Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is directed to a connecting assembly for securing electrical metal conduit, and more specifically to a weatherproof compression connector or coupling assembly having a watertight sealing gland and an electrical grounding compression ring that is compressively fitted onto the connected end of the conduit for shielding therein an electrical conductor or cable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Heretofore it was common practice to secure a conduit that shields electrical conductors, wires or cables by inserting one end of a conduit into an externally threaded inlet end of a connecting body and securing the conduit to the threaded inlet end of the connecting body by a suitable tightening nut. The outlet end of the connecting body in turn was secured to an electrical junction box by inserting the other or outlet end of the connecting body into the knockout hole of the electrical junction box and securing the same by a locking nut or other suitable means, e.g. a snap fit retaining means as disclosed in a co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/283,978 filed Oct. 30, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. It has been noted that such prior known connecting assemblies did not prohibit rain or water from seeking its way through the connection. Also, electrical grounding of conduits was not at all times positive.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     An object of this invention is to provide an improved coupling or connector assembly which is capable of prohibiting water or rain from seeping through the coupling or connector assembly.  
         [0004]     Another object is to provide an improved coupling or connector assembly capable of effecting a positive electrical grounding of a conduit connected thereto.  
         [0005]     Another object is to provide an improved electrical coupling or connector assembly that is relatively simple to fabricate, easy to assemble and positive in operation.  
         [0006]     The foregoing objects and other features and advantages are readily obtained by a connector or coupling assembly that includes a connector or coupling body provided with an inlet end having an opening adapted to receive a conduit, and an outlet having an opening through which the electrical conductors, wires, or cables adapted to be inserted through the conduit may extend. The external surface of the inlet end is threaded to receive a connecting nut for securing the conduit to the inlet end. The connector or coupling body is provided with a through bore having a shoulder formed intermediate the length thereof to define a stop to limit the distance a conduit may be inserted thereinto. The internal surface of the inlet end of the connector or coupling body is provided with a second ridge or stop, disposed between the intermediate shoulder stop and the opening to the inlet end. The internal surface of the inlet end defined between the conduit shoulder stop and the ridge stop or first portion is generally shaped and sized to snugly receive the outer surface of the conduit. The internal surface of the inlet end disposed between the ridge stop and the inlet opening or second portion is provided with a taper that diverges toward the inlet opening.  
         [0007]     To effect a waterproof seal and a positive electric ground for the conduit, a metallic split compression ring is fitted onto the end of the conduit. Also fitted onto the end of the conduit is a plastic sealing ring having the outer surface thereof tapered to complement the internal tapered portion of the connector or coupling inlet end. The arrangement is such that as the connecting nut is tightened onto the threaded inlet end, the metallic split compression ring simultaneously urges the plastic sealing ring into a positive sealing relationship between the conduit and the inlet end of the connector or coupling as the split metallic ring is compressed onto the conduit to insure a positive electric grounding of the conduit while imparting a friction holding force sufficient to prohibit the conduit from being pulled out of the connector or coupling body.  
         [0008]     Other features and advantages will become readily apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings. 
     
    
     IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled conduit connector embodying the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an expanded perspective view illustrating the component parts of an conduit connector embodying the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the connector assembly embodying the invention taken along line  3 - 3  on  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the sealing gland component.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  on  FIG. 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the sealing gland component.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  on  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional side view of a coupling assembly embodying the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  a connecting assembly embodying the invention. A connecting assembly as broadly defined herein means either a connector assembly  20 , by which a conduit  21  is connected to an electrical junction box  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 , or coupling assembly  40  as shown in  FIG. 8  for coupling two conduits  41 A and  41 B in end to end relationship.  
         [0018]     The illustrated embodiment of the invention as depicted in FIGS.  1  to  7  is directed to a connector assembly  20  which includes a connector body  22  which is generally formed as zinc casting or other suitable metal. The connector body  22  includes an inlet end  22 A and an outlet end  22 B. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer surfaces of the inlet end  22 A and outlet end  22 B are provided with suitable external threads. The connector body  22  also includes a through bore  23 , as will be hereinafter described in more detail. Intermediate the inlet end  22 A and outlet end  22 B, the connector body  22  is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange  24  having a hexagonal shape. However, it will be understood that the flange  24  may assume any suitable shape that will facilitate gripping the same for purposes of assembling.  
