JP3246915B2 - Sealing member and sealing method - Google Patents

Abstract

An open end of hollow member (7) is sealed using a sealing member (20) comprising a layer of sealant (26) between two constraining layers (25, 27). Force is applied to the sealing member to maintain the sealant in sealing contact with the inner walls of the hollow member. At least one of the constraining layers and/or the means of applying force is sufficiently resilient to accommodate volume changes of the sealant during temperature fluctuations and displacement of the sealant when a substrate is inserted into the hollow member through the sealing member. To facilitate insertion of the substrate through the sealing member, holes and/or slits (6, 5) may be provided in one or both of the constraining layers and/or through the sealant layer.

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing member, an assembly for sealing a hollow member, a method for sealing a hollow member, a method for sealing a multi-conductor connector, and a sealed multi-conductor connector.

Known conventional methods of sealing wires and / or contact pins include the use of grommets or other similar compression seals and the use of heat shrinkable sealing sleeves. Other prior art methods use grease-containing articles. However, grease does not have any type of structural network, so grease is generally viscous and flows when subjected to temperature cycling, thereby protecting the pins and / or wires This is a relatively unstable means of doing so. Epoxides and other adhesives have also been used, but have been
y, reentry) is difficult.

Uken et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,692, discloses a method of using a gel layer to seal contact pins. This gel is surrounded on its side by the container, but not on the front side for ease of handling, and can be used to connect the electrical contact pins with the terminal block following curing. Located adjacent to the block, the opposing exposed surface of the gel is not covered by a container into which electrical contact pins can be inserted so as to penetrate through the gel, and therefore contact on the block side of the gel. A part can be formed.

US Patent No. 4,875,870 to Hardy et al.
In order to improve the compression on the gel and thus the sealing, an improved version of the type disclosed by Euken et al. For sealing multi-conductor connectors in which special fastening means have been supplied to the gel container. Provide goods. Also disclosed are articles suitable for sealing contact pins and / or wires, which use a layer of gel with preformed holes for the pins and / or wires, such that the gel is The holes seal against the wires extending from the contact pins when the gel is compressed, without harmful damage during insertion of the pins and / or wires. When sealing the wires of a multi-conductor connector based on the teachings of Hardy et al., The contact pins and wires penetrate the gel, after which the gel is compressed. It has been found that proper sealing is not achieved when the gel is first compressed and then the contact pins and wires are inserted.
Furthermore, if one or more contact pins are to be withdrawn, for example for repair, and then to be reinserted or placed, it is necessary to release the compression on the gel and then recompress the gel. Sealing needs to be achieved around the relocated wire.

It has been found that the use of a combination of two or more constraining layers and one or more layers of sealant can overcome this disadvantage of conventional devices.

One aspect of the present invention is an assembly for sealing an open end of a hollow member having at least one substrate extending therethrough through an inner surface and an open end, the assembly comprising: a) a sealing member comprising at least one layer of sealant disposed between two constraining layers, the layer being arranged to extend transversely across the open end of the hollow member; And b) means for applying a force to the layer to retain the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member, and for applying force to at least one of the constraining layers and / or the article. The means adapts the displacement of the sealant while retaining sufficient force on the layer to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member as the substrate passes through the sealant layer Ten to do Elastic in minutes.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of sealing an open end of a hollow member having at least one substrate extending therethrough through an inner surface and an open end, the method comprising: a. ) At least one sealant layer disposed between the two constraining layers is disposed across the open end of the hollow member;
Allowing each of the layers to be in a hollow member and extending transversely across the open end; and b) passing the substrate through the sealant layer and the constraining layer, and removing a portion of the substrate. Inserting a substrate into the hollow member so as to extend into the hollow member; and c) mounting means for applying force to the layer so as to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member. Means for applying a force to at least one of the constraining layers and / or the article is sufficiently resilient to maintain the sealant in sealing contact with the interior surface of the hollow member. Adapted to the movement of the sealant as the substrate passes through the sealant layer while retaining sufficient force against
ate).

