System for dynamically sealing a conduit sleeve through which a pipe or cable extends

• US 9,528,636 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beele Engineering BV (J.A. Beele Beheer BV)
• Original Assignee: Beele Engineering BV (J.A. Beele Beheer BV)
• Inventors: Beele, Johannes Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Byrd, Eugene G
• Application Number:
  US12/225,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,570 Days
• Field of Search: 277/606, 277/607, 277/644
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/10 by using sealing rings or sleeves only

Abstract

A system for dynamically sealing an opening through which at least one pipe, cable or duct extends via a conduit sleeve which is fittingly and sealingly fixed to the circumference of the opening or which corresponds to the opening. The system comprises at least an elastically deformable plug which is fittingly and sealingly insertable in the conduit sleeve. The plug has two ends, an outer side and an inner side. Each end has dimensions that allow for fitting of that end in the conduit sleeve. The outer side comprises a number of outer ribs having tops spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and an inner circumferential wall of the conduit sleeve. The inner side comprises a number of inner ribs having tops spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and the at least one pipe, cable or duct. The inner side and/or the outer side is provided with at least one hingeable surface area for facilitating compression of the plug in the longitudinal direction and a transverse movement of at least one of the inner or outer ribs.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically sealing an opening through which at least one pipe, cable or duct extends via a conduit sleeve extending through the opening and which is fittingly and sealingly fixed to a circumference of the opening or which corresponds to the opening, wherein the system comprises at least an elastically deformable plug which is fittingly and sealingly insertable in the conduit sleeve, the plug having two ends, an outer side and an inner side, each end having dimensions that allow for fitting of that end in the conduit sleeve, the outer side comprising a number of outer ribs having tops spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and an inner circumferential wall of the conduit sleeve, the inner side comprising a number of inner ribs having tops spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and the at least one pipe, cable or duct, wherein the inner side and/or the outer side is provided with at least one hingeable surface area for facilitating compression of the plug in the longitudinal direction and a transverse movement of at least one of the inner or outer ribs, wherein the system further comprises a blocking element for hindering, when in use an external pressure gradient is present between both ends of the plug, movement of a downstream end of the plug downstream the pressure gradient, and wherein:

the blocking element and the conduit sleeve comprise together a single piece,

an inner diameter of the blocking element is larger than an outer diameter of the pipe, cable or duct, and

the hingeable surface area is provided by two adjacent sloped surfaces of two adjacent ribs that form together a V-shaped groove.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the hingeable surface is provided on the inner side.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the plug is an assembly of at least two segmental longitudinal parts.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises the conduit sleeve.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the inner wall of the conduit sleeve is provided with a surface that has a low friction coefficient.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element comprises a substantially ring shaped element.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises two plugs which are each according to the plug as described in claim 1.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the two plugs are situated in the conduit sleeve and the blocking element is situated in the conduit sleeve between the two plugs.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least two blocking elements for hindering, in use, relative to the conduit simultaneous and equal movement of both ends of the plug downstream an external pressure gradient.

10. A transit system comprising a conduit sleeve through which at least one pipe, cable or duct extends such that a longitudinal direction of the conduit sleeve and a longitudinal direction of the at least one tube or duct are substantially parallel to each other, wherein the system further comprises at least an elastically deformable plug which is fittingly and sealingly insertable in the conduit sleeve, the plug having two ends, an outer side and an inner side, each end having dimensions that allow for fitting of that end in the conduit sleeve, the outer side comprising a number of outer ribs having tops spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and an inner circumferential wall of the conduit sleeve, the inner side comprising a number of inner ribs having tops spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and the at least one pipe, cable or duct, wherein the inner side and/or the outer side is provided with at least one hingeable surface area for facilitating compression of the plug in the longitudinal direction and a transverse movement of at least one of the inner or outer ribs, wherein the system further comprises a blocking element for hindering, when in use an external pressure gradient is present between both ends of the plug, movement of a downstream end of the plug downstream the pressure gradient, and wherein:

the blocking element and the conduit sleeve comprise together a single piece,

an inner diameter of the blocking element is larger than an outer diameter of the pipe, cable or duct, and

the hingeable surface area is provided by two adjacent sloped surfaces of two adjacent ribs that form together a V-shaped groove.

11. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the plug is an assembly of at least two segmental longitudinal parts.

12. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the inner wall of the conduit sleeve is provided with a surface that has a low friction coefficient.

13. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the blocking element comprises a substantially ring shaped element.

14. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the system comprises two plugs which are each according to the plug as described in claim 10, wherein the two plugs are situated in the conduit sleeve and the blocking element is situated in the conduit sleeve between the two plugs.

15. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the system comprises at least two blocking elements as described in claim 10 for hindering, in use, relative to the conduit, simultaneous and equal movement of both ends of the plug downstream an external pressure gradient.

33. A transit system according to claim 10, wherein the hingeable surface is provided on the inner side.

16. A system for providing a sealed transit for a situation wherein one or a plurality of cables, pipes or ducts extend through the transit, wherein the system comprises a frame which is sealingly fixed or fixable into or onto an opening, wherein the frame comprises one conduit which is suitable for receiving at least one of the plurality of cables, pipes or ducts and for receiving an elastically deformable plug for sealingly filling space between an inner circumferential wall of the conduit and the at least one of the plurality of cables, pipes or ducts, wherein the system further comprises a blocking element for hindering movement of one end of the plug which is inserted in the conduit, wherein:

the blocking element and the frame comprise together a single piece,

an inner diameter of the blocking element is larger than an outer diameter of the pipe, cable or duct, and

the system is adapted to respond dynamically to an external pressure gradient such that the plug moves in a longitudinal direction relative to the conduit downstream the pressure gradient, expands in a transverse direction in reaction to the external pressure gradient and relaxes after cessation of the external pressure gradient.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the blocking element is fixed within the conduit.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the blocking element comprises a substantially ring shaped element.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the conduit has an inner circumferential wall with a surface which has a low coefficient of friction.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein the frame is of steel or aluminium.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the frame is provided with a flange for welding the frame to a steel or aluminium construction element or for bolting the frame to a partitioning construction element.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the frame is provided with a buffer zone for accommodating thermal stresses occurring during and/or after welding, thereby avoiding excessive alteration of dimensions of the conduits.

23. A system according to claim 16, wherein the frame is made of an engineering plastic.

24. A system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises at least one additional blocking element for hindering in the conduit simultaneous and equal movement of both ends of a plug relative to the conduit sleeve in which that plug is inserted.

25. A system according to claim 16, wherein the system further comprises at least one elastically deformable plug which is fittingly and sealingly insertable in the conduit.

26. A system according to claim 16, wherein the conduit has a length which is suitable for receiving a plug in its entirety.

27. A system according to 26, wherein each conduit has a length which is suitable for receiving two plugs neighbouring each other in axial direction.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein each conduit has a part of the at least one blocking element positioned in the conduit such that on either side of the blocking element the conduit has a length which is suitable for receiving a plug in its entirety.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the plug has two ends, an outer side and an inner side, each end having dimensions which allow for fitting of that end in the conduit, the outer side comprising a number of outer ribs having tops spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and the inner circumferential wall of the conduit, the inner side comprising a number of inner ribs having tops spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the plug for realizing annular contact surfaces between the plug and the at least one cable pipe or duct extending through the conduit sleeve, wherein the inner side and/or the outer side is provided with at least one hingeable surface area for facilitating compression of the plug in the longitudinal direction and a transverse movement of at least one of the inner or outer ribs.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the hingeable surface is provided by two adjacent sloped surfaces of two adjacent ribs.

31. A system according to claim 29, wherein the hingeable surface is provided on the inner side.

32. A system according to claim 29, wherein the plug is an assembly of at least two segmental longitudinal parts.