Cable-gland system for an electronic chassis providing enhanced sealing functionality
A cable-gland system provides a sealing function to openings in an electronic chassis that receive cables. The cable-gland system comprises a plurality of individual cable glands. Each of the plurality of individual cable glands includes an exterior end to be positioned adjacent an exterior of the chassis, and an interior end for positioning within the chassis. Each of the plurality of individual cable glands includes a through-hole extending between the exterior and interior ends for receiving one of the cables, and an outer surface between the exterior and interior ends. Each of the plurality of individual cable glands has a male projection on one side of the outer surface and a female recess on an opposing side of the outer surface. The cable glands are connectable to form the cable-gland system by mating the male projection on one cable gland with the female recess of an adjacent cable gland.
1 . A method of assembling an electronics device exposed to an outside environment, the electronics device having a chassis with an interface between a base of the chassis and a cover of the chassis, the electronics device including electronic components located within the chassis that connect to a plurality of cables that exit the chassis, the method comprising:
inserting each of the plurality of cables through a corresponding cable gland;
connecting each of the cable glands to form a cable-gland system;
installing each of the cable glands into a corresponding cavity of the chassis at the interface of the base and the cover; and
attaching the base to the cover;
wherein each of the plurality of corresponding cable glands has a registration, an exterior end, an interior end, a male projection, and a female recess, the registration feature mating within a corresponding feature in the chassis, the registration feature being positioned in a central area between the exterior end and the interior end, the male projection and the female recess being positioned between the exterior end and the registration feature.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein installing each of the cable glands into the corresponding cavity of the chassis occurs after the cable glands have been connected to form a cable-gland system.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after inserting each of the plurality of cables through the corresponding cable gland, electrically connecting the plurality of cables to the electronic components.
4 . A method of assembling an electronics device exposed to an outside environment, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of individual cable glands, each of the plurality of individual cable glands including an exterior end, an interior end, a through-hole extending between the exterior and interior ends, and an outer surface between the exterior and interior ends, each of the plurality of individual cable glands having a male projection on one side of the outer surface and a female recess on an opposing side of the outer surface, the male projection and the female recess being positioned between the exterior end and a registration feature;
positioning the exterior end adjacent to an exterior of an electronic chassis;
positioning the interior end within the electronic chassis;
receiving, via the through-hole, one of a plurality of cables;
connecting the plurality of individual cable glands to form a cable-gland system by mating the male projection on one cable gland with the female recess of an adjacent cable gland; and
mating a registration feature with a corresponding feature in the electronic chassis, the registration feature being included in each of the plurality of individual cable glands.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing the registration feature in a form of a projection extending away from the outer surface, the projection being configured for mating within a corresponding recess in the electronic chassis.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing the through-hole in respective ones of the individual cable glands with different internal diameters for receiving cables of different sizes from the plurality of cables.
7 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands with a front annular groove adjacent to the exterior end, the front annular groove being configured to receive a corresponding portion of the electronic chassis.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing the exterior ends of the plurality of individual cable glands in a form that protrudes outside of the electronic chassis.
9 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands with an O-ring adjacent to the interior end, the O-ring assisting with sealing the corresponding cable gland of the plurality of individual cable glands within the electronic chassis.
10 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands in a generally cylindrical form, the male projection being located on a first platform extending away from the one side of the outer surface, the female recess being located on a second platform extending away from the opposing side of the outer surface.
11 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising forming a snap-fit connection with the male projections of the plurality of individual cable glands and the female recesses of the plurality of individual cable glands.
12 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands in an interchangeable form within the cable-gland system such that locations of two individual cable glands within the cable-gland system can be exchanged.
13 . A method of assembling an electronics device exposed to an outside environment, the method comprising:
providing an electronic chassis having a base and a cover;
engaging the base with the cover at an interface, at least one of the base and the cover having a plurality of cavities in a surface adjacent to the interface;
connecting a plurality of individual cable glands to form a cable-gland system, each of the plurality of individual cable glands including
an exterior end,
an interior end,
a through-hole extending between the exterior and interior ends,
an outer surface between the exterior and interior ends, and
a registration feature for mating with a corresponding feature in the electronic chassis, the registration feature being positioned in a central area between the exterior end and the interior end;
receiving the outer surfaces of the individual cable glands within the plurality of cavities;
coupling electronic components to cables, the electronic components being located within the electronic chassis; and
allowing the cables to exit the electronic chassis by extending each of the cables through a corresponding one of the through-holes of the cable glands.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a male projection and a female recess positioned between the exterior end and the registration feature.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the registration feature in a form of a projection and the corresponding feature in the form of a recess, the projection and the recess extending inwardly into a respective one of the plurality of cavities.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands with a male projection on one side of the outer surface and a female recess on an opposing side of the outer surface, the male projection on one individual cable gland being connected with the female recess of an adjacent individual cable gland to form the cable-gland system.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing each of the plurality of individual cable glands in a generally cylindrical form, the male projection being located on a first platform extending away from the one side of the outer surface, the female recess being located on a second platform extending away from the opposing side of the outer surface.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising forming a snap-fit connection with the male projection and the female recess.
19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the plurality of individual cable glands in an interchangeable form within the cable-gland system such that locations of two individual cable glands within the cable-gland system can be exchanged.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the cables with a smaller cable having a smaller outer diameter, each of the plurality of individual cable glands having the same exterior profile, at least one of the plurality of individual cable glands having an internal though-hole with a smaller internal diameter for use with the smaller cable.