Another aspect of the invention is a preformed seal for sealing an open end of a hollow member comprising a free standing article having at least one layer of sealant disposed between two constraining layers. A member, wherein each of the layers has substantially the same lateral dimension, and at least one of the constraining layers comprises a compressible foam.

According to the invention, the open end of the hollow member is sealed using a sealing member having a sealant layer between the two constraining layers. Preferably, the sealing member is essentially 2
Consists of one layer of sealant between two constraining layers. Also, the sealing member may consist essentially of a sandwich structure of several constraining layers, with a sealant layer between each adjacent pair of constraining layers. In use, the sealing member is
A layer resides within the hollow member and is arranged to extend transversely across the open end thereof. Force is applied to the layer to maintain the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member.
In some embodiments, the constraining layer is made of an elastic elastomeric material, preferably a compressible foam, that adapts to the change in volume of the sealant. In another aspect, the material of the constraining layer is particularly as long as the means for applying force to the at least one constraining layer and / or the sealant is sufficiently elastic to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member. Not limited.

The hollow member is, for example, a plug or a cap, a pipe,
It may be an electrical housing such as a connector body or the like. The invention is particularly useful for sealing openings in a multiconductor connector body, as described in more detail below.

Each constraining layer is generally a plate or disk of approximately the same size and shape as the hollow member to be used together. The constraining layer acts to constrain the flow of the sealant or the movement of the sealant from the sealant layer, for example, when inserting the substrate through the sealant layer and into the hollow member. One constraining layer may be integral with the hollow member and may be made of the same material as the hollow member, if desired. The constraining layer may be made of a relatively rigid material, for example, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, metal (if an insulating material is not required), polyester, nylon or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one constraining layer is made of an elastic elastomeric material, such as rubber, silicone, fluorosilicone, polyurethane, ethylene / propylene copolymer or terpolymer rubber, thermoplastic elastomer or the like. It is particularly preferred that at least one constraining layer is made of a compressible foam, for example an elastomeric material. The constraining layer is the same,
Or it may be different. The term constraining layer is used to mean a layer of material that substantially covers the layer of sealant. Typically, the sealant layer and the constraining layer have substantially the same size and shape as the open end of the hollow member.

In embodiments of the present invention in which the substrate passes through the layer of the sealing member, the constraining layer is made of a material through which the substrate can easily pass, or has slits and / or holes to allow the substrate to enter / An exit site must be provided. If the constraining layer is made of a hard material, holes need to be provided to allow the substrate to pass. The number of holes and / or slits is generally equal to the number of substrates inserted into the hollow member through the sealing member.

The sealant layer may be a sealing material such as grease or gel. A preferred sealant is a gel. The gel preferably has a Voland hardness of about 1 to about 525 g, more preferably about 5 to about 300 g, most preferably about 5 to about 100 g, and preferably at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 100%. Has ultimate elongation.
Elongation is measured according to the procedure of ASTM D217. Borand hardness is measured using a Borand-Stevens texture analyzer (model LFRA) with a 1000 g load cell, 5 g trigger and 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) ball probe. To determine the hardness of the gel, a 20 ml glass scintillation tube containing 10 g of gel was placed on a Borand-Stevens Texture Analyzer and a stainless steel ball probe was penetrated to 4.0 mm at a speed of 2.0 mm / sec. Push it into the gel to the extent. The value of the gel Borand hardness is the number of grams of force required to press the ball probe at that speed to penetrate or deform the 4.0 mm gel surface. The gel Voland hardness can be directly correlated with the ASTM D217 cone penetration hardness, and the procedure and correlation is determined by Dittme
r) et al. in FIG. 3 of US Pat. No. 4,852,646,
This disclosure can be referred to herein.

