EP3148869B1 - Device for sealing an opening in a wall - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing an orifice in a wall.

The technical field and the main application of the invention relate to the production and implementation of devices for the emergency filling, from the inside, of accidental waterways in the hull or the deck of afloat. , but such a device can also be used to seal an accidental orifice in a tank such as fuel, and in this case from outside the tank.

It is known in fact that a waterway in a hull of a ship is a damage that can lead to its loss, even during a coastal navigation, and which often requires, in addition to the intervention of the crew, the call for external assistance: this is the third cause of intervention of the crews of the National Society of Lifeguards at Sea (SNSM) in France. Waterways of all types, including hull breaches, were the Coast Guard's second reason for intervention in the United States in 2002, with 500 accidents causing 111 deaths and more than $ 11 million in property damage.

Although not mandatory since the update of the French regulations (in division 240), the presence on board recreational vessels of an emergency filling system for waterways remains widely recommended. The equipment available to date, however, are limited to narrow breaches and closing hulls, so circular section.

Indeed, various products developed and marketed to seal waterways, such as wooden sticks adapted only to circular orifices of small diameter, are known: in practice their use is therefore limited to closing off the valves and thru-hulls. .

It was also developed soft sticks as described in the patent US 8689717 of the Artelier Studio Company, marketed under the brand name "Truplug®", and which have the same use as wooden sticks: they are presented as also usable for larger, irregular and long gaps, but then using either a pinch cut in the direction of their length or several of these sticks, but which then require their association with pumps because they can not ensure a good seal; tests afloat have doubted their effectiveness.

• Le brevet US5253602 de John B. Moriarty qui enseigne un système comprenant un axe fileté rigide gainé d'un manchon circulaire sur lequel coulisse un collier articulé avec des baleines disposées en rayon de roue, support d'une membrane imperméable ; introduit à travers la brèche, le système est ouvert comme un parapluie puis tracté pour obturer l'orifice par l'extérieur de la coque grâce à la membrane qui s'applique contre celle-ci ; l'étanchéité ainsi obtenue peut être améliorée en vissant un couvercle rigide à la partie intérieure de la tige après enlèvement de la poignée et une chambre à air annulaire peut aussi être interposée entre ce couvercle et le parapluie autour de la tige filetée et gonflée pour en combler l'espace.
• la demande de brevet WO88/08389 de Monsieur Barelier décrivant un « dispositif de pinoche fonctionnelle auto-étanchéiseuse », constitué par trois éléments que l'on enfile à travers l'orifice que l'on veut obturer et dont une partie se déploie à l'extérieur à la manière d'un parapluie pour assurer la résistance à la pression et l'étanchéité, mais comme pour le précédent brevet un tel système est d'une complexité mécanique difficile à mettre en oeuvre.

Systems are also known that are introduced into the gap open in the shell and a part of which is deployed externally like an umbrella; we can mention in this area:

• The patent US5253602 to John B. Moriarty who teaches a system comprising a rigid threaded shaft sheathed with a circular sleeve on which slides a hinged collar with whales arranged in a wheel radius, supporting an impermeable membrane; introduced through the breach, the system is opened like an umbrella and then pulled to close the orifice by the outside of the shell thanks to the membrane which is applied against it; the seal thus obtained can be improved by screwing a rigid cover to the inner part of the rod after removal of the handle and an annular air chamber can also be interposed between this cover and the umbrella around the threaded rod and inflated to fill the space.
• the patent application WO88 / 08389 to Monsieur Barelier describing a "self-sealing functional pinch device" consisting of three elements that are threaded through the orifice that is to be closed and a part of which unfolds on the outside in the manner of an umbrella for ensure resistance to pressure and tightness, but as for the previous patent such system is of mechanical complexity difficult to implement.

We can also mention the patent application US5305702 Donald E. Philips who teaches a rigid central shaft introduced by the breach and hung on the outside of the hull by hinged legs, the mechanical compression of an inner cover, the nature of which is not specified, being ensured by a pull handle and a locking collar: the seal is achieved by a circular pneumatic seal integral with the periphery of the lid, which can be associated with disintegrable capsules or inflated with compressed air.

