Patent ID: 12259077

It is to be noted that, in these figures, the structural and/or functional elements common to the different alternatives can have the same references numbers.

FIG.1is an exploded cross-sectional view of a device1according to an embodiment of the invention. The device1is configured to allow the sealed passage of longitudinal elements, here a bundle6of longitudinal elements. For example, here, the longitudinal elements are electrical wires, i.e. wires made of an electrically conductive material, here copper, surrounded by an electrically insulating sheath, here a plastic material. For the sake of simplification, a single electrical wire60is indicated in the Figures.

The device1comprises three distinct elements configured to be assembled to each other in a sealed manner, here a frame2, a removable insert3and a spacer ring4ensuring a sealed connection between the frame2and the removable insert3. InFIG.1, the frame2, the removable insert3and the spacer ring4are separated from each other.

FIG.2shows the same device1in which the frame2, the removable insert3and the sealing element4are assembled to each other. The frame is introduced in a sealed manner into a through-hole TR of a partition CL, here a hole of circular cross-section, in order to delimit the hole TR. For example, here, the partition CL is a partition separating the separating the cabin of a boat from the outside.

The frame2is here a metal frame, for example here stainless steel. The frame2could however be made of any other sealing and water-resistant material, such as for example a plastic material.

The frame2has a wholly cylindrical ring shape. It has a first cylindrical body20extended by a frame collar21and has a first outer wall22and a first inner wall23. The first internal wall23delimits the hole TR and defines a first passage24in the frame. Here, the first passage24has a cylinder shape, and in particular in this example a revolution cylinder shape. It hence extends here between a first circular aperture25and a second circular aperture26. As an alternative, the first passage24could have any other cylindrical shape.

A cylinder is understood here as a solid generated by a line segment, called the generating line, which moves parallel to an axis between two fixed parallel planes called bases of the cylinder. Thus a cylinder can have discoidal bases, ellipsoidal bases or bases of any shape. A cylinder may be a prism, that is to say it may have polygonal bases. A cylinder whose bases are perpendicular to the generating line is a right cylinder.

Here, the first passage24has a circular cross-section whose diameter is 54 millimetres and extends longitudinally over a length of 47 millimetres. As an alternative, the first passage24could have any other diameter and/or any other length.

The frame collar21is made at the first aperture25and is formed by a first outer shoulder27of the first outer wall20and by a first inner shoulder28of the first inner wall21.

The frame2is configured to be inserted into the hole TR of the partition CL, by passing the first body20into said hole TR of the partition CL in such a way that, as illustrated inFIG.2, the first collar21comes into abutment against the partition CL. In this example, a lip seal29is placed at the first outer shoulder27and allows reinforcing the seal between the frame2and the partition CL. As an alternative, it would be possible that the frame is devoid of lip seal and bonded to the partition by means an adhesive material. This advantageously allows maintaining a good tightness whatever the quality of surface of the partition CL and/or of the hole TR.

The spacer ring4is here made of natural rubber, but could be made of any other elastic sealing material, for example mastic or resin. For example, here, the spacer ring has been made by moulding and is hence consisted of a single piece of material.

The spacer ring4comprises a spacer body40. The spacer body40has a shape that is complementary of that of the first passage24and is configured to be inserted coaxially into the first passage24. For example, here, the spacer ring4has a generally cylindrical shape and the spacer body40is a revolution cylinder.

Here, the spacer body40is extended by a spacer collar41. The spacer collar here has a height, that is to say a dimension taken in the longitudinal direction, equal to 19 millimetres and a diameter equal to 68 millimetres. The spacer body40of the spacer ring4has here a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the first passage24, here a diameter of 54.5 millimetres. As an alternative, the spacer ring4could be devoid of collar.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the spacer element4is configured to be inserted into the first passage24by passing the spacer body40through the first aperture25in such a way that the spacer collar41comes into abutment against the frame collar21. Therefore, the spacer body40covers the first inner wall23in the first passage24and the dimensions of the spacer body40and the first passage24are such that, when the spacer ring4is inserted into the first passage24, it deforms and exerts a pressure through elasticity on the first inner wall23. In other words, the spacer ring4is press-fitted into the first passage24.

