AU604752B2 - Junction box - Google Patents

Description

AU-AI-7858 4 8 7 PCT WORLD INTELLE ,1 A, IO RGA2ATI) P C lnl io 'a urclf u 5 2 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) lternational Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 88/ 01447 H02G 3/06, 3/14 Al (43) International Publication Date: 25 February 1988 (25.02.88) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU87/00282 (74) Agent: TAYLOR, Paul, Robert: Arthur S. Cave Co., Gold Fields House. 1 Alfred Street, Sydney, NSW (22) International Filing Date: 21 August 1987 (21.08.87) 2000 (AU).

(31) Priority Application Numbers: PH 7588 (81) Designated States: AT, AU, BR, CH, DE, DK, FI, GB, PI 2014 HU, JP, KR, NL, NO, RO, SE, SU, US.

(32) Priority Dates: 21 August 1986 (2 .08.86) 18 May 1987 (!8.05.87) Published With international search report.

(33) Priority Country: AU (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US,: ELCON- NEX PTY LIMITED [AU/AU]; 139 Lower Washington Drive, Bonnet Bay, NSW 2226 A 3 AR 1988 A.O.J.P. 3 1 MAR 1988 (72) Inventors; and Inventors/Applicants ifor US only) PETTY, John [AU/ AU]; 139 Lower Washington Drive, Bonnet Bay, AUST NSW 2226 MCNEILL, Sandy [AU/AUl: 33 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill, NSW 2110 I 8 PATENT

OFFICE

(54) Title: JUNCTION BOX i 7 64 1ii _i (57) Abstract 3 A junction box adapted to have releasably connected fittings (12, 14, 15, 16, 17) of variable inlet diameters and connections. The fittings (12, 14, 15, 16, 17) have castellations (18) and an abutment face (21) defining an annular recess The castellations (18) fit into cutouts (22) in the port whereby when said fitting (12) is rotated the castellations have tighteni neans (38) which force against the castellations (33) of the port forming a seal between sealing faces (24) of the por. and abutment face (21) of the fitting (12) to prevent lateral movement and whereby the projection (25) in the port rides up over the ramp surface (19) to lock into the locking recess (27) to prevent rotational movement. The ramp surface being suitably shaped so as to allow for its defamation by manual means to allow for unlocking of the connector.

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a The present invention relates to a junction box used for connecting two or more conduit connectors for shielding wiring or the like.

Existing methods of joining two or more lengths of conduit to a junction box involves coating the end of the conduit to be glued with adhesive and inserting the end into the spigot of the junction box. It is necessary to have respective size of spigot for the conduit. Further a junction box having the desired number of spigots for the required sizes is required. Thus a large range of junction boxes must be produced and stored to meet the needs. Further because of the requirement of gluing, the joints are permanent and the junction box is therefore non-reusable or alterable to a different configuration.

Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by providing a junction box which has connectors which lock into ports in a junction box. Some systems utilized a metal junction box with threaded ports where adaptors are screwed thereto. A modification of this system is described in South African Patent No. 71/3652.

