Novel clamping type inductive coupler
By designing a novel snap-fit inductive coupler, which employs a combination structure of plug, slot, and limiting rod, the problem of repeated fixing and maintenance of inductive couplers in existing technologies is solved. This enables convenient installation, disassembly, and spacing adjustment, ensuring a stable connection between the inductive coupler and the cable.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing non-injection inductive couplers are prone to damage to the elastic clips when the cable is externally clamped, making it difficult to re-secure and inconvenient to maintain.
A novel snap-fit inductive coupler, comprising an inductive coupler body and a mounting base, was designed. It adopts a combination structure of plugs, slots, and limiting rods, and achieves detachable connection through snap-fit assembly. It is also equipped with a spacing adjustment component to facilitate the installation and removal of the inductive coupler.
It enables convenient installation and disassembly of the inductive coupler, facilitating maintenance, while allowing for fine-tuning of the spacing to ensure a stable connection between the inductive coupler and the cable.
Smart Images

Figure CN224067527U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of auxiliary components for inductive couplers, and specifically to a novel snap-fit inductive coupler. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, there are two main types of inductive couplers used in power cable communication: the first is the injection type (ground transformer method), and the second is the non-injection type (high-frequency magnetic ring snap-in method). In the injection type, the primary side of the inductive coupler is connected to the grounding loop on the shielded cable, and the secondary side is connected to the carrier receiver. The high-frequency signal from the carrier receiver is then injected into the power cable through the injection coupler. Its advantages are low signal attenuation and high transmission efficiency. However, the need for power outages during installation, the open-circuit grounding connection, and the safety threats posed by high current or current imbalance are all drawbacks that power supply departments dislike, thus creating an urgent need for the advent of non-injection couplers.
[0003] Non-injection inductive couplers are snapped onto the outside of the insulation layer of power cables. This is a non-contact coupling method, which is actually electromagnetic coupling or electromagnetic induction. In the existing technology, when non-injection inductive couplers are snapped onto the outside of the cable, two semi-cylindrical inductive couplers are usually snapped together by elastic clips on both sides. This snapping method is easy to damage the elastic clips when disassembling, making it difficult to repeatedly snap and fix the inductive coupler after subsequent removal and maintenance. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel snap-fit inductive coupler to solve the above problems, as detailed below.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:
[0006] The novel snap-fit inductive coupler provided by this utility model includes an inductive coupler body and a mounting base. There are two inductive coupler bodies, which are located at the top and bottom positions respectively. Both inductive coupler bodies are semi-cylindrical and are aligned and joined together. At the same time, magnetic gap pads are attached and fixed to both the inductive coupler body and the joined position.
[0007] Both of the inductive coupler bodies are fixedly connected to a horizontally placed mounting base on their exteriors, which are far apart from each other. The front of each mounting base is provided with an operation opening that is horizontally flat, and the operation opening is open in the longitudinal direction.
[0008] The inductive coupler body has vertically adjustable spacing components on both sides.
[0009] Both the upper and lower ends of the spacing adjustment component are equipped with snap-fit assembly components. The snap-fit assembly components are partially fixed to the exterior of the mounting base, and the mounting bases at the upper and lower positions can be detachably assembled together through the snap-fit assembly components.
[0010] Preferably, the mounting bases at the upper and lower positions have opposite end faces with storage slots that are adapted to the outside of the corresponding inductive coupler body, and the outside of the inductive coupler body is recessed into the corresponding storage slots. The front and rear end faces of the mounting bases are each equipped with a number of fasteners along the longitudinal direction, and the inner ends of the fasteners are all pressed against the inductive coupler body.
