Collet-Type Liquid-Tight Connector Assembly for Cable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-tight connectors struggle to provide a secure, strain-relief and liquid-tight seal for cables, wires, and rods, especially for smaller diameters, due to limitations in gripping and sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A collet-type assembly with an integral or co-molded sealing gland and fingers, combined with a compression nut, that compresses to create a tight, circumferential fit and seal around the object, using a thermoplastic or thermoset material, and an O-ring or gasket for additional sealing, allowing for anti-vibration protection and adaptability to various diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing glands and fingers are used separately, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and potential leakage points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing gland and fingers into a single integrated component made from thermoplastic or thermoset material. This merger eliminates the need for separate assembly of multiple parts, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining sealing reliability through the unified structure that prevents leakage paths between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sealing gland and fingers are formed from composite thermoplastic or thermoset materials that provide both sealing and gripping functions. These materials enable the single component to achieve the mechanical properties needed for both sealing surfaces and gripping fingers, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Strength
If rigid gripping mechanisms are used, then grip strength is improved, but adaptability to various diameters and anti-vibration performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping fingers are designed with dynamic characteristics that allow them to flex and adapt to different cable diameters while maintaining strong grip. The thermoplastic or thermoset material provides elastic properties enabling the fingers to deform under compression and conform to various sizes, yet retain sufficient grip strength through elastic recovery.
3Reliability
If separate sealing elements are used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is integrated directly into the gland structure as a unified component rather than using separate sealing elements. This integration reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining effective sealing through the continuous material structure that eliminates gaps and leakage paths.
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 reliable liquid-tight seal and strain relief for cables and wires, including smaller diameters, with enhanced grip and anti-vibration protection, outperforming prior art connectors by ensuring a tight, circumferential grasp and seal.
Implementation Method 1
A compression nut, adapted to engage the body, compresses the collet-type assembly to create a tight, circumferential fit and seal around the cable
Implementation Method 2
The collet-type component may be made from an elastomeric material, thermoplastic, thermoset, and/or thermoplastic elastomer that forms a liquid-tight seal
Implementation Method 3
an O-ring or gasket for additional sealing, allowing for anti-vibration protection and adaptability to various diameters
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A liquid-tight connector [10] includes a threaded body [12], a finger/gland assembly [14] within an annular pocket [32] within the body [12], and a compression nut [16] that engages a first threaded portion [24] of the body [12]. The finger/gland assembly [14] includes a plurality of fingers [48] attached to a sealing gland [46] in an annular, collet-type fashion. The sealing gland [46] and the fingers [48] may be integral with one another. The sealing gland [46] and the fingers [48] may be co-molded with one another. Tightening the compression nut [16] on the threaded body [12] causes the compression nut [16] to engage the fingers [48] of the finger/gland assembly [14] and bias the fingers [48] toward each other. Such biasing causes the fingers [48] to move inward and compress the sealing gland [46] so that it forms a liquid-tight seal around the entire circumference of a cable (not shown) within the body of the connector [10].