Technical Field

The present invention concerns a seal, lead-through or transit for cables, wires or pipes. The invention especially concerns parts of the seal or transition, having peelable sheets for adaptation to dimensions of a cable or pipe to be received.

Prior Art

In the prior art there are cable transitions or the like having a frame, inside which a number of modules to receive cables, wires or pipes are placed. The modules are made of an elastic material e.g. rubber or plastics and are thus compressible. Inside the frame normally a number of modules are received side by side in one or more rows together with some kind of compression unit. The compression unit is placed between the frame and the modules in such a way that when the compression unit is expanded the compressible modules will be compressed around the cables, wires or pipes.

For ease of description the expression "cable" is mainly used in this descrip- tion, but it should be construed broadly and a person skilled in the art realises that it normally also covers pipes or wires. The same applies for "seal", which should be construed broadly to include also lead-through and transit etc.

Another type of seal, cable transition, pipe penetration etc. has a general cylindrical form and is to be received in a sleeve in a wall or an opening in a wall. To func- tion in the desired way the seal should fit snugly into the sleeve or the opening of the wall in which it is received and the seal should be adaptable to the actual mounting dimension. The mounting dimension is dictated by the inner diameter of the sleeve or the opening. The seal has a cylindrical compressible body, which is compressed axially between fittings at the opposite ends of the compressible body. By the axial compres- sion the cylindrical body will expand radially both inwards and outwards. Furthermore, the pipes or cables received may have different outer diameters, and, thus, the module should be adaptable to cables or pipes having different outer diameters.

Seals of both the above kinds 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 and wires for load retention.

The parts receiving a single cable etc. of both the types discussed above often have a pack of peelable layers or sheets on the inside. The layers or sheets are peeled off until the inner diameter of the part is adapted to the outer diameter of the cable received in said part. The sheets adhere strong enough to each other to stay together and at the same time loose enough to enable the sheets to be peeled off from the stack, either one- by-one or a number of sheets together. In some embodiments there are also peelable layers or sheets on the outside, making it possible to adapt the outer dimensions of for instance a circular seal to a specific opening or sleeve.

A person skilled in the art realises that the exact shape and form of the different parts, including the layers, may vary without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example the pack of layers may have another cross section form than cir- cular.

Summary

When installing cables or pipes an appropriate number of layers should be peeled off. If all the layers are identical it is often difficult to establish exactly how many layers that have been peeled off. Depending on the demands of the seal it may be crucial to know that the correct number of layers are peeled off. By marking the layers separately it is easier for the operator to peel off the correct number of layers, it is also easier to control after installation that the correct number of layers have been peeled off.

By arranging lugs at least at one end of the layers, the layers may be peeled off more easily. Instead of using lugs the marking may be placed directly on the separate layers. The marking may for example be in the form of figures, letters or different colours for the lugs and/or the layers. Thus, the installation can be done quicker and with fewer mistakes. One does not risk to mistakenly taking several layers when the intention is to peel off one layer only. If the cable diameter is known the correct number of layers may be peeled off directly.

Often the adaptation to the outer dimension of the cable etc. to be received is done by using the actual cable, as dimensions tend to vary. Also in this case the installation is facilitated, as it is easier to pull off the appropriate number of layers for instance by gripping an appropriate lug. In some embodiments the layers are interconnected by means of breakable joints. Thus, the discarded layers will stick together, making it easier to handle them.

In view of the above one object of the present invention is to facilitate for an operator to peel off the correct number of layers. A further object is to facilitate to con- trol and establish that an installation has been done correctly.

These objects are meet by a part of a seal or transition for cables, wires or pipes which part is to receive a cable, wire or pipe. The part is formed of two base parts, placed against each other surrounding the cable, wire or pipe. The base parts have a groove for receiving a cable or pipe, and in which groove a number of peelable layers is received. At least one layer of each stack of layers is marked.

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

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be described more closely below by way of example and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one example of a cable, wire or pipe transition, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a module half that may be used in the transition of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of an alternative seal or transition for a cable, wire or pipe, and

Figs. 4-10 are sketches illustrating different examples of marking.

Detailed Description of Different Embodiments A common type of seals or transitions for cables, wires or pipes is indicated in

Fig. 1. It has an outer frame 1 received in a wall or any other type of partition. Inside the frame 1 a number of modules 2 are arranged to receive a single cable, wire or pipe each.

Furthermore, a compression unit 3 is received inside the frame 1. The modules 2 are separated by stay plates 4, which stay plates 4 are arranged to position the modules 2 safely inside the frame 1. The modules 2 are compressible parts of the seal or transition.

Each module 2 has a central blind 5, which is removed when the cable, wire or pipe is received.

The same reference numbers are often used for similar parts throughout this description. An alternative system including a frame is described in the simultaneously filed application entitled "Sealing System", filed by the applicant of the present application. This application is hereby incorporated by reference.

In further alternative embodiments the seal, lead-through or transit of the pre- sent invention is furnished with means for lubrication as shown in the simultaneously filed application entitled "Lubrication of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", filed by the applicant of the present application. This application is hereby incorporated by reference.