         [0019]     Intermediate between the inlet opening  27 A and the outlet opening  27 B of the through bore  23  there is formed an internal shoulder  25  which functions as a stop to limit the distance a conduit  21  can be inserted into the inlet end  22 A of the connector body  22 . Generally, such conduits are formed of metal, e.g. steel and the like.  
         [0020]     In accordance with this invention, the portion of the through bore  23  defining the distal portion  22 A 1  of the inlet end  22 A, adjacent the stop shoulder  25 , or first portion has a substantially uniform diameter D of a size and shape to snugly receive the end portion of the conduit as shown in  FIG. 3 . The distal or first portion  22 A 1  of the inlet end  22  extends from the stop shoulder  25  to an intermediate ridge or shoulder  26  located at a point intermediate of the inlet opening  27 A and the shoulder stop  25 . The internal surface of the through bore  23  extending from the intermediate shoulder  26  to the inlet opening  27 A or second portion  22 A 2  tapers outwardly so that the diameter d of proximate end or second portion  22 A 2  progressively increases toward the inlet opening  27 A. The portion of the bore  23  defining the outlet end  22 B has a diameter D 1  which is slightly less than diameter D, as determined by the thickness of the stop shoulder  25 .  
         [0021]     A sealing gland  28  in the form of a ring is snugly fitted onto the end of the conduit  21  that is inserted into the inlet end  22 A of the connector body  22 . The sealing gland  28  is provided with a width W which is arranged to be received into the proximate or tapered portion  22 A 2  of the inlet end  22 A. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the external periphery of the sealing gland  28  is tapered to complement the taper defined by the inner surface of the proximate portion  22 A 2  of the inlet end  22 A. Preferably, the width W of the sealing gland  28  is substantially equal to the length of the tapered portion  22 A 2 .  
         [0022]     Also positioned onto the end of the conduit  21  to be inserted into the inlet end  22 A, and preceding the placement of the sealing gland  28  onto the conduit  21  is a split compression ring  29 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the compression ring  29  is preferably formed of a spring steel or the like with a diameter sized so as to be loosely fitted onto the conduit  21 . The compression ring  29  is provided with a transverse slot or cut  29 A as best seen in  FIG. 2 , to define a small space or gap between the opposed ends of the ring  29 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cut or slot  29 A that defines the split ring  29  forms opposed, juxtapositioned, slightly spaced apart tongues  29 B,  29 B. Thus, the cut  29 A defines spaced tongues  29 B,  29 B that are longitudinally extended and disposed in a common plane to define a split ring of 360°.  
         [0023]     In the illustrated embodiment, the opposed edges of the compression ring  29  are slightly offset or bent to define lips  29 C,  29 C that extend about the opposed peripheries of the ring  29 . The arrangement is such that when the ring  29  is compressed, the peripheral surface  29 D defined by the opposed lips  29 B,  29 B are arranged to engage the end of the conduit  21  with a force sufficient to prohibit the conduit  21  from becoming separated from the connector body  22  in the assembled position of the connector assembly while provided for a positive electrical ground.  
         [0024]     A fastening nut  30  is provided for securing the conduit  21  to the inlet end of the connector body  22 . The nut  30  is provided with internal threads  31  by which it can be threaded onto the external threads of the inlet end  22 A of the connector body. The nut  30  is provided with an opening  32  sized to permit the nut  30  to be fitted onto the end of a conduit. Circumscribing the opening  32 , the nut  30  is provided with a cam surface  33  arranged to engage the compression ring  29  as the nut  30  is threaded onto the inlet end  22 A of the connector body  22  to secure the conduit to the connector body.  
         [0025]     Completing the connector assembly  20  is a resilient washer  34  formed of a resilient plastic, rubber and the like, which is arranged to be fitted onto the outlet end  22 B of the connector body  22 . In operation, the washer  34  is fitted onto the outlet end  22 B of the connector body  22  so as to be positioned between the flange  24  and the side wall  35  of a junction box or the like. A lock nut  36  or other suitable locking fastener is fitted onto the outlet end portion  22 B of the connector to positively secure the connector body  22  to an electrical junction box or the like. As the locking nut  36  is tightened onto the outlet end  22 B of the connector body  22 , the resilient washer  34  is compressed or wedged between the flange  24  and the side wall  35  of the junction box. Accordingly, the resilient washer  34  provides a seal about the knockout opening of the junction box  35  that receives the outlet end portion  22 A of the connector body.  