Finally there may be mentioned various devices that tend to plug the orifice by an expansion of volume in this orifice such as the patent FR 2808499 to Monsieur Acquaviva which teaches an inflatable element which is introduced into the orifice and which is inflated by air or a compressed gas. The patent FR 2743347 to Monsieur Montel describes also a polymerizable compound rapidly reacting by expansion in contact with water and that is therefore introduced into the orifice to seal it: such a product is limited by its application which can only be manual and for small orifices, because it is necessary to maintain the product the time it polymerizes and expands while trying to maintain the pressure of the water and the sealing, which is not very easy to achieve at the same time.

• leur mise en oeuvre est compliquée et/ou limité par la force due à la pression de l'eau dès que l'orifice est supérieur à quelques centimètres de diamètre,
• il n'est pas vraiment possible d'obturer avec la plupart de ces produits des brèches irrégulières,
• l'application restrictive à une surface plane, soit à l'extérieur de la coque, ce qui n'est pas toujours le cas (brèche de l'étrave, proche de l'implantation de quille ou de la mèche de safran, de l'arbre d'hélice...), soit à l'intérieur, ce qui ne l'est jamais dans les bateaux modernes de plaisance,
• l'utilisation d'un axe central rigide et de parties métalliques en contact, filetées, coulissantes ou articulées : un tel système est d'utilisation difficile sous la ligne de flottaison d'un navire en mer agitée se remplissant d'eau, et est susceptible de blocage et de vieillissement prématuré au stockage en ambiance salée,
• l'introduction nécessaire d'une partie plus ou moins volumineuse et fragile du système (parapluie, ballon, système d'ancrage articulé) par la brèche, impossible dans la pratique du fait d'une part du débit d'eau important même à travers une petite brèche, et d'autre part s'il s'agit d'une fissure étroite,
• une obturation de l'orifice par l'extérieur de la coque, pouvant nécessiter une mise en place ou tout au moins un contrôle par un plongeur, ce qui est très restrictif en situation d'urgence, et difficilement compatible avec la poursuite de la navigation du navire,
• l'adaptation nécessaire de la taille et du poids des pièces rigides du système à la surface maximale que l'on souhaite obturer, avec ses conséquences sur la facilité d'utilisation, l'encombrement et le poids au stockage, et le prix.

While certainly all these products or devices are intended, like the present invention, to seal a hole causing, when it comes to a boat, a waterway in a wall, they all have at least one following disadvantages:

• their implementation is complicated and / or limited by the force due to the pressure of the water as soon as the orifice is greater than a few centimeters in diameter,
• it is not really possible to seal with most of these products irregular breccias,
• the restrictive application to a flat surface, that is to say outside the hull, which is not always the case (bow breach, close to keel implantation or rudder lock, propeller shaft ...), inside, which is never the case in modern yachts,
• the use of a rigid central axis and metal parts in contact, threaded, sliding or articulated: such a system is difficult to use under the waterline of a ship in the rough sea filling with water, and is susceptible to blockage and premature aging when stored in a salty atmosphere,
• the necessary introduction of a more or less voluminous and fragile part of the system (umbrella, balloon, articulated anchoring system) by the gap, impossible in practice because of the large flow of water even through a small breach, and secondly if it is a narrow crack,
• a closing of the orifice by the outside of the hull, which may require an installation or at least a control by a diver, which is very restrictive in an emergency situation, and hardly compatible with the continued navigation of the ship,
• the necessary adaptation of the size and the weight of the rigid parts of the system to the maximum surface that one wishes to close off, with its consequences on the usability, the congestion and the weight at storage, and the price.

The problem is thus to meet these drawbacks and limitations of current systems, namely to seal, from the inside of a ship's hull, orifices up to at least 20 dm ² (and therefore even above) , which are not only circular in shape but (which can be created by impact and / or shell breakage) may be irregularly shaped, with both internal and external non-planar wall surfaces, without a complex mechanical part or introducing a large and / or fragile part through the orifice, and which is easy to use, of a cost and compactness, and adapted to adapt to different sizes of orifices to be closed.

A solution to the problem posed is a device for closing off an orifice in a wall, comprising at least one flexible and deformable balloon, a locking means capable of being slid into the orifice of the wall from one side thereof. and coming to bear against the opposite side of this wall, a bearing means adapted to rest on the at least one balloon and to take it sandwiched against the wall, and a connecting means between the locking means and the support means, and such that the locking means is a bar, the support means is a circular plate through which the connecting means passes and the latter is a flexible rope which is secured by a system locking on the circular plate and whose traction on the locking bar presses the ball against the orifice.