In particular, there are provided ports in a junction box having the same sized notches surrounding each port. The connector comprises a series of lugs, located at one end thereof, which are so sized and positioned as to fit through the notches of a port such that when the connector is inserted in the port and rotated, the wall surrounding the port is located between an annular shoulder and the lugs. Also located 2 0062p:mmb on the shoulder is a projection which snaps into a notch in the wall surrounding the port to lock the connector in place. The problem with this arrangement is that the connection is not readily released. As the wall of the port is sandwiched between the lugs and the shoulder, with the projection connected to the substantially rigid shoulder there is veil little chance of distorting the material to free the projection except by considerable force or by prising the wall away from the projection by a screw driver or the like which could damage eer either the wall of the junction box or the connector and prevent reuse of the component.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate these problems by providing a junction box having outer wall or walls with:: a plurality of ports of the same diameter located therearound; each port having an inwardly radially extending wall with cutouts of at least two different sizes located reoe around the periphery thereof, and a projection extending oa:t substantially radially inwardly into said port; and at least one connector adapted to engage in any one of said ports, each connector having: a set of castellations at or adjacent one end, and being of a size complementary to the cutouts in said ports; an annular recess located between an abutment surface and said castellations; resilient ramp means with a locking recess; and tightening means located on said castellations facing said abutment surface whereby to connect said connector to a -3- 7! ~_IIIII-- l~:CI 9, I f 0062p:mmb port, the castellations are aligned with, and pushed through their respective cutouts and the connector rotated such that the said projection rides up said ramp means and engages in said locking recess, with the said inwardly radially extending wall being held in said annular recess and being urged into abutment with said abutment surface by said tightening means so that the connector is releasably locked against rotational and lateral movement in said port and whereby to release the connector the ramp is deflected so as to free the said o projection from said locking recess to allow for rotation and then withdrawal of the connector.

*Preferably the junction box has four ports into which any of the conduit connectors can be releasably attached in a relatively watertight manner.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cut away view showing the insertion of one a form of connector into a port in a junction box according to S the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates the locking of the connector of FIG 2 into the port; FIG. 4 illustrates the junction box of the previous drawings showing various forms of connections; FIG. 5 illustrates a half section through another embodiment of the junction box of the present invention; -4- 0062p:mmb FIG. 6 illustrates a lid for the junction box shown in FIG. FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the connection end of one embodiment of a conduit connector; FIG. 8 shows a sectional detailed view of the engagement of a connector as shown in FIG. 7 and the junction box as shown in FIG. As shown In the accompanying drawings a junction box i, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a cylindrical body 2 having four ports 3 located equidistantly therein. The junction box 1 is open topped and has a lid 4, B which closes the box 1 in a relative watertight manner. As shown in FIG 1 and 4 extension members 5 can be fitted to the body 2 to increase the height of the junction box if required.

The extension member 5 has four horizontally extending lugs 6 with one vertically extending lug 7 located above one of the lugs 6.

The lid 4 has four horizontally extending lugs 6 with one vertically extending lug 7 similar to those shown as 6 and 7 on the extension member 5. The respective lugs of the lid are located on the outer wall of the lid below the recess 48.

To close the lid 4 to the extension member 5 or the extension member 5 to the body 2 the respective part is simply twisted into place where it locks. The respective seal is formed by the annular base 28 of the lid seating on the annular sealing surface 29 of the extension member 5 or the cylindrical body 2.

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i~ I___C I 0062p:mmb The position of horizontal lugs 6 and the height of the recess 9 are such that in engagement therebetween, an axial sealing force urges the respective sealing surfaces into a relatively liquid tight engagement.

To ensure a liquid tight seal a resilient or flexible seal element could be located by a suitable means, such as by printing, on either or both of the respective sealing surfaces. A description of one form of seal will be given later. To allow for L)lerances in construction, the cutout 9 0460 .0o. could have another cutout located above forming a finger 0* therebetween which would act as a spring, bearing on the lug 6 *0 0 o0 o located in the cutout 9.

The horizontal lug 6 slides down the ramp 8 where it locks into the cutout 9 (see FIG. 1 and 2) to lock the lid 4 or the extension member 5 against vertical movement relative to the junction box body 2. As the horizontally extending lug 6 .6o* engages into the cutout 9, the vertically extending lug 7 rides over the ramped shoulder 10, to lock into the recess 11, to restrain the lid 4 or extension member 5 against rotational movement relative to the body 2. The cutout 9 could be replaced by a recess located in the inner surface of the e respective wall of the extension member 5 or the cylindrical body 2.

