Connector for armored electrical cable

Abstract

A connector for an armored cable including a connector body having an opening extending therethrough and a gland nut telescopically engageable with the connector body. The gland nut has an aperture for receiving the armored cable. The connector further includes a sealing ring positionable within the gland nut and has an inner annular surface engageable with the armored cable for sealing about same on an opposed outer annular surface. The sealing ring includes an annular groove formed about an outer surface thereof, and the groove permits the sealing ring to diametrically contract upon linear compression of the sealing ring. In addition, an isolating device is provided that is positionable about the sealing ring for frictionally isolating the sealing ring from the gland nut and permitting the gland nut to rotate substantially independently of the sealing ring.

We claim:  
     
       1. A connector for an armored cable comprising: 
       a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough and having a first end;  
       a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut having a first end, said gland nut first end having an aperture adapted to receive the armored cable;  
       a sealing ring positionable within said gland nut and having an inner annular surface engageable with the armored cable for sealing about an opposed outer annular surface of the armored cable, said sealing ring further including a side wall extending between two opposed end walls;  
       and  
       a cylinder having an uniform diameter and a length equal to or greater than a length of said sealing ring, said sealing ring being positioned within said cylinder such that said side wall is covered by said cylinder, whereby said sealing ring side wall is isolated from said gland nut by said cylinder thereby permitting said gland nut to rotate substantially independently of said sealing ring.  
     
     
       2. A connector as defined in  claim 1 , further including a washer positioned between said gland nut and one of said two end walls of said sealing ring. 
     
     
       3. A connector as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said cylinder and said washer are formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
       4. A connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said connector body has threads and said gland nut has an inner surface having a threaded portion, whereby said gland nut is threadedly engageable with said first end of said connector body. 
     
     
       5. A connector as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said connector body and said gland nut are formed of an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       6. A connector as defined in  claim 1 , further including a generally circular, electrically conductive spring positioned within said gland nut, said spring having an operative position in which said spring contacts the armored cable and said connector body. 
     
     
       7. A connector as defined in  claim 6 , a beveled washer having a first generally planar end and a second opposed end having an inwardly beveled surface, said beveled surface forming a seat for supporting said spring; and 
       when said gland nut is threaded onto said body first end engages said spring forcing it into said beveled seat thereby bringing said spring into mechanical and electrical contact with the armored cable.  
     
     
       8. A connector as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sealing ring has an annular groove formed about an outer surface thereof, said groove permitting said sealing ring to diametrically contract upon axial compression of said sealing ring. 
     
     
       9. A connector for an armored cable comprising: 
       a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough having a first end;  
       a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut including a first end having an aperture adapted to receive the armored cable;  
       a sealing ring positioned within said gland nut and having an annular side wall bounded by a first and second opposed end walls, a portion of said side wall including a deformable portion, said deformable portion of said side wall including an annular groove extending about a radially outer portion of said side wall, said groove being configured to permit said deformable portion to deflects radially inward toward said armored cable upon compression of said first and second end walls thereby being adapted to engage the armored cable for sealing about the armored cable; and  
       a means for axial compressing said sealing ring.  
     
     
       10. A connector as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said groove is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       11. A connector as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said sealing ring in an uncompressed state includes a substantially uniform inner diameter. 
     
     
       12. A connector as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said groove has a depth extending radially inward at least ½ a thickness of said side wall. 
     
     
       13. A connector as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said means for axially compressing said sealing ring includes an annular member disposed adjacent said sealing ring and being engageable therewith, said annular member axially compressing said sealing ring when said gland nut and said connector body are telescopically engaged. 
     
     
       14. A connector as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said gland nut further includes threads formed on an inner surface thereof and said connector body includes threads formed on an outer portion thereof, said threads on said gland nut positioned to engage and cooperate with said threads on said connector body, such that upon threaded engagement of said gland nut onto said connector body said annular member engages and axially compresses said sealing ring. 
     
     
       15. A connector as defined in  claim 13 , further including a generally circular conductive spring positioned within said gland nut contacts said connector body and the armored cable. 
     
     
       16. A connector as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said annular member includes a first and second opposed sides, said first side having a generally inwardly beveled surface forming a seat to support said spring, said second surface being generally planar and positioned adjacent said sealing ring. 
     
     
       17. A connector as defined in  claim 15 , further including a friction isolation assembly, said assembly including a cylinder positioned about an outer diameter of said sealing ring thereby substantially isolating said sealing ring outer diameter from said gland nut. 
     
     
       18. A connector as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said sealing ring first end wall is disposed adjacent said gland nut first end and wherein said isolation assembly further includes a generally annular washer disposed within said gland nut between said glad nut first end wall and said sealing ring first end thereby isolating said sealing ring first end wall from said gland nut. 
     
     
       19. A cable connector comprising: 
       a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough and having a first end;  
       a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut having a first end, said gland nut first end having an aperture for receiving the cable;  
       a sealing ring positionable within said gland nut and having an inner annular surface adapted to engage the cable for sealing about an outer annular surface of the cable, said sealing ring having an annular groove formed about an outer surface thereof, said groove being configured to permit said sealing ring to diametrically contract upon axial compression of said sealing ring; and  
       at least one friction isolation surface disposed between said gland nut and a portion of said sealing ring for substantially frictionally isolating said sealing ring from said gland nut to permit said gland nut to rotate substantially independently of said sealing ring.  
     
     
       20. A connector as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said sealing ring includes an outer annular surface, said at least one friction insolation surface is disposed between said sealing ring outer annular surface and said gland nut. 
     
