AU2012216533B2 - Cable clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

CABLE CLAMP A cable clamp for adapted for clamping an electrical cable, comprising: a busbar securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a busbar; a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation; at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging said attachment bolts and also engaging at least two respective securing bolts; and a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and adapted to engage with said first mating unit thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable located between respective first and second locating formations of the first and second mating units. (Figure. 5) 5of6 207a 209 207b 230a 230b 231a 260 231b 205a 205b 221a +221b 220a 2 20b 300 25202 20315 53a 201 303a 303b Figure 4

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Tappat Engineering Pty Ltd Actual Inventor: Patrick Paul Dannenberg Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: Cable clamp The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: File: 75747AUP00 - 1 CABLE CLAMP TECHNICAL FIELD [ 0001 ] The present invention relates to the field of cable clamps and, in particular, discloses an improved form of cable clamp arrangement suitable for clamping electrical cables or the like. [ 0002 ] The invention has been developed primarily for use as cable clamp for clamping electrical cables, or more particularly for clamping high-voltage electrical cables of the type typically found in electrical sub-stations supporting 11 or 22 kW of electrical power carrying capability and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. BACKGROUND [ 0003 ] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such background art is prior art, nor that such background art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field. [ 0004 ] Clamps for clamping power/electrical cables come in many different varieties. One popular form of cable clamp is a clamp manufactured by the German company ID Teknik. Such clamps are designed for clamping electrical cables or the like and come in many varied sizes to accommodate different size clamping requirements. An example of such an electrical cable clamp 10 is depicted in Figure 1A. A further example of a prior art cable clamp 20 is depicted in Figure 1B depicted attached to a busbar 50. Prior art cable clamps 10 and 20 each utilise a spring arrangement for securing the cable clamp against the bus bar as shown in Figure 1A to prevent movement of the clamp in use. [ 0005 ] The aforementioned clamps have a number of disadvantages when being utilised in practice. They are manufactured with some free floating pads which are often lost and provide a complicated installation process. Further, the design of any backplane mounting strut for the clamps is ill considered in that is often difficult to install the clamp in a confined space. Often these clamps must be installed in small or confined spaces which results in difficult working requirements. [ 0006 ] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cable clamping arrangement suitable for efficient and uncomplicated use in practice.

