초록 ▼

A coupling for preventing the buildup of static electricity between adjacent conduits includes a sleeve enclosed by pivotally connected semicircular segments. The semicircular segments are in electrical contact with first and second conduits via bonding wires. The semicircular segments, bonding wire

A coupling for preventing the buildup of static electricity between adjacent conduits includes a sleeve enclosed by pivotally connected semicircular segments. The semicircular segments are in electrical contact with first and second conduits via bonding wires. The semicircular segments, bonding wires, and/or flanges are coated with a hard metallic ductile conductive coating, which is preferably a boron-nickel coating, to provide electrical conductivity between the conduits. The coupling may be entirely coated with the boron-nickel coating, or selectively coated to provide the required electrical conductivity between the conduits. The conduits include flanges mounted on the ends thereof. Each flange is selectively coated with a hard anodized, dry-lube, thin-film non-conductive, or other insulating coating to reduce or prevent arcing on the interior of the coupling under lighting strike or other hazardous electrical conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An improved coupling for coupling the confronting ends of first and second conduits carrying a flammable material, the first and second conduits each terminating in a flange, the coupling comprising an electrical connection path between the first and second conduits throu

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An improved coupling for coupling the confronting ends of first and second conduits carrying a flammable material, the first and second conduits each terminating in a flange, the coupling comprising an electrical connection path between the first and second conduits through the flanges, the improvement comprising:each flange comprising a first portion exposed to the flammable material and in close proximity to the other flange or an interior of the coupling; andat least the first portion of each flange being coated with an insulating coating for reducing arcing between ends of the flanges and between the flanges and the coupling.