[0011] Preferably, each snap-fit assembly includes a plug and a fixing sleeve. The upper and lower ends of the spacing adjustment assembly are vertically fixed with the plug, and the end faces of the plugs on both sides are provided with limiting holes in the horizontal direction. The fixing sleeves are vertically fixed on both sides of the mounting base, and the end faces of the fixing sleeves on both sides are provided with slots in the vertical direction. The plugs are inserted into the corresponding slots in a vertical sliding fit. Mounting holes are provided in the horizontal direction on both sides of the operating opening. The mounting holes are all through holes and are vertically connected to the adjacent slots. Limiting rods are coaxially inserted into the mounting holes in a horizontal sliding fit, and the outer ends of the limiting rods on both sides are horizontally sliding fit with the corresponding limiting holes.
[0012] Preferably, the inner ends of the limiting rods on both sides that are close to each other are coaxially fixed with handles.
[0013] Preferably, the portion of the limiting rod between the corresponding handle and the inner side of the operating opening is coaxially fitted with a spring, and the two ends of the spring are respectively fixedly connected to the corresponding handle and the inner side of the operating opening.
[0014] Preferably, the operating openings are all horizontal rectangular openings, the outer periphery of the handles does not contact the inner surface of the operating openings, and the distance between the handles on both sides is greater than twice the depth of the limiting hole.
[0015] Preferably, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the insert and the slot is rectangular, the slots are all blind slots in the vertical direction, and the outer ends of the inserts are in contact with the inner ends of the corresponding slots.
[0016] Preferably, each of the spacing adjustment components includes a threaded sleeve, a first screw, and a second screw. The threaded sleeve is vertically installed on both sides of the inductive coupler body, and the upper and lower threads of the threaded sleeve have opposite directions of rotation. The upper and lower ends of the threaded sleeve are coaxially engaged with the first screw and the second screw, respectively, and the first screw and the second screw have opposite directions of rotation. At the same time, the outer ends of the first screw and the second screw are connected to the corresponding insert blocks through connecting sleeves.
[0017] Preferably, the lengths of the upper and lower threaded sections of the threaded sleeve are both half the length of the threaded sleeve shaft, the first screw and the second screw are both coaxially interference-fitted with the corresponding connecting sleeves, and the connecting sleeves are both welded and fixed to the outer end face of the corresponding insert block.
[0018] Preferably, both screw one and screw two are coaxially engaged with limit nuts near the outer end of the threaded sleeve, and the outer diameter of the limit nuts is larger than the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve.
[0019] Using the aforementioned novel snap-fit inductive coupler, specifically in the actual use of the inductive coupler body, since the snap-fit assembly is combined on both sides of the mounting base, after the inductive coupler body is fixedly installed to the mounting base, the upper and lower mounting bases can be detachably combined by the vertical sliding engagement of the insert block and the slot, and the horizontal sliding engagement of the limiting rod and the limiting hole of the snap-fit assembly. The snap-fit combination method of the upper and lower mounting bases is simple and easy to implement, thus facilitating the use of two inductive coupler bodies snapped onto the outside of the cable for inductive coupling. Furthermore, since the insert block can be vertically slid out of the slot simply by disengaging the limiting rod from the limiting hole, the upper and lower mounting bases can be separated. The disassembly method is simple and easy to implement, which facilitates the removal of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies from the cable for inspection and maintenance. It also facilitates the repeated snapping of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies to the cable using the snap-fit assembly. Since the snap-fit assemblies at the upper and lower positions are each equipped with a spacing adjustment component, and the threaded sleeve of the spacing adjustment component has two screws coaxially engaged at both ends, with the screws rotating in opposite directions, the spacing between the snap-fit assemblies at the upper and lower positions can be adjusted by turning the threaded sleeve in both directions. This allows for fine-tuning of the spacing between the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies, ensuring that the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies are tightly joined together after snapping.
[0020] The beneficial effects are as follows: 1. The present invention has snap-fit assembly components on both sides of the mounting base. After the inductive coupler body is fixedly installed to the mounting base, the upper and lower mounting bases can be detachably assembled by the vertical sliding cooperation of the plug and slot of the snap-fit assembly component and the horizontal sliding cooperation of the limiting rod and the limiting hole. The snap-fit assembly method of the upper and lower mounting bases is simple and easy to implement, which makes it easy to snap the two inductive coupler bodies to the outside of the cable for inductive coupling.
