Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Single duct conduits
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-04-10
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Single duct conduits
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215065
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to cable systems and, in particular, to a bulkhead penetration system for passing a cable through a wall or bulkhead.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The global mobile communications industry is driving the need for improved cable entry devices for passing coaxial transmission line cable through planar obstacles. Effective bulkhead penetration is required at cellular ground base stations where installation usually requires feeding coaxial cable into a building or radio cabinet. However, the predominate cable entry devices now in use in wireless communications base stations generally perform poorly, are limited in their versatility, and are too expensive.
One important consideration for effective bulkhead penetration is to prevent moisture or other environmental elements from passing across the bulkhead. Moisture can migrate across the bulkhead at the boundary where the bulkhead meets the cable entry device, between device components, and at the interface of the cable and cable entry device. Various forces such as wind loading or shaking forces may occur in out-of-doors stations and give rise to vibrations which tend to loosen the cable entry device components and result in compromised leak resistance. For this reason, it is desirable for the cable entry device to provide a lasting leak-tight fit under all types of environmental conditions.
Another consideration is to provide a single cable entry device that is compatible with a variety of wall or bulkhead thicknesses. Frequently, bulkheads of various thicknesses are encountered during base station installation. For example, the cable entry device may be used with cabinet walls, shelter entry plates, roof and wall plates, grounding plates, and other similar thin-walled planar obstacles that a transmission line, cable, waveguide, or other member might need to penetrate. Installation is frustrated when some cable entry devices are unsuited for use with a particular bulkhead thickness. Since storing and/or stocking many different devices for use in various situations is uneconomical, it is desirable that the same cable entry device be compatible and function properly with a variety of bulkhead thicknesses.
Furthermore, increased ease of installation is desired especially since some cable entry devices are installed in very awkward locations. These circumstances, for example, include limited intimate access to one side of the bulkhead. Installation is further complicated by prior art devices having a multitude of component parts. For example, some prior art devices require a secondary mounting plate which is attached to the bulkhead with screws, nuts, and sealing compound. These devices require the installer to control many parts at the same time and sometimes necessitate the assistance of another worker.
Hence, in addition to accommodating multiple cables or members, multiple shaped members, or a combination of either, what is needed is a bulkhead penetrator which is leak tight, simple to install, compatible with a variety of bulkhead thicknesses, and economical to manufacture and distribute.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bulkhead penetration system for interlocking with a wall to feed a cable therethrough. The system includes a bulkhead member defining a bore therethrough and formed about a longitudinal axis. The bulkhead member has an outwardly extending shoulder disposed between a locking portion and a collar portion. The locking portion has a plurality of outwardly extending locking fingers, each having a fixed end and a retaining end with a camming surface disposed therebetween. The retaining end is proximate to the shoulder relative to the fixed end and each of the locking fingers defines a finger length between the fixed end and the retaining end. The locking fingers are capable of deflecting independently of each other and each retaining end is raised relative to the fixed end when the locking finger is in a substantially undeflected position. Each of said locking fingers in the undeflected position define an angle between the finger length and the longitudinal axis. The bulkhead member interlocks with the wall such that the wall is retained between at least one of the retaining ends and the shoulder.
The bulkhead penetration system further includes a boot made of resilient material defining a boot split and a boot bore along the longitudinal axis such that the boot has a substantially C-shaped cross-section. The boot has a first sleeve portion integral with a second sleeve portion. The first sleeve portion is sized for encompassing the collar portion. The boot has a first and a second sealing surface at the boot split extending along the longitudinal axis. The first sealing surface engages the second sealing surface when the boot split is joined at the longitudinal axis L.
Furthermore, the bulkhead penetration system includes a sealing grommet defining therein at least one cable aperture for receiving a cable. The grommet is sized and shaped to generally conform with the inner surface of the boot bore. A gasket is optionally disposed between the shoulder and all of the retaining ends for sealing engagement of the shoulder with the wall. Also, a first and second fastener are placed on the first and second sleeve portions, respectively, to close the boot split.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method for penetrating a wall using a bulkhead penetration system that allows at least one cable to be fed through the wall. The method includes the step of forming a hole in the wall having a size slightly larger than the bulkhead member. Next, a cable is passed through a bore defined within a bulkhead member and through the hole. The bulkhead member is pressed into the hole generally along the longitudinal axis and substantially perpendicular to the wall such that the wall contacts at least one of the camming surfaces and such that at least one of the locking finger in contact with the wall deflects from the undeflected position. Then, the bulkhead member is locked into position such that at least one of the locking fingers returns to the substantially raised position to provide a detent for the wall such that the wall is retained between at least one of the retaining ends and the shoulder.
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Andrew Corporation
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Reichard Dean A.
Rudisill Stephen G.
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