Electrical Slip Conduit Coupler With Stop Clip And Sight Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical conduit couplers lack efficient mechanisms for securely coupling rigid conduits and electrical metallic tubing (EMT) while ensuring proper insertion and preventing conduit overextension, leading to potential installation errors and instability.
Innovation Solution
An electrical slip conduit coupler with a body featuring a cylindrical passageway, stop clip with arm portions, and sight slots, allowing for secure engagement and visualization of conduit placement, along with compression-style coupling using gland rings and nuts or screws, fabricated from materials like steel or zinc alloys, to ensure proper alignment and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing electrical conduit couplers are used, then conduit coupling is achieved, but secure engagement and prevention of conduit overextension is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sight slots are positioned to allow visual confirmation of conduit insertion depth before final engagement. The stop clip is pre-positioned within the coupler body to automatically engage and prevent overextension, ensuring proper installation before the coupling process is completed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sight slots provide visual feedback to the installer regarding conduit insertion depth. When the conduit end becomes visible through the sight slots, it indicates that the conduit has been inserted to the correct depth, allowing the installer to stop insertion and proceed with coupling.
2Manufacturing precision
If existing electrical conduit couplers are used, then conduit coupling is achieved, but mechanisms for preventing overextension are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The stop clip acts as an intermediary element between the conduit and the coupler body. It provides a mechanical stop that prevents conduit overextension without requiring complex internal structures or precision-machined features within the coupler body itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler is divided into distinct functional elements: the body, the removable stop clip, and the sight slots. This segmentation allows the stop clip to be a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, while the body maintains its primary coupling function.
3Ease of operation
If existing electrical conduit couplers are used, then conduit coupling is achieved, but easy disengagement for removal is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The stop clip is designed to be removable from the coupler body, transforming the coupling system from permanently fixed to dynamically adjustable. The outwardly extending region provides a leverage point that allows the stop clip to be pried out with simple tools, enabling easy disengagement while maintaining secure retention during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical slip conduit coupler has a body with an outer periphery and a cylindrical passageway passing through the body for receipt of conduits. The body has a bore extending through the outer periphery to the cylindrical passageway and first and second grooves located along its outer periphery on opposite sides of the bore. The coupler also has a stop clip with a central portion dimensioned to protrude through the bore into the cylindrical passageway, the stop clip has first and second arm portions that are dimensioned to engage the first and second grooves when the stop clip central portion protrudes through the bore, wherein at least one of the arm portions includes an outwardly extending region dimensioned for receipt of a tool to lift the stop clip, and wherein the body includes first and second sight slots to determine if electrical conduits are near the stop clip.