U.S. patent number RE35,820 [Application Number 08/587,632] was granted by the patent office on 1998-06-09 for armored flexible electrical conduit with fittings.
Invention is credited to Frank Guginsky.
United States Patent |
RE35,820 |
Guginsky |
June 9, 1998 |
Armored flexible electrical conduit with fittings
Abstract
An .[.angularly adjustable.]. angularly adjustable electrical
conduit fitting includes an articulate metal conduit bendable at
least 90 degrees about an arc having an inside radius of curvature
not exceeding 12 inches, the conduit .[.in its preferred from.].
being between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long in a contracted state and
being extendable by between 21% and 23% of its contracted length
and having at one end a conduit coupling and at its opposite end a
conduit or wall opening connector.
Inventors: |
Guginsky; Frank (Commack,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
25402106 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/587,632 |
Filed: |
January 17, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
893794 |
Jun 4, 1992 |
05283393 |
Feb 1, 1994 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
174/102R;
174/109; 174/68.1; 174/74R; 174/86; 439/445 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
11/18 (20130101); H02G 3/0468 (20130101); H02G
3/0475 (20130101); H02G 9/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02G
3/04 (20060101); H02G 9/06 (20060101); H01B
007/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/12R,109,86,74R,68.1,68.3,75F
;439/210,445,446,447,162,164,111,114 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kincaid; Kristine L.
Assistant Examiner: Machtinger; Marc
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miskin; Howard C.
Claims
I claim:
1. An angularly adjustable electrical conduit fitting device
comprising an extendible and contractible flexible conduit
.[.bendable at least to 90 degrees about a curve having an inside
radius not exceeding 12 inches.]. and an electrical fitting secured
to and communicating with each end of said conduit, at least one of
said fittings being an electrical conduit connector, said conduit
being articulate and including a plurality of successive relatively
longitudinally slidable segments interlocked against longitudinal
separation, each of said segments including a cylindrical body
portion having an upper section terminating at its top in an
inwardly directed peripheral flange joined to a depending
cylindrical upper hook free leg and a lower section coaxial with
and of lesser diameter than said upper section and terminating at
its bottom in an outwardly directed peripheral flange joined to an
upwardly projecting cylindrical lower hook free leg, said depending
upper hook free leg having an inner face slidable engaging the
outside face of the lower section of the next successive upper
segment and said upwardly projecting lower hook free leg having an
outside face slidably engaging the inside face of the upper section
of the next successive lower segment, one of said hook legs of each
of said segments having formed in the face thereof confronting the
opposing face of said cylindrical body a peripheral groove.[., and
further including a packing located in said groove and engaging
said opposing face.]..
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said conduit in its fully
contracted state is between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long.
3. The device of claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said
conduit is extendable from its fully contracted state between 21%
and 23%.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said conduit has an inside
diameter between 2.735 and 2.765 inches. .Iadd.5. The device of
claim 1 further comprising a packing located in said groove and
engaging said opposing face..Iaddend..Iadd.6. The device of claim 1
wherein said extendible and contractible flexible conduit is
bendable to at least 90 degrees about a curve having an inside
radius not exceeding 12 inches..Iaddend..Iadd.7. An angularly
adjustable electrical conduit fitting device comprising:
(a) an extendible and contractible flexible conduit which comprises
a helically wound strip which forms a plurality of successive
relatively longitudinally slidable segments wherein each said
slidable segment is interlocked with adjacent successive slidable
segments, each said slidable segment comprises:
(i) an upper section having an upwardly directed interior wall
terminating at its top with an outwardly projecting arcuate
peripheral flange which terminates with a downwardly directed
exterior wall,
(ii) a lower section having a downwardly directed exterior wall
terminating at its bottom with an inwardly projecting arcuate
peripheral flange which terminates with an upwardly directed
interior wall, and
(iii) a means for connecting said upper and lower sections of said
slidable segment together,
wherein said slidable segment is connected to the next successive
lower slidable segment and to the next successive upper slidable
segment such that said lower section of said slidable segment is
coaxial with said upper section of said next successive lower
slidable segment wherein said downwardly directed exterior wall of
said upper section of said next successive lower slidable segment
having an outer surface slidably engaging an inner surface of said
downwardly directed exterior wall of said lower section of said
slidable segment and wherein said lower section of said next
successive upper slidable segment is coaxial with said upper
section of said slidable segment wherein said downwardly directed
exterior wall of said upper section of said slidable segment having
an outer surface slidably engaging an inner surface of said
downwardly directed exterior wall of said lower section of said
next successive upper slidable segment; and
(b) an electrical fitting secured to and communicating with each
end of said conduit..Iaddend..Iadd.8. The device of claim 7 wherein
said conduit in its fully contracted state is between 193/4 and
203/4 inches long..Iaddend..Iadd.9. The device of claim 8 wherein
said conduit is extendable from its fully contracted state between
21% and 23%..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The device of claim 7 wherein said
conduit has an inside diameter between 2.735 and 2.765
inches..Iaddend..Iadd.11. The device of claim 7 further comprising
a peripheral groove formed in said upwardly directed interior wall
of said lower section of said slidable segments..Iaddend..Iadd.12.