In a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises a single balloon comprising an inner conduit in which the flexible connecting string passes and in another embodiment the device according to the invention comprises at least two balloons assembled together. against each other and delimiting between them a duct space in which passes the flexible connecting string.

• on glisse dans l'orifice de la paroi depuis un côté de celle-ci, une barre qui est un moyen de blocage que l'on vient positionner contre le côté opposé de la paroi qui entoure l'orifice,
• on relie, par un cordage souple de liaison, cette barre de blocage à une plaquette circulaire qui est un moyen d'appui qui prend en sandwich contre la paroi au moins un ballon souple et déformable positionné du côté opposé de la paroi par rapport à celui où est mis en place le moyen de blocage,
• on met en compression le au moins ballon contre l'orifice par traction sur le cordage souple qui est solidarisé par un système de blocage sur la plaquette circulaire, et écrasement du au moins ballon par appui de la plaquette circulaire.

Another solution to the problem posed is a method of closing an orifice in a wall such as:

• a bar which is a blocking means which is positioned against the opposite side of the wall which surrounds the orifice is slid into the orifice of the wall from one side thereof,
• is connected by a flexible connection cord, this locking bar to a circular plate which is a support means which sandwiches against the wall at least one flexible and deformable balloon positioned on the opposite side of the wall relative to that where is set up the blocking means,
• the at least one balloon is compressed against the orifice by pulling on the flexible cord which is secured by a locking system on the circular plate, and crushing of the at least one balloon by pressing the circular plate.

In a preferred embodiment, the balloon or balloons are inflatable and are inflated after positioning, on the one hand, or thereof, against the orifice to be sealed, and on the other hand by the circular plate. , able to compress this or these balloons during its or their inflation, and taking it or them sandwiched against the wall.

In the main application of the invention, and the most adapted to it, the wall is that of the hull of a boat or vessel, mainly for pleasure or fishing.

The result is a new device and a new method of closing an orifice in a wall, which are simple to implement and which answer the problem and the drawbacks of current devices and processes.

• une compression mixte (plaquette circulaire + ballon gonflé), plus importante,
• une surface de contact contre la paroi autour de l'orifice, plus étendue,
• le faible encombrement de la barre de blocage/d'accrochage,
• l'absence de pièces métalliques en contact,
• la souplesse du système de mise en compression et de verrouillage (absence d'axe rigide),
• la possibilité d'utilisation du dispositif « à distance », c'est-à-dire sans nécessiter de nombreuses manipulations à proximité et/ou directement dans l'orifice,
• elle assure l'application puis le maintien d'une force et d'une étanchéité suffisantes pour s'opposer respectivement à la pression de l'eau (jusqu'à une profondeur raisonnable comme précisé ci-après) et aux fuites,
• le volume du ou des ballons et son mode d'action le rendent adaptable à toute voie d'eau même dans le cas de brèches irrégulières et non pas seulement circulaires, et de grandes tailles telles que jusqu'à au moins 20 dm².

Indeed, the present invention provides many advantages such as:

• mixed compression (circular plate + inflated balloon), more important,
• a contact surface against the wall around the larger orifice,
• the small size of the locking / hooking bar,
• the absence of metal parts in contact,
• the flexibility of the compression and locking system (absence of rigid axis),
• the possibility of using the device "remotely", that is to say without requiring many manipulations in the vicinity and / or directly in the orifice,
• it ensures the application and the maintenance of a sufficient force and a tightness to oppose respectively the pressure of the water (to a reasonable depth as specified below) and the leaks,
• the volume of the balloon (s) and its mode of action make it adaptable to any waterway even in the case of irregular and not only circular breaches, and large sizes such as up to at least 20 dm ² .

It is certain, however, that its use is limited to waterways near the surface either for a water pressure corresponding to at most 5 m deep, for example, which already gives a force of 50 kg for an orifice of 100 cm ² (corresponding to a square of 10 cm X 10 cm).

In addition, the device and the method according to the invention allow a rapid implementation, necessary in case of emergency during an accidental damage such as during a shock of the boat with an object drifting on the surface: such device can thus constitute a reference boating safety equipment; the introduction of a simple outer bar through the gap is indeed easy and fast, its effective and immediate anchoring then allows to apply a deflated balloon by sliding the plate along the rope (the operator using for example the pressure strong of his feet) and the balloon can then be heavily inflated until complete tightness.

