ENVIRONMENTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to cable glands which can be used in normal and explosive environments, are made of metal materials such as brass, stainless steel, has pressure balance and EMC properties.

The invention particularly relates to a pressure balancing gland that can be used in hazardous environments, has pressure balance and EMC properties and has a gas- permeable liquid-tight cartridge.

State of the Art

The pressure balancing gland is used in many fields in daily life and is contained in the system so as to keep the systems safe. This kind of apparatus, performing the task of pressure balancing that occur in the systems in which it is used, is made of different materials according to the property of the field of use. Although parts that are called pressure balancing glands, are produced in a manner such that the cable will pass through from one end and the other ends can fit into a screwed assembly, are produced in small sizes, they make the system in which they are used more reliable. Pressure balancing glands are made of different materials, particularly brass.

Today, there are plastic and metal pressure balancing glands widely used in industrial environments. As these glands are not suitable for use in hazardous environments, this is the most important disadvantage of the state of the art. Cable glands are used for cable connection and ventilation plugs are used for pressure balancing in hazardous environment applications.

The pressure balancing glands used in the state of the art have negative conditions such as not being compatible with the requirements of hazardous environmental conditions, lack of EMC performance (Electromagnetic Compatibility), IP (Ingress Protection) problems arising from existing air circulation solutions.

In the state of the art, there are some disadvantages, such as extra time spent drilling extra holes in the equipment and the need for an extra ventilation plug, the loss of extra space by using the ventilation plug in addition to the cable gland suitable for electrical equipment to be used in hazardous environments. Since the filters in the pressure balancing glands in known applications are located in the pressure balancing gland alone, there is a lot of waste during the assembly depending on the problems encountered during mounting, bonding etc. phases due to its lack of durability. Said disadvantages affect the final user negatively.

As a result of the researches carried out in the literature, the utility model with application number TR 2016/18227 has been encountered. Said document relates to a ventilation gland, which serves to balance the temperature and pressure in a closed area with the temperature and pressure of the external air and extends the service life of the system by preventing corrosion and water condensation in the closed area. Said document is not appropriate for use in hazardous environments in the industrial field, air circulation is only carried out with a membrane and sealing element.

As a result, due to the abovementioned disadvantages and the insufficiency of the current solutions regarding the subject matter, a development is required to be made in the relevant technical field.

Aim of the Invention

The invention aims to solve the abovementioned disadvantages by being inspired from the current conditions.

The main aim of the invention is to provide a pressure balancing gland with a cartridge that is made rigid by coating thermoplastic material on the filter.

Another aim of the invention is to allow gas/air passage by means of the O-ring profile on the upper and lower sections of the cartridge while providing a healthy sealing protection between the housing and the same, but not to allow the passage of liquid and dust.

Another aim of the invention is to make the cartridge, which contains filter and carrier cage, to be resistant against deformation due to its durable (rigid) structure. Therefore, continuous gas/air passage through the filter is provided.

Another aim of the invention is to cover the carrier cage made of thermoplastic elastomer material on the filter by overmold method. Therefore, the disadvantages occur in the methods such as bonding, over-molding, etc. included in the state of the art are eliminated. The filter and the carrier cage form the cartridge in a single piece.

Another aim of the invention is to develop a pressure balancing gland that can be used in hazardous environment applications. Therefore, it is ensured to use a single product for pressure balancing and cable connection in hazardous environment applications. Another aim of the invention is to develop a pressure balancing gland with EMC property that can be used in hazardous environment applications. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the pressure balancing gland provides pressure balancing, cable fixing and EMC properties simultaneously.

In order to fulfill the abovementioned aims, the invention is a pressure balancing gland comprising,

• A body that protects the internal parts,

• A sealing element that provides strain relief and sealing protection by gripping the cable,

• A cap nut that ensures compression of the sealing element,

• At least one hole that allows the inlet of the external gas/air and outlet of the internal gas/air and

• A filter that allows gas/air passage to balance the pressure and does not allow liquid passage characterized by comprising;

• A cartridge providing connection between O-ring profiles that provide sealing between said filter and said body, and has a carrier cage integrated with said filter.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Figures Clarifying the Invention

Figure 1, is the general and sectional views of the inventive pressure balancing gland. Figure 2, is the disassembled view of the inventive pressure balancing gland.

