Cable gland for grounding a cable and method of use
A cable gland and methods for earthing, grounding, bonding, and electromagnetic capability with armored, metal-clad, and metallic-sheathed cable types. The cable gland comprises a gland body, a plurality of extensions, an elastomer seal, a compression member configured to rotate the plurality of extensions towards to the elastomer seal, and an earthing insert mounted in the gland body configured to electrically connect a cable to a neutral and/or grounded conductor. The cable gland is configured to provide an air-tight seal between the exterior of the cable and the elastomer seal through rotation of the plurality of extension upon the elastomer seal. The cable gland may include an o-ring and nut to secure the cable gland to a planar body. The earthing insert comprises a grounding spring in electrical communication with a metallic portion of the cable and a neutral and/or grounded conductor.
1. A cable gland comprising:
a gland body comprising:
an interior surface;
an exterior surface;
a first distal end;
a second distal end opposite the first distal end; and
a plurality of extensions proximate the second distal end, wherein the plurality of extensions comprising a plurality of inner surfaces;
an elastomer seal molded to the interior surface proximate the plurality of extensions, the elastomer seal configured to abut the plurality of inner surfaces, the elastomer seal constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer material;
a compression member configured to rotate the plurality of extensions, whereby rotation of the plurality of extensions compresses the elastomer seal; and
an earthing insert mounted in the gland body proximate the first distal end.
2. The cable gland of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer material is one of a thermoplastic urethane, a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a thermoplastic silicone, a thermoplastic polyethane, or a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer.
3. The cable gland of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer seal comprises a first hardness of between about 40 to 90 Shore A durometer hardness.
4. The cable gland of claim 3 , wherein the elastomer seal comprises a first hardness of about 70 Shore A durometer hardness.
5. The cable gland of claim 1 , wherein the gland body has a second hardness greater than about 40 Shore D durometer hardness.
6. The cable gland of claim 5 , wherein the gland body has a second hardness of about 70 Shore D durometer hardness.
7. The cable gland of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer seal comprises an interior seal surface having a tapered section.
8. The cable gland of claim 7 , wherein the tapered section is inclined at an angle between about 1 degree and 10 degrees with a line parallel to a central axis of the elastomer seal.
9. The cable gland of claim 8 , wherein the angle is about 5 degrees.
10. The cable gland of claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the gland body.
11. The cable gland of claim 10 , further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna connected to the RFID tag.
12. The cable gland of claim 11 , wherein the RFID antenna is omni-directional.
13. The cable gland of claim 11 , wherein the RFID antenna is configured to comprise a gain that exceeds a background noise by about 6 dB.
14. The cable gland of claim 11 , wherein the cable body comprises an annular void, wherein the RFID tag and RFID antenna are axially disposed within the annular void.
15. The cable gland of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first set of threads disposed on the exterior surface proximate the first distal end;
an o-ring disposed around the exterior surface proximate the first set of threads; and
an annular channel disposed along a surface proximate the first set of threads;
wherein the RFID antenna and the RFID tag are enclosed between the annular channel and the o-ring.
16. The cable gland of claim 11 , wherein the RFID tag and the RFID antenna are disposed within the compression member.
17. The cable gland of claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to store a predetermined data.
18. The cable gland of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined data comprising one or more of:
a product certification date;
a product safety data;
an installation detail;
an installation history;
a date of installation;
a name of an installer;
a contact information;
a cable type;
a cable ID;
a cable use;
a cable routing data;
a cable tag data;
a cable origin point;
a cable termination point
a maintenance history;
a maintenance record;
an inspection history;
an inspection record; and
a customer specified data.
19. The cable gland of claim 17 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to communicate the predetermined data with a RFID reader.
20. A method of using a cable gland comprising:
providing a cable gland comprising:
a gland body comprising:
an interior surface;
a first distal end;
a second distal end opposite the first distal end; and
a plurality of extensions proximate the second distal end, wherein the plurality of extensions comprising a plurality of inner surfaces;
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the gland body, the RFID tag configured to store a predetermined data;
an elastomer seal molded to the interior surface proximate the plurality of extensions, the elastomer seal configured to abut the plurality of inner surfaces;
a compression member configured to rotate the plurality of extensions, whereby rotation of the plurality of extensions compresses the elastomer seal; and
an earthing insert mounted in the gland body proximate the first distal end;
scanning the RFID tag with a RFID reader;
activating the RFID tag; and
wirelessly transmitting the predetermined data from the RFID tag to the RFID reader.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the cable gland further comprises an RFID antenna connected to the RFID tag.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the RFID antenna is omni-directional.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the RFID antenna is configured to comprise a gain that exceeds a background noise by about 6 dB.