The gel is preferably a liquid extended polymer composition. The polymer component can be, for example, a silicone, polyorganosiloxane, polyurethane, polyurea, styrene-butadiene and / or styrene-isoprene block copolymer. Gels may be made from mixtures of such polymers. The gel layer may comprise a foam impregnated with the gel. Examples of gels are U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,261 to Debbaut, U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,183 to Gamarra et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,063 to Dubrow et al., U.S. Pat. U.S. Patent No.
No. 4,865,905, European patent publication No. 204,427 of Dablo, International patent application No. 86/0 of Toy et al.
No. 1634 and Francis et al., WO 88/00603.
No. 317,703 to Dablo et al. (1992).
And U.S. Patent Application No. 485,686 to Rinde et al. (Filed February 27, 1990). All of these disclosures can be referred to herein for all purposes. The gel may be impregnated into a matrix, such as a foam or a textile (fabric).
Gels impregnated in a matrix are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,690,831 to Euken et al.
No. 05, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

One or more layers of the sealant may be of substantially uniform thickness. In another aspect, the sealant is
The region where the substrate is inserted may be thicker. The thickness of one layer of sealant may be different from the thickness of another. Similarly, the constraining layers may be the same or different, and the thickness may be uniform or may vary. If desired, slits and / or holes may be provided in the sealant to facilitate insertion of the substrate. If slits or holes are provided through the sealant, each hole should be somewhat smaller than the diameter of the substrate to be inserted so that the sealant is kept in sealing contact with the substrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing member is a free-standing article having a preformed, sealant layer between two constraining layers, one of which is a compressible foam.

The sealing member can be formed by arranging constraining layers on both sides of the sealant layer. In some embodiments, one or both layers may be an integral part of another structure, for example, the constraining layer may be integral with the hollow member, and / or
Or it may be integral with a cover or cap located on the open end of the hollow member. In embodiments where the sealant is a gel, the gel layer may be adhered to an adjacent constraining layer due to the gel's adhesion. In some aspects, the sealing member is a free-standing article, which is a laminate of a sealant and one or both sealing layers. The article can be formed by laminating a sealant and a constraining layer.

In use, the sealing member is positioned across the hollow member to be sealed and the layer is positioned transversely across the member. The sealing member is preferably located at the open end of the hollow member. A force is applied to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member. This force can be achieved, for example, by placing an appropriately shaped cap on the hollow member.
Can be added. Preferably, the at least one constraining layer and / or the means for applying a force to the layer are adaptable to changes in the volume of the sealant caused, for example, by temperature excursions or the passage of one or more substrates through the layer. In a preferred embodiment, the constraining layer is made of a compressible foam that expands and contracts when the volume of the sealant increases and then decreases. Another one
In one aspect, the constraining layer is provided with a spring that applies a force to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member to be sealed. In yet another aspect, the cap is located at the open end and the hollow member is secured by a spring clip.

In a preferred embodiment, the open end of the multiconductor connector is sealed or protected according to the present invention.
Examples of multiconductor connectors in which the sealing member of the present invention can be used are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,405 to Munsterman et al. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,870 to Hardy et al. All matters can be referred to herein for all purposes. The multi-conductor connector is adapted to insert a terminal attached to a trailing lead wire. This terminal can form contact with a suitable mating terminal or wire on the printed circuit board to be connected to the trailing lead wire. The connector body is typically made of a material such as polycarbonate, polyester, polyacrylate or the like.

At the open end of the connector, a base (bottom part) with multiple holes and side surfaces corresponding to the holes in the connector body
Is provided. The cap may be made of a material similar to the material used for the connector body, and is preferably made of the same material as the connector body used together. The base of the cap may be one of the layers that constrain the sealant.

A terminal having a trailing wire is inserted through a hole in the base into a pin receiving hole in the connector body. The sealing member is located on the empty container portion parallel to the base, and the terminals and trailing wires pass through the various layers of the member. It is an important feature of the present invention that the terminal and one or more wires connected thereto can be repeatedly removed and reinserted (or replaced with another terminal). Typically,
The layers of the sealing member are continuous and the contacts and trailing wires penetrate through the layers of the sealing member. Thus, if all the holes in the connector body and cover are not filled by the number of terminals used in a given application, the sealing member provides a continuous structure across the holes, necessitating a sealing plug or the like. Is avoided.

