Electrical Box Cable Connector for One-Way Armored Cable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable clamps for electrical boxes face challenges in securely holding armored sheathed cabling, as they either provide excessive resistance to forward advancement or insufficient resistance to rearward movement, failing to meet electrical code requirements for cable retention.
Innovation Solution
An electrical cable connector with a flexible retaining member that allows easy insertion while preventing withdrawal, featuring a connector housing with angled legs that engage the cable sheathing to provide sufficient resistance to rearward movement, combined with a box separator to create isolated compartments for different types of wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cable clamps are used to secure armored sheathed cabling, then cable retention is improved, but resistance to forward advancement becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The cable retaining member is designed with flexible legs that can dynamically adjust their position. During cable insertion, the legs flex outward to accommodate the cable's forward movement with minimal resistance. Once the cable is in place, the legs return to their original position to provide secure retention, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member changes its physical state from a relaxed configuration during insertion to a engaged configuration during retention. The flexible legs undergo elastic deformation to transition between these states, allowing the same component to provide both low resistance during forward advancement and high resistance during withdrawal
2Ease of operation
If conventional cable clamps are used to secure armored sheathed cabling, then cable retention is improved, but resistance to rearward movement becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable retaining member employs asymmetric engagement geometry where the flexible legs are positioned and shaped to provide different resistance characteristics for forward versus rearward movement. The legs engage the cable sheathing in a manner that allows easy forward insertion while creating significant friction and mechanical interference for rearward withdrawal, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a symmetric clamp that resists both forward and rearward movement equally, the invention inverts the approach by designing a member that facilitates forward movement through flexibility and then uses the same flexibility to create engagement that resists rearward movement. The retention mechanism works in the opposite direction of insertion
3Ease of operation
If a flexible retaining member is used to allow easy cable insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but cable retention may become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable retaining member utilizes flexible legs made of elastic material that can bend and deform. These flexible elements allow the cable to be inserted easily by flexing outward during insertion, then return to their original shape to engage and retain the cable, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability through the inherent properties of flexible materials
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 ensures secure cable retention within the electrical box, meeting code requirements by allowing easy installation and preventing cable withdrawal, while maintaining separate compartments for various wiring configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the cable retaining member is able to flex while an electrical cable passes into the cavity imparting little resistance to the forward advancement of the cable, while imparting sufficient resistance to rearward movement of the cable
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical box assembly and cable connector are provided. The cable connector includes a connector housing and a cable retaining member that releasably secures an electrical cable within the connector housing. The electrical box assembly includes an electrical box and a cable connector. The electrical box assembly may also include a box separator.