Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a variant of a sealing device in accordance with the claims.

Background of the Invention and Prior Art

In conjunction with the completion of tunnels and the like, membranes or similar are connected between the inner walls of concrete and a tunnel’s rock wall as protection from moisture and the like. The membrane is placed at a distance from the rock wall by means of positioning devices. The membrane is tensioned with positioning devices, after which the inner wall of concrete is cast with the membrane lying between the rock wall and the concrete wall. Positioning devices consist of bolts, threaded rods, rock (mountain) bolts or the like which are anchored in one end in the rock and the other end extends through the membrane. A problem with this design is to ensure that water does not leak in toward the concrete wall at the bolt’s penetration hole through the membrane. To solve the problem of leakage at the bolt hole through the membrane, a variety of different types of sealing devices and designs have been developed.

For example, different types of sealing devices have been developed which comprise at least one first half and at least one second half with at least one intermediate layer of sealing material.

An example of this type of design is marketed by the company Vik0rsta. However, the design developed by Vik0rsta differs significantly from the design in accordance with the present invention. For example, Vik0rsta’s design has a substantially poorer sealing ability than the design in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, Vik0rsta’s design does not have a corresponding negative pressure forming function as the sealing device in accordance with the present invention, between the first part and the second part, when compressed against the sealing material and the membrane.

Another company that markets the mentioned design is Pretec. Pretec’s design also differs to a significant extent from the design in accordance with the present invention. For example, this design has a substantially poorer sealing ability than the design in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, Pretec’s design does not have a corresponding negative pressure function as the sealing device in accordance with the present invention between the first part and the second part when compressed against the sealing material and the membrane.

Washers (discs, plates, spacers) suitable for use with rock bolts and the like are known in a wide variety of variants. For example, one is disclosed in US4410296. The design according to US4410296 differs substantially from the design in accordance with the present invention. For example, it is intended to indicate voltage.

US5306108 also describes a variant of a washer for a rock bolt which comprises at least one sealing device between the washer and the elongated rod of the rock bolt. This design differs from the present invention because it is intended for a purpose other than the design in accordance with the present invention.

A further washer-like member with a sealing feature is disclosed in US48363699. A variant of a washer for a rock bolt is disclosed in US4183699 which comprises at least one sealing device between the washer and the elongated rod of the rock bolt. This design differs from the design in accordance with the present invention. On the basis of the above mentioned problems, there is a need for an improved sealing device in accordance with a present invention.

Purpose of the Invention

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce at least one of the aforesaid, or in the following description, named problems with existing types of sealing devices. The purpose is solved by a sealing device, as well as a method of using the sealing device, in accordance with the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following detailed description of the present sealing device, reference and references to the following figures will occur. Note that the figures are schematic and certain parts of the system (assembly) may be omitted that are obvious for a person skilled in the art of the field of the invention that the sealing device falls under.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplifying utilization of the present sealing device.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the design in accordance with Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 A shows the rear washer in more detail.

Fig. 3B shows a cross-section of the rear washer.

Fig. 4A shows the front washer in more detail.

Fig. 4B shows a cross-section of the front washer.

Fig. 5 shows the front washer’s and the rear washer’s cooperative shapes.

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to the figures, a sealing device 1 according to the present invention will be described in more detail. The sealing device 1 can be used in a variety of applications. In the exemplifying application, the sealing device 1 is used in conjunction with sealing of bolt penetrations (holes) through holes (openings) in a membrane, or alternatively bolt penetration through at least one hole in at least one material layer or the like.

