MXPA96003939A - Provision of se - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealing apparatus for sealing an end of an enclosure comprising: a sealing device having a port extending therethrough, the sealing device which is configured to be positioned within said end of said enclosure and in sealed coupling with an internal surface of said enclosure, the sealing device also including an impeller, an adapter to be placed inside the port, the adapter comprising: an opening for receiving an elongated object to be inserted inside the enclosure; of compression, a second part of longitudinally offset compression of the first compression part, and a sealant placed between the first compression part and the second compression part and in communication with the adapter opening, where the impeller places the first part of compression and the second part of compression in longitudinally movable positions one in relation with the other, and wherein the longitudinal movement of the first compression part towards the second compression part compresses the sealant to drive the sealant into contact with an elongate object in said opening.

Description

Seal Provision The present invention relates to a seal arrangement for sealing an annular space around one or more elongated objects, to an adapter for a seal device and to a method for sealing. Annular spaces around elongated objects, for example, wires, cables or pipes, commonly need to be sealed from the environment. Such annular spaces, for example, may be the terminations of cable splice closures, cable ducts or pipes, or wall spaces, etc. , through which tubes or cables can be extended (commonly referred to as 'feeds'). The present invention is particularly applicable to cable splice closures (either fiber optic cable or metallic wire cable), but may also have utility in ducts and feeds and in addition any annular space around elongated objects that need to be sealed. The expression 'annular space' as used herein, is given a broad meaning since it is generally any space joined by an external and an internal object. U of both objects, in general, can be substantially circular in cross section (eg in the case of a cable splice closure) but the expression, at least in its broadest sense, is not limited to defined spaces through circular limits. rr I r-- i- - T »For many years, a wide variety of solutions have been proposed for the problem of sealing annular spaces containing elongated objects. A particularly successful solution to the problem is that described in International Patent Application No. WO 90/0501 (Raychem B161) which describes a closure assembly having a cable seal formed of a substantially rigid portion and a sealing material, example, gel, retained by the rigid portion. The rigid portion comprises two end portions which can be moved towards each other, thereby providing a compressive force on the sealing material, each end portion comprising an internal part and one or more external parts. Partially a port for a cable is provided, inside the inner part and partially within the outer port, the part thus having a substantially closed cross-section. The two end portions can be moved towards one another by means of a bolt extending through the end portions and the sealing material. International Patent Application No. WO 92/221 14 (Raychem B207) describes an improvement of the cable seal described in the application WO 90/05401, which comprises a sealing material, an elastic member that can be driven to apply compression to the material sealant for causing a seal to form, and stop means for limiting the drive of the elastic member in a configuration in which the drive can be increased by movement of the sealing material. This improved cable sealant has the advantage that the installer can tighten the elastic member until it feels a stop, knowing that the correct degree of tension has been applied. In addition, the displacement of the sealing material can be accommodated, v. gr. , due to material displacement under the applied drive or due to thermal expansion. International Patent Application No. WO 93/26069, describes a device for sealing cable comprising a housing and a seal, the seal comprising a seal material between the first and second plates. The housing has a cavity within which the seal can slide axially inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing, responsive respectively to excessive internal and external excessive pressure, and having first and second stop means that can respectively engage the first and second seal plates. The cable seal device has an advantage in that excessive pressure inside or outside the closure, it can be added to the axial pressure on the seal material and reinforce the seal. In addition, since the seal is free to move between the retaining means, it can respond to excessive pressure and deform, thereby reducing the degree to which its seal is released. Another solution to the problem of seal cable splice housing is described in International Patent Application No. WO 92/05609 (Walter Rose WR 140). This document describes a seal device comprising a seal plate formed by a central inner disk element, which has openings on its outer edge, and outer ring elements, which can surround the openings in the edge of the internal disk. The adapters may be secured in the openings at the edge of the inner disk element, each adapter containing one or more channels to receive one or more cables between the adapter and the inner disk and / or the outer ring elements. The channels in the adapters face towards the openings in the internal disc element, and sealing material can be provided in the channels. The descriptions of each of the Patent Applications International are incorporated here by reference. A first aspect of the present invention provides a seal arrangement for sealing an annular space around one or more elongated objects, comprising: (a) a seal device having a port extending therethrough; and (b) an adapter that can be placed within the port, comprising one or more openings to receive at least one of the elongate objects, wherein the seal arrangement comprises a sealant and compression means for compressing the sealant, said compression means may move longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the sealant such that the sealant is pushed into seal contact with the elongate object (s) .