This pressure force ensures that the spacer ring4is applied against the first inner wall23and thus that the seal between the spacer ring4and the first inner wall23is ensured. Moreover, this pressure force ensures that the spacer ring4is maintained in the first passage24thanks to the forces of friction between the spacer body40and the first inner wall23, instead of exerting on the spacer ring a high tensile force in the longitudinal direction for removing it from the first passage24, for example a force exerted by an adult male pulling on the spacer ring4with one hand; such a force may for example be of 150 Newton.

As an alternative, in order to ensure the holding of the spacer ring in the first passage24, the spacer ring5can be bonded to the first inner wall23of the frame2by means an adhesive material. In this alternative, the spacer ring could have a diameter equal to the diameter of the first passage. This alternative is particularly advantageous when the device is immersed for an extended duration, because it has in this case a better seal. The first inner wall23could comprise at least one circular groove surrounding the first passage24and in which a corresponding circular protrusion of the spacer ring4could be received.

The spacer ring4comprises a space passage42having a shape that is complementary of that of the first passage24, that is to say here a circular cylindrical shape that, when the spacer ring4is inserted into the first passage24, is coaxial to the first passage24. Here, the diameter of the spacer passage42is equal to 34 millimetres.

The removable insert3comprises a central portion37here surrounded by a tubular portion38.

The central portion37here comprises an elastomeric material, here rubber, closely conforming the tubular portion38and the electrical wires of the bundle6. Here, the central portion37is moulded in the tubular portion38around the electrical wires of the bundle6.

The tubular portion38is here a metal partition, for example here made of stainless steel. The tubular portion38could however be made of any other sealing and water-resistant material, such as for example a plastic material. In particular, the tubular portion38and the frame2could be made of different materials.

The tubular portion38defines a second, cylindrical body30comprising a second outer wall32and a second inner wall33. The second inner wall33defines a second passage34. Here, the second passage34has a revolution cylinder shape but could have any other shape.

The second body30has a shape that is complementary of that of the first passage24and the space passage42, here a revolution cylinder shape. Here, the second body30has an outer diameter lower than that of the first passage24and slightly higher than that of the spacer passage42, that is to say an outer diameter equal to 34.5 millimetres.

Thus, as illustrated inFIG.2, when the removable insert3is inserted into the spacer passage42, coaxially to said spacer passage42, the spacer ring4is compressed between the first inner wall23and the second outer wall32and exerts a force on these two walls by elasticity, in such a way as to ensure the seal between the removable insert3and the spacer ring4, on the one hand, and between the spacer ring4and the frame2, on the other hand.

As an alternative, it would be possible that the spacer passage42and the second body30have shapes that are complementary but different from that of the first passage24, for example prismatic shapes. Complementary shapes allow a better homogeneity of the elastic forces exerted by the spacer ring4on the removable insert3and on the frame2, and thus a better seal of the device1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the spacer ring comprises three circular protrusions43,44,45surrounding the spacer passage42. These three protrusions allow the making of three annular pressure areas on the removable insert3, which contributes to the good tightness of the connection between the removable insert3and the spacer ring4. As an alternative, the spacer ring could comprise a different number of circular protrusions or have no circular protrusion.

In this embodiment, the second body30is extended by an insert collar31, formed by an extension of the tubular portion38at a first end of the second body30.

The insert collar31comprises a first proximal portion310extending radially towards the outside of the removable insert3from the second body30and a distal portion311extending from the proximal portion310along the second body30, coaxially to the second body30. In other words, the insert collar31is curved in such a way as to form an annular cavity35coaxial to the second body30. Here, the height of the annular cavity35, i.e. the dimension of the distal portion311of the insert collar31taken in the longitudinal direction, is equal to the height of the spacer collar41, i.e. here 19 millimetres.

And the maximum diameter of the annular cavity35, i.e. the diameter of the annular cavity35taken at the distal portion311, is here slightly lower than the diameter of the spacer collar41, i.e. here 67,5 millimetres. As an alternative, it would be possible that the height of the annular cavity35is lower than the height of the spacer collar41and/or that the maximum diameter of the annular cavity35is equal to or higher than the diameter of the spacer collar41.

