Cable Fitting Grip Assembly for Watertight Sealing and Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable fittings fail to provide a reliable watertight seal and often damage cables due to excessive strain, and they are limited in accommodating cables of various sizes and shapes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cable fitting with a grip assembly comprising a grommet and a flexible tightening member that surrounds the grommet, allowing for secure cable retention and a watertight seal across different cable diameters without using a clamping ring, utilizing a compression cap and connector to apply axial and lateral compressive forces for effective sealing and strain relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional grommet and clamping ring system is used, then cable retention is achieved, but the sealing effect is minimal allowing water and debris to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the grommet and clamping ring into an integrated grip assembly where the clamping ring is positioned within the grommet structure. This merging ensures that the same components providing cable retention also provide the sealing function, eliminating the gap between retention and sealing functions that exists in conventional separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip assembly acts as an intermediary element between the cable and the connector body, providing both mechanical retention and environmental sealing. The integrated structure mediates between the need for strong cable holding and the need for watertight protection, achieving both functions through a single coordinated mechanism.
2Reliability
If a chuck system is used to tighten the connector, then cable retention is improved, but the strain on the cable increases potentially resulting in damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tightening function is segmented from the cable gripping function. The compression cap provides the tightening action on the connector body, while the grip assembly internally secures the cable. This segmentation allows the cable to be retained securely without subjecting it to the high strains that would result from direct chuck tightening, as the compression force is applied to the connector structure rather than directly to the cable.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip assembly is pre-positioned within the connector body to provide cushioning protection for the cable before the compression cap is tightened. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the connector is tightened, the cable is already protected by the grip assembly's retaining structure, preventing excessive strain and potential damage that would occur with direct chuck tightening.
3Device complexity
If a one-piece grommet is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate cables of various shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The grommet is segmented into multiple functional components: the grommet body, the integrated clamping ring, and the grip assembly elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing adaptability to various cable sizes and shapes, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip assembly incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to adapt to different cable diameters and shapes. The clamping ring can adjust its position and the grip assembly can flex to accommodate various cable configurations, providing versatility without requiring completely different structures for each cable type.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a clamping ring is used to provide a seal, then sealing is attempted, but the sealing effect is minimal and allows water entry
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the cable retention function in the integrated grip assembly. The clamping ring, which provides mechanical retention, also serves as part of the sealing system by being positioned within the grommet structure to block water and debris pathways. This merging ensures that the sealing effect is maximized rather than being a separate minimal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The grip assembly utilizes composite construction with the grommet body and clamping ring working together as a composite sealing system. This composite structure enhances the sealing effectiveness by combining the retentive function with the sealing function, creating a more reliable barrier against water and debris compared to a single-material clamping ring approach.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure, watertight grip that prevents cable damage and pull-out, accommodating a range of cable sizes while maintaining structural integrity and preventing water, dirt, and debris from entering the fitting.
Implementation Method 1
The tightening member is configured to assist the grommet in securing and retaining the cable by preventing it from being pulled out of the fitting... The flexible tightening member extends past the bottom end of the grommet to clamp the cable
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a compression cap and connector to apply axial and lateral compressive forces for effective sealing
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable cable fitting with a removable grip assembly secures and retains a cable passing therethrough. The grip assembly has a flexible tightening member and a resilient grommet inserted in the tightening member. The grip assembly is further disposed between a connector and a compression cap, such that the tightening member assists the grommet in creating and maintaining a watertight seal with the cable when tightening the compression cap to the connector. The tightening member also assists the grommet in securing and retaining the cable by preventing it from being pulled out of the fitting. The tightening member has a plurality of spaced apart retaining arms. Each arm has a retaining flange at one end that overhangs past an end of the grommet and which has gripper elements formed thereon for directly gripping the cable.