The sealing device 1 comprises at least one rear washer (plate, disc, spacer) 2, first washer, and at least one front washer (plate, disc, spacer) 3, second washer. The rear washer 2 can be referred to as a first part, first disc, rear plate or the like. The front washer 3 can also be referred to as a second part, second disc, second plate or front disc. In alternative

embodiments, the sealing device 1 can be comprised of more washers than a rear washer 2 and a front washer 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an exemplifying use of the sealing device 1 is shown. The sealing device 1 is used in this embodiment with a device for attachment of cladding, such as membranes, for example in tunnels and more particularly in connection with the sealing of bolt penetrations through holes in membranes. The sealing device 1 for a bolt 4, one end of which is connected, directly connected or indirectly connected, via a reinforcement bar, to the rock 5 in, for example, a tunnel. At least one nut 6 or the like with an associated washer 7 is connected to the bolt 4 at a distance from the rock. Thereafter, the rear washer 2, the rear plate, disc, connects to the bolt 4 via a through hole in the rear washer 2. At least one layer 8, sealing, of sealing material is connected (joined) against the rear washer 2. At least one membrane 9 or alternatively another type of material layer is connected through a hole in the membrane 9 to the bolt 4. Then at least one second material layer 10, second sealing, of sealing material on the outside (in the direction of the tunnel) is connected to the membrane 9, after which the front washer 3 is connected to bolt 4 via a through hole in the front washer 3.

At least one second washer 11 and a second nut 12 are used to move the front washer 3 in the axial direction of the bolt 4 towards the rear washer 2 and compress the first sealing material layer 8, the membrane 9 and the second sealing material layer with each other between the rear washer 2 and the front washer 3. In the figure there is also shown a reinforcement fitting 13 which in the exemplifying embodiment is connected with at least one third nut 14.

Referring to Figs. 3A and 3B, an exemplifying form of the rear washer 2, the first part 2 or the like is shown. The rear washer 2 has a substantially smaller thickness than its extent in the radial direction. In the exemplifying embodiment, the first part 2 has a circular shape, or essentially a circular shape. The rear washer 2 comprises an outer edge 15 and an edge portion 16 which extends around the circumference of the first washer 2. Further, the rear washer 2 has at least one through hole 17, bore hole or the like. The hole comprises an edge, an inner edge 18. The hole 17 is preferably located in the axial center 19 of the rear washer. In alternative embodiments, the hole 17 in the first part 2 can be placed at a position in the first part 2 which deviates from the axial center’s 19 position. In the exemplifying embodiment shown in the figures, the first part 2 comprises an area 20 which extends in a direction from the edge 18 of the hole 17 towards the outer edge 15 of the first rear washer 2. At least one partial area 21 of the area 20 differs from a plane (flat) surface. The rear washer 2 comprises a center portion 22, middle portion or the like.

Referring to Figs. 4A and 4B, an exemplifying form of the front washer 3, the second part 3 or the like is shown. The front washer 3 has a substantially smaller thickness than its extent in the radial direction. In the exemplifying embodiment, the front washer 3 has a circular shape, or essentially a circular shape. The front washer 3 comprises at least one outer edge 23 and at least one edge portion 24, which extends around the second part 3. Further, the front washer 3 has at least one through hole 25, bore hole or the like. The hole comprises an edge, an inner edge 26. The hole 25 is preferably located in the axial center 27 of the front washer 3. In alternative embodiments, the hole 25 of the front washer 3 can be placed at a position in the front washer 3 which deviates from the axial center’s 27 position. In the exemplifying embodiment shown in the figures, the front washer 3 comprises an area 28 which extends in a direction from the inner edge of the hole 25 towards the outer edge 23 of the front washer 3.

At least one partial area 29 of the area 28 differs from a plane (flat) surface. The front washer 3 comprises a center portion 30, middle portion or the like.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is shown that the rear washer 2 and the front washer 3 along all or part of their radial directions include shapes that cooperate (interact) with each other.

In the exemplifying embodiment, the rear washer 2 comprises at each distance from the axial axis of rotation (center) of the rear washer 2 a cooperative shape with the shape of the front washer 3 at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation (center) of the front washer 3.

The rear washer 2 comprises at least one curved surface 31 or surface that deviates from the radial direction, which extends circularly around the center portion 22 of the rear washer 2. The curved surface 31 forms a partial area of the area 20 of the rear washer 2. The curved surface 31 is located at a radial distance from the axial center of the rear washer 2. The distance from the edge of the hole 15 to the curved surface 31 may vary within the scope of the present invention.

