Bushing assemblies and methods for fabrication of metal conduit raceways in an electrical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12567726-B2
Application number	US-202318455463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2023
Priority date	Aug 24, 2023
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A bushing assembly for fabricating a metal conduit raceway of an electrical system is provided. The bushing assembly includes a bushing sized to be received in a fitting at the first bushing end and sized to receive a rigid or intermediate metal conduit at the second bushing end. The bushing assembly also includes a sleeve including a flared end and a sleeve body. The sleeve is coupled with the bushing with the sleeve body covering at least the second bushing end and extending longitudinally away from the second bushing end. The flared end extends radially outward and in a direction toward the first bushing end. The sleeve is fabricated with an elastomeric material. The sleeve body is sized to receive the conduit therein and shaped to conform with the conduit. The bushing assembly is configured to provide sealing of the raceway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bushing assembly for fabricating a metal conduit raceway of an electrical system, the bushing assembly comprising:
a bushing comprising a first bushing end and a second bushing end, the bushing sized to be received in a fitting of the metal conduit raceway at the first bushing end and sized to receive a rigid or intermediate metal conduit of the metal conduit raceway at the second bushing end; and a sleeve comprising a flared end and a sleeve body extending from the flared end, the sleeve coupled with the bushing with the sleeve body covering at least the second bushing end and extending longitudinally away from the second bushing end, the flared end extending radially outward and in a direction toward the first bushing end, the sleeve fabricated with an elastomeric material, and the sleeve body sized to receive the conduit therein and shaped to conform with the conduit, wherein the bushing assembly is configured to provide sealing of the metal conduit raceway.

2 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bushing is fabricated with an electrically-conductive material.

3 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bushing assembly is formed integrally as a single piece.

4 . The bushing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is molded with the bushing.

5 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flared end comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a mouth of the fitting, and the second portion is sized to receive the mouth.

6 . The bushing assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second portion further comprises a bent-in tip extending radially inward.

7 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flared end further comprises a projection projecting along an interior wall of the flared end and forming a ring.

8 . The bushing assembly of claim 7 , wherein the flared end comprises a plurality of projections.

9 . The bushing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bushing further comprises a shoulder positioned at the first bushing end.

10 . A method of fabricating a metal conduit raceway of an electrical system, the method comprising:
providing a fitting of the metal conduit raceway and a rigid or intermediate metal conduit of the metal conduit raceway; providing a bushing assembly, wherein the bushing assembly includes:
a bushing including a first bushing end and a second bushing end, the bushing sized to be received in the fitting at the first bushing end and sized to receive the conduit at the second bushing end; and
a sleeve including a flared end and a sleeve body extending from the flared end, the sleeve coupled with the bushing with the sleeve body covering at least the second bushing end and extending longitudinally away from the second bushing end, the flared end extending radially outward and in a direction toward the first bushing end, the sleeve fabricated with an elastomeric material, the sleeve body sized to receive the conduit therein and shaped to conform with the conduit;
coupling the bushing assembly with the fitting at the first bushing end by:
coupling the bushing with the fitting until the flared end abuts a mouth of the fitting; and
coupling the conduit with the bushing assembly at the second bushing end by:
inserting the conduit into the sleeve body; and
coupling the conduit with the bushing at the second bushing end,
wherein the bushing assembly provides sealing of the metal conduit raceway.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bushing is fabricated with an electrically-conductive material.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the bushing assembly is formed integrally as a single piece.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve is molded with the bushing.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the flared end comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the mouth of the fitting, and the second portion is sized to receive the mouth.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second portion further comprises a bent-in tip extending radially inward.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the flared end further comprises a projection projecting along an interior wall of the flared end and forming a ring.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the flared end comprises a plurality of projections.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Lopez Omar

Classifications

• H02G3/0406

  Details thereof (installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263) · CPC title

• H02G3/081

  Bases, casings or covers · CPC title

• H02G3/06

  Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing {or channels}, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint · CPC title

• H02G3/0616 Primary

  Joints for connecting tubing to casing · CPC title