Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
  • F16L3/08—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/12—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
  • F16L3/1226—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing elongated supports, e.g. to support a curved pipe
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
  • H02G3/06—Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing or channels, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint
  • H02G3/0616—Joints for connecting tubing to casing
  • H02G3/0691—Fixing tubing to casing by auxiliary means co-operating with indentations of the tubing, e.g. with tubing-convolutions
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
  • H02G3/08—Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
  • H02G3/088—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a liquid-tight fitting, and, more
• a base having a passageway extending therethrough along a
• the sealing nut also includes
• a cover pivotally connected to the base such that the cover is movable
• a retaining mechanism is provided for retaining the cover in
• a cooperating mechanism is also provided for cooperating
• the cooperating mechanism is located within the base, whereby the liquid-tight and strain-
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid-tight fitting which is
• the sealing nut being shown in its open
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 , except that the sealing nut is
• FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the sealing nut illustrated in
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1 ;
• FIG.4 is a partially cutaway, front elevational view of the sealing
• FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the sealing nut illustrated in FIGS.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line 6-6 and
• FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the sealing nut illustrated in
• FIG. 2
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line 8-8 and
• FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic views of the liquid-tight fitting
• FIGS. 1 and 2 showing it in use
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a liquid-tight fitting which is
• the sealing nut being shown in its open
• FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, except that the sealing nut
• FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the sealing nut illustrated
• FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway, front elevational view of the sealing
• FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the sealing nut illustrated
• FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line 15-15
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a liquid-tight fitting which is
• the sealing nut being shown in it open
• FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16, except that the sealing nut
• FIG. 18 is an exploded, side view of a liquid-tight fitting in
• FIG. 19 is a front view of the grasping portion of the liquid-tight
• FIG. 20 is an enlarged, partially cross-sectional view of the
• FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the grasping conduit portion
• FIG. 22 is a front view of the sealing nut of the fitting of FIG. 18;
• FIG 23 is detailed, partially cross-sectional view of the sealing
• FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing nut of FIG. 22,
• FIG. 25 is a front, partially diagrammatic view of the fluid-tight
• FIG. 26 is a partially cross-sectional view of the fitting of FIG. 25
• FIG. 27 is a front, partially diagrammatic view of the fluid-tight
• FIG. 28 is a partially cross-sectional view of the fitting of FIG. 27
• FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic view of one of the grasping fingers of
• FIGS. 25-28 undergoing movement from a first position
• FIG. 1 shows a liquid-tight fitting 10 having a liquid-tight body
• body 12 has an upper portion (i.e., a grasping portion) 16 provided with strain
• strain relief fingers 18 a gland 20, which is cradled by the strain relief fingers 18,
• a lock nut 28 is threaded onto the lower portion 24 so as to mount
• the lower portion 24 can be tapered such that it can be threaded
• the base 30 is adapted to be coupled to the upper portion 16 of the body 12 in a threaded manner and to cooperate with the strain relief
• the base 30 has a
• the base 30 has an open trough 42 positioned adjacent an upper end of the
• the base 30 is equipped
• the cavities 46, 48 include transverse planar walls
• Locking tabs 52, 54 are formed and
• the locking tabs 52, 54 are oriented transversely with
• the locking tabs 52, 54 include planar locking surfaces
• the base 30 also has a
• the cover 32 is pivotable about the
• pivot axis A which extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis B
• the slots 60, 62 include planar locking surfaces 60a, 62a (see FIGS. 1 and 3), respectively, which engage the
• locking surfaces 60a, 62a lie in a plane which is substantially normal to the
• the locking fingers 56, 58 also have
• widths W.,, W 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), respectively, extending in directions which
• an open trough 64 extends from
• the body 12 is mounted on the housing 26 of the electrical and/or mechanical
• nut 14 is loosely coupled to the upper portion 16 of the body 12 in a threaded
• the body 12, the sealing nut 14 and the cable 33 can be
• the base 30 are snap-fitted into the slots 60, 62, respectively, of the locking
• passageway 68 is thereby fed to the electrical and/or mechanical device
• the cable 33 is grasped by the body 12 at the base 30 in a sealing and strain-
• the locking mechanism of the present invention also provides
• locking fingers 56, 58, respectively, lie in a plane which is normal to the
• the cover 32 is adapted to remain coupled to the base 30 and to
• the cover 32 also provides additional advantages over the prior
• the trough 64 provides the cover 32 with a spring-like
• the trough 64 facilitates the removal of an associated
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• the base 30 can be modified to assume other angles (e.g., 100°).
