US-12618430-B2 - Unitary piece dual lock split washer

US12618430B2US 12618430 B2US12618430 B2US 12618430B2US-12618430-B2

Abstract

A washer includes a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material and having a split extending between an inner circumferential edge and a radially outer peripheral edge to provide the body with first and second ends. One end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers, and the other end has circumferentially extending and radially spaced fingers. A joint structure is integrally formed with the first and second ends. The joint structure includes a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism. The second locking mechanism is only engageable after the first locking mechanism is fully engaged.

Inventors

Timothy Adam BYRNE
Henry Smith

Assignees

WOODSIDE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221214
Priority Date: 20200615

Claims (17)

1 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising: a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged; wherein the joint structure includes: first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end; and, first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end.
2 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism has a first part on the first finger extending from the first end and a second part on the second finger extending from the second end.
3 . The split washer according to claim 2 , wherein a first part of the second locking mechanism is carried on the second finger extending from the second end.
4 . The split washer according to claim 3 , wherein a second part of the second locking mechanism is on the second finger extending from the first end.
5 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein one of a first part and a second part of the second locking mechanism comprises a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and the second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
6 . The split washer according to claim 5 , wherein the second part of the second locking mechanism is the protrusion and the protrusion is on the second finger extending from the first end.
7 . The split washer according to claim 6 , wherein the protrusion is arranged to: bear against the first finger extending from the second end and flex in a generally radial outward direction prior to the first locking mechanism becoming fully engaged while the first and second ends are being moved toward each other; and, be in radial alignment with the second part of the second locking mechanism wherein the second finger extending from the first end is capable of flexing in a generally radial inward direction to engage with the second part of the second locking mechanism when the first locking mechanism is fully engaged.
8 . The split washer according to claim 5 , wherein the first part of the second locking mechanism comprises a recess formed in the second end.
9 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein the first part of the first locking mechanism comprises at least one engaging portion, and the second part of the first locking mechanism comprises at least one complementary engaging portion.
10 . The split washer according to claim 9 , wherein the least one engaging portion comprises a first plurality of teeth, and each of the at least one complementary engaging portion comprises a second plurality of teeth.
11 . The split washer according to claim 1 , wherein when the first and second locking mechanism are engaged, the inner circumferential edge has a substantially constant radius Ri and the radially outer peripheral edge has a compound shape of a portion of a circle and a radially extending tab having opposite radial edges which reach to an arcuate edge.
12 . The split washer according to claim 11 , wherein the split follows a winding path through the tab from the inner circumferential edge to the arcuate edge of the tab.
13 . The split washer according to claim 11 , wherein the portion of the circle of the radially outer peripheral edge extends with a constant radius Ro for between about 260°-300°, and the tab extends circumferentially for between about 60°-100°.
14 . The split washer according to claim 1 , where in the body is made from a natural or synthetic rubber including a thermoplastic elastomer.
15 . An electrical configuration comprising: a junction box; a gland including an end that secures to a wall of the junction box; a cable including an end that extends through the gland and beyond the end of the gland that secures to the wall of the junction box so as to extend within the junction box; and the split washer of claim 1 , wherein the split washer is disposed between a portion of the gland and the wall of the junction box.
16 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising: a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged; wherein: the joint structure includes first and second fingers radially spaced by a first gap and extending circumferentially from the first end, and first and second fingers radially spaced by a second gap and extending circumferentially from the second end wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits in the gap between the two fingers of the other end; and one of a first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.
17 . A unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising: a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and outer edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged; wherein: the first locking mechanism has a first part on the first finger extending from the first end and a second part on the second finger extending from the second end; a first part of the second locking mechanism is carried on the second finger extending from the second end; a second part of the second locking mechanism is on the second finger extending from the first end; and one of the first part and the second part of the second locking mechanism is a protrusion extending in a generally radial direction and another of the first part and second part of the second locking mechanism is a recess for receiving the protrusion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/AU2021/050610, filed Jun. 15, 2021, which claims priority from Australian Patent Application No. 2020901978, filed Jun. 15, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD A unitary piece dual lock split washer is disclosed. The split washer has particular, but not exclusive, application for providing ingress protection (“IP”) at an electrical termination. BACKGROUND ART It is common to fit a washer between a fastener and an article to which the fastener is fastened. One example of this is at an electrical termination where a cable passes through a cable gland that is mechanically coupled to a wall of a junction box. The electrical cable passes through the cable gland and enters the junction box where it may be connected to a terminal post or another cable. The cable gland may have a threaded connection to a wall of the junction box; or alternately the gland may pass through an unthreaded hole in the wall of the junction box and fixed in place by a lock nut inside the junction box. In either case the purpose of the washer is to help in protecting against water and/or dust ingress from about the gland at the termination into the electrical equipment, junction box or the like. For the purposes of compliance with safety and environmental regulations, equipment and assemblies may need to meet a prescribed ingress protection (IP) rating. The rating is designated as “IP XY” where X is an integer between 0 and 6 designating a solids (e.g., dust) ingress protection rating, and Y is an integer between 0 and 8 designating a liquids ingress protection rating. Examples of equipment that may have an IP rating include: an electrical junction box; a cable gland; and an interface between a cable gland and a junction box. It may be important for a junction box that is exposed to the environment to have a specific IP rating for water ingress protection. As an example, the junction box may need an IP rating of IP X8. For a junction box to meet this rating it must be able to endure a 30-minute period under 1 m of water without ingress of water. For a junction box its IP rating will be dependent on various aspects including: the inherent construction of the junction box; the nature of associated cable glands that pass into the junction box; and the washer between the cable gland and a wall of the junction box. Thus, the overall IP rating may be affected by the performance of, among other things, a washer. A major issue with replacing a washer at an electrical termination of a cable is the need to mechanically disconnect the cable and the cable gland to remove an old washer and fit a new one. Additionally, for a junction box or cable that carries any reasonable current or voltage, in order to comply with safety regulations, it may be necessary to electrically isolate and/or de-energise the junction box. This means a simple job can have significant cost implications due to: the time to open a junction box, mechanically disconnect the cable and cable gland, and subsequently reconnect, seal and close the junction box; and, the consequential shut down of electrical equipment which is connected with the junction box. That is, not only is there the cost of the time of technicians to perform the washer replacement task there is also downtime in production due to the need to shut down electrical power. The above references are not intended to limit the application of the unitary piece dual lock split washer as disclosed herein. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In a first aspect there is disclosed a unitary piece dual lock split washer comprising: a single piece body made of a resilient and flexible material, the body having an inner circumferential edge, a radially outer peripheral edge and a split extending between the inner and out edges to provide the body with first and second ends; and a joint structure integrally formed with the first and second ends, the joint structure having an engaged state wherein the first and second ends mutually engage each other to form a substantial seal across the split, and a disengaged state wherein the first and second ends can be moved apart to create an opening of a variable size and shape in the body to enable the washer to be fitted about a member, the joint structure having a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism each locking mechanism having respective parts on the first and second ends and wherein the parts of the second locking mechanism are only engageable after the parts of the first locking mechanism are fully engaged. In one embodiment the joint mechanism comprises two radially spaced fingers extending circumferentially from the first end and two radially spaced fingers extending circumferentially from the second end and wherein when in the engaged state one finger of each end fits between the radially spaced two fingers of t