Patent Description:
When cables, wires or pipes are to go through a wall, a roof or other partition, the cables, wires or pipes are often received in a seal placed in an opening in a wall or the like. The seal may also be placed in a sleeve placed in an opening of a wall or the like. 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 realizes that it normally also covers pipes and wires. In a corresponding way the expression "wall" is mainly used in this description, but it should be construed broadly and to normally cover any type of partition.

Seals for cable transition often have a cylindrical compressible body. The compressible body is compressed axially between fittings placed at opposite ends of the compressible body. By the axial compression the compressible body will expand radially both inwards and outwards. By the radial expansion outwards the seal can be received in sleeves or openings having a certain diameter range. 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.

Seals of the above kind 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 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 seals used today are normally useable for holes having an inner diameter within a certain range. To cover a large range of inner diameters a number of seals are used and have to be kept in stock. Thus, the diameter of the opening of the sleeve or the wall dictates which seal that is to be used.

<CIT> discloses a modular seal assembly for sealing a circular opening through a wall, wherein the assembly includes an inner pressure disc and an outer pressure annulus of interconnected blocks.

<CIT> discloses a lead-through plate of parts having protrusions and recesses for connection to each other.

<CIT> discloses the use of an adapter ring for insertion into a tube element.

An object of the present invention is to increase the diameter range of cylindrical seals and thereby be able to reduce the number of seals that are to be kept in stock.

The present invention is defined by the independent claim.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a lead-through for cables, wires or pipes is provided. The lead-through comprises a cylindrical seal and an outer diameter extender. The outer diameter extender is adapted to be mounted on an outer surface of the cylindrical seal. The outer diameter extender is formed of two parts. Each of said two parts has at least one protruding part and at least one recess. The at least on protruding part of one of the parts of the outer diameter extender is to be received in the at least one recess of the other part of the outer diameter extender.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the outer diameter extender comprises a cylindrical part and a flange at one end of the cylindrical part. Said flange is perpendicular to said cylindrical part and is directed inwards towards the centre of the outer diameter extender. The flange has a number of through openings and extends along the circumference of the cylindrical part.

By means of the outer diameter extender of the present invention the possible range for each seal is increased, which means that seals of fewer different sizes have to be kept in stock. For each diameter range, no outer diameter extender is used in a lower part of the range while it is used for a higher part of the range of outer diameters.

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

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

As used in this description the terms "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and similar expressions are in view of a cable, wire or pipe received inside the seal.

An outer diameter extender <NUM>, having a general semi-cylindrical form is to be placed at the outside of a cylindrical seal <NUM>, forming a lead-through. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the outer diameter extender <NUM> is formed of two parts that are placed around the seal <NUM>, to form the outer diameter extender <NUM>. Each of the two parts forming the outer diameter extender <NUM> has a protruding part, in the form of a tongue <NUM>, at one edge and a recess <NUM> at an opposite edge. Both the tongue <NUM> and the recess <NUM> extend in a circumferential direction. When forming the outer diameter extender <NUM> of the two parts, the tongue <NUM> of one of the parts is to be received inside the recess <NUM> of the other part, and vice versa. The formed outer diameter extender <NUM> will have a cylindrical form with a central through opening. In other embodiments of the outer diameter extender, each part of the outer diameter extender has more than one tongue and a corresponding number of recesses.

The outer diameter extender <NUM> can be used with different types of cylindrical seals. In <FIG> one embodiment of a cylindrical seal <NUM> is indicated. The seal <NUM> comprises a compressible body <NUM>, front fittings <NUM>, rear fittings <NUM>, screws <NUM>, nuts <NUM>, peelable sheets <NUM> and a blind <NUM>. The peelable sheets <NUM> are used to adapt the inner diameter of the seal <NUM> to a cable <NUM> or the like to be received inside the seal <NUM>. By peeling off one or more sheets <NUM> the inner diameter of the seal <NUM> is increased.

The outer diameter extender <NUM> is attached to the outside of the seal <NUM> by means of an adhesive. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is normally made of the same material as the compressible body <NUM> of the seal <NUM>.

