Technical Field

The present invention concerns a transition for cables, pipes or wires and a module forming a part of the transition. Background

Cables, pipes or wires are often passed through openings in different types of walls or other barriers. Such barriers could be walls, roofs, bulkheads or decks of a ship. The cables etc. are normally placed in a transition or lead-through in the opening of the barrier. The transition is to give a seal between the different areas on respective side of the barrier.

Often the transition is to give a fire and smoke protection, i.e. to hinder fire and/or smoke to go from one side of the transition to the other side of the transition. In this respect an intumescent material is often used. As is well known to a person skilled in the art, the intumescent material will swell when excerted to extensive heat, such as by fire.

In this description the term "cable" is often used for conveniance but should be construed to also refer to pipes or wires.

Summary

The transition and module of the present invention are to give a fire and smoke protection. Furthermore, the transition and its different parts should be easy to handle and be adaptable to receive both separate cables as well as several cables placed close to each other in one or more layers.

The transition is to be placed in a wall, a roof, a bulkhead, a deck or the like and a frame of the transition is normally welded or bolted to the structure, in form of a wall, roof, bulkhead, deck or the like. The transition comprises a number of modules and at least one compression unit inside a through opening of the frame.

According to one aspect of the present invention the modules have the form of an outer shell, inside of which outer shell an intumescent material is placed. Cables are to be placed in contact with the intumescent material inside the modules. According to one embodiment of the present invention the modules have two or more compartments oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of a cable received inside the module. At least one of said compartments receives an intumescent material. Other

compartments may receive cellular rubber or a similar material, preventing passage of smoke.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obviuos to a person skilled in the art reading the detailed description below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be explained further below by way of example and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transition according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the transition of Fig. 1, with parts removed in illustrative purpose,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one example of a module half of a module according to the present invention,

Fig. 4a is a perspctive view of alternative embodiments of module halves of modules according to the present invention,

Fig. 4b is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a module half according to the present invention,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still a further alternative module half, and

Figs. 6a-6g are perspective views of different embodiments of a frame forming a part of a transition according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

As used in this description the expressions "horizontal", "vertical" and similar expressions are in relation to the enclosed Figs., showing the transition in a common orientation. In the description below the same reference signs are used for correspnding parts of different embodiments.

The transition comprises a steel frame 1. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the frame 1 has two openings or compartments. The exact form of the frame and the number of compartments of the frame may vary. The compartments are normally either square or rectangular with or without rounded corners. Thus, in other embodiments the frame has only one compartment, or several compartements divided horizontally and/or vertically. Inside each compartment of the frame 1 a compression unit 2 and one or more modules 3 are placed. The frame 1 is normally welded or bolted to a structure, such as a bulkhead, deck, roof or wall. In some embodiments the frame 1 has a flange and is normally welded or bolted by means of the flange to the structure.

Compression units 2 of different designs may be used. In one embodiment the compression unit 2 comprises a number of co-operating wedge elements. Such compression units are well known to a person skilled in the art; see e.g. WO 96/11353. The compression needed to give smoke protection, i.e. hinder smoke from passing the transition, is lower than is normally needed for a water tight seal.

As indicated in Fig. 6a each frame has a height H, a width W and a depth D, which all refer to the through opening of the frame. The height H and width W are given in view of the orientaion of the frames as shown in the enclosed Figs., but a person skilled in the art realises that the frames can have other orientations.

Each module 3 is to receive one or more cables 4, pipes or wires. The modules 3 are made of a compressible material. The compressible material of the modules 3 is rubber in one embodiment. The rubber of the module 3 has intumescent properties in some embodiments but no intumescent properties in other embodiments.

The modules have different sizes depending on the intended use and the number and size of the cables 4 to be received in a specific module.

Fig. 2 shows a module 3 about to being formed by bringing two module halves 5 together. The module 3 has the form of an outer shell, inside which outer shell an intumescent material 6 is placed. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 there is one layer of intumescent material 6 in each module half 5. In case of fire or extensive heat the intumescent material will swell, closing off the transition. The intumescent material 6 used is compressible, whereby it will be formed around the cables 4 etc. received inside the module, when a pressure is applied.

Each module half 5 has a horizontal part 7 and two vertical parts 8 at oposite sides of the horizontal part 7. The outer shell of the module 3 is formed by the horizontal parts 7 and the vertical parts 8 of the two module halves 5 forming the module 3. The horizontal part 7 has the form of a rectangular plate having a length and width corresponding to the width W and depth D of the frame 1 , respectively. The vertical parts 8 also have the form of plates and are placed at right angles to the horizontal part 7. The vertical parts 8 project on one side from the horizontal part 7, giving the module half 5 a U-profile. The vertical parts 8 have free sides 9 remote form the horizontal part 7. The modules 3 are formed in that two module halves 5 are placed with the free sides 9 of the vertical parts 8 abutting each other. In use the vertical parts 8 of the module halves 5 are to abut inner sides of the frame 1. In use the horizontal parts 7 of each module 3 are to abut a horizontal part 7 of an adjacent module 3, the compression unit 2 and/or a side of the frame 1 or compartments of the frame 1.

The intumescent material 6 is normally provided in the form of blocks, carpets or rods. The provided intumescent material 6 is then cut to an appropriate size to fit into a module half 5. The intumescent material 6 used should be elastic enough to be formed around the cables 4 etc. received inside a module 3. In the shown embodiment an outer surface of the intumescent material 6 is placed flush with the free sides 9 of the vertical parts 8 of the module halves 5 in the not compressed condition. In other embodiments the intumescent material 6 protrudes over the free sides 9 of the vertical parts 8 of the module halves 5, in the not compressed state.