         [0026]     In assembling the connector assembly  20 , the fastening nut  30  is positioned onto the end of the conduit, as noted in  FIG. 3 . The compression ring  29  is then fitted onto the end of the conduit, followed by the positioning the sealing gland  28  onto the end of the conduit. With the fastening nut  30 , compression ring  29  and sealing gland  28  thus positioned onto the end of the conduit, the conduit is inserted into the inlet end  22 A until the end of the conduit  21  is brought into abutting relationship with stop shoulder  25 . With the conduit  21  seated against the stop shoulder  25 , the fastening nut  30  is tightened onto the inlet end  22 A. In so tightening the nut  30 , the cam surface  33  upon engaging the compression ring  29  will cause the compression ring to be urged against the sealing gland  28 , causing the sealing gland  28  to wedge itself between the outer surface of the conduit  21  and the internal tapered surface of the inlet portion  22 A 2  to form a fluid tight seal thereat while causing the split compression ring  29  to compress tightly onto the periphery of the conduit  21  to positively secure the connection so as to preclude any separation or pull out of the conduit  21  from the connector body  22 . The compression ring  29  formed of a spring steel also insures a positive electrical grounding of the conduit and connector assembly.  
         [0027]     It will be understood that the conduit  21  may be connected to the connector body  22  either before or after the connector body  22 A has been attached to a juncture box  35  or the like. To secure the described connector body  22  to a juncture box  35 , the resilient washer  34  is positioned on the outlet end  22 B, which is then inserted through a knockout hole of a juncture box and secured thereto by the lock nut  36 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention as applied to a coupler assembly  40  for connecting conduits  41 A and  41 B in end to end relationship. As shown, the coupler assembly  40  includes a coupling body  42  which may be formed of a suitable material, e.g. a zinc casting or the like. The coupler body  42  is provided with opposed inlet and outlet end portions  42 A,  42 B having a through bore  43 . In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surfaces of the inlet and outlet portions  41 A,  41 B are externally threaded as indicated as  44 . Between the opposed open end of the bore, there is provided on the internal surface thereof a circumscribing rib, ridge or shoulder  45 . As will be noted, the shoulder  45  defines a stop to limit the insertion of conduits  41 A,  41 B into the opposed end portions of the coupling body  42 .  
         [0029]     The respective opposed end portions  42 A,  42 B are each provided with a bore portion  43 A having a substantially uniform diameter sized to snugly receive the outer diameter of the conduit to be fitted thereinto, and an internally tapered portion  43 B similar to that hereinbefore described with respect to the connector body  22 .  
         [0030]     Externally, the coupling body  42  is provided with an external radial flange  45 A having a shape that can be readily gripped to effect the turning thereof if necessary. The external surfaces of the respective opposed ends of the coupler body  42  are suitably threaded for receiving a fastening nut  46  similar to the fastening nut  30  hereinbefore described.  
         [0031]     A sealing gland  47  and a compressing ring  48 , in the form hereinbefore described, is fitted onto each end of the respective conduits  41 A,  41 B to complete the assembly, as hereinbefore described.  
         [0032]     To assemble the described coupler  40 , each of the respective conduits are fitted with the fastening nut  46 , compression ring  48  and sealing gland  47  in the manner hereinbefore described. With the nut  46 , compression ring  48  and sealing gland  47  so positioned on the end of a conduit, the end of the conduit is inserted into one end portion of the coupling body  42  until the conduit is seated or abuts the stop shoulder  45 . The fastening nut  46  is then threaded onto its respective end portion until the sealing gland  47  has wedged itself into sealing relationship between the coupling body  42  and the conduit, and the compression ring  48  is tightly compressed onto the conduit as hereinbefore described.  
         [0033]     From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a fluid tight and a pressure tight connection is effected between the connector or coupler body and its corresponding conduit whereby any pullout or separation of the conduit is positively prohibited and at the same time provides for a positive electrical grounding of the conduit and the associated connector or coupler body.  
         [0034]     While the invention has been described with respect to several embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5