Jacketed metal clad cable connector

In a connector for connecting a jacketed metal-clad cable to an electrical enclosure and providing a ground path between said cladding and said enclosure comprising a body member having a first externally threaded portion for insertion within the knockout of an electrical enclosure, a second externally threaded portion for receipt thereon of an internally threaded gland nut and an annular ring therebetween to engage a first side of an enclousre about a knockout through which said first externally threaded portion has been inserted;

• said first externally threaded portion having a first bore of a first diameter;
• said second externally threaded portion having a second bore of a second diameter larger than said first bore, and communicating therewith;
• the juncture between said first and second bores forming a shoulder within said annular ring;
• an internally threaded gland nut to threadably engage the second externally threaded portion of said body member;
• said gland nut having an end wall with a bore therethrough;
• and a retaining ring positioned in said bore of said end wall of said gland nut;
• the improvement comprising:
• a grounding ring having a base in a generally circular configuration and defining an aperture to receive a metal-clad cable therethrough;
• at least two upstanding arms coupled to said base, diametrically opposed and extending perpendicularly to the plane of said base along the extent of a portion of a metal-clad cable passing through said aperture in said base;
• and outwardly inclined arms, one coupled to the free end of each of said upstanding arms;
• and a generally cylindrical sealing ring having a first end and a second end and a bore extending therethrough from said first end to said second end;
• said sealing ring second end engaging said retaining ring and said sealing ring first end engaging said outwardly inclined arms of said grounding ring;
• said outwardly inclined arms causing said upstanding arms to move into intimate engagement with the cladding of the metal-clad cable passing through the connector as the sealing ring is advanced upon the outwardly inclined arms of the grounding ring by the tightening of the gland nut upon the second externally threaded portion of the body member.

A sealing ring comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve having a first end and a second end;

• said sleeve having a first bore extending from said first end towards said second end;
• an annular undercut in the wall of the sleeve defining said bore adjacent said first end;
• said sleeve comprising a first cylindrical portion having a first outside diameter and a second cylindrical portion of a second outside diameter greater than said first outside diameter and a tapered transition between said first and said second cylindrical portions;
• said sealing ring further having a metal insert adjacent said second end and having a second bore extending from said second end and communicating with said first bore;
• said second bore having a diameter less than that of said first bore;
• a tapered annular shoulder from said first bore to said second bore;
• the internal end of said metal insert being within said tapered annular shoulder to prevent contact with such insert by objects passed along said bore into said second bore of said sealing ring.

In a connector for jacketed metal-clad cables having a body member and a gland nut;

• apparatus to ground the metal cladding of the cable and grip the jacket thereof comprising:
• a sealing ring having a bore therethrough, said sealing ring being disposed in said gland nut to advance therewith with respect to said body member as said gland nut is tightened upon said body member;
• said sealng ring having a rigid insert seated at the end thereof facing said body member;
• a grounding ring having a generally circular configuration and having a base defining an aperture to receive a metal-clad cable therethrough;
• at least two upstanding arms coupled to said base, diametrically opposed and extending perpendicularly to the plane of said base along the extent of a portion of a metal-clad cable passing through said aperture in said base;
• and outwardly inclined arms, one coupled to the free end of each of said upstanding arms and engageable by said insert to force said upstanding arms into intimate engagement with the metal-cladding of a metal-clad cable passing therebetween as said sealing ring is advanced with respect to said body member.