Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to bushings in general, and more specifically to bushings for use in pipe systems.

Background of the invention

It is a generally recognized problem that vibrational noise generated by a hydraulic pump mounted on a ship tend to propagate along the hydraulic pipes in the ship’s hull, deck, and cabin. Furthermore, water tend to pass the pipe penetrations in the ship’s hull, deck, and cabin thereby causing water damage.

US 7681923 discloses a fitting and an associated grommet that are provided for supporting a conduit penetrating a panel and limiting energy transfer between the conduit and panel. The fitting may include a grommet having annular first and second sections spaced apart from one another and an annular wall extending between the first and second sections, such that the wall and first and second sections define a bore. A plurality of ribs protrudes from the annular wall, the ribs being distributed circumferentially around the annular wall and spanning between the first and second sections. A tubular liner extends through the bore of the grommet and contacts the first and second sections. The plurality of ribs extends into the bore, and at least some of the ribs contact the liner.

CN 104976436 discloses a device for sealing and blocking wire through a hole on a wall or a cabinet body. A sealing elastic body is tightly embedded between the outer rim of a wire tube and an inner rim of the hole. The elastic body is divided into two parts, each with an end facing each other and the other opposing end extending out from each end face of the hole to form part of a compression joint with an end cover. The two end covers are fixed with the sealing elastic body through at least two split bolts, and the sealing elastic body is tightly pressed, expanded and embedded by the end covers and the split bolts between the wire tube and the open hole.

Summary of the invention

The bushing of the present invention ensures a watertight transit for hydraulic pipes through a hole in a construction, such as a ship’s hull, deck, or cabin, and at the same time dampens the vibrational noise. The bushing is easy to mount thereby reducing the time needed to install a new hydraulic system on e.g. a ship or oil rig. The bushing may also be used for other fluid transporting pipe systems, such as water or gas transporting pipe systems.

A first aspect relates to a bushing for connecting pipes or tubes through a hole or channel in a construction comprising:

- a tube part comprising a first end, a middle section, a second end, and a tube channel extending through said first end, middle section, and second end, wherein the tube channel is adapted for receiving a fluid and for being in fluid communication with fluidic tubes connected thereto;

- a front fitting mounted on the middle section of said tube part;

- a rear fitting comprising a first channel adapted for receiving said second end of said tube part;

- a middle part, preferably made from an elastomeric material, comprising a front face, a rear face, one or more side edges, and a second channel extending from the front face to the rear face and adapted for receiving said second end of said tube part;

wherein the middle part further comprises a recess extending along at least a part of a side edge and adapted for receiving the edges of a hole or channel in a construction into which the bushing is inserted; wherein the means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other comprises bolts and nuts, and wherein the front fitting, middle part, and rear fitting comprise bolt holes, such as 4-15 bolt holes, e.g. at least 4 bolt holes.

A second aspect relates to a bushing for connecting pipes through a hole or channel in a construction comprising:

- a tube part comprising a first end, a middle section, a second end, and a tube channel extending through said first end, middle section, and second end, wherein the tube channel is adapted for receiving a hydraulic fluid;

- a front fitting mounted on the middle section of said tube part;

- a rear fitting comprising a first channel adapted for receiving said second end of said tube part;

- a compressible middle part comprising a front face, a rear face, one or more side edges, and a second channel extending from the front face to the rear face and adapted for receiving said second end of said tube part;

- means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other, thereby compressing the middle part;

wherein the middle part further comprises a recess extending along at least a part of a side edge and adapted for receiving the edges of a hole or channel in a construction into which the bushing is inserted; wherein the means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other comprises bolts and nuts, and wherein the front fitting, middle part, and rear fitting comprise bolt holes.

In one or more embodiments, the nuts are integrated in the rear fitting, e.g. as threaded bolt holes.

When coupled to a pipe or tube system, the tube part is preferably connected to pipes or tubes such that its first end is positioned on one side of a construction, and its second end is positioned on the other side of the construction. Thereby it is secured that the fluid is transferred from one side of the construction to the other. In this configuration the bushing is an integrated part of the pipe or tube system. The tube part may be made from any suitable material, such as metal or a polymeric material, e.g. steel, copper, aluminum, PVC, rubber, stainless steel, and the like. Preferably, the tube is made from metal, preferably steel. The material and dimension of the tube part is specific for specific types of fluid and operational pressure.

In one or more embodiments, the first and/or second ends of the tube part are threaded. Preferably, both the first and the second ends are threaded. This configuration allows for a fluid tight connection to other pipes or tubes in the system. In one or more embodiments, one or both ends of the tube channel are threaded.