The front washer 3 comprises at least one curved surface 32 or surface that deviates from the radial direction, which extends circularly around the center portion 30 of the washer. The curved surface forms a partial area of the front washer’s 3 area 28. The curved surface is located at a radial distance from the first part’s axial center. The distance from the edge to the curved surface may vary within the scope of the present invention.

The curved surface of the rear washer 2 and the curved surface 32 of the front washer 3 can be of at least one wave-form, part of a wave-form, curved or curvy form, corrugation or the like. The shape of the wave-form, curved or curvy form or corrugation may vary within the scope of the present invention. In the exemplifying embodiment, the wave-form’s length is about one-half a wavelength, alternatively shorter than one-half a wavelength. In alternative embodiments, the wave- formed part (curvy part) can be of a length that is longer or shorter than about one-half a wavelength. What is essential here is that the wave-form of the rear washer 2 interacts (cooperates) with the wave-form of the front washer. This occurs because the rear washer’s 2 wave trough coincides (cooperates) with the front washer’s wave crest when connecting the parts to each other in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2. Alternatively, said cooperation (interaction) occurs by the rear washer comprising at least one wave crest cooperating (coinciding) with a wave trough in the front washer when connecting the parts to each other in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2. The rear washer’s 2 and the front washer’s 3 wave-formed, curved or curvy parts cooperate with each other and cause negative pressure to be formed between the sealing material layer and the surface area of the rear washer 2 and between the sealing material layer and the surface area of the front washer 3.

In alternative embodiments, the rear washer 2 and the front washer 3 include at least one wave trough and at least one wave crest each. The wave trough in the rear washer 2 cooperates (coincides) with a wave crest in the front washer 3 and that the wave crest of the rear washer 2 cooperates (coincides) with the wave trough of the front washer 3.

The amplitude of the wave-form may vary within the scope of the present invention. The wavelength of the wave shaped portion may also vary within the scope of the invention.

In the preferred embodiments of the rear washer and the front washer, these at the outer edge include an angled portion 33, which is angled relative to the radial direction. In the exemplifying embodiment, it is angled one degree relative to the plane of the washer. The degree of the angle is greater than zero, but the degree of the angle can vary. The technical effect of the edge being angled according to angle V is that it reduces the risk of the edge of the washer cutting or damaging the seal placed between the first part and the second part. The angle of the angled portion may vary within the scope of the invention.

The rear washer 2 and the front washer 3 are preferably made of metal or the like. In alternative embodiments, it is conceivable that the first part 2 and the second part 3 are made of another for the purpose suitable material.

When using the sealing device 1 , preferably at least one sealing device 34 is also connected to the hole 17 in the rear washer 2 which seals between the bolt 4 and the inner edge 18 which surrounds the hole 17 in the radial direction. The sealing device 34 may, for example, be of a previously known seal which is suitable for the purpose. In the exemplifying embodiment, the sealing device comprises at least one sealing member 35. When using the sealing device 1 , preferably at least one sealing device, not shown in figures, is also connected to the hole 25 in the front washer 3 which seals between the bolt 4 and the inner edge 26 surrounding the hole 25 in the radial direction. The sealing device can be, for example, of a previously known seal which is suitable for the purpose. In the exemplifying embodiment, the sealing device comprises at least one sealing member.

In alternative embodiments, the shape of the first and second washer can be of another shape suitable for the purpose, such as oval, elliptical or another for the purpose suitable form.

In the detailed description of the present invention, design details may have been omitted which are apparent to persons skilled in the art of the field of the sealing device. Such obvious design details are included to the extent necessary so that the proper and full performance of the present sealing device is achieved.

Even if certain preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variants and

modifications within the scope of the sealing device may become apparent for specialists in the field of the invention. All such modifications and variants are regarded as falling within the scope of the following claims.

Advantages of the Invention

The present invention achieves several advantages. Most importantly, at least one of the problems described in the background is eliminated or reduced.