are sealed to prevent wicking along said conductors from one side of said sealing means to the other side thereof.
8. A one piece electrical cord assembly as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said conductors are treated by being tinned, said sealing means is resiliently deformable, and is generally a solid cylinder having a central axis with the conductors generally aligned with said axis, whereby said sealing means is deformable outwardly to engage and seal with such cavity by axial compressive loading of said sealing means.
9. In a submersible pump having a pump casing defining an electrical motor housing, a preformed electrical cord assembly having at least two insulated electrical conductors extending from one end thereof, said electrical cord being of the type having an outer plastic sheath and insulation material between said sheath and said conductors, sealing means intermediate the ends of said electrical assembly being partially deformable and encapsulating a portion of said sheath and a length of said conductors extending from said assembly adjacent the end of said sheath, the length of said conductors encapsulated within said sealing means including a length strip of insulation with said sealing means in direct contact with said conductors to provide a liquid tight seal therewith, said pump casing including a cavity for receiving the sealing means of said assembly and allowing said conductors to pass through said casing into said motor housing, a member adapted to engage said cavity and compressively load said sealing means causing deformation thereof whereby said sealing means engages said cavity and provides a liquid tight seal therewith.
10. In a submersible pump as claimed in claim 9 wherein said electrical conductors are multi-strand wires and the bared portions of said conductors are treated to avoid wicking of fluid along the strands prior to encapsulation in said sealing means.
11. In a submersible pump as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein said sealing means is generally circular in cross-section and is received within a similarly shaped cavity, said cavity including a threaded portion to cooperate with said member which includes threads to engage the threaded portions of said cavity.
12. In a submersible pump as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein said sealing means is generally circular in cross-section and is received within a similarly shaped cavity, said cavity including a threaded portion to cooperate with said member which includes threads to engage the threaded portions of said cavity, said motor housing being filled with oil to cool a motor, said sealing means being deformable outwardly and cooperates with said cavity to provide said liquid tight seal along the circular portion of said sealing means.
CA000378581A 1981-05-28 1981-05-28 Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal Expired CA1145825A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000378581A CA1145825A (en) 1981-05-28 1981-05-28 Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000378581A CA1145825A (en) 1981-05-28 1981-05-28 Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1145825A true CA1145825A (en) 1983-05-03

Family

ID=4120089

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000378581A Expired CA1145825A (en) 1981-05-28 1981-05-28 Electrical cord sealing arrangement with a deformable seal

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1145825A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109798505A (en) * 2019-03-22 2019-05-24 众普森科技(株洲)有限公司 Wire connections and its manufacturing method

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109798505A (en) * 2019-03-22 2019-05-24 众普森科技(株洲)有限公司 Wire connections and its manufacturing method
EP3713024A1 (en) * 2019-03-22 2020-09-23 Zopoise Technology (Zhuzhou) Co., Ltd. Wire joint and manufacturing method thereof
US11217911B2 (en) 2019-03-22 2022-01-04 Zopoise Technology (Zhuzhou) Co., Ltd. Wire joint and manufacturing method thereof
CN109798505B (en) * 2019-03-22 2024-05-28 众普森科技(株洲)有限公司 Wire rod joint and method for manufacturing same

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