Patent ID: 7581976

Claim:
A bulkhead connector ( 1 , 300 ) assembly for sealingly feeding a conduit ( 9 ) between first and second environments, the connector ( 1 , 300 ) including means ( 221 , 90 , 100 ) for attachment to a bulkhead separating the two environments in use and comprising: a first coupling component ( 3 , 324 ) having a first surface and a second coupling component ( 211 , 325 ) having a second surface, the first and second coupling components being mutually spaced apart so as to provide a gap ( 212 , 323 ) between the first and second surfaces, each said component having at least one aperture ( 32 , 213 , 324 a , 325 a ) for receiving a conduit ( 9 ) therethrough, such that the conduit ( 9 ) can enter the gap ( 212 , 323 ) via the at least one aperture of one of the two coupling components and exit the gap via the aperture of the other coupling component, the aperture ( 32 , 324 a ) of the first coupling component ( 3 , 324 ) extending between the first surface and the first environment and the aperture ( 213 , 325 a ) of the second coupling component ( 211 , 325 ) extending between the second surface and the second environment; a gasket means ( 4 , 340 , 341 ) comprised of a resiliently deformable material positionable between the first and second surfaces about the apertures ( 32 , 213 , 324 a , 325 a ) of the coupling components and defining a plurality of passages ( 41 ), each passage being configured for receiving a conduit ( 9 ) to pass through the gasket means; wherein the bulkhead connector further comprises means ( 3 , 330 ) for compressing the gasket means ( 4 , 340 , 341 ), the material of the gasket means being deformable on compression so as to seal against the first and second surfaces about the apertures of the coupling components ( 3 , 211 , 324 , 325 ) and against any conduit ( 9 ) occupying any of the passages ( 41 ) to form a leak-proof seal around the exterior of the or each conduit to prevent any fluid from passing from one aperture to the other along the exterior of the or each conduit, and the gasket means being deformable on compression so that in the absence of a conduit ( 9 ) occupying any one or more of the passages ( 41 ), that passage collapses wholly against itself to form a leak-proof seal between the gasket means and the apertures ( 32 , 213 , 324 a , 325 a ) of the coupling components.