WO1999043975A1

WO1999043975A1 - Conduit connection

Info

Publication number: WO1999043975A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000551
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Davidson
Original assignee: Linkindex Limited
Priority date: 1998-02-28
Filing date: 1999-03-01
Publication date: 1999-09-02
Also published as: AU3612299A

Abstract

A conduit connector comprises at least one internally threaded connection member (1) and at least one plug member (11) having an external thread for securing the plug member (11) to the connection member. The plug member is capable of gripping engagement with a conduit end.

Description

CONDUIT CONNECTION

This invention relates to the connections of conduits, carrying cables or the like, to other conduits or to other devices such as junction boxes.

In a known conduit connection system the ends of two conduits to be joined together are externally threaded and an internally threaded cylindrical connection member is threadingly engaged to each conduit end.

The above-mentioned known system is difficult to operate since it involves making threading engagement between the threaded ends of two conduits, which may be of great length, and the connection member. In practice, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to make a firm connection due to the need to twist at least one of the conduits once the connector is on place on the other conduit. Furthermore, the need to have conduits with threaded ends imposes limitations on the conduit system and is a source of considerably expense.

According to the present invention there is provided a conduit connector comprising at least one internally threaded connection member and at least one plug member having an external thread for securing the plug member to the connection member, said plug member being capable of gripping engagement with a conduit end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said conduit connector comprises a plurality of internally threaded connection members suitably spaced apart and preferably the number of threaded connection members is equal to the number of plug members provided, and more preferably still this number is equal to the number of conduits it is desired to connect.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said conduit connector further comprises a collar member which is suitably sized and shaped so as to be accommodated within at least a part of said threaded connector member. In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention, said collar member is suitably positioned about at least part of a conduit so as to further secure said conduit and reduce movement of same within said conduit connector.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention, said collar member is annular and is appropriately fashioned on at least a selected portion of an outer surface so as to provide suitably graduated and incrementally reduced thickness at one end. Ideally said conduit connector comprises a plurality of said collar members each associated with a threaded connector member. Thus is will be appreciated that in use the collar member effects a spigot or stop against which the end of the conduit may engage.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a conduit connector in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a conduit connector in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of a collar member forming part of a third embodiment in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 shows the entire third embodiment of a conduit connector in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a conduit connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an internally threaded connection member 1 which is of substantially hollow cylindrical form. The outer surface of connection member 1 is smooth and of uniform diameter along the length of the connector. Internally, the connection member is divided into three regions. Central region 3 is of relatively narrow internal diameter sufficient to accommodate the very ends of conduits 5 and 7 to be connected together. Between central region 3 and each end of the connection member 1, there is a threaded region 9 of greater diameter than the external diameter of conduits 5 and 7. Located between a conduit 5, 7 and the threaded region 9 of connection member 1 is a hollow plug 11 with an internal diameter such that plug 11 may be pushed onto the conduit end and makes a gripping engagement therewith.

The exterior of plug 11 is divided into two regions. A first region 13 is provided with a screw thread allowing the plug to be screwed into one of the ends of the connection assembly 1. Adjacent region 13 is a short flanged region 15 of external diameter which is the same as that of the external diameter of connection member 1.

The conduits 5 and 7 may be crimped to provide a continuous, or discontinuous, outwardly extending projection or rib 17 about the periphery of the conduit close to its very end. It can be seen that projection 17 serves to enable the conduit to be correctly positioned within the conduit connector and prevents the conduit from being pulled out of the connector once the connector has been assembled.

Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, another embodiment of the conduit connector in accordance with the present invention allows three conduits 21, 23, 25 to be connected together at a junction 27. The connector includes a single connection member 29 carrying three threaded connector elements 31 within each of which is a plug 33 and one of the conduits 21, 23, 25. In other respects the connection member is similar to that described above with reference to Figure 1.

With reference to Figure 3 there is shown collar member 32 in front perspective view forming part of a third embodiment of the invention. The collar member is fashioned at region 35 on an outer surface 34 so as to provide a gradually reduced cross sectional area up to a pre-determined selected width at end 33. It will be understood that this configuration allows for the collar member to travel within the conduit connector a selected and pre-determined distance until end 36 abuts projection or rib 17 of a conduit (not shown). Figure 4 shows the entire third embodiment of the invention including collar member 32 as depicted in Figure 3. In this embodiment, conduit 37 is provided with projection or rib 17 and is appropriately engaged by the threaded plug 38, which in turn is threadingly engaged within threaded connector 39. Accordingly, in the instance of assembling the conduit connector, the conduit is pushed into threaded plug 38 and is swaged, or wrought or shaped by use of appropriate pliers or the like. Collar member 32 is subsequently pushed onto conduit 37 until end 36 abuts projection or rib 17, thus effectively sandwiching said conduit projection or rib 17 between plug 38 and the collar member 32. End 40 of connector element 39 is fashioned so as to be of marginally smaller cross sectional diameter than that of collar member 32 so as to prevent movement of same, thus in turn collar member 32 is sandwiched between conduit projection or rib 17 and end 40 of connector element 39.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the conduit connector of the invention thus provides for secure and firm connection of one or more conduits.

Claims

1. A conduit connector comprising at least one internally threaded connection member and at least one plug member having an external thread for securing the plug member to the connection member, said plug member being capable of gripping engagement with a conduit end.

2. A conduit connector according to Claim 1 and having a plurality of internally threaded connection members suitably spaced apart.

3. A conduit connector according to Claim 2 wherein the number of threaded connection members is equal to the number of plug members.

4. A conduit connector according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising a collar member which is sized and shaped so as to be accommodated within at least a part of the threaded connector member.