The device of claim 11 further comprising a packing located in said
peripheral groove and engaging the respective inner surface of said
upwardly directed interior wall of said upper section of said next
successive slidable segment..Iaddend..Iadd.13. The device of claim
7 wherein said extendible and contractible flexible conduit is
bendable to at least 90 degrees about a curve having an inside
radius not exceeding 12 inches..Iaddend.
Description
This application is a reissue of Ser. No. 07/893,794 filed Jun. 4,
1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,393..Iaddend.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in
electrical distribution devices and it relates particularly to an
improved angularly adjustable electrical fitting.
In transmitting electricity from a source point to a point of
application, it is a common practice to enclose the current
carrying cable in .Iadd.a .Iaddend.rigid metal conduit of limited
flexibility to protect the cable from ambient conditions or
physical damage and to protect the surroundings from any damage
which may be caused by the current carrying cable if not property
enclosed. In the case of rigid .[.conduit.].
.Iadd.conduits.Iaddend., the conduit is available in limited
lengths and must be connected end-to-end and at their terminals are
usually anchored to walls which are traversed by the cable.
Difficulties are frequently encountered in coupling the conduits or
anchoring them to an aperture wall since the conduits to be
connected are frequently relatively displaced or angularly related.
Moreover, in anchoring the conduit end to a wall such as at a
circuit breaker or terminal box, the problems of the varying
positions .[.are.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.inclinations of the conduit
are encountered. Various types of electrical conduit fittings are
employed such as .[.angle.]. .Iadd.angled .Iaddend.or straight
couplings of known solid construction but these do little to solve
the problems of misalignments and other positional discrepancies
.[.and being rigid.]..Iadd.. Rigid .Iaddend.and solid devices are
expensive, difficult to compensate for positional and angular
variations of the conduit terminals, require the use of many
different forms, are time consuming in their application, are of
little adaptability and flexibility and otherwise leave much to be
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an
improved device for use in electrical transmission and distribution
systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
electrical conduit coupling and connecting device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved device for intercoupling electrical conduit or for
connecting an electrical .[.conduit.]. .Iadd.conduits .Iaddend.to a
ported wall such as to a junction box, a circuit breaker box or the
like.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved
electrical conduit coupling device which is adjustable to
compensate for positional and angular displacement of the
electrical conduit.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a
device of the above nature which is rugged, inexpensive, easy to
quickly apply, resistant to ambient conditions and of great
versatility and adaptability.
The above and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the reading of the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a
preferred embodiment thereof.
A conduit fitting device in accordance with the present invention
includes a flexible conduit bendable for at least 90 degrees along
a curve with an inside radius of curvature that is 12 inches or
less, and an electrical conduit fitting affixed to each end of the
conduit. What is meant by an electrical conduit fitting is a
component which may be coupled or connected to an electrical
conduit or to a wall in registry with a port or opening in the
wall, for example, a wall to a fuse, circuit breaker or junction
box or to another electrical conduit fitting. The conduit
advantageously is of metal and articulate, being formed of
hermetically slidably coupled metal segments, the conduit being
longitudinally extendable and contractible.
The conduit is preferably between 193/4 and 203/4 inches long in
its contracted position and is extendable between 21% and 23% of
its contracted length. The inside diameter of the conduit is
between 2.735 and 2.765 inches. In its preferred construction, at
least one of the fittings is a conduit coupling for hermetic
connection to an unthreaded conduit and may be of any known
construction while the other may include a nut engaged threaded
tube stub for tightly engaging an opening in a wall or a tubular
stub which may be tightly hermetically engaged to a female
electrical coupling or connector of known construction.
The improved conduit fitting device is highly adaptable and
versatile, of rugged, inexpensive and reliable construction and
easy to apply.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention shown in a 90 degree bent condition;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged end perspective view thereof partially broken
away and shown in a straight condition;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged medial longitudinal sectional view of a
portion thereof; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged medial longitudinal sectional view of a
portion similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but of a different
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred
embodiment of the present invention as applied to the coupling of
an electrical conduit (not shown) having a smooth outside end face
to an electrical fitting such as of the compression type, the
reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved coupling
device which includes a flexible hermetically tight metal conduit
11 which is longitudinally extendable and contractible. Affixed in
any suitable manner to opposite ends and communicating with conduit
11 are a conduit connector female compression fitting 12 and male
tubular coupling 13. While only one of the fittings 12 and 13
should be an electrical conduit connector or the other may be of a
known type for connection to a female compression electrical
conduit fitting, a wall opening as in the wall of a junction,
circuit breaker or fuse box, or circuit box. Fittings 12 and 13 may
be of broadly known type and are coupled to conduit 11 in
hermetically tight hermetically sealed relationship.
