Cable Gland Multi-Position Sealing for Leak-Proof Cable Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable glands face challenges with leakage due to loose or improperly tightened clamps and body components, which can lead to damage of the cable and loss of ingress protection, especially in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A cable gland design featuring an entry component, a middle component, and a back component, with a single sealing body that provides seals in multiple positions, such as between the surface and the flange, the cable and the back component, and between the back and middle components, using a resilient material that can stretch and roll over the components to ensure effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate seals are used to seal different locations in the cable gland, then each location can be sealed independently, but the device complexity increases and the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seal positions into a single integrated sealing body that simultaneously seals at multiple locations (between surface and flange, between cable and back component, and between back and middle components). This merging approach maintains comprehensive sealing effectiveness while reducing the number of separate seal components from multiple independent seals to one unified sealing body.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing body is designed to perform multiple sealing functions simultaneously at different positions within the cable gland. This single component serves as both an IP washer, IP seal, shroud, and deluge boot, providing universal sealing protection across all critical interfaces without requiring separate specialized seals for each location.
2Reliability
If the clamp is tightened to ensure sealing, then the seal effectiveness improves, but the cable may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing body acts as an intermediary element between the clamp and the cable, providing a compliant sealing surface that accommodates clamping forces without transmitting excessive stress to the cable. The resilient material of the sealing body absorbs and distributes the compressive force, maintaining seal integrity while protecting the cable from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the sealing body material to change its physical parameters under compression. The material deforms elastically to provide sealing contact while maintaining sufficient compliance to prevent excessive stress concentration on the cable, thus achieving both seal integrity and cable protection through material property optimization.
3Device complexity
If a single sealing body is used to seal multiple positions, then the device complexity is reduced and installation is simplified, but the sealing body must be made resilient to accommodate varying cable diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing body is made from resilient material that can change its physical parameters (shape, volume, density) to accommodate varying cable diameters. This elasticity allows the single sealing body to adapt to different cable sizes while maintaining effective sealing at all positions, replacing what would traditionally require multiple fixed-size seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible resilient sealing body that can deform and conform to different cable diameters and configurations. This flexibility allows one sealing body to perform the function of multiple rigid seals, reducing component complexity while maintaining adaptability to various cable sizes through material compliance.
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 design enhances sealing efficiency by reducing the number of seals needed, simplifying installation, and accommodating varying cable diameters, while preventing liquid pooling and ensuring reliable ingress protection in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing body may be formed of a resilient material, such that it can be stretched and rolled over an outer surface at least one, two or three of the entry component, middle component and back component
Data Source
AI summary
A cable gland (1) comprising: an entry component (2) sized to fit through an orifice in a surface and having a flange (11) arranged to bear against the surface around the orifice; a middle component (3) in threaded engagement with the entry component (2); and a back component (4) in threaded engagement with the middle component (3), the cable gland (1) defining a through bore (5) for a cable through the entry component (2), the middle component (3) and the back component (4); the cable gland (1) further comprising a sealing body (6) which is arranged to provide a seal in at least two positions from the group comprising: between the surface and the flange (11) of the entry component (2) (typically acting as a ingress protection washer); between the cable and the back component (4) (typically acting as an ingress protection seal); between the back component (4) and the middle component (3) (typically acting as a shroud); and between the middle component (3) and the entry component (2) (typically acting as a deluge boot).