-2 SUMMARY [ 0007 ] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to existing cable clamps. [ 0008 ] According to a first aspect there is provided a cable clamp adapted for clamping electrical cables. The cable clamp may comprise a busbar securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a busbar. The cable clamp may further comprise a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation. The cable clamp may further comprise at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging at least two attachment bolts and also engaging at least two respective securing bolts. In particular arrangements, the clamp may comprise two, three or four securing nuts and two, three or four securing bolts respectively. The cable clamp may further comprise a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation. The second mating unit may be adapted to engage with said first mating unit thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable located between respective first and second locating formations of the first and second mating units. The cable clamp may be particularly adapted for clamping high voltage electrical cables. [ 0009 ] The busbar securing portion may comprise a busbar engaging portion comprising at least two apertures adapted to receive at least two respective attachment bolts. The busbar securing portion may comprise two, three or four apertures and two, three or four attachment bolts respectively. [ 0010 ] The first mating unit may comprise an arcuate upper surface forming the first cable locating formation. The first mating unit may further comprise an arcuate resilient sleeve semi permanently attached to said upper arcuate surface for engaging an electrical cable therewith. The first mating unit may further comprise at least two cavities therein adapted to receive said at least two attachment bolts for attachment of said first mating unit to the busbar. The first mating unit may comprise two, three or four cavities therein to receive two, three or four attachment bolts respectively. [ 0011 ] The second mating unit may comprise an arcuate lower surface forming the second cable locating formation. The second mating unit may further comprise an arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said second cable locating formation for engaging an electrical cable therewith. The second mating unit may further comprise at least two cavities aligned with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and adapted to receive at least two -3 securing bolts to secure said second mating unit to said first mating unit such that said upper arcuate surface and said lower arcuate surface of respective mating units are aligned and therefore secure an electrical cable therein. The second mating unit may comprise two, three or four cavities therein to receive two, three or four securing bolts respectively. [ 0012 ] The cable clamp may further comprise at least two securing nuts. The cable clamp may comprise two, three or four securing nuts as required. The at least two securing nuts may comprise a threaded portion for engaging a respective one of the at least two attachment bolts and also a respective one of the at least two respective securing bolts. [ 0013 ] The at least two cavities of the first mating unit and the at least two cavities of the second mating unit may each be further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of the at least two securing nuts. Concealment, even partially, of the metal securing nuts may significantly minimise the chance of unwanted corona discharge, particularly associated with electrical cabling, particularly associated with high-voltage electrical cables in the presence of metal surfaces having sharp edges such as corners of hexagonal or octagonal securing nuts or the like. [ 0014 ] The arcuate resilient sleeves may be attached to a respective one of the first and second mating units by means of a series of posts on the sleeves. The posts may be adapted to mate with a corresponding series of cavities in the respective mating unit and forming a snug fit to respective cable locating formations of the first and second mating units. [ 0015 ] The first mating unit and the second mating unit may each be formed from a non conducting material. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed from a material having a high dielectric constant to assist in minimisation of unwanted corona discharge. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed from a plastics material. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed via an injection moulding technique. [ 0016 ] The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be substantially identical. The first and second mating units may be formed from the same mould in the injection moulding technique. This provides a significant manufacturing advantage as it practically halves the tooling costs that would be needed to create two separate moulds and production lines to manufacture two different injection moulded mating units. Therefore only a single mould is required to produce both mating units and two such mating units are packaged together to form a single cable clamp on installation. This system of identical mating units also has significant -4 advantages in the installation of the cable clamps, which is often done in confined or difficult spaces, since there is no need for the installer to identify which of the mating units is the top and which is the bottom - either mating unit in the cable clamp kit would suffice as either the top or bottom mating unit which therefore minimises the chance of install error and re-work, thus making the installation an easier and quicker process than using prior art clamps. [ 0017 ] In an arrangement of the first aspect, there is provided a cable clamp adapted for clamping electrical cables, comprising: a busbar securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a busbar; a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation; at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging at least two respective attachment bolts and also for engaging at least two respective securing bolts; and a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and adapted to engage with said first mating unit thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable located between respective first and second locating formations of the first and second mating units. In a particular arrangement, the cable clamp may be adapted for clamping high-voltage electrical cables. [ 0018 ] In a particular arrangement of the first aspect, there is provided a cable clamp adapted for clamping electrical cables, comprising a) a busbar securing portion comprising a busbar engaging portion comprising at least two apertures adapted to receive at least two respective securing bolts; b) a first mating unit comprising: an arcuate upper surface; an arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said upper arcuate surface for engaging an electrical cable therewith, and at least two cavities therein adapted to receive said at least two attachment bolts for attachment of said first mating unit to a busbar; c) at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging said attachment bolts and also engaging at least two respective securing bolts, said at least two cavities of said first mating unit further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts; and d) a second mating unit adapted to engage with said first mating unit, said second mating unit comprising: an arcuate lower surface; an arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said arcuate lower surface for engaging an electrical cable therewith; at least two cavities aligned with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and adapted to: at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts; and to receive at least two securing bolts adapted to engage with the threaded portion of a respective securing nut thereby to secure said second mating unit to said first mating unit such that said upper arcuate surface and said lower arcuate surface of respective mating units are aligned and therefore secure an electrical cable therein. Concealment, even partially, of the metal securing nuts may significantly minimise the chance of -5 unwanted corona discharge associated with electrical cabling, and particularly associated with high-voltage electrical cabling in the presence of metal surfaces having sharp edges such as corners of hexagonal or octagonal securing nuts or the like. [ 0019 ] In an arrangement of the first aspect, there is provided a cable clamp adapted for clamping electrical cables, comprising: a securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a support; a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation and at least two cavities therein adapted to receive at least two attachment bolts for attachment of said first mating unit to the support; at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging said at least two respective attachment bolts and also for engaging at least two respective securing bolts; and a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and at least two cavities adapted to align with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit when in use, and further adapted to receive said at least two securing bolts to engage said second mating unit with said first mating unit thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable located between respective first and second locating formations of the first and second mating units; wherein said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and said at least two cavities of said second mating unit are each further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts and to allow said at least two securing nuts to be rotated within the respective cavities relative to the respective first and second mating units. [ 0020 ] According to a second aspect there is provided a kit for a cable clamp for clamping electrical cables. The kit may comprise a busbar securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a busbar. The kit may further comprise a first mating unit. The first mating unit may comprise a first cable locating formation. The kit may further comprise at least two attachment bolts for attachment of the busbar securing portion and the first mating unit to the busbar. The kit may further comprise at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging a respective one of the at least two attachment bolts thereby to secure the first mating unit and the busbar securing portion to the busbar. The kit may further comprise a second mating unit. The second mating unit may comprise a second cable locating formation. The kit may further comprise at least two securing bolts adapted to engage with the threaded portion of a respective one of the securing nuts thereby secure the second mating unit in cooperation to the first mating unit and thereby secure a cable located in engagement with the first and the second cable locating formations.

