Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sealing system for cable entries or pipe penetrations, said system comprising compressible modules arranged in frame using a compression unit for achieving an adequate seal.

Background

In the prior art there are cable transitions or the like having a frame, inside which a number of modules to receive cables, wires or pipes are placed. The modules are made of an elastic material e.g. rubber or plastics and are thus compressible. Inside the frame normally a number of modules are received side by side in one or more rows together with some kind of compression unit. The compression unit is placed between the frame and the modules in such a way that when the compression unit is expanded the compressible modules will be compressed around the cables, wires or pipes. For ease of description the expression "cable" is mainly used in this description, but it should be construed broadly and a person skilled in the art realises that it normally also covers pipes or wires.

Another type of seal, cable transition, pipe penetration etc. has a general cylindrical form and is to be received in a sleeve in a wall or an opening in a wall. To function in the desired way the seal should fit snugly into the sleeve or the opening of the wall in which it is received and the seal should be adaptable to the actual mounting dimension. The mounting dimension is dictated by the inner diameter of the sleeve or the opening. The seal has a cylindrical compressible body, which is compressed axially between fittings at the opposite ends of the compressible body. By the axial compression the cylindrical body will expand radially both inwards and outwards.

Furthermore, the pipes, wires or cables received may have different outer diameters, and, thus, the module should be adaptable to cables or pipes having different outer diameters.

Seals or transitions of both the above kinds are used for sealing in many different environments, such as for cabinets, technical shelters, junction boxes and machines. They are used in different industrial environments, such as automotive, telecom, power generation and distribution, as well as marine and offshore. The seals or transitions may have to seal against fluid, gas, fire, rodents, termites, dust, moisture etc., and may receive cables or wires for electricity, communication, computers etc., pipes for different gases or liquids such as water, compressed air, hydraulic fluid and cooking gas or wires for load retention.

The parts receiving a single cable etc. of both the types discussed above often have a pack of peelable layers or sheets on the inside. The layers or sheets are peeled off until the inner diameter of the part is adapted to the outer diameter of the cable received in said part. The sheets adhere strong enough to each other to stay together and at the same time loose enough to enable the sheets to be peeled off from the stack, either one- by-one or a number of sheets together. In some embodiments there are also peelable layers or sheets on the outside, making it possible to adapt the outer dimensions of for instance a circular seal to a specific opening or sleeve.

A person skilled in the art realises that the exact shape and form of the different parts, including the layers, may vary without departing from the gist of the present in- vention. For example the pack of layers may have another cross sectional form than circular.

Summary

The present invention aims at providing an improved sealing system for cable entries or pipe penetrations comprising a frame receiving one or more compressible modules surrounding each cable or pipe, whereby a barrier is formed of the one or more modules and at least one compression unit in the frame, wherein the compressible module has at least one opening provided with at least one peelable layer for adapting to the diameter of a cable or pipe, which at least one peelable layer is placed in a profile, said sealing system being characterized in that each compressible module has means for engaging the frame in a radial direction, so as to obstruct movement in an axial direction.

The flange/groove combination makes it possible to retain the compressible modules in the frame without using stay plates between each row of modules, which is the prior art solution. In cases where the stay plates are made of metal, and as such conduct heat more efficiently than the compressible modules, the removal of the stay plates confers improved thermal insulation to the sealing system. Further, not having to handle the stay plates during assembly of a frame will reduce the assembly time.

In a preferred embodiment the sealing system comprises at least one row of compressible modules, each module extending between opposing sides of the frame, and comprising at least one opening for receiving cables or pipes. Using this type of compressible module speeds up and simplifies the assembly process, since a whole row is arranged at the same time. Further, the leakage risk is reduced, since the number of opposing surfaces is reduced and since the dimensional tolerance may be improved, which will be elucidated in the following. Since the compressible modules of today are arranged side-by-side to form a row in e.g. a frame the dimensional tolerance of the entire row will differ from the dimensional tolerance of an individual compressible module. The latter is set during manufacture, and since the former will be a sum of several individual tolerances it will in effect not be as good. Thus, if a single compressible module is used in a row, manufactured with the same precision as it is today, the tolerance of the particular row will be improved. Consequently the tolerance may be improved while the precision in manufacturing is maintained. This fact may also be used to maintain the tolerance of a single row, with reduced precision during manufacturing, which will result in a more cost efficient manufacturing process.

