Electrical Fitting for Non-Metallic Cable Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical fittings struggle to securely connect multiple non-metallic (NM) electrical cables to electrical panel boxes or metallic tubing, lacking efficient insertion and removal mechanisms and accommodating multiple cables effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electrical fitting with a body and a cable securing device featuring clamping devices with resilient clamp fingers and anchoring fingers, allowing easy insertion and removal of NM cables, and capable of securing multiple cables through a combination of clamping and anchoring mechanisms, fabricated from materials like nylon for strength and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single access region connector is used for NM cables, then the connector structure is simple, but it can only accommodate one or more cables through a single access region, limiting cable management capability
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple access regions (first access region and second access region) with separate cable securing devices for each region. This segmentation allows independent cable management in each region, enabling the connector to accommodate multiple cables from different directions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If existing NM cable connectors are used, then installation is straightforward, but insertion and removal of NM cables is difficult and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable securing devices incorporate movable clamping members that can dynamically adjust their position. The clamping members are designed to be movable along the access regions and can be easily positioned to grasp cables during installation, then secured in place. This dynamic capability enables easy cable insertion and removal while maintaining reliable cable securing through the clamping action.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cables need to be accommodated, then cable management capability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each access region is equipped with a cable securing device that can handle multiple cables independently. The first cable securing device in the first access region and the second cable securing device in the second access region both provide universal cable securing capability. This multi-functionality allows the connector to accommodate multiple cables from different access regions without requiring fundamentally different securing mechanisms for each cable, thus managing complexity while providing multi-cable accommodation.
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
Facilitates easy insertion and removal of multiple NM cables while securely fastening them to panel boxes or metallic tubing, accommodating cables of varying sizes and providing structural rigidity through metallic sleeves, enhancing cable management and installation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the clamp fingers dimensioned for resilient movement relative to each other so as to grasp an NM electrical cable or cables
Implementation Method 2
each protruding member dimensioned for receipt in one of the apertures formed in the body, wherein each protruding member is urged toward the body when the arms of the clamping device are squeezed together
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical fitting to secure multiple non-metallic electrical cables has a body having a first end for insertion into an electrical panel box or to receive conduit, and a second end having an opening with apertures formed near a periphery thereof, the body having a hollow interior for passage of cables, and a cable securing device having a plate dimensioned to mount to the body and clamping devices, each having a pair of resilient clamp fingers to secure at least one cable, each finger having a terminating end adjacent the terminating end of the other finger, a pair of squeezable arms extending to facilitate cable insertion and removal, and a pair of anchoring fingers extending from the first surface of the plate, each anchoring finger having a protruding member to snap into one of the apertures so as to secure the cable securing device especially when the arms are squeezed.