GB2115626A

GB2115626A - Releasably mounting a cable gland

Info

Publication number: GB2115626A
Application number: GB08303294A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian David Hamblin
Original assignee: Hawke Cable Glands Ltd
Current assignee: Hawke Cable Glands Ltd
Priority date: 1982-02-05
Filing date: 1983-02-07
Publication date: 1983-09-07
Also published as: GB2115626B; GB8303294D0

Abstract

A mounting adaptor comprises a body (10) which can be secured to a fitting, an inner member (20) one end (26) of which can be secured to a cable gland and sleeve (40) for holding the body and inner member together. The cable gland may thereby be mounted releasably on the fitting for removal without dismantling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An adaptor This invention relates to an adaptor or coupling device for use with cable glands and other cable or conduit termination devices.

When a cable gland is fitted as a termination to cable or conduit it is normal practice to fix part of the gland to the junction box or other fitting and then apply the other gland parts to the cable whereafter the other gland parts are engaged with the part already fixed in the junction box.

Thereafter if the cable conductors are to be disconnected from terminals within the junction box or other fitting the gland must be disassembled in order to allow adequate movement of the cable.

The present invention has been made with this problem particuiarly in mind.

According to the invention there is provided an adaptor or coupling device comprising a hollow body adapted to be secured to the wall of a junction box or other electrical fitting, an inner hollow body member, at least one end of which is receivable in the hollow body, said inner hollow body member being adapted to be removably secured to conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device and means for releasably holding the hollow body and inner hollow body member together.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an adaptor in longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawing the adaptor comprises a hollow tubular body 10 which is externally threaded at one end 12. The other end 14 is externally threaded and of enlarged cross-section in which a counterbore 1 6 is formed that defines an internal shoulder 18.

Inner hollow member 20 is externally shaped at one end 22 so as to be close fit within the body 10. The member 20 preferably extends along the whole internal length of end 12 body 10 and provides a flame-proof path 24 between itself and body 10 preferably at least to the extent specified in B.S. No. 4683 part 2 or B.S. No. 5501 part 5. It is to be understood that the flame-proof path does not need to be parallel to the axis of the body as in the illustrated embodiment; it can be inclined to the body axis.

The other end 26 may be internally threaded for the reception of, for example, the externally threaded end 30 of the body 32 of a cable gland or of conduit shown in dotted lines in the Figure.

The external dimension of member 20 at the extreme left hand end thereof (as viewed in the drawing) is reduced as at 36, thereby defining an external shoulder 38.

A sleeve 40 is disposed around end 26 of member 20. The sleeve 40 is internally threaded at one end 42 for engagement with the externally threaded end 1 6 of the body 10. An inturned flange 44 is provided at the other end 42 of the sleeve 40 for engagement against shoulder 38 on member 20.

As illustrated in the embodiment of the drawing, it is preferred, but not essential, to provide means for releasably locking the sleeve 40 to the member 20; (the purpose for this will be explained hereinafter). One such manner of effecting that comprises a tapped bore 50 in the wall of sleeve 40 in which a grub screw 52 is located. The grub screw can be tightened into a recess 54 in the outer surface of member 20.

Seals can be provided between the parts of the device of the invention. For example an O-ring 60 of resilient material such as neoprene can be provided in an annular channel 62 in the outer surface of member 20 with the intention of forming a seal against the end 16 of body 10.

The device just described may be used as follows. Assume that a cable gland which includes cable gland body 32 has been "made off" on cable 70. In that condition body 32 is, in effect, held against rotation so that end 30 the gland body 32 cannot be screwed into the tapped bore of a junction box unless the gland is first disassembled. Using the invention body 10 is screwed into the fitting wail and the cable conductors are led into the fitting through sleeve 40, member 20 and body 10 and connected to terminals in the fitting.

Sleeve 40 and member 20 are then locked together by grub screw 52 and then end 26 of member 20 is tightened onto end 30 of the cable gland body. The grub screw is then slackened off so that sleeve 40 can rotate relative to member 20. End 42 of sleeve 40 is then engaged on end 16 of body 10 and tightened to complete the assembly. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the gland can readily be separated from the junction box or other fitting by slackening sleeve 40 from the body 10; no disassembly of the gland 30 being required.

The invention is not limited to the abovedescribed embodiment; many modifications can be made. For example the embodiment shows an adaptor for connection to the external threaded end 32 of a gland or of conduit. An adaptor can be constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention which can be connected to an internally threaded gland end or conduit end. This may be effected for example by providing an additional externally threaded member one end of which is connected to the internally threaded gland or conduit end and to the other end of which member 20 of the adaptor is connected.

Alternatively the right hand end (as viewed in the drawing) of member 20 can be extended and externally threaded for direct connection to the internally threaded end of a gland or conduit.