[0021] 2. Once the limiting rod is dislodged from the limiting hole, the plug can be slid vertically out of the slot, thus allowing the upper and lower mounting bases to separate. The disassembly of the upper and lower mounting bases is simple and easy to achieve, which facilitates the removal of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies from the outside of the cable for inspection and maintenance. It also facilitates the repeated snapping of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies to the outside of the cable using the snap-fit assembly.
[0022] 3. Each of the upper and lower snap-fit assembly components is equipped with a spacing adjustment component. The threaded sleeve of the spacing adjustment component has two screws, screw one and screw two, coaxially engaged at both ends. The screws have opposite directions of rotation. By turning the threaded sleeve in both directions, the spacing between the upper and lower snap-fit assembly components can be adjusted. This allows for fine-tuning of the spacing between the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies, ensuring that the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies are tightly joined together after snap-fit. Attached Figure Description
[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0024] Figure 1 This is an overall isometric schematic diagram of this utility model;
[0025] Figure 2 This is a utility model Figure 1 Cross-section diagram Figure 1 ;
[0026] Figure 3 This is a utility model Figure 2 A magnified view of part A;
[0027] Figure 4 This is a utility model Figure 1 Cross-section diagram Figure 2 ;
[0028] Figure 5 This is a utility model Figure 1 Front view diagram;
[0029] Figure 6 This is a utility model Figure 1 Rear view diagram;
[0030] Figure 7 This is a utility model Figure 1 A left-side view diagram.
[0031] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:
[0032] 1. Mounting base; 101. Operating opening; 102. Fixing component; 103. Storage slot; 2. Snap-fit assembly; 201. Handle; 202. Fixing sleeve; 203. Slot; 204. Insert block; 205. Limiting hole; 206. Limiting rod; 207. Mounting hole; 208. Spring; 3. Gap adjustment assembly; 301. Screw one; 302. Limiting nut; 303. Threaded sleeve; 304. Screw two; 305. Connecting sleeve; 4. Inductive coupler body; 401. Magnetic gap washer. Detailed Implementation
[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of this utility model will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.
[0034] See Figures 1-7 As shown, this utility model provides a novel snap-fit inductive coupler, including an inductive coupler body 4 and a mounting base 1. There are two inductive coupler bodies 4, which are located at the top and bottom positions respectively. Both inductive coupler bodies 4 are semi-cylindrical and are aligned and joined together. At the same time, magnetic gap pads 401 are attached and fixed to both the inductive coupler bodies 4 and the joined positions. Preferably, the magnetic gap pads 401 are plastic magnetic gaps. The advantage of this setting is that the magnetic gap pads 401 can prevent magnetic circuit saturation and avoid signal loss when magnetic saturation occurs.
[0035] See Figures 1-4As shown, two inductive coupler bodies 4 are each fixedly connected to a horizontally placed mounting base 1 at their externally separated locations. Each mounting base 1 has a horizontally oriented operating opening 101 at its front, and these openings are vertically open. Vertically adjustable spacing components 3 are vertically extendable and retractable on both sides of each inductive coupler body 4. Specifically, each spacing adjustment component 3 includes a threaded sleeve 303, a first screw 301, and a second screw 304. Threaded sleeves 303 are vertically arranged on both sides of each inductive coupler body 4, and the threaded sleeves 303 have internal upper... The two sections of the upper and lower parts have opposite screw directions. The upper and lower ends of the threaded sleeve 303 are coaxially engaged with screw 1 301 and screw 2 304, respectively, and the screw directions of screw 1 301 and screw 2 304 are opposite. At the same time, the outer ends of screw 1 301 and screw 2 304 are connected to the corresponding insert 204 through connecting sleeve 305. The purpose of this arrangement is to adjust the spacing between the upper and lower snap-fit assembly 2 by turning the threaded sleeve 303 in both directions, thereby enabling fine adjustment of the spacing between the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies 4.