In one or more embodiments, the first and/or second ends of the tube part comprises fastening means adapted for attachment to a tube or pipe. Such fastening means may e.g. be a threading (e.g. BSP or SAE) or snap connection (e.g. a quick release coupling part or push lock part, such as disclosed in WO 2007/042344 or US20120153612, hereby incorporated by reference).

In one or more embodiments, the first and second ends of the tube part comprises fastening means adapted for attachment to a tube or pipe. Such fastening means may e.g. be a threading (e.g. BSP or SAE) or snap connection (e.g. a quick release coupling part or push lock part, such as disclosed in WO 2007/042344 or US20120153612, hereby incorporated by reference).

The front and rear fittings are preferably plate shaped but may have any shape suitable for preventing the middle part from moving axially in relation to the rest of the bushing. The front and rear fittings are arranged movable towards each other by means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other, thereby compressing the middle part. Due to the tube part, the middle part can only expand towards the edges of a hole or channel in a construction into which the bushing is inserted, thereby creating a watertight seal while the diameter of the fluid channel across the construction is maintained. The means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other may e.g. be screw or bolt means.

The middle part is preferably made from a compressible material, such as an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material may comprise flame retardants. Preferably, the compressible middle part is tubular, or ring shaped and with a circular or oval side edge, and wherein the recess extends along at least a part of said side edge. The recess is present to keep the middle part in place within the hole or channel in a construction into which the bushing is inserted, but also to provide a watertight seal. Preferably, the recess extends along the entire side edge.

In one or more embodiments, the compressible middle part is tubular with three or more side edges, and wherein the recess extends along at least a part of said side edge. Such shapes are suitable for like shaped holes or channels in a construction into which the bushing is inserted. Preferably, the recess extends along the entire side edge.

In one or more embodiments, the nuts are integrated in the rear fitting.

In one or more embodiments, the front fitting is irreversibly mounted on the middle section of said tube part.

In one or more embodiments, the front fitting is a part of said tube part, i.e. they are formed from the same work piece or molded/cast as a single piece.

In one or more embodiments, the bolt holes in the middle part are positioned between said recess and said second channel, thereby preventing that bolts block parts of said recess. A third aspect relates to a fluidic system, such as a hydraulic system, comprising one or more bushings according to the present invention.

In one or more embodiments, the tube channel of the tube part is in fluid communication with fluidic tubes connected thereto.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or "approximately" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about", it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a bushing according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a part of a bushing according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a rear fitting according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a middle part according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows a transparent bushing according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1 , an exemplary bushing according to the present invention is shown. The bushing 100 comprises a tube part 1 10, a front fitting 120, a rear fitting 130, a middle part 140, and a plurality of bolts 150 adapted to move the front fitting 120 and the rear fitting 130 towards each other.

Figure 2 shows the bushing of Figure 1 , where the rear fitting 130, the middle part 140, and the plurality of bolts 150 have been removed. The tube part 1 10 comprises a first end 1 12, a middle section 114, a second end 1 16, and a tube channel 1 18 extending through the beforementioned parts 1 12, 1 14, 1 16. The tube part 1 10 is here shown with two pairs of grooves 1 15A, 1 15B (only one groove of each pair is shown) for easier grip with a pipe wrench.

The front fitting 120 is mounted around the middle section 1 14 and comprises eight bolt holes 122.

The rear fitting 130 is shown in Figure 3 with a first channel 132 adapted for receiving the second end 1 16 of the tube part 1 10. The rear fitting 130 is shown with eight bolt holes 134 corresponding to the bolt holes 122 in the front fitting 120.

Figure 4 shows the middle part 140 comprising a front face 142, a rear face 144, a side edge 146, and a second channel 148 extending from the front face 142 to the rear face 144. The second channel 148 is adapted for receiving the second end 1 16 of the tube part 1 10. The middle part 140 comprises a recess 149 extending along the entire side edge 146 and is adapted for receiving the edges of a hole or channel in a construction (not shown) into which the bushing 100 may be inserted.

Figure 5 shows a transparent view of a bushing according to the invention. References

100 Bushing

110 Tube part

112 First end

114 Middle section

115 Groove

116 Second end

118 Tube channel

120 Front fitting

122 Bolthole

130 Rear fitting

132 First channel

134 Bolthole

140 Middle part

142 Front face

143 Bolthole

144 Rear face

146 Side edge

148 Second channel

149 Recess

150 Means adapted to move the front fitting and the rear fitting towards each other