The use of the sealing member of the present invention will be more easily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers have been used to indicate like elements in each of the specific embodiments.

1A, 1B and 1C show a sealing member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a constraining layer for sealing in accordance with the present invention and / or as a structure that cooperates with a cap or cover (not shown) to apply a force to an intervening sealant layer. Figure 2 shows a hollow member having an integral structure or shelf.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a multi-conductor connector that can be protected according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the end of a multiconductor connector protected according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a multi-conductor connector sealed at both ends according to the invention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate a method for applying a force that is sufficiently elastic to adjust the volume change of a sealant layer of a sealing member having a sealant layer and two constraining layers. Shows another means that can be used.

1A, 1B and 1C show a sealing member of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, a sealing member 1 comprises elastic elastomer constraining layers 2 and 4 made of silicone foam. A layer 3 of sealant is located between the constraining layers. This sealant consists of a polyurethane foam matrix impregnated with silicone gel. In FIG. 1B, the constraining layer 2 is provided with slits 5 to provide an entry site for a substrate inserted through the sealing member.
In FIG. 1C, holes 6 are supplied to the constraining layer 2 for the same purpose.

FIG. 2 shows a hollow member 7 which can be sealed according to the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, means capable of cooperating with the cap as a constraining layer of the sealing member (other elements not shown) or for applying a force to the sealant of the sealing member located between the cap and the shelf. A shelf 8 which can act as a hollow member is provided. The shelf 8 is made of a relatively hard material, and is provided with a hole through which a wire passes.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the assembly of the present invention. The connector body 21 has sides 21 and has a plurality of holes 14 for receiving contact pins. The cover 16 has a base portion 17 and sides 18 and the base has a plurality of holes corresponding to the holes. Plate 19 with cover
Defines a cavity for receiving the sealing member 20 and has a plurality of holes corresponding to the holes in the connector body and the cover. The sealing member 20 comprises a three-layer structure of two constraining layers of silicone foam and one layer of a matrix impregnated with the foam. The layers are arranged as shown in FIG. The connector body is provided with a protrusion 22 that fits into a slot 24 in the cover to secure the cover to the base.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealed open end of the multiconductor of FIG. In FIG. 4, a terminal 24 having a trailing lead 26 has been inserted through the sealing member 20. The cover 16 is connected to the connector body 21
Are arranged on the open end of the. Base 17 of cover 16
Has a raised portion 28 for applying a force to the sealing member 1. The sealing part consists of constraining layers 25 and 27 made of compressible foam, which is
And compressed by the force applied by the plate 19. The compressed foam is used to seal the sealant layer 26 when inserting terminals and wires into connectors.
Elastic enough to accommodate changes in the volume of the Further, it should be noted that the terminals and wires can be repeatedly removed and reinserted, and the compressed foam is sufficiently elastic to accommodate repeated volume changes.

FIG. 5 shows two connector bodies 30 and 32 secured together by a clip 34, forming the desired interconnection between the appropriate one of the wires 35 and 36. At both ends of the connector are sealed covers 37 and 38 utilizing the sealing member of the present invention described above.

6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate another method of applying a force to the sealing member, wherein the means for applying the force is sufficiently elastic to accommodate the volume change of the sealant layer. In FIG. 6A, the cover 42 is fitted over the hollow member 44. Cover 42
Is supplied with a spring closure member comprising a deformable beam member 46 and a latch 47. In FIG. 6B, the cover 48 and the hollow member 49 have recesses respectively.
49 and 50 are supplied. Elastic C-shaped clamp 51
Fits into the recess and secures the cover to the hollow body.
This applies a force to a sealing member (not shown) within the hollow member, the sealing member being sufficiently resilient to react to volume changes in the sealant layer when inserting and removing the wire as desired. Fit.

FIG. 6C shows plate 55 supplied with spring elements 56 and 57. The plate 5 can be used as a constraining layer of a sealing member for sealing a hollow member according to the present invention. Also, the plate 55 can be used as a structure, such as the plate 19 in FIG. 3, or instead of, or in addition to, the raised portion 28 of the cover 16 shown in FIG.