Conduit 11, as best seen in FIG. 3, is articulate including
end-to-end coupled cylindrical, preferably resilient metal segments
14 which are relatively longitudinally slidable. Each segment 14 is
integrally formed and comprises a longitudinal circular main
cylindrical wall .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.which includes an upper
cylindrical wall or section 17 and a lower coaxial cylindrical wall
or section 18 of greater diameter than that of upper section 17 and
joined thereto by an upwardly inwardly inclined annular flange 19.
An upwardly arcuate peripheral flange 20 projects outwardly from
the upper edge of upper section 17 and terminates in a depending
coaxial cylindrical wall 21 which defines a hook vertical free leg.
A downwardly convex arcuate peripheral flange 22 projects inwardly
from the lower edge of lower cylindrical section 18 and terminates
in an upwardly directed coaxial cylindrical wall 23 which defines a
hook vertical free leg. The radial outer face of each cylindrical
wall 21 overlies and slidably engages and is shorter than the
inside face of the lower section 18 of the next successive upper
segment 14 and the radial inner face of each cylindrical wall 23
overlies, and is shorter than and slidably engages the radial outer
face upper section 17 of the next successive segment 14. The
conduit 11 may be longitudinally extended and contracted while
being hermetically closed by the close sliding engagement between
cylindrical walls 17 and 23 and cylindrical walls 21 and 18 and may
be bent in any desired direction while being in a hermetically
closed condition with different amounts of relative movement
between walls 17 and 23 and walls 21 and 18 at opposite sides of
the conduit 11.
One end of conduit flexible 11 is affixed to a female compression
fitting 12 of known construction, the fitting 12 having a short
tubular projection telescoping the end of conduit 11 which is
tightly clamped thereto by a peripheral strap 26 tightly encircling
and radially compressing the outer end border of conduit 11 to the
telescoping tubular projection strap 26 abutting a peripheral head
formed on fitting 12. Alternatively, compression fitting 12
.[.ma.]. .Iadd.may .Iaddend.be fastened to conduit 11 in various
manners, such as welding or the like. Fitting 12 is provided with a
gland nut 27 which when tightened compresses a gland or gasket
encircling a conduit inserted into fitting 12 to clamp the conduit
and effect a hermetically tight coupling in the known member. The
male fitting 13 is affixed to the opposite end of flexible conduit
11 in the manner described above in connection with fitting 12, the
fitting 13 including a tubular stub portion .Iadd.28 .Iaddend.of
the diameter of the standard electrical conduit having the standard
EMT diameter and mates the standard conduit (EMT) coupling or
connector.
In coupling a pair of conduits or a conduit with a conduit fitting
with the electrical fitting device 10, an end of the conduit is
telescoped into a respective fittings 12 and clamped fitting 13 is
inserted into another female conduit fitting engaging the end of
another conduit or other device, the length and flexibility of
conduit 11 permitting the adjustment of device 10 to compensate for
the spacing and angular deviations of the conduits or related
fittings. The fitting 12 is tightened in the usual manner. If one
end of a conduit is to be connected to the aperture wall of a
circuit breaker or junction box, the fitting 13 is substituted by a
conduit engagable fitting having a threaded tubular shank with a
peripheral shoulder at its base and insertable through the wall
aperture and secured to its border by a matching nut in the known
manner. As in conventional fittings, a cable, for example, an
insulation covered multiple conductor cable 29 of lesser thickness
than flexible conduit 11 and its end fittings 12 and 13 and the
connecting conduits traverse the lengths of the conduits and
fittings.
As an example of the improved device 10, conduit 11 is 31/32 inches
in outside diameter, 201/4 inches long in its contracted condition,
extendable by 22% of its contracted length, bendable about a 12
inch radius of curvature for 90 degrees. It should be understood
that the above dimensions and parameters may be modified, for
example, as earlier explained.
.[.As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings 9 which.]. .Iadd.FIG. 4
.Iaddend.illustrates another embodiment of the present invention
which differs from that first described in the construction of the
flexible conduit 33 which may be substituted for the conduit 11.
The conduit 33 differs from conduit 11 in that a peripheral groove
34 is formed in each cylindrical wall 36 which defines a hook
vertical free leg which slidably engages the confronting face of
the conduit inside wall 37. Nesting in and filling each groove 34
and tightly slidably engaging wall 37 is an annular packing 39
formed of cotton or other suitable packing material to assure a
rain tight and concrete tight relationship between successive
conduit segments. In all other respects, the device last described
is similar in structure, configuration and application to that
first described.
While there has been described and illustrated preferred
embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous
alternations, omissions and additions may be made without departing
from the spirit thereof.
* * * * *