Both the cutouts or recesses and the lugs 6 could be located at any circumferential position relative to the lug 7 and ramped shoulder As is shown in FIG. 2 the ramp 8 is formed by thinning 1 g 6 i I-- I P 0062p:mmb the wall 34 which also provides the entrance 35 to the cutout 9, which is located in the thicker wall section, and. has an overhanging shoulder 36 and bottom ledge 37 which prevents axial movement of horizontally extending lugs 6.

With the lid 4 or the extension member 5 restrained against rotational and axial displacement relative to the body 2, a seal therebetween is produced. To release the lid, the use of a screwdriver or the like wh-.h is inserted in the recess 48 whereby by twisting the screwdriver, the wall of the eo extension member 5 or the cylindrical body 2 is elastically

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oo deformed to allow the vertically extending lug 7 to disengage from the recess 11 and pass back over the ramped shoulder :3 and simultaneously disengage the lugs 6 from the recesses 9.

After disengaging the lug 7 from the shoulder 10 to I remove the lid 4, a screwdriver is inserted into the recess 31 on the lid 4 and twisted to rotate the lid 4, whereby the Shorizontal lugs 6 climb up the ramps 8, raising the lid 4 clear o of the cylindrical body 2 or the extension member 5. The outer edge of the lid 4 could be corrugated such that by rotating a screwdriver or a phillips head screwdriver in the recess 48 and rotating the same the lid is disengaged and repeated screwdriver action forces the lid up to the ramps 8. However, the extension member 5 for all intents and purposes is locked to the junction box 1.

The ramps are preferred for ease of removal of the lid, however the ramps could be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conduit connectors 12 can be of -7i, 0062p:mmb flee

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any required type. A large 13 or small 14 diameter corrugated conduit connector can be used having the means for engaging the corrugated conduits as described in Australian Patent Application No. 69382/87. Rigid conduit connectors of large or small 16 diameters can be used, with the conduits bonded into the connectors. A blank 17 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used to seal any port 3 not required. The contour of the blank 17 is such to conform to the outer surface of the junction box body 2.

The connection between the conduit connectors 12 will now be described with reference to FIG. 2 and 3 wherein one form of connector is shown. However the operation of the locking mechanism is the same, whether a blank or different diameter or form of connector is being connected to the port.

As shown in FIG. 2 the conduit connectors 12 contain a set of castellations 18 of two different sizes located around the periphery of one end, together with a wedge shaped projection 19. Located behind the castellations 18 is an annular recess 20 separating the castellations 18 from the sealing face 21.

The port 3 had cutouts 22 on its rim 23 complementary to the castellations 18 such that the conduit connector 12 can be pushed into the port 3 as shown in FIG. 2.

The castellations 18 are tapered on their recess face as shown in FIG. 2 or have projections i.e. raised nipples, located on the inner surface of the castellations as shown in FIG. 7 such that when the conduit connector 12 is rotated in P' C I

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0 0 C C C C I r ::j :1 8 0062p:mmb the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 3 with the rim 23 of the port 3 engaged in the annular recess 20, the tapered castellations or projections exert a wedging action, forcing the sealing face 21 of the connector into engagement in a relatively watertight manner with the sealing face 24 of the port 3. To ensure a liquid tight seal a resilient or flexible seal element could be located, by any suitable means such as printing, on either of the sealing faces 21 or 24. A description of one form of seal will be given later.

got: With the utilization of the projections on the inner faces of the castellations 18, only the projections engage on the back face of the castellations 33 of the ports 3 in the junction box, rather than a full face engagement between the faces of the respective castellations.

The utilization of the projections allow for greater tolerances of manufacture and allows for "fine tuning" in providing the desirable sealing force between the castellations .18 of the connections 12 and the castellations 33 of the port 3 in production.

S, Further with the projections in the form of raised nipples located rearwardly (in the direction of rotation) on the inner faces of the castellations 18, the castellations are distorted in a wave like fashion around their annulus, providing a spring, urging engagement between the connection 12 and the port 3.