In Fig. 2 a module half is shown, which corresponds with the modules 2 of Fig. 1. The module half has a base part 6 with a generally rectangular appearance, having a semi cylindrical groove at one side. Inside the semi cylindrical groove of the base part 6 a number of peelable sheets or layers 7 are received. In use two module halves are put together with the grooves facing each other. The module thus formed will have a central cylindrical opening, in which a cable, wire or pipe is to be received. If for instance a cable is to be received an appropriate number of layers 7 are peeled off from each base part 6 in order to adapt the inner diameter of the cylindrical opening of the module to the outer diameter of the cable to be received. Thus, when a module 2 is to receive a cable etc. the blind 5 is first removed and then a number of layers 7 are peeled off. When all pipes, wires and/or cables have been placed in a module 2 each, the compres- sion unit 3 is activated. The function of the compression unit 3 is to expand inside the frame 1. As the compression unit expands it will compress the modules 2, which are made of a compressible material such as rubber. The modules 2 will be compressed in one direction and expand in other directions, pressing the modules 2 against the frame 1. Alternative embodiments of the modules are given in the simultaneously filed applications entitled "Eccentric Part of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", "A Module of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Grooves on Opposite Sides", "Pipe or Cable Lead- Through Blocks", "Modules of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Alternating Geometry", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Modularized Modules", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Modules with a Dimensioning Function" and "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Layers of Alternating Geometry", filed by the applicant of the present application. In one embodiment the modules are separated from a stack of module halves sticking together, as described in the simultaneously filed application named "Modules of Pipe or Cable Lead-Through Sticking Together", filed by the appli- cant of the present application. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference. Fig. 3 shows a lower half of one example of a cylindrical seal or transition. It has a base part 8 and fittings 9, 12 at both ends. The base part 8 is made of an elastic material and, thus, is a compressible part of the seal or transition. A number of screws 10 go between the fittings 9, 12 and through the base part 8. By means of the screws 10 the fittings 9, 12 may be moved toward each other, compressing the base part 8 in axial direction, whereby the base part 8 will expand in radial direction, both inwards and outwards. To form the seal two base parts 8 are placed against each other forming a central opening. The radial expansion of the base part 8 will press inwardly against a cable, wire or pipe and outwardly against an opening or a sleeve receiving the cylindri- cal seal or transition. In the seal of Fig. 3 a number of peelable sheets 11 are placed on an inner diameter of the seal and a number of peelable sheets 13 are placed on an outer diameter of the seal. A suitable number of inner sheets 11 are peeled off to adapt the seal or transition to a cable or pipe to be received. In the same way a number of outer sheets 13 are peeled off to adapt the outer diameter of the seal to an opening or sleeve receiving the seal.

The separate layers 7 of the module half of Fig. 2 have a lug 14 each. Also the separate layers 11, 13 of the seal half of Fig. 3 have a lug 15, 16 each. The lugs 14-16 project from the end of the layers 7, 11, 13 and are placed mutually offset from each other. The lugs 14-16 normally project a few mm. Thereby it will be relatively easy to grip a particular lug 14-16. Each lug 14-16 has a print, identifying the separate layers 7, 11, 13. In the shown example the prints are ascending figures, starting with "1". A person skilled in the art realises that the prints may vary, one further example is to state a diameter range corresponding with each layer 7, 11, 13, thus, one layer may have the print "2-4mm", the next layer the print "5-7mm" and so on. Instead of figures it is pos- sible to use letters. Still a further example of marking is to give the layers and/or the lugs alternating colours. It is not necessary to give all the layers and/or lugs different colours, but if a limited number of colours are used the colours will normally alternate in a specific order. Even though lugs 14-16 are only shown on one side of the module half or seal half, it is to be understood that corresponding lugs 14-16 may also be ar- ranged on the opposite side of the module half or seal half. The form and size of the lugs 14-16 may vary and the lugs 14-16 may also project different amounts from the side of the module half or cylinder half.

In one embodiment the lugs 17 are placed straight above each other, but with each lug 17 projecting slightly further away from the side of a seal half compared to the lug of the adjacent layer placed above. This is indicated in Fig. 4. The embodiment of Fig. 5 resembles the embodiment of Fig. 4, but in this case each lug 17a projects slightly further away from the side of the seal half compared to the lug 17a of the adjacent layer 11 placed below. Thus, in this case the lug 17a of the uppermost layer 11 projects furthest. This facilitates inspection after the seal has been installed.

In one further example the markings 18, are placed directly on the separate layers, as indicated in Fig. 6.

A further example of marking is that each layer 11 has a cutout 19, 20 exposing a marking of an underlying layer. Two examples of this are indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. In a further embodiment lugs 21, 22 of every second layer 11, 13 projects at one side of a seal half, while the lugs 21, 22 of the other layers 11, 13 projects from the opposite side of the seal half. This is indicated in Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10 each layer has lugs 23, 24 at both ends of the module. It is possible to have a chart showing which outer diameter or dimension of a cable that corresponds with which marking of a layer. Such a chart may be printed directly on the side or bottom of the module half.

In a further embodiment only a few layers are marked, for instance by having lugs at said few layers. Often only one, two or three layers are marked. This arrange- ment is beneficial when installing a large number of modules for cables, wires or pipes having the same or only a few different diameters or dimensions.

A person skilled in the art realises that any of the different markings of the layers stated above may be used both with module halves and seal halves, even though they are only shown here with either a module half or a seal half. The sheets may be arranged in many different ways and with different features as reflected in the simultaneously filed applications entitled "A Pipe or Cable Lead- Through having Interconnected Layers", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having Layers of Different Thickness", "A Pipe or Cable Lead-Through having a Part Indicating Compression" and "Cohering Between Layers of a Pipe or Cable Lead-Through", filed by the applicant of the present application. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

In use a number of layers 7, 11 are peeled off, which number of layers depends on the outer diameter of a cable or the like to be received inside the module or the seal. Furthermore, possible peelable layers 13 on the outside of the seal are peeled off to adapt the outer diameter of the seal to the inner diameter of an opening or sleeve re- ceiving the seal. If the appropriate number of layers is known the installer normally grips the appropriate layer 7, 11, 13 and peels it off together with possible layers 7, 11, 13 on top of said appropriate layer 7, 11, 13. After installation it is easy to control that the appropriate number of layers 7, 11, 13 has been peeled off, by checking the marking of the uppermost of the remaining layers 7, 11, 13.