Further embodiments and advantages are described in the following detailed description of exemplifying embodiments, and are defined by the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figs. 1-5 are a series of drawings illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 6-10 are a series of drawings illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sealing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It shows a frame 102 in which a sealing module 104 is arranged. The front side of the frame is shown. In the following "inwardly", "radially inwards" etc will correspond to a direction directed towards the center of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1; "outwardly", "radially outwards" the opposite direction; "axial" corresponds to the direction normal to the illustration of Fig. 1 (into, and out of, the paper), generally normal to a plane defined by the edges of the frame 102. The sealing module 104 comprises two base parts having a width corresponding to the width of the frame, in this case 120 mm, having semicircular grooves, which when assembled define circular openings. It is obvious that the present invention also encompasses other widths, and as have been mentioned earlier, other cross sections. On the inside of each groove, peelable sheets 106 are arranged. The peelable sheets may be removed from a groove in order to adapt the sealing module 104 for reception of a cable or pipe of a certain diameter. In an installation not all openings are occupied by a cable or pipe, room may be left for future installations. For this reason the center of each opening, not occupied by peelable sheets 106, is filled by a blind 108 or core, in order to enable the provision of a tight seal. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Alternative embodiments of the modules are given in the simultaneously filed applications entitled "Eccentric Part of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", "A Module of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Grooves on Opposite Sides", "Pipe or Cable Lead- Through Blocks", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Modularized Modules", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Penetrateable Modules", "A Pipe or Cable Lead- Through having Modules with a Dimensioning Function" and "A Pipe or Cable Lead- Through having Layers of Alternating Geometry", filed by the applicant of the present application. In one embodiment the modules are separated from a stack of module halves sticking together, as described in the simultaneously filed application named

"Modules of Pipe or Cable Lead-Through Sticking Together", filed by the applicant of the present application. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

The sheets may be arranged in many different ways and with different features as reflected in the simultaneously filed applications entitled " A Pipe or Cable Lead- Through having Interconnected Layers", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Layers of Different Thickness", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having a Part Indicating Compression", "Cohering Between Layers of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through" and "Identification of Layers of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", filed by the applicant of the present application. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

In Fig. 3 a subsequent row consisting of a sealing module 110 has been arranged. The sealing modules 104 and 110 are arranged in direct contact with each other, preferably with lubricant in between in order to improve load distribution during compression. The construction of the sealing module 110 is similar to the one of sealing module 104, though the latter is designed for receiving cables or pipes having a smaller diameter than the former. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 3. The use of one sealing module 104, 110 for the entire width of the frame 102, as oppose to several sealing modules placed side by side, gives room for a higher number of cable entries per surface area.

Flanges 109, 115 are arranged on the sealing modules 104, 110, generally formed in one piece with the same. The flanges extend radially outwards for coopera- tion with opposing sides 116, 118 of the frame 102. In Fig. 5 a base part of a sealing module 110 is shown in plan view. The flanges 109, 115 will create a fixation between the sealing modules and the frame, and prevent the modules from moving in an axial direction.

As a last component, generally, a compression unit (not shown) is arranged in the frame 102, and the compressible sealing modules are compressed to form a tight seal around cables or pipes arranged therein. There are several options for compression units, and they may be provided as separate components or as components integrated in the frame. The present invention is obviously not limited to any particular type of com- pression unit.

In alternative embodiments the seal, lead-through or transit of the present invention is furnished with means for lubrication as shown in the simultaneously filed application entitled "Lubrication of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", filed by the applicant of the present application. This application is hereby incorporated by reference.

Prior to compression the sealing modules 104, 110 are resilient enough to allow for insertion into the frame 102. This may be performed by tilting the modules slightly and then pushing them into place.

Figs. 6-10 are similar to Figs. 1-5 but they show a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the sealing modules 204, 210 are provided with flanges 209, 215 are arranged to cooperate with a groove 220 on the inside of the first and second side 216, 218 of the frame 202. In this embodiment also, the flanges are formed in one piece with the sealing modules 204, 210. As shown in the Figs, the flanges 209, 215 of the sealing modules 204, 210 and the grooves 220 of the frame 202 are placed in the middle of the contact surfaces. In other embodiments the cooperating flanges and grooves are placed at other positions of the contact surfaces.

Since the resemblance between the embodiments is immediate, exaggerated use of reference numbers has been avoided.

The design of the second embodiment is slightly more elaborate, since it requires a specific type of frame. However, when the sealing modules are compressed their resilience will decrease, and it will consequently be difficult to force the flange out of the groove. Further, in this embodiment, as well as in similar designs, conditions for improved electrical contact between the frame and a module situated therein prevails.

Embodiments are foreseen where the arrangement of the flange and optional groove is inverted, such that the flange of the first embodiment is replaced by an in- wardly extending flange on the frame, and so forth. Combinations of the above, or embodiments having several grooves/flanges are also possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Suitable material for the modules and other components are defined in previous applications by the same applicant, and include resilient materials such as rubber, an example being a halogen free cross linkable rubber compound based on Ethylene-Propylene rubber (EPDM). Other alternatives are possible within the scope of the claims, as would be appreciated by the skilled person.

In further embodiments the modules and/or the frame has means to give improved EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) properties. In still further embodiments the modules and/or the frame have intumescent material to increase fire resistance.

Generally, the above embodiments may be used with or without stay plates, preferably without. Embodiments are also foreseen where the stay plate is formed in one piece with the compressible module 104, such that each base part has an embedded or partially embedded structural reinforcement of a material with higher rigidity, such as plastics, e.g. polycarbonate, metal, composites etc. The stay plate may also be attached to the compressible module by means of an adhesive. The use of a material other than metal, results in a more straightforward recycling of used components. According to connected aspect of the present invention the compressible module and the stay plate attached thereto or embedded therein may have a length in an axial direction exceeding the corresponding extension of the frame in the same direction. With this arrangement the seal within the constraints of the frame will be fulfilled in the same manner as before, yet the fire resistance of the sealing system will greatly improve.