End cap for communications cables

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention seeks to provide a cable end cap and particularly an end cap provided with a pulling eye, having a central spigot which cooperates with the crimps in the sleeve to transmit tensile forces to the cable conductors, and which at the same time permits satisfactory pressurization of the cable interior.
According to the invention, an end cap for communication cables having multiple conductors comprises a cylindrical sleeve open at one end and disconnected to receive an end of the cable, the sleeve being circumferentially crimpable to constrict the cable and form a gas tight seal therewith, a closure at the other end of the sleeve, a spigot extending axially within the sleeve from the closure and provided with at least one portion intermediate its length which is of enlarged cross section relative to the axially adjacent portions, and means in the end closure for introducing pressurized gas into the sleeve, wherein at least one continuous passageway for gas, extending substantially the length of the spigot and protected from obstruction by conductors of the cable, is formed in at least one longitudinally extending channel defined in the surface of the spigot.
The channel or channels may be formed in the spigot in various ways, as described further below, and the passageways formed in the channels may be protected against the entry of cable conductors either by orienting the channels so that they lie at an angle to the lay of the cable conductors or by forming the passageway in a small bore tube laid in the channel.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.