Claims

1. An adaptor or coupling device comprising a hollow body adapted to be secured to the wall of a junction box or other electrical fitting, an inner hollow body member at least one end of which is receivable in the hollow body, said inner hollow

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An adaptor This invention relates to an adaptor or coupling device for use with cable glands and other cable or conduit termination devices. When a cable gland is fitted as a termination to cable or conduit it is normal practice to fix part of the gland to the junction box or other fitting and then apply the other gland parts to the cable whereafter the other gland parts are engaged with the part already fixed in the junction box. Thereafter if the cable conductors are to be disconnected from terminals within the junction box or other fitting the gland must be disassembled in order to allow adequate movement of the cable. The present invention has been made with this problem particuiarly in mind. According to the invention there is provided an adaptor or coupling device comprising a hollow body adapted to be secured to the wall of a junction box or other electrical fitting, an inner hollow body member, at least one end of which is receivable in the hollow body, said inner hollow body member being adapted to be removably secured to conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device and means for releasably holding the hollow body and inner hollow body member together. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an adaptor in longitudinal section. Referring to the drawing the adaptor comprises a hollow tubular body 10 which is externally threaded at one end 12. The other end 14 is externally threaded and of enlarged cross-section in which a counterbore 1 6 is formed that defines an internal shoulder 18. Inner hollow member 20 is externally shaped at one end 22 so as to be close fit within the body 10. The member 20 preferably extends along the whole internal length of end 12 body 10 and provides a flame-proof path 24 between itself and body 10 preferably at least to the extent specified in B.S. No. 4683 part 2 or B.S. No. 5501 part 5. It is to be understood that the flame-proof path does not need to be parallel to the axis of the body as in the illustrated embodiment; it can be inclined to the body axis. The other end 26 may be internally threaded for the reception of, for example, the externally threaded end 30 of the body 32 of a cable gland or of conduit shown in dotted lines in the Figure. The external dimension of member 20 at the extreme left hand end thereof (as viewed in the drawing) is reduced as at 36, thereby defining an external shoulder 38. A sleeve 40 is disposed around end 26 of member 20. The sleeve 40 is internally threaded at one end 42 for engagement with the externally threaded end 1 6 of the body 10. An inturned flange 44 is provided at the other end 42 of the sleeve 40 for engagement against shoulder 38 on member 20. As illustrated in the embodiment of the drawing, it is preferred, but not essential, to provide means for releasably locking the sleeve 40 to the member 20; (the purpose for this will be explained hereinafter). One such manner of effecting that comprises a tapped bore 50 in the wall of sleeve 40 in which a grub screw 52 is located. The grub screw can be tightened into a recess 54 in the outer surface of member 20. Seals can be provided between the parts of the device of the invention. For example an O-ring 60 of resilient material such as neoprene can be provided in an annular channel 62 in the outer surface of member 20 with the intention of forming a seal against the end 16 of body 10. The device just described may be used as follows. Assume that a cable gland which includes cable gland body 32 has been "made off" on cable 70. In that condition body 32 is, in effect, held against rotation so that end 30 the gland body 32 cannot be screwed into the tapped bore of a junction box unless the gland is first disassembled. Using the invention body 10 is screwed into the fitting wail and the cable conductors are led into the fitting through sleeve 40, member 20 and body 10 and connected to terminals in the fitting. Sleeve 40 and member 20 are then locked together by grub screw 52 and then end 26 of member 20 is tightened onto end 30 of the cable gland body. The grub screw is then slackened off so that sleeve 40 can rotate relative to member 20. End 42 of sleeve 40 is then engaged on end 16 of body 10 and tightened to complete the assembly. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the gland can readily be separated from the junction box or other fitting by slackening sleeve 40 from the body 10; no disassembly of the gland 30 being required. The invention is not limited to the abovedescribed embodiment; many modifications can be made. For example the embodiment shows an adaptor for connection to the external threaded end 32 of a gland or of conduit. An adaptor can be constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention which can be connected to an internally threaded gland end or conduit end. This may be effected for example by providing an additional externally threaded member one end of which is connected to the internally threaded gland or conduit end and to the other end of which member 20 of the adaptor is connected. Alternatively the right hand end (as viewed in the drawing) of member 20 can be extended and externally threaded for direct connection to the internally threaded end of a gland or conduit. Claims

1. An adaptor or coupling device comprising a hollow body adapted to be secured to the wall of a junction box or other electrical fitting, an inner hollow body member at least one end of which is receivable in the hollow body, said inner hollow body member being adapted to be removably secured to conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device and means for releasably holding the hollow body and the inner hollow body member together.

2. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a flame-proof path is provided between the hollow body and the inner hollow body member.

3. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein means are provided for preventing relative rotation between the inner hollow body member and the holding means.

4. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner member extends along the length of the hollow body.

5. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein fluid-tight sealing means is provided between the hollow body and the inner member.

6. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner member is adapted for engagement on the exterior of conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device.

7. An adaptor as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner member is adapted for engagement with the interior of conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device.

8. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner member is adapted for direct engagement with conduit, a cable gland or other cable terminating device.

9. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner member is of enlarged internal cross-section at the end thereof which, in use, is adjacent conduit, cable gland or other cable terminating device.

10. An adaptor substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.