Each module half 5 has a flange 10, at one end of each vertical part 8, which flange 10 projects away from the vertical parts 8 and the horizontal part 7. Said flanges 10 are placed on the same side of the module half 5. The flanges 10 will form a stop for the module half 5, when the module half 5 is inserted into the frame 1. The distance between the outer edges of the flanges 10 of one module half 5 is larger than the inner width W of the through opening of the frame 1. Thus, when a module half 5 is fully inserted into the frame 1 , the flanges 10 will abut the sides of the frame 1.

In Fig. 4a examples of module halves 1 1, 12, 13, 14 of different sizes are shown. The size of the module halves 5, 1 1, 12, 13, 14 chosen depends on the outer diameter and the number of respective cables 4 etc. to be received in a particular module 3. Each module half 11 , 12, 13, 14 has a horizontal part 7 and two vertical parts 8 with flanges 10 in the same way as described above. Intumescent material 6 is placed in each module half 11 , 12, 13, 14. In each module half there is one or more layers of intumescent material 6. In module halves 14 having several layers of intumescent material 6 one or more cables 4 are to be received between each pair of adjacent layers of intumescent material 6, as indicated in Figs 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4b a module half 35 is shown having an intumescent material 6. In this embodiment the intumescent material has a number of slits 36, going in the longitudinal direction of a cable or the like to be received in a formed module. The slits 36 are open upwards and do not go through all of the intumescent material 6. By means of the slits 36 the intumescent material 6 will adapt in a good way to the cable.

In Fig. 5 a further embodiment of a module half 15 according to the present invention is shown. Said module half 15 has three compartments 16. In the same way as described above each module half 15 has a horizontal part 17 and two vertical parts 18. The vertical parts 18 are placed at opposite sides of the horizontal part 17 and at right angles to the horizontal part 17. The horizontal parts 17 and vertical parts 18 of two module halves 15 form an outer shell of a module 3, formed by bringing the two module halves 15 together. A flange 19 is placed at each outer corner of the module half 15, which flanges 19 extend along the vertical parts 8. The flanges 19 are to be placed abutting the frame 1, keeping the module halves 15 inside the frame 1. In order to insert the module halves 15 having flanges 19 at all outer corners into the through opening of the frame 1, the module halves 15 are inserted in a leaning position. It is also possible to compress the module halves 15 enough to let the flanges 19 at one side pass the frame 1 at insertion. In the shown embodiment two outer of said three compartments 16 are filled with a layer of cellular rubber 20, which cellular rubber 20 is of a material preventing passage of smoke. The compartment 16 placed in the middle has a layer of intumescent material 21. The compartments 16 are oriented perpendicular to the axial direction of one or more cables 4 etc. to be received inside a module formed of two module halves 15. In another embodiment of a module half having three compartments 16 the two outer compartments 16 are filled with intumescent material 6, while the compartment in the middle forms an air gap. Also other compartments or all compartments can be filled with intumescent material 6.

In Figs. 6a-6g different embodiments of frames to be used in a transition according to the present invention are shown. Fig. 6a shows a frame 22 having straight comers 23. Figs. 6b, 6c and 6d show frames 24, 26, 28 having rounded comers 25, 27, 29 with different radii. The frames 30, 31, 33 of Figs. 6e, 6f and 6g all have straight comers. The frames 30, 31, 33 of Figs. 6e-6g have a larger depth than the frames 22, 24, 26, 28 of Figs. 6a-6d. The frames 31, 33 of Figs. 6f and 6fg have a flange 32, 34 used for attaching the frame 31, 33 to a wall, roof, parti on, deck or the like. The different features of the frames of Figs. 6a-6g may be combined in different other ways. It is for instance possible to have flanges 32, 34 as according to Figs. 6f and 6g in frames having rounded corners 25, 27, 29 as according to Figs. 6b-6d. It is also possible to have frames where at least one of the corners is straight and the rest of the comers are rounded and vice versa.

In use one or more cables 4 are placed between two module halves 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 35. For module halves 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 35 having only one layer of intumescent material 6 the one or more cables 4 are placed on top of the intumescent material 6 of respective module half 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 35. For module halves 14 having several layers of intumescent material 6 the one or more cables 4 are placed between pairs of adjacent layers of intumescent material 6. The modules 3 are then formed by two module halves 5, 1 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 35 being brought together and are then inserted into the frame 1, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 , 33. The modules 3 are pushed into the opening of the frame 1, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 , 33 until the flanges 10, 19 of the module 3 hit the frame 1 , 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 , 33. If needed to fill out the opening of the frame 1 , 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 , 33, modules 3 without any received cables 4 are also inserted into the frame 1 , 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33. When all the modules 3 have been inserted, the compression unit 2 is inserted into the frame 1 , 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33. The compression unit 2 is inserted in a non-activated condition. The compression unit 2 is then activated, whereby the compression unit 2 will expand in the direction of the height H of the frame 1 , 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33. By the expansition of the compression unit in said direction, the modules 3 will be compressed in the same direction, giving expanding forces in the perpendicular directions. The modules 3 will thereby press against the inner sides of the frame and against any adjacent modules 3. The force excerted on the modules 3 will be transferred also to the intumescent material 6, which intumescent material will be pressed closer around the one or more cables 4 received in each module 3. As the intumesecent material 6 is pressed closely around the one or more cables 4, it will seal the opening of the frame 1, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33, hindering smoke from passing the formed transition.

In case of fire or extensive heat the intumescent material 6 will swell, hindering a possible fire to be spread through the transition.