LOAD-CARRYING TERMINALS FOR ARMORED ELECTRIC CABLES.

Four load-carrying terminals, or sockets, for use with armored electric tow cables, have been designed, developed, and tested at NRL. Two of these designs are mechanically assembled, and two are potted, or cast. In the mechanically assembled design, the attachment of the socket to the load-carrying wires is achieved by mechanically gripping the armor wires between force-fitted friction surfaces. The potted designs use a low-melt-temperature alloy or an epoxy compound which intimately flow about the armor wires. After hardening, the socket is ready for use. The mechanically assembled socket can develop more than 95 percent of the full cable strength before failing it has been field tested satisfactorily. However, of all the NRL socket types discussed, the authors preference is for the low-melt-alloy potted type. This type socket has been used at sea for more than a year with good results. The major advantage of this type socket is the ease and speed with which it can be replaced by field workers. Author