Thus, in the illustrated example, when the removable insert3is inserted coaxially into the spacer passage42, the insert collar31covers and radially compresses the spacer collar41between the second body30and the distal portion311. In other words, the insert collar31here forms a cap covering the spacer collar41. The space collar41exerts radial forces on the second outer wall32by elasticity.

In the embodiment illustrated, the spacer ring comprises a circular protrusion46surrounding the spacer passage41. This protrusion allows the making of an annular pressure area on the wall of the annular cavity35, which contributes to the good tightness of the connection between the removable insert3and the spacer ring4. As an alternative, the spacer ring4could comprise a different number of circular protrusions or have no circular protrusion.

Moreover, the insert collar31acts as a stop to limit the insertion travel of the removable insert3into the hole TR. In this example, the second outer wall32at the proximal portion310comes into abutment against the spacer ring4, but it would be possible, in the case where the height of the annular cavity35is greater than the height of the spacer collar41, that the distal portion311comes into abutment against the frame collar21or directly against the partition CL.

As an alternative, it would be possible that the insert collar31comprises only the proximal portion310, that is to say that the insert collar31could be simply formed by a second outer stop of the second outer wall32, and would thus not define an annular cavity.

In the example illustrated here, a second end of the second body30, opposite the first end of the second body30, that is to say opposite the end from which the second collar31extends, comprises a chamfer36allowing an easier insertion of the removable insert3into the first passage24and more precisely here in the spacer passage42.

So, when it is necessary to accede to the hole TR, it is advantageously possible to remove the removable insert3from the first passage24without degrading the device and manually, i.e. without using a tool.

Potentially, in order to remove or add one or several electrical wires in the bundle6, it is possible to remove the central portion and to pass the new wire through the second passage34and the first passage24, that is to say here also through the spacer passage42of the spacer ring that remained in place. To reform the central portion, it is possible to pour again a sealing material into the second passage42and to replace the removable insert3. Thus, the new removable insert fits perfectly to the new bundle.

As an alternative, the device1could also be configured in such a way that the friction or adhesion forces between the spacer ring and the second outer wall32are higher than the friction or adhesion forces between the spacer ring4and the first inner wall23. In this case, the spacer ring would remain attached to the removable insert during removal of the removable insert.

In an alternative embodiment, the spacer ring could take the form of an O-ring. Thus, as illustrated inFIG.3, the spacer ring here comprises an O-ring5compressed between the first inner wall23and the second outer wall32.

For example, here, the first inner wall23comprises a first annular groove230surrounding the first passage24and wherein the O-ring is received, and the second outer wall32comprises a corresponding second annular groove320into which the O-ring8is received.

As an alternative, it would be possible that the first inner wall23does not contain the first annular groove230and/or that the second outer wall32does not contain the second annular groove320.

Moreover, it would be quite possible that the device1comprises a plurality of O-rings, for example three O-rings, and that the removable insert3and/or the frame2comprise a plurality of corresponding annular rings.

According to an alternative embodiment, it would be possible, as illustrated inFIG.4, that the removable insert3comprises only the central portion37and is devoid of the tubular portion described hereinabove.

According to this alternative embodiment, the removable insert is made by moulding of the central portion of the wires of the bundle6, in a temporary cylindrical mould (not shown) removed after moulding of the removable insert3. Here, the central portion37has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the spacer passage42, here a diameter of 34.5 millimetres.

Thus, as illustrated inFIG.5, when the removable insert3is inserted into the spacer passage42, coaxially to said spacer passage42, the spacer ring4is compressed between the first inner wall23and the central wall37and ensures by elasticity the seal between the removable insert3and the spacer ring4, on the one hand, and between the spacer ring4and the frame2, on the other hand.

Another embodiment is illustrated inFIGS.6and7.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the insert collar comprises a shoulder39of the central portion made during the moulding of the central portion37. According to this embodiment, the removable insert3does not comprise the tubular portion described hereinabove.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the device1is devoid of spacer ring and, when the removable insert3is inserted into the first passage24, coaxially to the first passage24, the removable insert3is compressed in the first passage24and exerts on the first inner wall23a force by elasticity in order to ensure the seal between the first inner wall23and the removable insert3. Here, the shoulder39advantageously limits the depth of insertion of the removable insert3into the first passage24by coming into abutment against the frame collar21. Moreover, the shoulder39contributes to the tightness of the device1.

Various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.