The lead-through comprising the seal <NUM> and the outer diameter extender <NUM> is to be received in an opening in a wall <NUM> or other partition or in a sleeve. One example of placement of a lead-through in a wall <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The front fittings <NUM> and the rear fittings <NUM> are placed on opposite ends of the compressible body <NUM> and are connected to each other by means of the screws <NUM> and nuts <NUM>. The screws <NUM> are received in through openings of the rear fittings <NUM>, through openings <NUM> of the seal <NUM> and through openings of the front fittings <NUM>. The nuts <NUM> are placed on a part of the screws <NUM> extending out from the front fitting <NUM>. By means of the screws <NUM> and nuts <NUM> the front fittings <NUM> and the rear fittings <NUM> may be moved towards and away from each other. In the shown embodiment the seal <NUM> is formed of two identical halves, and each half comprises half of the compressible body <NUM>, the fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, the screws <NUM>, nuts <NUM> and the sheets <NUM>. Further, in one of the halves a blind <NUM> is received, which blind <NUM> is to be removed when to receive a cable <NUM> or the like inside the seal <NUM>. When the two halves of the seal <NUM> are put together, the compressible body <NUM> will have a cylindrical form with a central through opening. The peelable sheets <NUM> are placed on the inside of said central through opening. By reducing the distance between the fittings <NUM>, <NUM> on opposite sides of the compressible body <NUM>, the compressible body <NUM> will be compressed in axial direction and thereby expand in radial direction both inwards and outwards. The radial expansion of the seal <NUM> is taken up by the outer extender <NUM> in that the tongues <NUM> of respective part of the outer diameter extender <NUM> will move in circumferential direction in relation to the recesses <NUM> of respective part of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. By said expansion in radial direction the seal <NUM>, with the outer diameter extender <NUM> is held in place inside an opening or a sleeve at the same time as it will seal against a cable <NUM>, wire or pipe received inside the seal <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the compressible body of the seal is made in one piece and is either openable or completely closed. In further embodiments, there are no peelable sheets inside the seal.

In use the outer diameter extender <NUM> is fastened on the outside of the seal <NUM>, surrounding the seal <NUM>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is normally attached to the seal <NUM> by means of an adhesive forming a lead-through. Before placing the lead-through on a cable <NUM> or the like, a number of the peelable sheets <NUM> may be peeled off from the inside of the seal <NUM>, in order to adapt an inner diameter of the seal <NUM> to the outer diameter of cable, wire or pipe to be received inside the seal <NUM>. The lead-through is then brought into an opening of a wall <NUM> or a sleeve. Thereafter the compressible body <NUM> of the seal <NUM> is compressed in axial direction by tightening of the nuts <NUM> on the screws <NUM>. By the compression in axial direction, there will be an expansion in radial direction of the compressible body <NUM>, which radial expansion will be taken up by movement of the tongue <NUM> of each part of the outer diameter extender <NUM> in the recess <NUM> in the other part of the outer diameter extender <NUM>.

In <FIG> an outer diameter extender <NUM> according to an alternative embodiment is shown. Said outer diameter extender <NUM> has a cylindrical part <NUM>, in the form of a shell. At one end of the cylindrical part <NUM> there is a circumferential flange <NUM>. The flange <NUM> is arranged perpendicular to the cylindrical part <NUM> and the flange <NUM> is directed inwards towards the centre of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. The flange <NUM> has a number of through openings <NUM>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is formed of two parts held together by means of an axially extended hinge part <NUM>. Due to the hinge part <NUM>, the outer diameter extender <NUM> may be opened. The hinge part <NUM> is formed by an axial recess along the entire axial length of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. At the side of the cylindrical part <NUM> opposite the hinge part <NUM>, the cylindrical part <NUM> can be opened, whereby a through gap is formed between a first axial edge <NUM> and an opposite second axial edge <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM>. On respective axial edge <NUM>, <NUM> a number of protruding parts in the form of fingers <NUM> are arranged projecting in circumferential direction from the cylindrical part <NUM>. The fingers <NUM> are arranged at respective first and second axial edge <NUM>, <NUM> with a distance to adjacent fingers <NUM>. The distance between the fingers <NUM> forms recesses <NUM> corresponding with the width of the fingers <NUM> of the opposite axial edge of the cylindrical part <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. The fingers <NUM> at respective axial edge <NUM>, <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM> are placed on alternating positions in such a way that one finger <NUM> at one axial edge <NUM>, <NUM> can be received in the recess <NUM> between two fingers <NUM> at the other axial edge <NUM>, <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, there are three fingers <NUM> projecting from the first axial edge <NUM> and the second axial edge <NUM>, respectively. A person skilled in the art realizes that the outer diameter extender <NUM> can have other numbers of fingers <NUM> at respective axial edge <NUM>, <NUM>.