When the conduit connector 12 is inserted in the port 3 the projection 25 of the port rim 23 fits into the recess 26 of 9 3-1 I 0062p:mmb the conduit connector 12. When the conduit connector 12 is rotated as shown in FIG. 3, the projection 25 rides up the wedge shaped projection 19 and locks in the locking recess 27.

As shown in FIG. 3 in the cutout, and FIG. 7, a stop 47 is located on the conduit connector 12, diagonally opposite the wedge shape projection 19. This stop 47, in the fully locked position, abuts against the castellation 32 to prevent overtightending of the connector 12. Therefore the conduit connectors 12 are locked into the port and are restrained against rotational and axial movement relative to the port.

To release the connector 12 from the port 3, the wedge shaped projection 19 is depressed, to allow the projection to pass out of the locking recess 27, as the connector is rotated in the opposite direction to that shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, whereby the castellations 18 of the connector 12 align with the cutouts 22 of the port 3 and the connector 12 is w oo removed from the port 3.

To ensure liquid tightness of the fitting of the lid to the junction box and the fitting of the connectors to the junction box, annular resilient seals 39 and 40 can be located as shown in FIG. The connector 12 as shown in FIG. 7 has a tapered sealing annular member 41. Therefore when the connector 12 is twisted into its locking position the nipples 38 force the sealing member 41 into engagement with annular seal 40 as shown in FIG.

8. The annular seal 40 is deformed outwardly by the wedging action of the tapered annular sealing member 41 to provide a 0062p:mmb two position seal.

The edge 42 of annular seal 40 abuts against the annular lip 43 of the connector 12 to form an edge seal while the edge 44 of the tapered sealing annular member 41 forms an edge seal against the face 45 of the seal 40. Depending upon the angle of the taper and the respective dimensions of the seal 40 and annular member 41, a face seal could occur therebetween.

The seal depending upon the requirements could be a single position either face or lip or any combination thereof.

Turning to the embodiment of the lid 4 shown in FIG. 6, a tapered annular sealing face 46 is provided. Thus when the lid S. 4 is being locked into the junction box as illustrated in FIG.

5, the tapered annular sealing face 46 bears on the inside of the annular seal 39 deforming it outwardly to form a face or edge seal therewith (depending on the respective dimensions of the parts) when the lid is locked to the junction box i.

In other embodiments of the present invention, not ,I illustrated, the conduit connectors would have castellations similar to those of the embodiment illustrated, but the locking means instead of being the projection 25, is a ramped shoulder similar to that designed as 10 on the periphery of the housing 0 eS 2 in FIG. 2, with the locking member on the connector 12 being a complementary projection.

Thus any suitable locking means can be utili--d to lock the connector against rotational motion when the conduit connector is inserted into the port and rotated to its locking position. Similarly any suitable locking means can be used for 11 II- I .L 0062p:mmb the lid or the extension member.

As is shown in FIG. 1 and 4, the outer surface of the conduit connector 12, 14 is so shaped as to conform to the contour of the outer surface or the junction box when assembled in the locked position.

In a further embodiment the lid 4 could 1)e replaced by a switch, power point or light fitting, having locking and releasing means on its circumference similar to those of the lid 4.

o*: Therefore the present invention provides a junction box of any required shape, having a plurality of entry ports located therein, with conduit connectors adapted to mate within one of the ports such that a watertight seal is formed therebetween.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modification and alterations can be made to the junction jox described above without departig from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

The connectors rather than extending radially from the junction box could in fact extend at an angle 60° or any required angle such that the combination of two ports provides a split parallel entry with one port receiving electric and the other adjacent port receiving data information either by way of electrical or optical fibres or the like.