Figure 3, is the views of the filter and the cartridge.

Figure 4, is the disassembled view of the inventive pressure balancing gland with EMC property.

Figure 5, is the general and sectional views of the inventive pressure balancing gland with EMC property. List of Reference Numbers

10. Body

20. Cartridge

21 . Filter

22. Carrier cage 30. Bushing

40. Sealing element 50. Cap nut 60. Hole 70. Gas space 80. Spring bushing 90. Contact spring

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the inventive pressure balancing gland is described by means of examples only for clarifying the subject matter.

The inventive pressure balancing gland comprises the following; a body (10) that protects the internal parts, a sealing element (40) that is placed in the body (10) that provides strain relief and sealing protection by gripping the cable, a cap nut (50) that ensures compression of the sealing element (40), at least one hole (60) that allows the inlet of the external gas/air and outlet of the internal gas/air and a filter (21) that allows gas/air passage to balance the pressure and does not allow liquid passage. Furthermore, it comprises a cartridge (20) that has an integral structure with said filter (21) and has a carrier cage (22) enabling connection between O-ring profiles that provides sealing between the filter (21) and the body (10).

The carrier cage (22) is made of thermoplastic material. The carrier cage (22) is preferably made of thermoplastic elastomer material. The carrier cage (22) is covered on the filter (21) by means of the overmold method. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the carrier cage (22) can be attached on the filter (21) by bonding, welding or other known joining methods. The parts of the carrier cage (22) located on the lower and upper sections of the filter (21) function as O-ring profiles. O-ring profiles are connected with feders. Therefore, the filter (21) and the carrier cage (21) form the cartridge (20) by being rigid and integral. The upper and lower parts of the cartridge (20) provide sealing protection. While the filter (21) parts allow gas/air passage, they do not allow passage of liquid and dust. The filter (21) is preferably made of PTFE material.

The cartridge (20), which contains filter (21) and carrier cage (22), is resistant to deformation due to its durable (rigid) structure. Therefore, continuous gas/air passage through the filter (21) is provided. The incoming gas/air is stored and distributed homogeneously on the operating surfaces of the filter (21) by means of the vertical profiles of the carrier cage (22) on the filter (21 ), by means of the gas/air chambers formed between the body (10) and the filter (21). In an embodiment of the invention, the carrier cage (22) is located axially on the filter (21). In different embodiments of the invention, the carrier cage (22) can be worked on the filter (21) in different patterns.

The cartridge (20) allows gas passage while it is located inside the body (10) but it does not allow liquid, dust passage. There is a gas space (70) between the cartridge (20) and the body (10). The gas space (70) allows that the gas entering through the holes (60) is distributed evenly over the filter (21) surface.

In the inventive pressure balancing gland; the carrier cage (22) made of thermoplastic elastomer material is coated on the filter (21) with the overmold method and transformed into a cartridge (20). The cartridge (20) is assembled by inserting the same into the body (10). Also, cartridge (20) acts as a barrier for ingress protection (IP68 - 0.1 bar) tests. The cartridge (20) allows gas/air passage through the filter (21). Although liquid and dust particles enter through the holes (60), they cannot move further to the interior parts of the body (10) by means of the cartridge (20). The bushing (30) and the cartridge (20) are fixed in a metal or plastic housing from all directions. The bushing (30) ensures the separation of the sealing element (40) and the cartridge (20) from each other. The bushing (30) provides a basis for the operation of the sealing element (40). The bushing (30) also protects the cartridge (20). The sealing element (40) moves axially by means of the treads of the cap nut (50) and the body (10). Therefore, the sealing element (40) is compressed. Therefore, strain relief and sealing protection are provided.

In Figure 4, there is a pressure balancing gland with EMC property which is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In addition to the inventive non-EMC pressure balancing gland, there is a contact spring (90) and a spring bushing (80). Here, the contact spring (90) is located within the body (10) of the gland with EMC property and contacts the cable shield. A rigid environment is created in which the cartridge (20) can be placed by separating the spring bushing (80), the cartridge (20) and the contact spring (90) from each other. EMC performance is provided by contacting the contact spring (90) with the cable shield. The contact spring (90) and the pressure balancing gland with EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) property, fulfills all functions of pressure balancing, cable connection and EMC feature among hazardous environment applications.