FR2820556A1 - Watertight cable passage has exterior and interior pressure plates with petalled cable holes, a watertight gel between them and sprung rods to move the interior plate to the exterior plate compressing the gel - Google Patents

Abstract

The cable passage (1) has a lower half (2) and upper lid and contains an exterior pressure plate (12) fixed to the lower half by flanges and groves. An interior pressure plate (13) is adjacent and free to slide longitudinally compressing watertight gel (14) under the pressure exerted by rods (41,42) with springs (46) which link the two pressure plates. The rods are secured on the outside of the exterior pressure plate by wedges (48) in rod slots : An independent claim is made for a sleeve which uses the cable passage.

Description

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WATERPROOF CABLE PASSAGE WITH COMPRESSION MEANS
SIMPLIFIED AND SLEEVE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A PASSAGE
The present invention relates to a sealed cable passage having simplified compression means and easy implementation.

 The present invention also presents a sleeve fitted with two cable passages.

 Protective splice sleeves are usually made of polymer material and are used to protect a connection between two or more cables against mechanical shock or against corrosion.

 These sleeves often have two discs or two plates respectively disposed around the incoming cable or cables and around the outgoing cable or cables. These discs are positioned at each of the two ends. They allow the space between the two end discs to be sealed. The envelope is usually made up either of two shells assembled one on the other by their two longitudinal edges, or of a tube split longitudinally and articulated by one of the two longitudinal edges.

State of the art
So that such passages can be formed in a single piece having cable passage openings, through which the cables are threaded, the passages usually used are designed in several elements, in order to allow their positioning and their fixing by hand. and other of the cable (s).

 We know from EP-0.442. 941 a cable passage for a circular section sleeve, comprising several parts separated from one another by a layer of sealant. The cable passage is itself surrounded by a layer of sealant. The cable itself is surrounded by one or more layers of sealant.

 In another embodiment, the cable passage comprises a central monobloc part leaving four free cavities for the passage of four cables. This central part is surrounded by a monobloc cylinder intended to close the four

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 cable insertion cavities.

 Such a cable passage has the drawback of being relatively difficult to install, the various parts having to be mounted together, the layers of sealing agent having to be positioned in the required places. In addition, nothing has been planned, when the user does not wish to use all the cable insertion possibilities.

 We know from US-5,775. 702 a cable passage comprising a first compression part, a second compression part, offset longitudinally from the first compression part, a longitudinal axis connecting the first part to the second compression part, the first and second compression parts comprising three to six openings for passing cables, and two sealants placed between the first and second compression parts. The openings themselves include an adapter which can be placed in the openings. The adapter itself includes one or more holes for receiving the cable (s).

 The disadvantage of such a device is that it lacks flexibility with regard to the use of compression parts with openings or adapters which can be inserted in these same openings, and with regard to the number of cables to be inserted. . In addition, given the presence of an additional adapter, the compression of the gel will be less effective around the cable or cables.

 Yet another disadvantage lies in the difficulty that the operator will have to plug the cable (s) through the adapter and / or through the first and second compression part and then to compress the cable passage.

The operator can find himself in relatively delicate mounting situations (sludge, narrow trenches, tops of a post, ...). In addition, these passages of the prior art are relatively complex to produce. This will lead to decreases in tightness, or even lack of tightness.

Summary of the invention
The first problem is to design a cable passage having mechanically simplified compression means.

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 A second problem posed is to constitute a cable passage which is easy to use for the operator.

 A third problem is to provide that a cable passage will provide a sufficient and constant seal over time.

 A cable passage, intended to seal a space around one or more cables, comprises a first compression part, positioned towards the outside of a sleeve, a second compression part, positioned towards the inside of the sleeve and longitudinally offset from the external compression part, at least one longitudinal rod, connecting the external compression part to the internal compression part, at least one opening formed in the external compression part and in the internal compression part, intended passing at least one cable, a sealing agent placed between said external compression part and said internal compression part, and compression means.

 According to the present invention, the cable passage is characterized in that said external compression part is secured to the sleeve, and in that said internal compression part moves longitudinally in the direction of said external compression part, in order to compress the sealant.

 Preferably, the longitudinal rod or rods are integral with the internal compression part. The internal compression part can be recalled towards the external compression part by means of a spring element inserted at the internal end of the longitudinal rod (s). Advantageously, the longitudinal rod or rods slide through the external compression part.

 In order for the operator to be able to compress the cable passage inside the sleeve, the longitudinal rod (s) may include an orifice located at the free external end passing through the external compression part. The compression means are advantageously formed of a piece forming a wedge, cut obliquely, capable of being inserted inside the orifice of the longitudinal rod or rods, which causes said or said longitudinal rods thus bringing the inner compression part longitudinally closer together

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 direction of the external compression part.