-6 [ 0021 ] In an arrangement of the second aspect, there is provided a kit for a cable clamp for clamping electrical cables, the kit comprising: a securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a support; a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation and at least two cavities therein adapted to receive at least two attachment bolts for attachment of the securing portion and the first mating unit to the support at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging a respective one of said at least two attachment bolts thereby to secure the first mating unit and the securing portion to the support; a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and at least two cavities adapted to align with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit when in use and further adapted to receive at least two securing bolts to engage with said threaded portion of a respective one of said securing nuts thereby secure the second mating unit in cooperation to said first mating unit and thereby secure a cable located in engagement with said first and said second cable locating formations; wherein said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and said at least two cavities of said second mating unit are each further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts and to allow said at least two securing nuts to be rotated within the respective cavities relative to the respective first and second mating units.The kit may further comprise: a first arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to the first cable securing formation of the first mating unit for engaging an electrical cable therewith; and a second arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to the second cable securing formation of the second mating unit for engaging an electrical cable therewith. [ 0022 ] In a particular arrangement of the second aspect, the first and the second mating units may be substantially identical. [ 0023 ] In a particular arrangement of the second aspect, the cable clamp may be adapted for clamping high-voltage electrical cables. [ 0024 ] The arcuate resilient sleeves may be attached to a respective one of the first and second mating units by means of a series of posts on the sleeves. The posts may be adapted to mate with a corresponding series of cavities in the respective mating unit and forming a snug fit to respective cable locating formations of the first and second mating units. The arcuate resilient sleeves may be substantially identical.