At the first axial edge <NUM>, the flange <NUM> extends in circumferential direction in such a way that an outer free edge of the flange <NUM> is in line with the outer free ends of the fingers <NUM> at the first axial edge <NUM>. One finger <NUM> at the first axial edge <NUM> is in one piece with the flange <NUM>. At the second axial edge <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM>, the flange <NUM> ends at the second axial edge <NUM>. Thus, there is no flange placed above the fingers <NUM> at the second axial edge <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM>. The dimensions and placements of the flange <NUM> and the fingers <NUM> are such that in the closed position of the outer diameter extender <NUM>, the outer ends of the fingers <NUM> will abut respective opposite axial edges <NUM>, <NUM> and the edges of the flange <NUM> will also abut each other. Thus, in said closed position for the outer diameter extender <NUM> the cylindrical part <NUM> forms a complete cylinder together with the fingers <NUM> and the flange <NUM> forms a complete ring.

The length of the fingers <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM> in the circumferential direction should be at least so long that the fingers <NUM> will not leave the recess <NUM> between the opposite fingers <NUM> when the seal <NUM> has expanded maximally in the radial direction.

In use the outer diameter extender <NUM> is placed around the seal <NUM>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is fastened to the seal <NUM> in that the flange <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> is placed between the front fittings <NUM> or the rear fittings <NUM> and the compressible body <NUM> of the seal <NUM>. To mount the outer diameter extender <NUM> at the seal <NUM>, the nuts <NUM> of the seal <NUM> are loosened and the front fitting <NUM> and/or rear fitting <NUM> is removed. Thereafter, the outer diameter extender <NUM> is placed on the seal <NUM>, whereby the through openings <NUM> of the flange <NUM> is to be received on the screws <NUM> of the seal <NUM> and the cylindrical part <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> is placed on the outside of the compressible body <NUM> of the seal <NUM>. Then the front fitting <NUM> and/or rear fitting <NUM> is placed on the screws <NUM> of the seal <NUM> and the nuts <NUM> are then placed and tightened on the screws <NUM>. By means of the hinge part <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> the seal <NUM> with fastened outer diameter extender <NUM> is then opened to place it on a cable, wire or pipe, whereby the fingers <NUM> at respective axial edge <NUM>, <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> will be placed in interleaved positions. Before final placement of the seal <NUM> with attached outer diameter extender <NUM> on the cable, wire or pipe, a number of the peelable sheets <NUM> may be peeled off from the inside of the seal <NUM>, in order to adapt an inner diameter of the seal <NUM> to the outer diameter of a cable or the like to be received inside the seal <NUM>. The seal <NUM> with the outer diameter extender <NUM> is then brought into an opening of a wall or a sleeve, where after the compressible body <NUM> is compressed in axial direction by tightening of the nuts <NUM> on the screws <NUM>. The radial expansion of the compressible body <NUM> is taken up by the outer diameter extender <NUM>, whereby there will be a mutual movement in circumferential direction between the fingers <NUM> of respective axial edge <NUM>, <NUM>. The distance between the first and second axial edges <NUM>, <NUM> will thereby increase.

