AU2004247173B2 - Module and frame for cable entries - Google Patents

Description

WO 2004/112211 PCT/SE2004/000925 1 APPLICANT: ROXTEC INTERNATIONAL AB TITLE: Module and Frames for Cable Entries Technical Field The present invention concerns a module and frame for cable entries, pipe penetrations etc.

Prior Art Frames of different kinds are normally used for cable entries, pipe penetrations etc. The frame may receive cables for electricity, communication, computers etc. or pipes for different gases or liquids such as water, compressed air, hydraulic fluid and cooking gas. It is used in many different environments, such as for cabinets, technical shelters, junction boxes and machines and also decks and bulkheads of ships. The frames may also be mounted in walls or roofs of different types of buildings.

Different modules adapted to the cables or pipes to be received are normally included in the frames. However, these modules are normally only adapted to cables, pipes or the like having a circular cross section. There are no special modules for flat cables or the like. When receiving flat cables it has been common to make special arrangements in each frame. The person mounting the cables, pipes or the like has made the adaptation. Thereby the result has in some degree been depending on the skill of the person mounting the cables etc. Thus, there is a need of modules that may be readily adapted to the flat cables or the like to be received in the frame.

Summary of the Invention The invention is developed concerning parts not having a circular cross section, e.g. flat cables. One object SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 2004/112211 PCT/SE2004/000925 2 of the present invention is that the frame should be possible to adapt to the cross section of the part to be received.

This object is meet by a module to be received in a frame for cable entries, pipe penetrations etc. The module has parts adaptable to receive flat cables or the like, having an elongated cross section.

A further object of the present invention is that handling should be improved, concerning mounting, storing as well as transport.

The modules used are preferably adaptable to cables of different dimensions, by means of peelable sheets. The sheets are held together by an adhesive effect. The adhesive effect is strong enough to normally keep the sheets together, but not stronger than making it possible to peel off a separate sheet by hand.

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

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be described further below by way of examples and with reference to the enclosed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a frame having a module according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a module according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments In Fig. 1 a frame 1 for cable entries, pipe penetrations etc. is shown. The frame 1 is to be received in a wall, top, roof etc. As is known in the art a number of modules 2, 3 are received in the frame i. The modules 2,3 are made of an elastic material. In order to give a tight SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 2004/112211 PCT/SE2004/000925 3 seal a wedge 4 or other tensioning means is arranged to put pressure on the modules 2, 3, which will expand outwardly due to the pressure. Between each set of modules 2, 3 a partition 5 is arranged. The partitions 5 are arranged in such a way that they may slide in the frame i, due to the pressure exerted by the wedge 4.

Of the shown modules 2, 3 one type of module 2 is for cables, pipes or the like having a circular outer circumference. This type of module is well known in the art and will not be described extensively here. The other module 3 is to receive flat cables 6 or other parts having an elongated and rounded outer circumference.

Even though the flat cables 6 are shown in Fig. 1 having a cross section with rounded, semicircular ends, a person skilled in the art realises that the flat cables 6 may have other cross section forms. The present invention has proved useful also for flat cables having a more or less rectangular cross section. The corners of the cross section of the cable often being somewhat rounded. The Tatter cases function due to the fact that the modules 3 are elastic enough to take up the deviating cross sections.

Thus, end parts 7 having a rounded inner surface facing the cable may be used even if the opposing surface of the cable is virtually straight.

The module 3 for flat cables 6 has two end parts 7, which may correspond to or be identical with the parts of the module 2 for cables etc. having a circular cross section. Between the end parts 7 two middle parts 8 are arranged. The end parts 7 have a number of sheets 9 that may be peeled of to adapt the end parts 7 to the part to be received. In the same way the middle parts 8 have sheets that may be peeled off. Further, each middle part 8 has a base plate 11. The base plate 11 is placed at the side of the middle part 8 that is to be directed away from the cable 6 or the like at mounting. The end parts 7 have base SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 2004/112211 PCT/SE2004/000925 4 units 14 having a rectangular outer configuration and a circular inner configuration. The circular inner configuration is to receive a cable, pipe or the like. The peeling sheets 9 are received on the inside of the circular part.

Depending on the dimensions of the flat cable 6 the middle parts 8 of the module 3 may have varying length.

Usually it is enough to have a number of standard lengths for the middle parts 8. It is also possible to have middle parts 8 that are relatively long, in which case the middle parts are cut to an appropriate length before mounting.

When the end parts 7 are used for a module 2 with circular inner cross section, a blind rod 12 is usually furnished to facilitate storing, transport and mounting. In the modules 3 for flat cables 6 the blind rod 12 is replaced with a blind plate 13 placed between the middle parts 8. The blind plate 13 has rounded ends to be received in the end parts 7. In some embodiments there are no blind plates 13.

As mentioned above identical units may be used for the modules 2 for circular cables, pipes etc. and for the end parts 7 of the modules 3 for flat cables or the like.

The use of identical units facilitates handling and storing.

In use the blind plate 13 is first taken away when a flat cable 6 or the like is to be brought through the frame 1. Then the appropriate number of sheets 9, 10 are peeled off from the end parts 7 and middle parts 8, respectively.

The appropriate number of sheets 9, 10 is that number that is needed to give room for the flat cable 6 in the module 3. When the cables, pipes or the like have been mounted in the frame 1 the wedge 4 or other tensioning means is manipulated to put pressure on the modules 2, 3 having cables, pipes, blinds 11, 12 etc. Due to the pressure exerted by the wedge 4 or the like the elastic material of the mod- SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO 2004/112211 WO 204/12211PCTISE2004/fi00925 ules will expand in the other directions, giving a tight seal.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims (12)

1. A module adapted to be received in a frame for cable entries and/or pipe penetrations, wherein the module is comprised of a plurality of parts which, when assembled, together define an elongate opening adapted to receive flat cables and/or pipes having an elongate cross sectional shape.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein it is formed of a pair of end parts and a pair of middle parts.

3. The module of claim 2, wherein each end part comprises a plurality of sheets, configured to a rounded form to receive an end of the flat cable and/or the elongate pipe, and which sheets may be peeled off to configure the end part to the received flat cable or the elongate pipe.

4. The module of either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the end parts are adapted to be assembled together without the middle parts to form a module for cables and/or pipes having a circular cross section.

5. The module of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each middle part is formed of a base plate and a plurality of sheets that may be peeled off to configure the opening between the middle parts to receive a selected shape of fiat cable or the elongate pipe.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the base plate is adapted to locate and mount the middle part in a frame.

7. The module of any one of the previous claims, comprising an elastomeric material.

8. The module of any one of claims 2 to 7, having a blind plate closing off the elongate opening.

9. A frame for cable entries and/or pipe penetrations, having one or more modules according to any of the previous claims mounted thereto.

10. The frame of claim 9, including a wedge or other tensioning means for securely mounting the module or modules to the frame. 005348459 7

11. A module substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A frame substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.