Abstract A sleeve having first and second interior surface portions. The first surface portion is threaded and communicates with one open end of the sleeve, and the second surface portion is smooth and communicates with the opposite open end of the sleeve. A bore is formed through the sleeve and the second surface portion thereof, and a set screw is threaded into the bore. The sleeve is first slipped, and then threaded, onto a first conduit, the conduit being first received by the smooth interior surface and then by the threaded interior surface. The end of a second conduit is then disposed adjacent the sleeve, and the sleeve is screwed back off the first conduit onto the second conduit until the first conduit is received by the smooth interior surface and the second conduit by the threaded interior surface. The set screw is threaded against the first conduit.
A method of coupling two rigid metal conduits, each conduit having a free threaded end comprising: disposing a union adjacent the free threaded end of the first conduit, said union having a longitudinal interior space formed therethrough and open first and second ends communicating with said space, said union having a smooth, first interior surface disposed about said space and communicating with said first end, said union having a threaded, second interior surface disposed about said space and communicating with said second end, said first and second interior surfaces meeting between said ends, said union having a bore formed therethrough, through said first surface, and communicating with said space, said union having a set screw disposed in said bore, said first end being disposed adjacent the free threaded end of the first conduit; sliding the union over the first conduit, the free threaded end of the first conduit being slidably received by said first interior surface; threading the union by rotation thereof upon the first conduit, the free threaded end being received by said second interior surface, the first conduit extending through said union flush with said second end; disposing the free threaded end of the second conduit adjacent said second end; threading the union by rotation thereof onto the second conduit, the free threaded end of the second conduit being received by said second surface, the free threaded end of the first conduit being disengaged from said second surface; terminating rotation of the union when the free threaded end of the second conduit is received by said second surface and the free threaded end of the first conduit is received by said first surface; and moving said set screw into said bore such that the set screws abuts against the first conduit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
293 words
A method of coupling two rigid metal conduits, each conduit having a free threaded end comprising: disposing a union adjacent the free threaded end of the first conduit, said union having a longitudinal interior space formed therethrough and open first and second ends communicating with said space, said union having a smooth, first interior surface disposed about said space and communicating with said first end, said union having a threaded, second interior surface disposed about said space and communicating with said second end, said first and second interior surfaces meeting between said ends, said union having a bore formed therethrough, through said first surface, and communicating with said space, said union having a set screw disposed in said bore, said first end being disposed adjacent the free threaded end of the first conduit; sliding the union over the first conduit, the free threaded end of the first conduit being slidably received by said first interior surface; threading the union by rotation thereof upon the first conduit, the free threaded end being received by said second interior surface, the first conduit extending through said union flush with said second end; disposing the free threaded end of the second conduit adjacent said second end; threading the union by rotation thereof onto the second conduit, the free threaded end of the second conduit being received by said second surface, the free threaded end of the first conduit being disengaged from said second surface; terminating rotation of the union when the free threaded end of the second conduit is received by said second surface and the free threaded end of the first conduit is received by said first surface; and moving said set screw into said bore such that the set screws abuts against the first conduit.