Abstract:
A device for sealing a leadthrough for conduits in a constructional element includes an inherently stiff frame member, and at least one sealing element ( 12 ) fixedly secured in the receiving region ( 17 ) of the frame member ( 11 ) and having an elastic envelope ( 13 ), and a connection opening element ( 15 ) arranged on the envelope ( 13 ) and communicating with its receiving space ( 16 ) for effecting filling the receiving space ( 16 ) with medium for expanding the sealing element ( 12 ) and/or evacuating the receiving space ( 16 ) for contracting the sealing element ( 12 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for sealing a leadthrough for conduits in a constructional component or element and including at least one sealing element having an elastic envelope having a receiving space, and connection opening means arranged on the envelope and communicating with the receiving space for effecting filling the receiving space with medium for expanding the sealing element and/or evacuating the receiving space for contracting the sealing element.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     In order to subsequently pass conduits through constructional elements such as, e.g., walls or sealings, leadthroughs are provided therein. In order to prevent, in case of fire, spreading of the fire in a building through the leadthroughs, they should be sealed with suitable means. In addition to preventing the spread of fire, the spread of flue gases, which are produced in case of fire, also should be prevented.  
         [0005]     German Publication DE 199 55 765 discloses a device for sealing a leadthrough for an object in a constructional element and including at least one band-shaped elastic sealing element that is arranged in a clearance between the leadthrough, which is provided in the constructional element, and the object, e.g., a conduit extending through the leadthrough. The sealing element consist, in its initial position, of an elastic core which is surrounded by a closed jacket that holds the sealing element in a compressed state. In its compressed state, the sealing element can be wound about the object and be inserted into the leadthrough together with the object. With a slitting-open device which is connected with the jacket, the jacket can be cut through or destroyed by being pulled over the slitting-open device. As a result, the core automatically aspirates air and expands. The expansion of the core completely closes the leadthrough.  
         [0006]     The drawback of the known device consist in that it can be used only once. After the device has been mounted, the jacket is destroyed, and the sealing element can be removed from the leadthrough only if it is also destroyed. Furthermore, upon installation of a further object in the leadthrough, the destruction of the sealing element and the installation of a new sealing element is unavoidable.  
         [0007]     German Publication DE 41 05 625 discloses a device for sealing a leadthrough in form for a sheath for a cable arranged in a cable channel or in a leadthrough of a constructional element. The sheath has an envelope the walls of which are formed of a foil-like material. The envelope is connected with a hose or a valve which provides for flow of fluid into the interior of the envelope. Upon the fluid filling the envelope, it expands closing the clearance between the cable and the cable channel.  
         [0008]     The drawback of the device of DE 41 05 625 consists in that because of the moisture permeability of the envelope, a reservoir should be provided that is connected with the envelope by hose or valve through which the fluid, which escapes the envelope, is removed. Upon emptying of the envelope, it collapses, and the sheath can be removed from the cable channel.  
         [0009]     An object of the present invention is a device for sealing a leadthrough for conduits in which the drawbacks of known sealing devices are eliminated.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for sealing a leadthrough for conduits and which can be closed and open multiple times.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     These and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by fixedly securing the sealing element in a receiving region of the inherently stiff frame member. The frame member which is formed, e.g., of a steel or a similar rigid material, supports the sealing element in both compressed and expanded conditions and insures that the sealing element does not fall out of the leadthrough in its compressed condition. The frame member also provides for a directional compression, i.e., that the sealing element opens and closes in a predetermined direction. As a result, repeated openings and closings of the device are easily implemented.  
         [0012]     Advantageously, at least one porous and elastic element is arranged in the receiving space of the sealing element the cellular grid of which is self-resetting and self-inflating. After the sealing element has been compressed upon application of vacuum thereto, it automatically expands when air or other medium has an unhindered access to the element.  
         [0013]     Advantageously, the receiving space of the sealing element is completely filled with the porous and elastic element, so that the sealing element can expand completely automatically upon entry of air.  
         [0014]     Advantageously, the receiving region of the frame member is formed as a tubular section that provides for a flat attachment and guidance of the sealing element over the axial length of the leadthrough. The tubular section can be inserted in a leadthrough in a constructional component such as a wall or a ceiling, with the tubular section being advantageously sealed against the leadthrough. The tubular section can have an arbitrarily cross-section, e.g., round, elliptical, cuboid, polygonal, etc.  
         [0015]     Advantageously, the at least one sealing element is secured in the receiving region of the frame member by a glue connection, which permits to easily achieve a flat connection of the sealing element with the frame member.  