 In a particular embodiment, the external compression part and the internal compression part each comprise a lower part, a central part and an upper part. The central part can include support means which simultaneously drive the lower part and the upper part of the internal compression part.

 Preferably, the opening or openings are circular. They may also include lamellae located on the compression part. These strips are oriented towards the opposite compression part and directed so as to close the opening. For example, two longitudinal rods pass through the central part of the external compression part and of the internal compression part.

 As a particular embodiment, the external and internal compression parts have a substantially square shape. The sealing agent can be a gel which must then be poured between the external compression part and the internal compression part. In an example having a completely satisfactory conformation, the cable passage comprises four openings, intended for the passage of four cables, formed in the external compression part and in the internal compression part. Two of these openings can be astride both the lower part and the central part, and two of the upper openings can be astride both the central part and the upper part.

 According to a second aspect of the invention, a sleeve comprises a cable passage as described above, arranged at at least one of its ends.

Description of the drawings
The invention will be clearly understood and its various advantages and various characteristics will become more apparent from the following description, from the nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of '' a sleeve fitted with a cable passage;

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- la Figure 5 représente une vue de dessus du manchon équipé de son passage de câble ; et - la Figure 6 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale du manchon et de son passage de câble selon VI-VI de la Figure 4. - Figure 2 shows a sleeve without its upper cover, equipped with a cable passage visible through transparency; - Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a sleeve showing the various components of the cable passage; - Figure 4 shows a front view of the sleeve equipped with its cable passage;

- Figure 5 shows a top view of the sleeve equipped with its cable passage; and FIG. 6 represents a view in longitudinal section of the sleeve and of its cable passage according to VI-VI of FIG. 4.

detailed description
A sleeve 1 is in two parts, a lower body 2 and an upper cover 3. The cover 3 is attached to the body 2, either by means of a hinge placed along one of the two longitudinal edges 4 of the body 2 and of the cover 3, either by means of two clipping means 6 present on the cover 3 in the form of a flange shaped to come into engagement with a longitudinal flange of the body 2.

 A cable passage 7 is intended to close the two ends 8 of the sleeve 1. The cable passage 7 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having two opposite substantially rectangular faces 9,11. The first of the rectangular faces 9 is oriented in the direction of the outside of the sleeve 1. The other of the rectangular faces 11 is oriented in the direction of the inside of the sleeve 1.

 The outer rectangular face 9 is formed by a first compression part 12, having a plate configuration, and is hereinafter called the external compression part. The inner rectangular face 11 is formed by a second compression part 13, having a plate configuration, and is hereinafter called the internal compression part. Between the two compression parts 12 and 13 is interposed a sealing agent, which is chosen in the form of a sealing gel 14. The external compression part 12 is locked in, and inside , the end 8 of the sleeve 1.

 A first series of four openings 16, 17, 18 and 19 is formed through

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 the external compression part 12. A second series of four openings 21, 22, 23 and 24 is formed through the internal compression part 13. The openings 16, 17, 18 and 19 are regularly and symmetrically distributed in square with respect to the external compression part 12. And, the openings 21, 22, 23 and 24 are regularly and symmetrically distributed in a square with respect to the internal compression part 13. Given the symmetry of the cable passage 7, and in order to insert the cable or cables, each of the openings 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the external compression part 12 must respectively be arranged opposite each of the openings 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the internal compression part 13.

 All these openings 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are intended for the insertion of one or more cables through the cable passage 7. Each of these openings 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 comprise lamellae 26. These lamellae 26 form an angle with respect to the external rectangular face 9 and with respect to the internal rectangular face 11. To do this, they each leave from the edge of the corresponding opening and go towards the center of the opening. In addition, these strips 26 go in the direction of the compression part 12 and 13 which are opposite them. These strips 26 are regularly arranged around the corresponding openings. Since these strips 26 go in the direction of the center of the corresponding opening, they have a free end with a smaller width.

 For example, eight strips 26 will be used per opening. The shape of these strips 26, as well as their orientation, gives a shape similar to a nozzle. These strips 26 serve to pinch the cable inserted through the cable passage 7.

 In order to facilitate the insertion of a cable through the openings, the external compression part 12 is composed of a lower part 27, an intermediate or central part 28 and an upper part 29. The compression part interior 13 is also composed of a lower part 31, an intermediate or central part 32 and an upper part 33.

 As these lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 serve to facilitate the passage of cable, they are arranged in pairs longitudinally opposite one another, respectively on the external compression part 12 and on the part internal compression 13.

 These lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33

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 all have a rectangular shape. In addition, all these lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 define a portion of the openings 16, 17,18, 19,21, 22,23 and 24 of the two compression parts 12 and 13. By for symmetry, the lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 define half-openings.