-7 [ 0025 ] The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed from a non conducting material. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed from a plastics material. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be formed via an injection moulding technique. The first mating unit and the second mating unit may be substantially identical. [ 0026 ] The kit may further comprise washers adapted to engage the at least two attachment bolts and the at least two securing bolts to assist in securing the first and second mating units as would be appreciated by the skilled addressee. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [ 0027 ] Arrangements of the above aspects will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: [ 0028 ] Figure 1A is a picture of a prior art cable clamp for electrical cables; [ 0029 ] Figure 1B is a picture of a prior art cable clamp indicating a method for securing the cable clamp to a bus bar; [ 0030 ] Figure 2A is a picture of a cable clamp as disclosed herein [ 0031 ] Figure 2B is a picture of a cable clamp as disclosed herein depicted with a electrical cable engaging a cable locating portion of the cable clamp; [ 0032 ] Figure 2C is picture of a cable clamp attached to a busbar and securely engaging an electrical cable. [ 0033 ] Figure 2D is a picture of a first mating unit of a cable clamp as disclosed herein depicting the attachment of the first mating unit to a bus bar; [ 0034 ] Figure 3A is a picture of a busbar securing portion of a cable clamp as disclosed herein and a busbar; and [ 0035 ] Figure 3B is a further picture of a busbar securing portion of a cable clamp as disclosed herein shown engaging a busbar. [ 0036 ] Figure 4 is a cutaway schematic view of a cable clamp for electrical cables as disclosed herein depicted clamped to a busbar and clamping an electrical cable; and -8 [ 0037 ] Figure 5 is an exploded view of a particular arrangement of a first mating unit of the cable clamp as disclosed herein depicting the relationship between an arcuate surface of the mating unit and a resilient sleeve to form a cable locating formation of the mating unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [ 0038 ] Referring to the drawings, there is provided in Figures 2A and 2B a cable clamp 200 adapted for clamping electrical cables 250 and the like. The cable clamp 200 comprises a busbar securing portion (portion 300 as shown in Figures 3A and 3B) for securing the cable clamp 200 to a busbar 50. The cable clamp further comprises a first mating unit 201 comprising a first cable locating formation 203. The cable clamp 200 further comprises at least two securing nuts 205a and 205b each comprising a threaded portion for engaging attachment bolts (bolts 215a and 215b shown in Figures 3A and 3B) of the busbar securing portion 300 and also engaging at least two respective securing bolts 207a and 207b when in use. The cable clamp 200 further comprises a second mating unit 209 comprising a second cable locating formation 211as shown in either Figure 2A or Figure 4. The second mating unit 209 is adapted to engage with the first mating unit 201 thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable 250 located between respective first and second locating formations (203 and 211 respectively) of the first and second mating units (201 and 209 respectively). The electrical cable may be a high-voltage electrical cable. [ 0039 ] The first mating unit 201 comprises an arcuate surface 202 forming the first cable locating formation 203. In use, the arcuate surface 202 forming cable locating formation 203 is the upper surface of the first mating unit 201 when attached to a busbar 50. The first mating unit 201 further comprises an arcuate resilient sleeve 204 semi-permanently attached to said upper arcuate surface 202 for engaging an electrical cable 250 therewith. The first mating unit 201 further comprises at least two cavities therein (cavities 220a and 220b as shown in Figure 4) adapted to receive said at least two attachment bolts (not shown) for attachment of said first mating unit 201 to the busbar 50. [ 0040 ] The first mating unit 201 and the second mating unit 209 are typically be formed from a non-conducting material, e.g. plastic or other non-conducting material as would be appreciated by the skilled addressee. In particular arrangements, the first mating unit 201 and the second mating unit 209 are identical. Having the first and second mating units being formed from identical moulds provides a significant advantage in both the manufacturing of the cable clamp 200 and also for ease of installation.

