Abstract:
A flanged sleeve connector provides an interface between an end of a secure conduit and a locked enclosure. The connector has a tubular portion of at least partially rectangular or other geometric cross section, and an outwardly projecting flange of circular outer peripheral shape at an end of the first tubular portion. In use, the connector is placed over an opening in a wall of an enclosure or through wall penetration with the flange end face engaging the wall surrounding the opening, and a fastener device inside the enclosure is engaged with fastener formations on the connector to secure the connector to the enclosure. In one embodiment, the connector has a second, externally threaded portion extending from the flange into the enclosure to engage the fastener. In another embodiment, the flanged end of the connector has internal threads.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/982,797 filed on Oct. 26, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a flanged sleeve connector for an enclosure in a conduit system, and is particularly concerned with a connector which provides an interface between a locked enclosure, control box, or through wall penetration, and a cable-carrying conduit in a secure network or conduit system. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    In many industries, there is a need for secure routing of signaling and transmission lines such as computer, power, communication and similar cables, wires or tubing such as gas, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines, where access to such lines must be prevented or at least deterred. Secure conduit systems for this purpose are known and generally include one or more locked enclosures or control boxes to permit access and plug in to the system by authorized personnel, together with a secure conduit system which encloses the lines and extends between the control boxes and other similar devices. Such a secure conduit system is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,049,517, 7,053,303, 7,115,814, and 7,183,488 of McCarthy et al. 
         [0006]    The secure conduit system described in the above identified patents has lengths of conduit with ends which connect to locked enclosures, control boxes, or through wall penetrations by means of a flanged sleeve connector. The connector has a first sleeve portion or cylindrical extension which extends through an opening into the locked enclosure, a square flange which rests against an outer surface portion of the enclosure around the opening, and a connector tube portion which projects outwardly from the flange and engages with an end of the secure conduit system. The extension has external threads which engages a nut inside the enclosure which tightly connects the connector to the enclosure. The connector can therefore only be detached from the enclosure by an authorized individual who has access to the interior of the enclosure. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]    Embodiments described herein provide for a flanged sleeve connector which provides an interface between an end of a conduit and an enclosure, control box, a through wall penetration, or other transition piece, and to a control box assembly including the flange connector. 
         [0008]    According to one embodiment, a flanged sleeve connector is provided which comprises a sleeve having an outwardly projecting annular flange of circular outer periphery which has a first face which rests against an outer wall of an enclosure, through wall penetration or the like when the connector is secured to the enclosure or through wall penetration, a second face, and a first tubular portion projecting from the second face, and a fastener mechanism having inter-engageable formations which engage corresponding formations on a fastener device inside the enclosure when the connector is secured to the enclosure. The tubular portion may be of rectangular or other cross-sectional shapes. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the fastener mechanism comprises a second tubular portion which extends from the first face of the flange through an opening in the enclosure wall into the enclosure, and the inter-engageable formations comprise screw threads on the outer surface of the second portion of the sleeve which are engageable with a fastener nut inside the enclosure. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve has internal screw threads extending inwardly from the first face of the flange which comprise inter-engageable formations which are engageable with a fastener bolt or the like inside the enclosure. The first tubular portion may be straight or may have a bend at any desired angle, depending on the location of the end of the conduit system to which it is to be connected. 
         [0010]    The flange connector with an enlarged circular flange covers larger openings in the enclosure wall than the prior art flange connector with a square flange, and has an outer peripheral edge at a uniform spacing from the round hole or opening over which the connector is engaged, unlike a square flange. 
         [0011]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0012]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a first end perspective view of a flanged sleeve connector for a secure conduit system according to one embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a second end perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1  secured to a locked enclosure or access box; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view on the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a first end perspective view of a second embodiment of the flanged sleeve connector; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a second end perspective view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  but illustrating the connector of  FIGS. 5 and 6  secured to a wall of a locked enclosure; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a 90 degree connector according to another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a flanged sleeve connector which provides an interface between an end conduit of a secure conduit system and a control box, secure enclosure, or through wall penetration of the conduit system. 
         [0022]    After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0023]    Although the flanged sleeve connector is described below as secured to a wall of an enclosure or control box of a conduit system such as a secure or non-secure conduit system, it may alternatively be secured to any other part of the system such as a through wall penetration that penetrates wall or floor, a transition piece which makes a turn, or any other system function. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate a first embodiment of a flanged sleeve connector  10  which may be used as an interface between an inlet/outlet end of a secure conduit system, such as the secure conduit system described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,814 of McCarthy et al. referenced above, and a secure enclosure or user control box  12  ( FIG. 3 ), or a through wall penetration or other transition piece of the secure conduit system. It should be understood that the control box illustrated in  FIG. 3  is by way of example only, and control boxes of many different sizes and configurations may be used in other embodiments, depending on the application. The flange connector  10  is designed such that it can only be released from the box by an authorized user having access to the interior of the box. The secure conduit system includes one or more sections of elongate channel elements securely coupled together to form an elongate conduit with open ends, and each end is connected to a control box by a flange connector  10 , with the sections including bends as needed by the installation requirements. 