In the totally closed condition, the inner diameter of the cylindrical part <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> shall correspond with the outer diameter of the compressible body <NUM> of the seal <NUM>, with the seal <NUM> in a non-compressed state. In the totally closed position of the outer diameter extender <NUM> the first axial edge <NUM> and the second axial edge <NUM> of the cylindrical part <NUM> of the outer diameter extender <NUM> abut each other.

The outer diameter extender is adapted to the seal with which it is to cooperate. Normally only the hole pattern of the flange <NUM> needs to be amended depending on the type of seal used.

The outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> of the present invention expands the outer diameter range of the seal <NUM>. If for instance the seal without the outer diameter extender is adapted to be received in openings having an inner diameter in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> and the outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> has a wall thickness of <NUM>, the seal <NUM> with outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> will be adapted to be received in openings having an inner diameter in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>. Thus, the seal <NUM> is adapted to be received in openings having a diameter in the range of <NUM>-<NUM>, whereby the outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> is fastened to the seal <NUM> for the upper part of said range and the seal <NUM> is used without the outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> in the lower part of said range.

In <FIG> one half of a lead-through is shown, having an outer diameter extender <NUM> placed on the outside of one half of a seal. In the same way as described above the outer diameter extender <NUM> is formed of two parts, of which one is shown in <FIG>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> comprises a number of peelable sheets <NUM> placed on top of each other. Each of the two parts of the outer diameter extender <NUM> has a tongue <NUM> and a recess <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> of one part of the outer diameter extender <NUM> is to be received in the recess <NUM> of the other part of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is fasten to the seal <NUM> by means of an adhesive.

In <FIG> one half of a lead-trough is shown, having an outer diameter extender <NUM>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is made of two parts, of which one is shown in <FIG>. The outer diameter extender <NUM> is shown placed on a seal corresponding to the seal of <FIG>, but of a different size. Thus, the seal of <FIG> has a compressible body 5a, a front fitting 6a, a rear fitting 7a, nuts 8a, screws and inner peelable sheets 9a. The seal has plates <NUM> on some screws, which plates <NUM> are to be fastened to a wall or other partition. The outer diameter extender <NUM> comprises a number of peelable sheets <NUM> placed on top of each other. Each of the two parts of the outer diameter extender <NUM> has a tongue <NUM> and a recess <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> of one of the parts of the outer diameter extender <NUM> is received in the recess <NUM> of the other part of the outer diameter extender <NUM>. The outer diameter extender is fastened to the seal by means of an adhesive.

By forming the outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> of a number of peelable sheets <NUM>, <NUM> the diameter range for an opening suitable for receiving the seal <NUM> with an outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> will increase further. In order to adapt a lead-through with an outer diameter extender <NUM>, <NUM> having outer peelable sheets <NUM>, <NUM> to the inner diameter of an opening of a wall, one or more of the peelable sheets <NUM>, <NUM> are peeled off.

Claim 1:
A lead-through for cables, wire or pipes comprising a cylindrical seal (<NUM>) and an outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to increase the diameter range of the cylindrical seal (<NUM>), wherein the cylindrical seal (<NUM>) comprises a cylindrical compressible body (<NUM>, 5a), a front fitting (<NUM>, 6a), a rear fitting (<NUM>, 7a), screws (<NUM>) and nuts (<NUM>, 8a), wherein the front fitting (<NUM>, 6a) and the rear fitting (<NUM>, 7a) are placed on opposite ends of the cylindrical compressible body (<NUM>, 5a), wherein the screws goes through openings of the cylindrical compressible body (<NUM>, 5a), the front fitting (<NUM>, 6a) and the rear fitting (<NUM>, 7a) and wherein the cylindrical compressible body (<NUM>, 5a) has a central through opening adapted for receiving a cable, wire or pipe wherein the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is mounted on an outer surface of the cylindrical seal (<NUM>), wherein the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises two parts, wherein each of the two parts has at least one protruding part and at least one recess (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the at least one protruding part and the at least one recess (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extend in circumferential direction, whereby the at least one protruding part of one of the parts of the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is received in the at least one recess (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the other part of the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and wherein said protruding part of one of the parts of the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is movable in a circumferential direction in relation to said recess (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the other part of the outer diameter extender (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).