Moisture proof telescoping coupler assembly for electric metal tubes with enhanced grounding and sealing
View Patent ↗A moisture proof, telescoping coupler assembly for electric metal tubes and threaded rigid pipe with an enhanced grounding arrangement both internally and externally for electrically grounding the telescoping tube to the coupler body, Moisture proof sealing is improved by centering the electric metal tube within the coupler body adjacent the seal preventing possible leaking after securing the electric metal tube to one end. A modified arrangement utilizes a snap fitting retaining ring for securing an electric metal tube to the coupler body to provide for unidirectional insertion of an electric metal tube into the open end of a coupler body in a manner that prohibits unintentional separation of the tube and/or retainer ring from the coupler body.
1. An electric metal tube coupler assembly comprising:
a coupler body having a bore extending therethrough and having first and second opposed end openings adapted to receive an electric metal tube;
a first seal placed adjacent the first opposed end opening;
an internal shoulder stop placed within the bore of said coupler body, wherein said internal shoulder stop extends radially into the bore;
a ramp facing the second opposed end placed adjacent said internal shoulder stop; and
a second seal placed adjacent said ramp so that said ramp is between said internal shoulder stop and said second seal;
a flexible grounding strap externally connected to said coupler body and capable of attaching to the electric metal tube when the electric metal tube is inserted into said coupler body; and
a grounding spring placed internally within the bore of said coupler body so that the electric metal tube when placed within said coupler body is free to slide on said grounding spring,
whereby the ramp aids in centering the electric metal tube within said coupler body improving contact with said second seal when the electric metal tube is secured to said coupler body and said flexible grounding strap and said grounding spring provides enhanced electrical grounding or continuity.
2. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 1 wherein:
the ramp has a radial dimension range substantially equal to a predetermined outer radial dimension tolerance range of the electric metal tube.
3. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 1 further comprising:
a set screw attached to said coupler body adjacent the second opposed end, whereby the electric metal tube is held within said coupler body.
4. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 1 further comprising;
a grounding spring groove formed in the interior surface of said coupler body adjacent said first seal; and
a grounding spring placed within said grounding spring groove.
5. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 1 wherein:
said grounding spring comprises a cantered grounding spring.
6. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 1 wherein:
said grounding spring is made of copper.
7. An electric metal tube coupler assembly comprising:
a coupler body having a bore extending therethrough and having first and second opposed end openings adapted to receive an electric metal tube;
a first seal placed adjacent the first opposed end opening;
a grounding spring groove formed in the interior surface of said coupler body adjacent said first seal;
a grounding spring comprised of cantered helical coils placed within said grounding spring groove, whereby an electric metal tube placed within said coupler body is free to slide on said grounding spring providing electrical continuity between said coupler body and the electric metal tube;
an internal shoulder facing the second opposed end; and
a second seal placed adjacent said internal shoulder,
whereby said grounding spring provides electrical continuity between said coupler body and an electrical metal tube placed within said coupler body.
8. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 7 wherein:
said grounding spring comprises a cantered grounding spring.
9. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 7 wherein:
said grounding spring is made of copper.
10. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 7 further comprising:
an internal shoulder having a ramp facing the second opposed end.
11. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 7 further comprising:
a grounding ring adapted to attach to an electric metal tube; and
a flexible grounding strap attached to said grounding ring and said coupler body.
12. An electric metal tube coupler assembly comprising:
a coupler body having a bore extending therethrough and having opposed end openings,
an electric metal tube,
said electric metal tube having an end portion adapted to be slidably received in one of said end openings,
an inwardly extending stop means disposed within said bore between said opposed end openings,
sealing means disposed in said one end opening circumscribing said end portion of said electric metal tube, slidably disposed within said one end opening,
a grounding spring groove formed in the interior surface of said coupler body adjacent said sealing means,
a grounding spring placed within said grounding spring groove,
a grounding ring connected to said electric metal tube, and
a flexible grounding strap interconnecting said grounding ring to said coupler body,
whereby the metal tube coupler is grounded externally by said flexible grounding strap and internally by said grounding spring providing enhanced electrical grounding.
13. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 12 further comprising:
a ramp placed adjacent said inwardly extending stop means.
14. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 12 further comprising:
a second electrical metal tube adapted to be fitted into the other end opening of said coupler body,
a second sealing ring circumscribing the end of said second electric metal tube within said other end opening, and
means for fixedly Securing said second electrical metal tube to said other end opening.
15. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 12 wherein:
said securing means includes a screw fastener.
16. An electric metal tube coupler assembly as in claim 12 further comprising:
a fixed rigid pipe adaptor placed within one of said opposed end openings, and a sliding rigid pipe adaptor placed within another on of said opposed end openings.
17. A telescoping coupler assembly for coupling electric metal tubes or pipes comprising:
a coupler body having a bore extending therethrough and having first and second opposed end openings adapted to receive a metal tube;
a first seal placed adjacent the first opposed end opening;
a grounding spring groove formed in the interior surface of said coupler body adjacent said first seal;
a cantered grounding spring placed within said grounding spring groove;
a grounding ring, whereby said grounding ring is capable of connected to an electric metal tube;
a flexible grounding strap electrically interconnecting said grounding ring to said coupler body;
an internal shoulder formed within said coupler body;
a ramp adjacent said internal shoulder facing the second opposed end;
a second seal placed adjacent said internal shoulder; and
means, adjacent the second opposed end, for fixedly securing a metal tube to the second opposed end,
whereby the telescoping coupler assembly is grounded externally by said flexible grounding strap and internally by said cantered grounding spring providing enhanced electrical grounding and said ramp centers the metal tube within said coupler body adjacent said second seal.
18. A telescoping coupler assembly for coupling electric metal tubes or pipes as in claim 17 wherein:
said means for fixedly securing comprises a fastener.
19. A telescoping coupler assembly for coupling electric metal tubes or pipes as in claim 17 further comprising:
a sliding rigid pipe adaptor placed within the first opposed end opening; and
a fixed rigid pipe adaptor placed within the second opposed end opening.