 Consequently, these lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 each include the lamellae 26 attached to the edge of the corresponding half-openings. Thus, each lower part 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 comprises four strips 18 per opening.

 All these lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33 can be easily removed and replaced by the operator. In order to obtain a displacement of the internal compression part 13 and therefore a simultaneous displacement of the lower component parts 31, central 32 and upper 33, the central part 32 has support tabs 34. The tabs 34 deploy out of and at the four corners of the internal face 11 of the central part 32 of the internal compression part 13.

 In order to lock the external compression part 12 in the sleeve 1, the lower body 2 and the upper cover 3 comprise a rib 35 formed on their internal lateral surface towards the end 8. The lower part 27, the central part 28 and the upper part 29 of the external compression part 12 each comprise a lateral groove 36. For firm locking, the rib 35 of the body 2 of the sleeve 1 slides in the groove 36 of the lower part 27 of the external compression part 12. For firm locking, the rib 35 of the cover 3 of the sleeve 1 slides in the groove 36 of the upper part 29 of the external compression part 12.

 Between two lower parts 27 and 31, central 28 and 32 and upper 29 and 33, respectively longitudinally opposite one another, a portion of gel 37, 38 and 39 is placed.

 Two longitudinal rods 41 and 42 pass right through the external compression part 12 and the internal compression part 13. The rods 41 and 42 pass through holes made in the central part 28 of the external compression part 12 and in the central part 32 of the internal compression part 13. The

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 rods each include a free end 43 located outside the cable passage, and one end with a head 44 located inside the sleeve. The free end 43 of the rods 41 and 42 slides freely in the central part 28 of the external compression part 12 and in the central part 32 of the internal compression part 13.

 A spring 46, held by the head 44 is inserted at the interior end and at the rear, on the two rods 41 and 42 at the rear face 11 of the interior compression portion 13. The spring 46 is supported against the rear face 11. This spring 46 serves to return the internal compression part 13 in a longitudinal direction of the external compression part 12, under the action of compression means.

 Under the action of the compression means, the tabs 34 of the central part 32 of the internal compression part 13 bear against the internal faces of the lower 31 and upper 33 parts, allowing a common movement of the internal compression part 13 .

 The longitudinal sliding of the internal compression part 13 in the direction of the external compression part 12 will compress all of the gel 14, that is to say the gel portions 37, 38 and 39. The compression means gel 14, and thus the means which allow the displacement of the internal compression part 13 towards the external compression part 12, are in a form analogous to a pusher coming to act on the rods 41 and 42 and coming to pull the rods 41 and 42 towards the outside of the sleeve 1.

 To do this, an orifice 47 has been drilled at the free external end 43 of each of the two rods 41 and 42. The orifice 47 is partly accessible from the outside of the cable passage 7 and is made so as to be substantially flush with the outer face 9 of the outer compression portion 12. The orifice 47 is further oriented to be easily accessible by the operator. Accessibility to one of the orifices 47 of a rod 41 should not be hampered by the presence of the other rod 42.

 A corner piece 48 has been provided and has been cut at an angle so that it can be threaded inside the orifice 47 of the longitudinal rods 41 and 42. During the gradual insertion of the corner 48 towards the bottom of the orifice 47 of each of the two rods 41 and 42, a biased region 49 of the corner 48 bearing on the external face 9 of the external compression part 12 will pull the longitudinal rods 41 and 42 which will

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 then slide freely and outwardly in the external compression part 12. Since the longitudinal rods 41 and 42 are integral with the internal compression part 13 by means of the spring 46, this same internal compression part 13 will thus approach in the direction of the external compression part 12.

 In order not to lose the wedge 48, the latter is attached to the body 2 of the sleeve 1 by a flexible appendage 51. The appendage 51 is easily curved so as to be able to position the area at an angle 49 facing the outside face 9 of the cable passage 7.

 Along the two longitudinal edges of the body 2 and along the two longitudinal edges of the cover 3 is arranged a channel 52 between two ribs. The channel 52 is filled with a sealing gel which may be similar to the sealing gel 14 of the cable passage 7 or which may be of a different nature, for example an extruded elastomer seal. The gel of this channel 52 serves to ensure complete sealing of the closure of the cover 3 on the body 2.

 At the end 8 of the sleeve 1, and thus of the body 2 and of the cover 3, an internal rib of the channel 52 is interrupted, which delimits an internal bore 53 for the channel 52. The cable passage 7 is positioned at the end 8 of the sleeve and at the internal bore 53. By this configuration, the gel or the elastomer of the channel 52 touches the gel 14 located between the two compression parts 12 and 13 of the cable passage 7. In this way , an additional gel-gel or gel-elastomer sealing contact is obtained.