12 i 1,

Claims (15)

1. A junction box having outer wall or walls with a plurality of ports of the same diameter located therearound; each port having an inwardly radially extending wall with cutouts of at least two different sizes located around the periphery thereof, and a projection extending substantially radially inwardly into said port; and at least one connector adapted to engage in any one of said ports, each connector having; a set of castellations at or adjacent one end, and being of a size complementary to the cutouts in said ports; an annular recess located between an abutment surface and i said castellations; I *resilient ramp means with a locking recess; and tightening means located on said castellations facing i; said abutment surface whereby to connect said connector to a .0 port, the castellations being aligned with, and pushed through their respective cutouts and the connector rotated such that i the said projection rides up said ramp means and engages in said locking recess, with the said inwardly radially extending wall being held in said annular recess and being urged into I "o abutment with said abutment surface by said tightening means so that the connector is releasably locked against rotational and iaxial movement in said port and whereby to release the connector the ramp is deflected so as to free the said projection from said locking recess to allow for rotation and then withdrawal of the connector.

2. A junction box according to claim 1 wherein said 13 0062p:mmb resilient ramp means comprises an axially extending resilient finger having located on its outer surface a ramp terminating in the locking recess.

3. A junction box according to claim 1 wherein said resilient ramp means comprises an axially extending resilient finger having a ramped outer surface, with said locking recess being in the form of a shoulder, and wherein there is a stop, located in said annular recess, which in the locking position abuts against a wall of one of the said cutouts to limit the movement of the connector in the locking direction. r

4. A junction box according to any one of the preceding S claims wherein said tightening means comprises a projection. S 5. A junction box according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said tightening means comprises the castellations having a tapered thickness.

6. A junction box according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided sealing means located on said ooom abutment surface.

7. A junction box according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising sealing means located around said port. *o 8. A junction box according to claims 6 or 7 wherein the °o t sealing means comprises an annular resiliently deformable skirt.

9. A junction box according to claim 8 when appended to claim 7 wherein said connector comprises a ring having a tapered outer surface which abuts against and deforms said annular resiliently deformable skirt, to provide a substantially watertight seal therewith. 14 0062p:mmb A junction box according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said junction box has a circular opening at one end; an annular wall extending from said opening to an inwardly projecting shoulder; at least one recess located in said annular wall adjacent the inwardly projecting shoulder and; a inwardly extending projection having a remped surface and a locking recess located adjacent the projection; a circular lid having a cylindrical outer wall with a first series of projections located therein, a locking 0r*@ projection, and a recess in the lid adjacent said locking Sprojection whereby when said lid is placed in said opening and rotated the first series of projections enter into the S.. respective recesses holding the lid against axial movement while the locking projection rides up and over the ramped surface and locks into said locking recess locking the lid against rotational movement and whereby to remove the lid a tool is placed in the recess in the 3id and the wall of the S. opening is deflected to allow the locking projection to disengage from the locking recess to allow removal of the lid.

11. A junction box according to claim 10 wherein there is provided ramp means located on said annular wall extending from said opening to said sholder with one of the said at least one recesses located adjacent the bottom of said ramp means, or wherein when said lid is placed in the opening and rotated the first series of projections slide down the ramp means.

12. A junction box according to claim 11 wherein said ramp means is formed by a thinning of the annular wall which also 15 0062p:mmb forms an entrance to said at least one recess.

13. A junction box according to claim 12 wherein said locking recess is an axially extending recess.

14. A junction box according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said inwardly projection shoulder has sealing means located thereon. A junction box according to any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said cylindrical outer wall terminates in a sealing means.

16. A junction box according to claim 14 or 15 wherein said sealing means is a resiliently deformable skirt. o

17. A junction box according to claim 16 when appended to oee claim 14 wherein said cylindrical wall has a frustoconical surface which abuts with and deforms the resiliently deformable skirt to form a substantially water tight seal therewith.

18. A junction box according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said junction box is cylindrical in shape and the connectors have outer surfaces which conforms to the cylindrical surface of the junction box.

19. A junction box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 24th day of September, 1990. I ELCONNEX PTY LTD By Its Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. 16