Swivel Coupling for Metal Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling assemblies for metal conduits used in electrical applications are cumbersome and difficult to connect, especially when dealing with heavy conduits and tight spaces, requiring significant brute force and often resulting in challenging alignment and rotation issues.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly comprising a male and female member with mating portions and conduit receiving portions that allow for compression fitting and relative rotation, ensuring secure connection while facilitating easy assembly and use in the field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional threaded couplings are used to join metal conduits, then structural soundness is achieved, but the connection process becomes extremely difficult requiring significant brute force and rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is divided into two separate members: a first member with external threading and a second member with internal threading. This segmentation allows each member to be independently positioned and threaded separately, reducing the complexity of alignment and rotation required during installation while maintaining strong structural connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device acts as an intermediary component between two conduit sections. The first member threads into one conduit while the second member threads into the other conduit, mediating the connection process and eliminating the need for direct threading between heavy conduit sections, thereby reducing brute force requirements.
2Reliability
If conduits are made heavy for structural integrity and protection, then shielding and grounding capabilities are improved, but handling and alignment become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device segments the heavy conduit connection task into two manageable parts that can be independently handled. Each member of the coupling can be positioned and threaded separately, making it easier to handle and align even when working with heavy conduit sections that provide necessary protection and grounding.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conduits with elbows or bends are used for routing flexibility, then adaptability to different configurations is achieved, but clearance for coupling becomes tight
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is segmented into two members that can be independently positioned. This allows the installer to approach the coupling from different directions and angles, making it possible to work in tight spaces around elbows and bends where traditional single-piece couplings would be difficult to install.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to thread one heavy conduit into another (which requires significant clearance), the invention inverts the approach by using a coupling device that threads onto each conduit separately. This reversal of the connection approach enables installation in tighter spaces around bent conduits.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling assembly includes a first member having a male mating portion and a first conduit receiving portion and a second member having a female mating portion and a second conduit receiving portion, wherein the male mating portion is engaged with the female mating portion to prevent disassociation of the first member and the second member while permitting free rotation of the first member and the second member with respect to each other. A method of coupling a first conduit and a second conduit includes providing a first coupling member having a first mating portion and a second coupling member having a second mating portion, and compression fitting the first mating portion with the second mating portion to prevent disassociation of the first member and the second member while permitting relative rotation of the first member and the second member with respect to each other.