[0036] See Figures 1-4 As shown, the upper and lower ends of the spacing adjustment component 3 are both equipped with snap-fit assembly 2. The snap-fit assembly 2 is partially fixed to the exterior of the mounting base 1, and the upper and lower mounting bases 1 can be detachably assembled together through the snap-fit assembly 2. Specifically, each snap-fit assembly 2 includes a plug 204 and a fixing sleeve 202. The upper and lower ends of the spacing adjustment component 3 are vertically fixed with plugs 204, and the end faces of the plugs 204 on both sides are provided with limit holes 205 in the transverse direction. The two sides of the mounting base 1 are vertically fixed with fixing sleeves 202, and the end faces of the fixing sleeves 202 on both the upper and lower sides are provided with slots 203 in the vertical direction. At the same time, the plugs 204 are inserted into the corresponding slots 203 in a vertical sliding fit. The two sides of the operation opening 101 are provided with mounting holes in the transverse direction. 207. All mounting holes 207 are through holes, and all mounting holes 207 are perpendicularly connected to the adjacent slots 203. All mounting holes 207 are coaxially inserted with limit rods 206 in a lateral sliding fit. The outer ends of the limit rods 206 on both sides are laterally sliding fit with the corresponding limit holes 205. The purpose of this arrangement is that by the vertical sliding fit between the plug 204 of the snap-fit assembly 2 and the slot 203, and the lateral sliding fit between the limit rod 206 and the limit hole 205, the upper and lower mounting bases 1 can be detachably assembled together. At the same time, as long as the limit rod 206 is disengaged from the limit hole 205, the plug 204 can be vertically slid out of the slot 203, thereby allowing the upper and lower mounting bases 1 to be separated. The snap-fit assembly and disassembly of the upper and lower mounting bases 1 are simple and easy to implement.
[0037] See Figures 1-7As shown, the mounting base 1, the snap-fit assembly 2, and the spacing adjustment assembly 3 have been optimized as follows: Specifically, the upper and lower mounting bases 1 have opposite end faces with storage slots 103 adapted to the exterior of the corresponding inductive coupler body 4, and the exterior of the inductive coupler body 4 is recessed into the corresponding storage slots 103. Several fasteners 102 are longitudinally mounted on the front and rear end faces of the mounting base 1, and the inner ends of the fasteners 102 abut against the inductive coupler body 4. With this configuration, by inserting the fasteners 102 into the storage slots 103 and abutting against the inductive coupler body 4, the inductive coupler body 4 can be securely combined with the mounting base 1. Specifically, in the snap-fit assembly 2, the inner ends of the limiting rods 206 on both sides are coaxially fixed with handles 201, so that the limiting rods 206 can be moved by applying force through the handles 201. Optionally, the portion of the limiting rod 206 between the corresponding handle 201 and the inner side of the operating opening 101 is coaxially fitted with a spring 208, and both ends of the spring 208 are fixedly connected to the corresponding handle 201 and the inner side of the operating opening 101, respectively. This allows the limiting rod 206 to be pulled out of the limiting hole 205, and when the limiting rod 206 is released, the elastic force of the spring 208 allows the limiting rod 206 to automatically return to its original position. Furthermore, the operating openings 101 are all horizontal rectangular openings, and the outer periphery of the handle 201 does not contact the inner surface of the operating opening 101. The distance between the handles 201 on both sides is greater than twice the depth of the limiting hole 205. This design facilitates the smooth movement of the handle 201 within the operating opening 101 and allows the handles 201 on both sides to be pulled until the limiting rod 206 is completely disengaged from the limiting hole 205.