-9 [ 0041 ] Referring to either Figure 3A or Figure 4, the busbar securing portion 300 comprises a busbar engaging portion 301 comprising at least two apertures 303a and 303b adapted to receive at least two respective attachment bolts 215a and 215b. In use, the busbar engaging portion slides into the central cavity 51 of busbar 50 with attachment bolts 215a and 215b extending out of the busbar central cavity 51 as is shown in Figure 3B. The first mating unit 201 is then fitted to the busbar engaging unit 50 such that the attachment bolts 215a and 215b are inserted into a respective one of the at least two cavities 220a and 220b as shown in Figure 4. Securing nuts 205a and 205b are screwed onto respective attachment bolts 215a and 215b to secure the first mating unit 201 to the busbar 50. Screwing the securing nuts 205a and 205b onto the respective attachment bolts causes the attachment bolts 215a and 215b to lift the busbar engaging portion 301 until it engages with the upper lips 53a and 53b of the busbar 50 thereby securing the first mating unit 201 to the busbar 50. [ 0042 ] Referring back to either Figure2B or Figure 4, the second mating unit 209 comprises an arcuate surface 210 forming the second cable locating formation 211. In use, the arcuate surface 210 forming cable locating formation 211 is the lower surface of the second mating unit 209 when attached to a busbar 50 as shown in Figure 4. The second mating unit 209 further comprises an arcuate resilient sleeve 212 semi-permanently attached to the second cable locating formation 211 for engaging an electrical cable 250 therewith. The second mating unit 209 further comprises at least two cavities (cavities 230a and 230b as shown in Figure 4) which in use are aligned with the at least two cavities (220a and 220b) of the first mating unit 201 as can be seen in Figure 4. The at least two cavities (230a and 230b) of the second mating unit 209 are adapted to receive at least two securing bolts (bolts 207a and 207b) to secure the second mating unit 209 to the first mating unit 201 such that the upper arcuate surface 202 and said lower arcuate surface 210 of respective mating units 201 and 209 are aligned and therefore secure an electrical cable 250 therein as depicted in Figure 2C and Figure 4. In use, securing bolts 207a and 207b are screwed into securing nuts 205a and 205b as can be seen in Figure 4 thereby to secure the second mating unit 209 to the first mating unit 201 and to secure a cable 250 between the first and second mating units in the generally circular cavity 260 formed by the alignment of the first locating portion 203 and the second locating portion 211 when the first and second mating units 201 and 209 are secured to the busbar 50 when in use. [ 0043 ] Referring to Figure 4 it can be seen that cavities 220a and 220b of the first mating unit 201 comprise an enlarged cavity portion 221a and 221b respectively to receive the securing nuts 205a and 205b respectively when the securing nuts are engaged with attachment bolts 215a -10 and 215b. Is can thus be seen that enlarged cavity portions 221a and 221b at least partially conceal the securing nuts 205a and 205b when in use. Similarly, cavities 230a and 230b of the second mating unit 209 each comprise 231a and 231b respective enlarged cavity portion 231a and 231b. Enlarged cavity portions 231a and 231b of the second mating unit are adapted to receive the securing nuts 205a and 205b when the second mating unit 209 is engaged with the first mating unit 201. Therefore in use, the at least two cavities 220a and 220b of the first mating unit 201 and the at least two cavities 230a and 230b of the second mating unit 209 act in cooperation to conceal the securing nuts 205a and 205b when in use. Concealment, even partially, of the securing nuts 205a and 205b may significantly minimise the chance of unwanted corona discharge associated with electrical cabling (for example electrical cable 250) in the presence of metal surfaces having sharp edges such as corners of hexagonal or octagonal securing nuts 205a and 205b or the like, particularly associated with the minimisation of corona discharge associated with electrical cabling, and particularly associated with high-voltage electrical cabling. This is achieved by ensuring an additional non-conductive material (comprising mating units 201 and 209) is located intermediate the electrical cable and the edges of the securing nuts where corona discharge is likely to occur, thereby forming an increased potential barrier between the electrical cable and potential corona forming surfaces [ 0044 ] The arcuate resilient sleeves 204 and 212 are semi-permanently attached to a respective one of the first and second mating units (201 and 209 respectively) by means of a series of posts 204a (of sleeve 204 as shown in Figure 5) on the sleeves. The posts 204a are adapted to mate with a corresponding series of cavities (e.g. cavities 204b formed in the arcuate surface 202 of the first mating unit 201 as shown in Figure 5) in the respective mating unit and forming a snug fit to the respective cable locating formations 203 and 211 of the first and second mating units respectively. [ 0045 ] The following definitions are provided as general definitions and should in no way limit the scope of the present invention to those terms alone, but are put forth for a better understanding of the following description. [ 0046 ] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. For the purposes of the present invention, the following terms are defined below.

- 11 [ 0047 ] The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "an element" refers to one element or more than one element. [ 0048 ] The term "about" is used herein to refer to quantities that vary by as much as 30%, preferably by as much as 20%, and more preferably by as much as 10% to a reference quantity. [ 0049 ] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or element or group of steps or elements but not the exclusion of any other step or element or group of steps or elements. [ 0050 ] Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, preferred methods and materials are described. It will be appreciated that the methods, apparatus and systems described herein may be implemented in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes. The description here is by way of example only.