Similarly, this device can be used from the outside of a tank, either on land or at sea during the sinking of a ship to prevent, among other things, a fuel leak: the use of the device is then simply inverted, the locking means being placed inside the tank, and the balloon or balls bearing against the outside against its wall. The materials of the device must then, in this use, resist hydrocarbons for the case of fuel tank, but in the case of leakage, for example, water tank on land, it is of course not necessary.

It is also possible to use a balloon or balls made of impermeable foam, and therefore non-inflatable but flexible and deformable, of course with an inner duct passing through them: it is specified that this duct, which is inside a single balloon or defined by a space defined between several contiguous balloons, is flexible and deformable, and also crushes, during the compression of the balloon or balls, against the connecting means which passes therethrough, thereby sealing against it and preventing water or other fluid from passing through this conduit.

In the case of foam balloon and even the rest if the balloon is inflatable, but certainly it is then larger and more fragile, the balloon can also serve as a fender to protect the hull of the ship by interposing between it this and any wall against which the ship berths (wharf, other ship ...).

All these characteristics as well as those described below bring many advantages and show the novelty and the interest of the device and method according to the invention.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de dispositif suivant l'invention avec un seul ballon gonflable traversé par un conduit, en position d'assemblage mais avant mise en oeuvre.
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe du dispositif de la figure 1 suivant un plan passant par l'axe du conduit intérieur du ballon.
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective de l'exemple du dispositif des figures 1 et 2 en position de mise en oeuvre pour obturer un orifice tel qu'une voie d'eau dans une coque de navire.
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe du dispositif de la figure 3 suivant un plan passant par l'axe du conduit intérieur du ballon comme sur la figure 2, et lors de la mise en pression du ballon qui va alors venir obturer l'orifice de la coque.

The description and the accompanying drawings represent an exemplary embodiment of the invention but are not limiting in nature: other embodiments are possible within the scope and scope of this invention. invention, in particular by using two balloons contiguous or three arranged clover or even more.

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary device according to the invention with a single inflatable balloon traversed by a conduit, in the assembly position but before implementation.
• The figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of the figure 1 following a plane passing through the axis of the inner duct of the balloon.
• The figure 3 is a perspective view of the example of the device of the Figures 1 and 2 in the implementation position to close an orifice such as a waterway in a ship's hull.
• The figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of the figure 3 following a plane passing through the axis of the inner duct of the balloon as on the figure 2 , and during the pressurization of the balloon which will then come to close the orifice of the shell.

• un seul ballon 3 souple et déformable comportant un conduit intérieur 12 étanche par rapport au reste du volume du ballon, lequel conduit 12 est de préférence axial c'est-à-dire passant par le centre du volume du ballon, qui peut être de forme quasi sphérique tel que de 50 cm de diamètre, lequel ballon pouvant être en PVC d'épaisseur 0,7 mm environ,
• un moyen de blocage 1 apte a être glissé dans l'orifice 9 de la paroi 8 depuis un côté 10 de celle-ci, ledit moyen de blocage 1 étant une barre métallique telle qu'en aluminium, et permettant un ancrage/blocage immédiat et efficace contre la paroi 8 entourant l'orifice 9,
• un moyen d'appui 4, qui est une plaquette circulaire telle qu'en polyéthylène et au travers de laquelle passe en son centre un moyen de liaison 2,
• et ledit moyen de liaison 2 qui est un cordage tel qu'en textile, entre le moyen de blocage 1, soit ladite barre 1, et le moyen d'appui 4, soit la plaquette circulaire 4,
• ledit moyen de liaison 2 traversant le conduit 12 et étant apte à permettre la mise en compression du ballon 3 contre l'orifice 9 par traction sur le moyen de blocage 1 et par prise en sandwich du ballon 3 entre le moyen d'appui 4 et la paroi 8.