Although the invention has been described primarily for use in sealing the open end of a multiconductor connector, it is understood that the invention can be used to seal the open end of any hollow body. Like.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor White, Harry Emerson United States 94560 California, Newark, Crestmont Avenue No. 7853 (56) References JP-A-1-63282 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 63-252374 (JP, A) JP-A 4-101380 (JP, U) JP-A 2-64172 (JP, U) JP-A 63-118180 (JP, U) US Patent 4,186,986 (US, A) US Patent 3138657 (US, A) US Patent 4,332,975 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 4/70 H01R 11/01

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. An assembly for sealing an open end of a hollow member having at least one substrate extending therein through an inner surface and an open end, the assembly comprising: a) adjacent a constraining layer. A) a self-contained sealing member comprising at least one layer of sealant disposed in a manner such that these layers extend transversely across the open end of the hollow member; Means for applying a force to the layer to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the member, wherein the means for applying force to the constraining layer and / or the article and / or the layer of the sealant comprise a substrate. As the material passes through the sealant layer, it is elastic enough to accommodate the displacement of the sealant while retaining sufficient force on the layer to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member Asse Assembly. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said constraining layers is resilient and preferably comprises a compressible foam. 3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the constraining layers is provided with at least one slit and / or hole forming an individual entry / exit site for the substrate. . 4. The hollow member comprises at its open end a connector body having means for receiving a layer of sealant and a constraining layer, and the means for applying force to the article has a cap disposed on the connector body. An assembly according to claim 1 comprising: 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for applying a force comprises a spring that is sufficiently resilient to accommodate movement of the sealant as the substrate is passed through the sealing member. . 6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of said constraining layers comprises a spring. 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of said constraining layers is integral with the hollow member. 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sealant has a Polish hardness of at least about 1 to about 500 g or an elongation of at least about 100%, or comprises a gel. 9. A method of sealing an open end of a hollow member having at least one substrate extending therethrough through an inner surface and an open end, comprising: a) between two constraining layers. Disposing at least one sealant layer disposed across said open end of the hollow member;
The sealant layer and the two constraining layers forming a self-supporting sealing member, each of these layers being within a hollow member and extending transversely across the open end; and b). Inserting the substrate into the hollow member such that the substrate passes through the sealant layer and the constraining layer and a portion of the substrate extends into the hollow member; and c) applying the sealant to an inner surface of the hollow member. Attaching a means for applying force to the layer to hold in sealing contact, the constraining layer and / or the means for applying force to the article and / or the layer of sealant are sufficiently resilient. A method adapted to the movement of the sealant as the substrate passes through the sealant layer, while retaining sufficient force on the sealant to hold the sealant in sealing contact with the inner surface of the hollow member. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the hollow member has a connector body and the step of mounting the force means comprises securing the cap to the connector body. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein step (c) is performed before step (b). 12. A self-supporting article having at least one layer of sealant disposed adjacent to the constraining layer.
A preformed sealing member for sealing the open end of the hollow member, wherein each of the layers has substantially the same lateral dimension, the constraining layer having a compressible foam. A sealing member. 13. At least one of said constraining layers has at least one entry / exit site forming a separate entry / exit site for the substrate.
13. The preformed sealing member according to claim 12, wherein two slits and / or holes are provided. 14. The sealant comprises at least about 1 to about 500 g.
13. The preformed sealing member of claim 12, having a Borland hardness or elongation of at least about 100% or a gel. 15. The preformed sealing member according to claim 12, wherein a layer of the sealant is disposed between the two constraining layers. 16. The preformed sealing member according to claim 12, wherein the constraining layer is provided with at least one slit and / or hole forming a separate entrance / exit site for the substrate. . 17. The preformed sealing member according to claim 12, wherein the sealant has a Borland hardness of about 1 to about 500 g or an elongation of at least about 100%, or comprises a gel. 18. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the layer of sealant is located between the two constraining layers.