Cable Gland Monolithic Gasket and Locking Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable glands have a complex structure with multiple components, leading to increased production and assembly costs, complexity, and potential user errors during installation, while offering only IP66 protection grade.
Innovation Solution
A cable gland design featuring a central body with a threaded shank and toothed annular member, a captive locking ring, and a monolithic gasket and nut, formed through a co-molding process, reducing components to two main parts and enhancing ease of assembly and user safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional cable glands use multiple separate components (body, locking ring, gaskets, nut), then the device can be assembled and disassembled, but the production cost increases and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the body, locking ring, gaskets, and nut into a single integrated component. The body features an integrated locking ring with radial arms that can clamp the cable, and integrated gasket elements that seal against the cable and housing. This eliminates the need for multiple separate parts, reducing production cost and structural complexity while maintaining the necessary assembly and disassembly functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated body structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the main housing structure, includes locking mechanisms with radial arms for cable retention, incorporates sealing gaskets for environmental protection, and integrates a nut for threaded mounting. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining all necessary operations.
2Productivity
If conventional cable glands use multiple separate components, then the device can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
By combining all functional elements into a single integrated body, the patent eliminates multiple assembly steps. The locking ring, gaskets, and mounting nut are all pre-integrated into the body structure, so the installer only needs to insert the cable and secure the entire assembly in one operation, dramatically reducing assembly time and potential for errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking ring and gaskets are pre-positioned and pre-configured as integral parts of the body during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that all components are correctly aligned and positioned before installation, eliminating the need for complex field assembly and reducing the risk of installation errors.
3Reliability
If conventional cable glands use separate gaskets and locking rings, then the components can be manufactured independently, but the overall protection grade is limited to IP66
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the locking ring and gaskets into the body creates a more unified sealing system. The radial arms of the locking ring can apply consistent clamping force while the integrated gaskets maintain continuous contact with both the cable and housing, achieving IP68 protection through a simpler, more cohesive structure rather than multiple separate sealing interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction with the body made from materials suitable for high-grade sealing (achieving IP68), integrating different material properties within the single component to ensure both mechanical strength and environmental sealing capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional cable glands have multiple components, then each component can be optimized independently, but the final product cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all components into a single integrated body, the patent maintains manufacturing precision through monolithic production or precise integration of sub-components during manufacturing. The locking ring, gaskets, and mounting features are all optimized together as a unified design, eliminating the cumulative cost increases that would result from manufacturing and assembling multiple separate precision components.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable gland (1) having a central body (2) which has a threaded shank (3) and, at the opposite end, a toothed annular member (4); the toothed annular member (4) is constituted by flexible axial teeth (5); at the base of the axial teeth (5) the central body (2) has a thread (6) engaging a locking ring. A gasket (10) which is arranged inside the central body (2) and has a thicker portion (11) and an annular portion (12). The thicker portion (11) extends substantially at the internal part of the toothed annular member (4) providing a seal between the body (2) and the cable. The annular portion (12) is arranged at the shank (3) providing a seal between the body (2) and the surface of the object to which the cable gland (1) is applied. The gasket (10) is formed by co-molding during the operation for forming the central body (2).