Operating mode
During the manufacture of the cable passage 7, the spring 46 is mounted on the two rods 41 and 42. Gel 38 is then overmolded between the two central external parts 28 and internal 32 belonging respectively to the two external compression parts 12 and internal 13 Then, the two outer central 28 and inner 32 pieces are threaded onto the two rods 41 and 42. Next, gel 37 and 39 is also molded respectively between the two lower pieces 27 and 31 and the upper pieces 29 and 33, so as to connect them two by two.

 The operator, when using the cable passage 7, will insert one or two cables inside the half-openings defined by the lower parts 27 and 31.

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Then, it will place the two central parts 28 and 32 on the cable or cables. Then, it will again position one or two cables inside the half-openings defined by the two central parts 28 and 32.

 The operator will finally close the cable passage 7 and the sleeve 1 by superposition and clipping of the cover 3 in which the two upper parts 29 and 33 are mounted on the body 2 in which the two lower parts 27 and 31 are mounted. Optionally , a plug (not shown) will longitudinally close the unused openings.

 Then the operator will compress the gel 14 by bending the two appendages (see arrow B in Figure 1) and inserting the two corners 48 in the two orifices 47 of the rods 41 and 42. By this action, the internal compression part 13 will move in the direction of the external compression part 12 blocked in the sleeve, which will compress the gel 14 (see arrow C in Figure 6).

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. Many modifications can be made without departing from the framework defined by the scope of the set of claims. For example, the number of openings 16,17, 18,19, 21,22, 23 and 24 may vary. The shape of the external compression part 12 and the internal compression part 13 can also change. The shape of the lower parts 27 and 31, of the central parts 28 and 32 and of the upper parts 29 and 33 can be variable, depending on the cable. The number of lamellae 26 per opening 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 may vary and be greater than eight. The opening (s) 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 may include alternating ribs and concentric grooves which can be broken depending on the diameter of the cable inserted. These concentric ribs and grooves are found on both the exterior and interior non-removable parts and on the removable parts.

Claims (14)

 - at least one opening (16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24) formed in the external compression part (12) and in the internal compression part (13), intended to pass at least one cable ; - a sealing agent (14) placed between said external compression part (12) and said internal compression part (13); and - compression means; characterized in that said external compression part (12) is secured to the sleeve (1), and in that said internal compression part (13) moves longitudinally in the direction of said external compression part (12), in order to compress the sealant (14).

 CLAIMS 1. Cable passage, intended to seal a space around one or more cables, comprising: - a first compression part (12), positioned towards the outside of a sleeve (1); - a second compression part (13), positioned towards the inside of the sleeve (1) and offset longitudinally from the external compression part (12); - at least one longitudinal rod (41,42), connecting the external compression part (12) to the internal compression part (13);  2. Cable passage according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal rod or rods (41,42) are integral with the internal compression part (13).  3. Cable passage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal compression part (13) is biased towards the external compression part (12) by means of a spring element (46) inserted in the inner end (44) of the longitudinal rod (s) (41,42).  4. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  in that the longitudinal rod (s) (41, 42) pass through the external compression part (12) by sliding.  5. Cable passage according to claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal rod or rods (41,42) each comprise an orifice (47) located towards their outer end (43).  6. Cable passage according to claim 5, characterized in that the compression means comprise a part forming a corner (48) able to be inserted inside the orifice (47) of the longitudinal rod (s) (41 , 42), which causes said longitudinal rod (s) (41, 42) to move and pull outwards, thereby bringing the internal compression part (13) closer to the external compression part (12).  7. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external compression part (12) and the internal compression part (13) each comprise a lower part (27,31), a central part (28 , 32) and an upper part (29,33).  8. Cable passage according to claim 7, characterized in that the central part (32) comprises support means (34) simultaneously driving the lower part (31) and the upper part (33) of the compression part interior (13).  9. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening or openings (16,17, 18,19, 21,22, 23,24) are circular and include strips (26) located on the compression part (12,13) and oriented in the direction of the opposite compression part (12,13), and directed so as to close the opening.  10. Cable passage according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises two longitudinal rods (41,42) passing through the central part (28) of the <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  external compression part (12) and the central part (32) of the internal compression part (13).

11. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external compression part (12) and the internal compression part (13) have a substantially square shape. 12. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing agent is a gel (14) poured between the external compression part (12) and the internal compression part (13). 13. Cable passage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises four openings intended for the passage of four cables, formed in the external compression part (12) and in the internal compression part (13), two of the lower openings overlapping both the lower part (27, 31) and the central part (28, 32), and two of the upper openings overlapping both the central part (28, 32) and the upper part (29, 33). 14. Sleeve, characterized in that it comprises a cable passage (7) according to one of the preceding claims, placed at at least one of its ends (8). DEPOSITOR: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY AGENT: LAURENT & CHARRAS Cabinet