[0038] See Figures 1-7As shown, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the insert 204 and the slot 203 is rectangular. The slot 203 is a blind slot in the vertical direction, and the outer end of the insert 204 is in contact with the inner end of the corresponding slot 203. This arrangement firstly facilitates the positioning and guiding design of the insert 204 when it slides vertically along the slot 203. At the same time, during the process of the insert 204 sliding vertically along the slot 203, when the limiting hole 205 slides vertically with the insert 204 to the horizontal coaxial position with the limiting hole 205, the outer end of the insert 204 is in contact with the inner end of the corresponding slot 203, which provides a clear indication. Specifically, regarding the spacing adjustment component 3, the lengths of the upper and lower threaded sections of the threaded sleeve 303 are both half the shaft length of the threaded sleeve 303. Both screw 1 301 and screw 2 304 are coaxially interference-fitted with the corresponding connecting sleeve 305, and the connecting sleeve 305 is welded and fixed to the outer end face of the corresponding insert 204. Preferably, anti-slip textures with alternating concave and convex shapes can be opened on the outer surface of the threaded sleeve 303. This setting firstly ensures that the spacing adjustment function can be achieved by turning the threaded sleeve 303, and secondly, it is convenient to use the connecting sleeve 305 to make screw 1 301 and screw 2 304 securely combined with the corresponding insert 204 respectively. Alternatively, screw 1 301 and screw 2 304 are coaxially engaged with limit nuts 302 near the outer end of threaded sleeve 303, and the outer diameter of limit nuts 302 is larger than the outer diameter of threaded sleeve 303. Preferably, limit nuts 302 are hand-tightened knurled nuts. This arrangement makes it easy to tighten and loosen limit nuts 302 by hand. After the spacing is adjusted, tightening limit nuts 302 on the outer end face of threaded sleeve 303 can prevent the threaded sleeve from rotating naturally.
[0039] Using the above structure, specifically in the actual use of the inductive coupler body 4, since both sides of the mounting base 1 are equipped with snap-fit assembly 2, after the inductive coupler body 4 is fixedly installed to the mounting base 1, the upper and lower mounting bases 1 can be detachably assembled by the vertical sliding engagement of the insert 204 and slot 203 of the snap-fit assembly 2 and the horizontal sliding engagement of the limiting rod 206 and limiting hole 205. The snap-fit assembly method of the upper and lower mounting bases 1 is simple and easy to implement, which facilitates the use of two inductive coupler bodies 4 snapped onto the outside of the cable for inductive coupling. Since the insert 204 can slide vertically out of the slot 203 after the limiting rod 206 is disengaged from the limiting hole 205, the upper and lower mounting bases 1 can be separated. Simple and easy to implement, this design facilitates the removal of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies 4 from the cable for inspection and maintenance. It also allows for repeated snapping of the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies 4 onto the cable using the snap-fit assembly 2. Furthermore, since each of the upper and lower snap-fit assemblies 2 is equipped with a spacing adjustment assembly 3, and the threaded sleeve 303 of the spacing adjustment assembly 3 has a screw 301 and a screw 304 coaxially engaged at both ends, with the screws rotating in opposite directions, the spacing between the upper and lower snap-fit assemblies 2 can be adjusted by rotating the threaded sleeve 303 in both directions. This allows for fine-tuning of the spacing between the upper and lower inductive coupler bodies 4, ensuring a tight connection between them after snapping.
[0040] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A new type of clamping inductive coupler comprising an inductive coupler body (4) and a mounting base (1), characterized in that: The number of the inductive coupler bodies (4) is two and they are located at upper and lower positions respectively, both of the inductive coupler bodies (4) are half-cylindrical and they are folded together at upper and lower positions, and the inductive coupler bodies (4) and the folded position are both attached with magnetic gap pads (401); Both of the inductive coupler bodies (4) are combined with horizontally arranged mounting bases (1) at their outer positions away from each other, the front part of the mounting base (1) is provided with an operation opening (101) arranged horizontally, and the operation opening (101) is open in the longitudinal direction; The position of the inductive coupler body (4) at both sides is vertically provided with a spacing adjusting assembly (3) capable of vertical telescopic adjustment; The upper and lower ends of the spacing adjusting assembly (3) are both combined with a clamping assembly (2), the clamping assembly (2) is partially fixed at the outer part of the mounting base (1), and the upper and lower mounting bases (1) are detachably combined together through the clamping assembly (2).
2. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 1, wherein: The end faces of the mounting bases (1) at upper and lower positions are both provided with a storage groove (103) matched with the outer part of the corresponding inductive coupler body (4), and the outer part of the inductive coupler body (4) is sunk into the corresponding storage groove (103), and the front and rear end faces of the mounting base (1) are both provided with a plurality of fixing members (102) in the longitudinal direction, and the inner end of the fixing member (102) abuts against the inductive coupler body (4).
3. The new type of clamping inductive coupler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The clamping assembly (2) comprises an insertion block (204) and a fixing sleeve (202), the upper and lower ends of the spacing adjusting assembly (3) are both vertically fixed with the insertion block (204), and the end faces of the insertion block (204) at both sides are both provided with a limiting hole (205) in the horizontal direction, the both sides of the mounting base (1) are both vertically fixed with the fixing sleeve (202), and the end faces of the fixing sleeve (202) at upper and lower positions are both vertically provided with an insertion slot (203), and the insertion block (204) is inserted into the corresponding insertion slot (203) in the vertical sliding fit manner, the both sides of the operation opening (101) are both provided with a mounting hole (207) in the horizontal direction, the mounting hole (207) is a through hole, and the mounting hole (207) is in vertical communication with the adjacent insertion slot (203), the mounting hole (207) is coaxially inserted with a limiting rod (206) in the horizontal sliding fit manner, and the outer ends of the limiting rod (206) at both sides are away from each other and are in horizontal sliding fit with the corresponding limiting hole (205).
4. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 3, wherein: The inner ends of the limiting rod (206) at both sides are coaxially fixed with a handle (201).
5. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 4, wherein: The part of the limiting rod (206) between the corresponding handle (201) and the inner side of the operation opening (101) is coaxially gap-fitted with a spring (208), and the both ends of the spring (208) are fixedly connected with the corresponding handle (201) and the inner side of the operation opening (101).
6. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 5, wherein: The operation openings (101) are all horizontally arranged rectangular openings, the periphery of the handle (201) is not in contact with the inner surface of the operation opening (101), and the spacing between the handles (201) on both sides is greater than twice the depth of the limiting hole (205).
7. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 6, wherein: The horizontal cross-sectional shape of the plug (204) and the slot (203) is rectangular, the slot (203) is a blind slot in the vertical direction, and the outer end of the plug (204) is in contact with the inner end of the corresponding slot (203).
8. The new type of clamping inductive coupler according to any one of claims 4-7, characterized in that: The spacing adjustment assembly (3) includes a threaded sleeve (303), a screw rod one (301) and a screw rod two (304), the threaded sleeve (303) is vertically arranged on both sides of the inductive coupler body (4), the upper and lower threads of the threaded sleeve (303) are opposite in rotation direction, the screw rod one (301) and the screw rod two (304) are coaxially engaged with the upper and lower ends of the threaded sleeve (303) respectively, the rotation directions of the screw rod one (301) and the screw rod two (304) are opposite, and the outer ends of the screw rod one (301) and the screw rod two (304) are connected together through the connecting sleeve (305) and the corresponding plug (204).
9. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 8, wherein: The upper and lower threaded segments of the threaded sleeve (303) are each half of the axial length of the threaded sleeve (303), the screw rod one (301) and the screw rod two (304) are coaxially interference-fitted with the corresponding connecting sleeve (305), and the connecting sleeve (305) is welded and fixed to the outer end face of the corresponding plug (204).
10. The novel clasp-type inductive coupler according to claim 9, wherein: The screw rod one (301) and the screw rod two (304) are coaxially engaged with a limiting nut (302) near the outer end of the threaded sleeve (303), and the outer diameter of the limiting nut (302) is greater than the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve (303).