     
       21. A connector as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said sealing ring includes an end wall and said at least one friction insolation surface is disposed between said sealing ring end wall and said gland nut. 
     
     
       22. A cable connector comprising: 
       a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough having a first end;  
       a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut having a first end having an aperture adapted to receive the cable; and  
       a sealing ring positioned within said gland nut and having an annular side wall bounded by a first and second opposed end walls, a portion of said side wall including a deformable portion, said deformable portion of said side wall including an annular groove extending about a radially outer portion of said side wall, said groove being configured to permit said deformable portion deflects radially inward toward the cable upon axial compression of said sealing ring resulting from telescopic engagement of said gland nut and said connector body, such that said deformable portion engages the cable for sealing about the cable.  
     
     
       23. A connector as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said gland nut and said connector body are threadedly engageable and are axially translatable toward each other upon said threaded advancement of said gland nut on said connector body, and wherein said threaded advancement of said gland nut on said connector body results in the axial compression of said sealing ring. 
     
     
       24. A connector as defined in  claim 22 , further including an annular member disposed adjacent said sealing ring and engageable therewith, said annular member urging said sealing ring into axial compression upon telescopically engagement of said gland nut and said connector body. 
     
     
       25. A connector as defined in  claim 22 , further including at least one friction insolation surface disposed between said gland nut and a portion of said sealing ring for substantially frictionally isolating said sealing ring from said gland nut. 
     
     
       26. A connector as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said sealing ring groove has a depth extending radially inward at least ½ a thickness of said side wall in order to permit said deflectable portion to bulge toward said cable. 
     
     
       27. A connector for an armored cable comprising: 
       a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough and having a first end;  
       a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut having a first end, said gland nut first end having an aperture adapted to receive the armored cable;  
       a sealing ring positionable within said gland nut and having an inner annular surface engageable with the armored cable for sealing about the armored cable on an opposed outer annular surface of the armored cable, said sealing ring including an annular groove formed about an outer surface thereof, said groove permitting said sealing ring to diametrically contract upon linear compression of said sealing ring;  
       an annular member disposed between said connector body and said sealing ring, said annular member being engageable with said sealing ring to bring said sealing ring into sealing engagement with the armored cable; and  
       an isolating means positionable about said sealing ring for frictionally isolating an outer annular surface of said sealing ring from said gland nut and permitting said gland nut to rotate substantially independently of said sealing ring.  
     
     
       28. A connector for terminating an electrical cable having an outer insulative sheath, an armor casing extending from said sheath and a plurality of conductors extending therefrom, said connector comprising: 
       
         a connector body having a cable insertion end, a conductor egressing end and a central longitudinal bore therethrough for insertably accommodating said cable;  
       
       
         a gland nut telescopically attachable to said cable insertion end of said body;  
       
       
         a spring ring supported by said body for surrounding engagement with said extending armor casing of said cable;  
       
       
         a sealing ring supported adjacent said gland nut for surrounding engagement with said insulative sheath of said cable; and  
       
       
         a washer interposed between said sealing ring and said spring ring having a forward surface engageable with said spring ring and an opposed rearward surface engageable with said sealing ring so as to urge said spring ring into conductive engagement with said armor casing of said cable upon said telescopic engagement of said gland nut with said cable insertion end of said body and to urge said sealing ring into seated engagement with said insulative sheath of said cable. 
       
     
     
       29. A connector of  claim 28  wherein said washer forward surface is beveled to urge said spring ring said armor casing. 
     
     
       30. A connector of  claim 29  wherein said beveled forward surface of said washer forms a seat for said spring ring. 
     
     
       31. A connector of  claim 30  wherein said washer rearward surface includes a flat surface for engagement with said sealing ring. 
     
     
       32. A connector of  claim 28  wherein said sealing ring has a generally annular configuration with a first end adjacent said gland nut and a second end adjacent said washer. 
     
     
       33. A connector of  claim 32  wherein said washer has an outer diameter which is substantially equal to or less than the outer diameter of said second end of said sealing ring. 
     
     
       34. A connector of  claim 28  wherein said sealing ring includes an inner annular surface adapted for sealing engagement with said cable sheath, said sealing ring having an annular groove on an outer annular surface, said groove being configured to permit it said sealing ring to diametrically contact into said sealing engagement with said cable sheath upon said telescopic engagement of said gland nut with said body. 
     
     
       35. A connector of  claim 28  further including a friction isolation surface positioned between said gland nut and said sealing ring for substantially frictionally isolating said sealing ring from said gland nut to permit gland nut rotation with respect to said body. 
     
     
       36. An armored cable connector comprising: 
       
         a connector body having a generally longitudinal opening extending therethrough and having a first end;  
       
       
         a gland nut telescopically engageable with said first end of said connector body, said gland nut having a first end and an aperture adapted to receive said armored cable;  
       
       
         a sealing ring positionable within said gland nut and having an inner annular surface engageable with said armored cable;  
       
       
         a generally circular conductor spring positioned within said body, said spring having an operative position in which said spring contacts said armor cable; and  
       
       
         a washer interposed between said spring and said sealing ring, wherein upon said telescopic engagement of said gland nut with said body said washer engages said spring so as to force it into said engagement with said armored cable and substantially simultaneously urging said sealing ring into said engagement with said cable. 
       
     
     
       37. A cable connector of  claim 36  wherein said washer includes a forward surface engageable with said spring and a rearward surface engageable with said sealing ring. 
     
     
       38. A cable connector of  claim 37  wherein said washer forward surface is beveled to form a seat for accommodating said spring. 
     
     
       39. A cable connector of  claim 38  wherein said washer rearward surface is flat.