• sealing nut 14 can be made of any material.
• FIGS. 10-15 and FIG. 16 and 17 depict second and third
• FIGS. 10-15 and FIG. 16 and 17 which correspond, either identically or
• FIGS. 1-9C have been designated by corresponding reference
• FIGS. 10-17 are constructed
• FIGS. 10-15 illustrate a liquid-tight fitting 110 which is equipped
• sealing nut 114 are identical to those of the sealing nut 14 of the
• Locking tabs are an exterior wall 150 of the base 130 on opposing sides thereof. Locking tabs
• the locking tabs 152, 154 are oriented
• sealing nut 114 also has a cover 132 equipped with a pair of locking fingers
• the locking fingers 156, 158 depending from the cover 132 on opposite sides thereof.
• the locking fingers 156, 158 are sized and shaped so as to interlock with the
• Each of the cavities, 146, 148 also includes side planar walls 146b, 146c for
• locking tabs 152, 154 are oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis
• locking tabs 152, 154 and the locking fingers 156, 158 further enhance
• FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a liquid-tight fitting 210 which is
• sealing nut 214 are identical to those of the sealing nut 14 of the
• the base 230 is provided with a pair of cavities 246, 248 which are
• the cavities 246, 248 include transverse planar walls 246a, 248a, respectively,
• Locking tabs 252, 254 are formed and located in the cavities 246, 248,
• the cover 232 is equipped with a pair of locking fingers 256, 258 depending
• the locking fingers 256, 258 are sized and shaped so as
• locking fingers 256, 258 have widths W 1 ⁇ W 2 , respectively, extending in a
• FIG. 18 shows a fluid-tight fitting 310 in accordance with an
• the body 312 has
• a sealing nut 314 is threadedly received on threads
• a conically shaped inner surface thereof 338 (shown in phantom) abuts against and urges the fingers 318
• fitting 310 is similar in overall structure and function to the fitting shown and
• FIGS. 18, 21 , 26 and 28 illustrate a novel cup-shaped sealing
• the flange 331 flattens out when the fitting is
• the mounting surface is expelled when the flange is flattened.
• cup-shaped flange 331 is resilient and tends to return to its original cupped
• the flange 331 can accommodate irregularities (e.g., unevenness or
• the flange 331 spreads out providing a large sealing surface.
• the cup-shaped flange 331 therefore provides an effective seal without the use
• FIG. 19 shows the generally triangular or wedge-shaped upper
• fingers 318 are spaced apart and extend radially inward with an inner side
• triangle is preferably curved to approximate the curvature of the conical inner
• FIG. 20 shows a finger 318 in cross-section at a position below
• the fingers 318 can be seen to have a thin
• FIG. 21 illustrates the recess 382 provided in the body 312 of
• the recess 382 is defined at
• annular seat 384 formed proximate the base or
• the recess extends in an axial direction toward the
• tapered seat 386 having the same general orientation as the inner seat 384
• the gland 320 has a shape that is complementary to that of the recess
• FIGS. 22-24 show a sealing nut 314 in accordance with an
• the lock has a directional sense like a pawl and, as illustrated,
• locks 388 could be utilized for left-handed threads that tighten in a counterclockwise direction. In operation, the locks 388 ramp over the edges
• FIG. 24 shows that the locks 388 are placed on the sealing nut
• the locks 388 extend from an inner
• the locks 388 of the present invention can be utilized in combination with known locking
• FIGS. 25, 26 and 27, 28 are front and cross-sectional views of
• the triangular ends 370 are
• fitting 310 is composed of a tough and dense plastic.
• the gland 320 is typically formed from a more compliant material such as rubber.
• the present invention thus utilizes the relatively sharp
• the triangular ends 370 are thick relative to the remainder of the fingers 318.
• FIG. 29 illustrates that the fingers 318
• FIG. 28 which further shows the simultaneous downward bending
• FIG. 28 it effects a seal against the cable 392 and against the seat 384.
• triangular ends 370 are elongated due to the fact that the triangles have two
• the triangular ends 370 are rigidly and their motion firmly limited by contact

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
• Cable Accessories (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26715125

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1998
  • 1998-02-12 JP JP53588998A patent/JP2001513170A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-02-12 WO PCT/US1998/002692 patent/WO1998036481A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-02-12 EP EP98908526A patent/EP0965156A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-02-12 CN CN 98803819 patent/CN1251693A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-02-12 CA CA002278343A patent/CA2278343C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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