US 12,313,199 B2
System and method for tightening lock rings onto conduit connectors
James Francis Sweeney, Jr., Tysons, VA (US); and Toby Andrew Maguire, Tysons, VA (US)
Assigned to ModularMC, LLC, McLean, VA (US)
Filed by M.C. DEAN INC., Tysons, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/720,939.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332724 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B25B 23/145 (2006.01); B25B 23/147 (2006.01); F16L 41/14 (2006.01); H02G 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 41/14 (2013.01) [B25B 23/1453 (2013.01); B25B 23/1475 (2013.01); H02G 3/0691 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for tightening a lock ring around a threaded end of a conduit connector extending through an opening in a wall of a junction box, comprising:
the lock ring having a plurality of lock teeth extending a same radial length from its outer periphery and being uniformly spaced around its outer periphery, each tooth having opposing flat sides,
an annular socket body having an annular wall that is open at one side and closed on an opposite side by an end wall, and including a plurality of wrench lugs radially extending from an inner surface of the annular wall and being uniformly spaced around the inner surface, the wrench lugs each having a circumferential extent that is less than 50% of a circumferential extent between the plurality of teeth disposed around the outer periphery of the lock ring, and there being half as many wrench lugs than the number of the plurality of teeth disposed around the lock ring to facilitate capturing of the lock ring by the annular wall of the socket body without mechanical interference,
wherein the annular socket body is moveable from a concentric position over the lock ring to a maximally non-concentric position over the lock ring,
wherein the plurality of wrench lugs are configured to come into a contacting position with the side of one of the lock ring teeth at the maximally non-concentric position, and
wherein the radially extending wrench lugs have flat side faces on either side that are radially disposed at an angle relative to the opposing flat sides of the plurality of teeth of the lock rings such that the wrench lugs engage the lock ring teeth in a sliding point contact that promotes uniform engagement between the wrench lugs and the lock ring teeth when torque is applied to the annular socket body.