In this exemplary embodiment, the device for closing an orifice 9 in a wall 8 such as that of a boat or ship as represented on the Figures 3 and 4 , includes:

• a single flexible and deformable balloon 3 having an inner duct 12 sealed with respect to the remainder of the volume of the balloon, which duct 12 is preferably axial, that is to say passing through the center of the volume of the balloon, which may be of a shape almost spherical such as 50 cm in diameter, which balloon may be PVC of thickness about 0.7 mm,
• a locking means 1 adapted to be slid into the orifice 9 of the wall 8 from one side thereof, said locking means 1 being a metal bar such as aluminum, and allowing immediate anchoring / blocking and effective against the wall 8 surrounding the orifice 9,
• a support means 4, which is a circular plate such as polyethylene and through which passes at its center a connecting means 2,
• and said connecting means 2 which is a rope such as textile, between the blocking means 1, said bar 1, and the support means 4, or the circular plate 4,
• said connecting means 2 passing through the conduit 12 and being able to allow the balloon 3 to be compressed against the orifice 9 by pulling on the blocking means 1 and by sandwiching the balloon 3 between the support means 4 and the wall 8.

To ensure said compression, the circular plate 4 is slid along the rope 2, and then said plate 4 is pressed against the balloon 3 by a simple strong pressure of the feet, which already ensures a rapid closure of the orifice 9.

To then maintain the support means or circular plate 4 at the distance thus obtained from the wall 8, the closure device comprises a locking system 5 of the connecting means 2 relative to the support means or circular plate 4 , thereby securing the connecting means 2 on the support means 4 at this distance from the partition 8. And when the balloon is inflatable, it can then be more strongly inflated until the complete seal, or by manual inflation (possible in 10 seconds maximum), or by gas cartridge (even faster).

The distance between the circular plate 4 and the wall 8 can be given and desired for a deformable and non-inflatable flexible balloon, and combined with the inflation pressure of the balloon when it is inflatable, or with the hardness of its foam. it is not inflatable, it must ensure the compression of the balloon 3, against this wall and thus on the orifice 9 which is thus closed, to a value able to oppose the force of the pressure of the water outdoor; the choice of the value of this distance can be evaluated and adjusted by the operator himself.

To allow inflation of the balloon, it is equipped with an inflation hose 6 with a non-return valve and a three-way valve 7 to adapt an inflator or a manual pump or a gas cartridge; the valve 7 also comprises a deflation valve.

The surface of the balloon 3 intended to be applied to the orifice 9 or gap is preferably covered with a resin-coated fabric or any other product that can harden on contact with water in order to complete the sealing of the device on the contours. breach or orifice 9.

Embodiments using two or three or more balloons, contiguous to each other, are not shown in the present embodiment which only describes a device with a single balloon but their technique of realization and their method of setting are the same as those described above and shown in the accompanying figures, and are therefore included in the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. Device for sealing an opening in a wall comprising at least one flexible and deformable balloon (3), a locking means (1) adapted to be slidable into the opening (9) of the wall (8) from a side (10) of the latter and to bear against the opposite side (11) of this wall (8), a bearing means (4) able to bear on the at least balloon (3) and to sandwich the latter against the wall (8), and a connection means (2) between the locking means (1) and the bearing means (4), characterised in that the locking means (1) is a bar, the bearing means (4) is a circular plate through which passes the connection means (2) and the latter is a flexible rope that is attached via a locking system (5) on the circular plate (4) and the traction of which the locking bar (1) compresses the balloon (3) against the opening (9).
2. Device for sealing according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a single balloon (3) comprising an inner duct (12) through which passes the flexible connecting rope (2).
3. Device for sealing according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least two balloons (3) assembled against one another and delimiting between them a space forming a duct (12) in which passes the flexible connecting rope (2).
4. Device for sealing according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least balloon (3) is inflated after placing the latter against the opening (9), and the circular plate (4) sandwiching the at least balloon (3) against the wall (8).
5. Device for sealing according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the wall (8) is that of the hull of a ship.
6. Method for sealing an opening in a wall, characterised in that:

   - in the opening of the wall from a side of the latter, a bar is slid wand is a locking means that is positioned against the opposite side of the wall that surrounds the opening,

   - via a flexible connecting rope, this locking bar is connected to a circular plate which is a bearing means that sandwiches against the wall at least one flexible and deformable balloon positioned on the opposite side of the wall in relation to the one where the locking means is set up,

   - the at least balloon is compressed against the opening via traction on the flexible rope which is attached by a locking system on the circular plate, crushing of the at least balloon by pressing of the circular plate.

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