         [0016]     Advantageously, the frame member has an attachment section for securing the device on the constructional component. With the attachment section the device can be secured on a wall, ceiling, and the like. Advantageously, a sealing member is provided on the attachment section for sealingly abutting the constructional component, which enables a flue gas proof mounting of the frame member on the constructional element.  
         [0017]     It is further advantageous when the sealing element is connected with a vacuum-producing device, e.g., vacuum pump or a vacuum cleaner. Thereby, in a simple manner, by a temporarily connection of the sealing element with the vacuum-producing device, compression of the sealing element and opening of the device for receiving the conduit can be achieved.  
         [0018]     The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The drawings show:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1 a  plan view of a device for sealing a conduit leadthrough and which is mounted in a constructional element and is shown in its initial position;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2 a  cross-sectional view along line II-II in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3 a  cross-sectional view corresponding to that of  FIG. 2  and showing the device in an open position with the conduit extending therethrough; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 4 a  cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 3  but showing the device in its sealing condition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]      FIGS. 1-2  show a device  10  according to the present invention for sealing a leadthrough  51  for conduits  30  in a constructional element  50 . The sealing device  10  is shown in its initial position  41 . The device  10  includes an inherently stiff frame member  11  formed, e.g., of sheet steel or a similarly rigid material. The frame member  11  forms a tubular section  18  which has, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, a circular cross-section. In the tubular section  18 , there is formed a receiving region  17  in which an annular sealing element  12  is secured with glue, forming a glue connection  21  with the tubular section  18 . The sealing element  12  has an elastic envelope  13  that surrounds a receiving space  16  which is filled with a porous elastic element  14 . As a material for the elastic envelope  13  all types of foils can be used. The foils can be made fireproof, e.g., be covered with a fire-resistant coating familiar to one skilled in the art. The porous elastic element  14  can consist, e.g., of fire-resistant foam or intumescent foam material. Alternatively, in the elastic envelope  13 , a plurality of porous and elastic elements or masses of compressible material can be arranged, such as e.g., foam flakes, polystyrene balls, rubber granules, mineral or glass wool. The elastic envelope  13  is provided with a connection opening  15  formed as a tubular union. The sealing element  12  surrounds an opening  22  extending from one axial end of the sealing element  12  to another axial end of the sealing element  12 .  
         [0025]     On the frame member  11 , there is provided an attachment section  19  that surrounds the tubular section  18 . The attachment section  19  provides for securing the device  10  to the constructional element  50  with fastening means  23 , e.g., with screws, anchors, dowels. In the attached condition of the device  10 , the tubular section  18  is located in the leadthrough  51  the inner diameter of which substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the tubular section  18 . In order to achieve a good flue gas sealing of the frame member  11  against the constructional element  50  and the leadthrough  51 , a sealing element  20  can be provided on a side of the attachment section  19  adjacent to the constructional component  50 . The sealing element  20  can, e.g., consist of an intumescent material.  
         [0026]     In order to pass one or several conduits  30 , such as cables, pipes, or similar objects through the device  10 , which is located in the leadthrough  51 , the connection opening  15  is connected with a vacuum-producing device  43 , e.g., a vacuum-pump, as shown in  FIG. 3 . With the vacuum-producing device  43 , air or another fluid medium, which is located in the sealing element  12 , is aspirated therefrom (in a direction shown with arrow  44 ). As a result, the sealing element  12  contracts, as shown in  FIG. 3 , whereby the diameter of the opening  22  increases. The compression of the sealing element  12  is facilitated by the fact that the sealing element is flatly connected with the tubular section  18  of the frame member  11  by the glue connection  21 .  
         [0027]     The evacuation of air or other medium from the sealing element  12  results in an opening condition  42  of the device  10 , and the conduit  30  can be pushed thereinto or therethrough (as shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0028]     In order to seal the conduit  30 , which was pushed through, the connection of the connection opening opening  15  with the vacuum-producing device or apparatus  13  should be broken, e.g., by disconnecting the connection opening  15  and/or by turning the vacuum-producing apparatus  43  off. By forming the elastic and porous element  14  of the sealing element  12  as a self-inflating element, it is achieved that the sealing element  12  automatically aspirates air through the connection opening  15  (in a direction shown with arrow  45  in  FIG. 4 ) after the apparatus  43  has been disconnected, so that the sealing element  12  expands again, sealingly closing the opening  22  around the conduit.  
         [0029]     Evacuation of the sealing element  12  for opening the device  10 , e.g., in order to pass through further conduits  30  through the device  10 , and a subsequent closing of the device  10  can be effected in a manner described above.  
         [0030]     Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiment, such is merely illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.