         [0025]    The secure conduit system of which flange connector  10  forms a part may provide a conduit through which electrical, electronic or optical fiber cables, pneumatic tubing, hydraulic tubing or other elongated wiring, cabling or tubing can be routed. The conduit system can be connected at its various ends to secure enclosures  12  which allow for secure controlled access to the cabling inside the conduit system. Typical uses are for computer networks, communication systems, power transmission, equipment control systems, remote sensing systems and the like. Principal uses which may be illustrated as examples in electrical, electronic and telecommunications fields include secure routing of power cables, computer cables and communications cables for networked computer systems and wired telecommunications systems. Locations may be within, between or outside buildings. The secure conduit system may also be used in wireless communications systems, such as for security of landline cabling from the generating or receiving equipment to the sending/receiving antennas. Another example of potential users&#39; systems is a system for remote environmental air, gas or liquid sampling and analysis. In this type of system, a fluid-tight tube, hose or pipe is run from a storage or analysis location to a remote sampling site where the pipe terminates in an open liquid-, air- or gas-sampling device. Periodically or continually samples of the environment at the sampler point are taken, and then transported back through the pipe to a collection system for analysis or directly to an analysis system. Such secured pipe is desired when the liquid, gas or air in the pipe cannot be leaked to the outside or accessed by unauthorized persons or in an unauthorized manner. Such unauthorized access is of particular concern when the liquid, gas or air being sampled is itself flammable, toxic or otherwise dangerous, or when it may be contaminated with or otherwise carry or entrain flammable, toxic or otherwise dangerous components. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flanged sleeve connector  10  comprises a hollow sleeve or tubular member having a first, externally threaded cylindrical portion  14 , a second portion  15  of generally square or rectangular cross section, and an annular flange  16  of circular shape at the intersection between the cylindrical and square portions  14 ,  15 . The connector  10  may be of metal or other rigid material, such as hard plastic material.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the connector attached through an opening  17  in a wall  18  of a secure enclosure or control box  20 , which typically contains one or more connections or sockets to allow a user of the system to plug in an appliance such as a computer terminal to the system. The enclosure  12  is normally closed by a penetration-resistant door (not illustrated) which is locked by a secure lock. An authorized user has a key or combination to the lock and can open the door and access a connection device on the secure system apparatus within the enclosure. 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a suitable nut or fastener  22  is threadably engaged and tightened over the threaded portion  14  of connector  10  which projects into the enclosure through opening  17 . This secures the connector to the enclosure, and the connector can then only be removed by release of the nut  22  by an individual who has access to the inside of the locked enclosure. Secondary fasteners such as set screws, rivets, or the like may also be used for securing the connector flange to the enclosure.  FIG. 3  illustrates the external portion (flange  16  and square portion  150  of one flange connector  10 ) secured to one wall  18  of the enclosure so that the flange rests against the outer surface of the wall completely covering opening  18 . The inwardly protruding portion  14  of another flange connector  10  is shown in the opposite wall  19 , along with the nut or threaded fastener  22  which secures connector to the wall  19 . 
         [0028]    A modified flanged sleeve connector  30  according to a second embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . Connector  30  is similar to the previous embodiment in that it has a portion  32  of square or rectangular section designed for engagement with the end of a length of a secure conduit system, and a projecting annular or circular flange  34 , but in this case the externally threaded portion  14  of the previous embodiment is eliminated, and the connector instead has an internally threaded cylindrical bore portion  35  projecting inward from the outer face of flange  34 . 
         [0029]    In this embodiment, the connector  30  is placed over an opening  17  in wall  18  of a secure enclosure so that the end face of flange  34  rests flat against the outer surface of the wall  18  around the opening, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A suitable threaded fastener  36  such as a bolt or the like is secured in the threaded bore portion  35  from the inside of the enclosure. The connector  30  then cannot be removed from outside the enclosure, but can only be removed by an authorized individual having access to the interior of the enclosure. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  illustrates a modified flanged sleeve connector  40  in which the straight, rectangular or square cross-section portion  15  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 4  is replaced by a generally square or rectangular tubular portion  42  which has a ninety degree bend. The connector  40  is otherwise identical to connector  10  of  FIGS. 1 to 4  and like reference numbers have been used as appropriate. The flange connector  30  of the previous embodiment may also be modified in a similar manner. This allows for connection of secure conduits approaching the enclosure wall from different directions. Other flanged sleeve connectors with round flanges may have end portions with different angled bends to provide for a wide range of different approach directions of the secure conduit system. 
         [0031]    The flanged sleeve connector as described above can be used as an interface between a length of conduit in a secure conduit and a secure enclosure of the system, or between a length of conduit and a through wall penetration that penetrates a wall or floor, or transition piece that makes a turn, or performs some other system function. The flanged sleeve connector is connected through an opening in the through wall penetration in exactly the same way as it is connected through an opening in a wall of a secure enclosure as described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the foregoing embodiments describe use of the flanged sleeve connector in conjunction with a secure conduit system, in alternative embodiments the connector may be used in a non-secure conduit system as the interface between a non-secure conduit and non-secure enclosure, control box, or the like. 
         [0032]    The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.