Claims (18)

1. A cable clamp adapted for clamping electrical cables, comprising: a securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a support; a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation and at least two cavities therein adapted to receive at least two attachment bolts for attachment of said first mating unit to the support; at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging said at least two respective attachment bolts and also for engaging at least two respective securing bolts; and a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and at least two cavities adapted to align with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit when in use, and further adapted to receive said at least two securing bolts to engage said second mating unit with said first mating unit thereby to securely clamp an electrical cable located between reswpective first and second locating formations of the first and second mating units; wherein said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and said at least two cavities of said second mating unit are each further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts and to allow said at least two securing nuts to be rotated within the respective cavities relative to the respective first and second mating units.

2. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the busbar securing portion comprises: an engaging portion comprising at least two apertures adapted to receive said at least two attachment bolts.

3. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first mating unit further comprises: an arcuate upper surface forming the first cable locating formation; and an arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said upper arcuate surface for engaging an electrical cable therewith.

4. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second mating unit further comprises: an arcuate lower surface forming the second cable locating formation; and an arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said second cable locating formation for engaging an electrical cable therewith; - 13 wherein, in use, said upper arcuate surface and said lower arcuate surface of respective mating units are aligned and therefore secure an electrical cable therein.

5. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 4 further comprising at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging a respective one of said at least two attachment bolts and also a respective one of said at least two respective securing bolts.

6. A cable clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 wherein said at least partial concealment of said at least two securing nuts significantly minimises unwanted corona discharge associated with said electrical cable.

7. A cable clamp as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said arcuate resilient sleeves are attached to a respective one of said first and second mating units by means of a series of posts on said sleeves, said posts adapted to mate with a corresponding series of cavities in said respective mating unit and forming a snug fit to respective cable locating formations of said first and second mating units.

8. A cable clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first mating unit and the second mating unit are formed from a non-conducting material.

9. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first mating unit and the second mating unit are formed from a plastics material.

10. A cable clamp as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the first mating unit and the second mating unit are formed from a material having a high dielectric constant to assist in minimisation of unwanted corona discharge.

11. A cable clamp as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first mating unit and the second mating unit are formed via an injection moulding technique.

12. A cable clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first mating unit and the second mating unit are substantially identical.

13. A cable clamp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrical cable is a high-voltage electrical cable.

14. A cable clamp substantially as herein described with respect to any one of the accompanying figures and/or examples.

15. A kit for a cable clamp for clamping electrical cables, the kit comprising: a securing portion for securing the cable clamp to a support; -14 a first mating unit comprising a first cable locating formation and at least two cavities therein adapted to receive at least two attachment bolts for attachment of the securing portion and the first mating unit to the support at least two securing nuts comprising a threaded portion for engaging a respective one of said at least two attachment bolts thereby to secure the first mating unit and the securing portion to the support; a second mating unit comprising a second cable locating formation and at least two cavities adapted to align with said at least two cavities of said first mating unit when in use and further adapted to receive at least two securing bolts to engage with said threaded portion of a respective one of said securing nuts thereby secure the second mating unit in cooperation to said first mating unit and thereby secure a cable located in engagement with said first and said second cable locating formations; wherein said at least two cavities of said first mating unit and said at least two cavities of said second mating unit are each further adapted to at least partially conceal a respective one of said at least two securing nuts and to allow said at least two securing nuts to be rotated within the respective cavities relative to the respective first and second mating units.

16. A kit as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: a first arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said first cable securing formation of said first mating unit for engaging an electrical cable therewith; and a second arcuate resilient sleeve semi-permanently attached to said second cable securing formation of said second mating unit for engaging an electrical cable therewith.

17. A kit as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the first and the second mating units are substantially identical.

18. A kit for a cable clamp substantially as herein described with respect to any one of the accompanying figures and/or examples.