An advantage of the seal arrangement of the invention is that, by providing a seal device and an adapter for the seal device, the scale of elongated objects, eg, wires, wires and optical fibers, which can be accommodated and sealed, they are usually greatly increased, compared to the scale that can normally be accommodated by a single seal device. This means that generally the installer requires lower levels of inventory, and may also have the advantage for the manufacturer of reducing the size scale of the sealing device that needs to be produced. The invention also combines these advantages with the advantages associated with senator devices operating by means of sealant compression, including ease of installation (which may be normally 'cold', i.e., that does not require heating of the seal or splice closure). of cables) and its ability to enter again. The invention has particular utility in the field of telecommunication cable splices, where it is common for a splice closure to be adapted and to seal cables of relatively large diameter and 'hanging' wires of relatively small diameter or simple optical fibers. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the compression means and the sealant are provided by the adapter. In other preferred embodiments, the compression means and the sealant are provided by the seal device. Both modalities have their advantages, for example, the first embodiment has the advantage that the correct amount of sealing can be provided and no more, as part of the adapter and a scale of adapter sizes can be provided for each size of the sealing device. The last mode has the advantage that the adapter often does not need to have its own supply of sealant. However, more preferably, the sealing device and the adapter each provide the seal (i.e., each has its own mass of separate sealant), this having the advantage that the seal device may have sealant to seal the periphery of the seal. annular space and / or relatively large cross-section elongated objects, and the adapter can have its own correct amount of sealant to seal relatively small cross-section elongate objects. It is especially preferred that the sealant provided by the seal device and the screener provided by the adapter be in seal contact with each other. In this form, the interface between the adapter, which is in a port in the seal device, and the seal device, can be sealed conveniently and effectively. A particularly preferred seal arrangement according to the invention is one in which the seal device and the adapter each comprise compression and sealing means, and the activation of the compression means of the seal device compresses the sealant of the seal device and simultaneously drives the compression means of the adapter longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the adapter sealant. This generally provides a particularly convenient and simple way to seal the space around elongated objects, for example, cables in a cable splice closure. This preferred embodiment combines the advantages of using adapters in a seal device, as described above, with an ingenious way of sealing the entire annular space around a scale of elongated objects of different size substantially simultaneously. Because, in this preferred embodiment, the compression means of the seal device drives the compression means of the adapter (s), it is generally not necessary to move the compression means of the adapter and the compression means of the device. of the seal independently of one another in order to compress the sealant into seal contact with each elongated object. The counter arrangement is also possible, in which the compression means of the seal device is automatically activated by action of the compression means of the seal. adapter. Advantageously, in some embodiments of the invention, the compression means provided by the adapter comprise at least two, preferably only two, compression parts, and at least some of the disposition sealant is located between the parts of the invention. compression, the compression parts being movable toward each other, longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the sealant such that the sealant is pushed into seal contact with the elongate objects. Preferably, the sealing device and the adapter each provide the compression means, and the compression means provided by the sealing device comprise at least two, preferably two, compression parts, the compression parts provided by the device seal being movable towards each other to drive the compression parts provided by the adapter towards each other. More preferably, the compression means provided by the adapter, are provided with coupling means which may be coupled, in use, by the compression means of the seal device to drive the compression means provided by the adapter. Accordingly, a second aspect of the invention provides a method for sealing an annular space around one or more elongated objects, comprising: (i) placing an adapter, comprising compression means, around the elongate object and positioning a seal device, comprising compression means around the adapter, adapter and / or seal device also comprising sealant; and (ii) driving the adapter compression means longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) by means of the compression means of the seal device, thereby compressing the sealant such that the sealant is pushed in seal contact with the elongated object (s).

In a preferred method according to the invention, the adapter and the sealing device each comprise sealant, and when each sealant is compressed, the sealant of the adapter and the sealant of the seal device are pushed into seal contact one with the seal. other. More preferably, the method according to the invention comprises a method for sealing an annular space between an outer housing and one or more elongated objects, wherein the method also comprises the step of inserting the adapter containing the seal device into the housing, and step (ii) causes the sealant to be pushed into seal contact also with the housing. It is particularly preferred that when the seal device and the adapter comprise each sealant, the adapter sealant is pushed into seal contact with the elongated objects and the seal of the seal device is pushed into contact with the housing. As it provides seal arrangements and a method for sealing, the invention also provides an adapter by itself. A third aspect of the invention, therefore, provides a substantially cylindrical adapter for a seal device, comprising one or more openings for receiving one or more elongate objects, the adapter comprising. (a) a sealant; (b) compression means for compressing the sealant; and (c) coupling means; wherein the coupling means is provided on the curved outer surface of the adapter and can be coupled, in use, by an external member to the adapter to move the compression means to compress the sealant such that the sealant is driven into contact with the adapter. seal with the elongated object (s). The term 'cylindrical' is used herein to mean a generally prismatic configuration having a generally uniform cross section, a curved periphery and substantially flat end faces (which in our invention are usually open). The term includes cylinders having a generally circular cross section. The adapter according to the invention has the advantage that it can be inserted normally into a seal device to allow adaptation of the device and elongated objects of smaller diameter than the seal device can be sealed more easily without the adapter. Therefore, the adapter usually enlarges the size scale of the elongated objects, v. gr. , wires, wires or optical fibers, which can seal a seal device. In addition, because the adapter is provided with coupling means on its curved outer surface, which can be coupled by an external member to the adapter to move the compression means in order to compress the sealant, the adapter can be adjusted from an unsealed mode to a sealing mode 'automatically' by means of an external member. The external member can advantageously comprise the seal device in which the adapter can be arranged. However, in the broadest aspect of the invention, the adapter can be used to form a seal without cooperating with a seal device. For example, the adapter may be arranged in a cable splice closure to seal the closure by itself. In this broader aspect, as well as in the narrower aspect of the adapter cooperating with a seal device for sealing a closure, the fact that the adapter can be adjusted between its sealing modes and without sealing, by means of a member external, has its advantages. For example, this means that it is usually not necessary to provide means such as bolts or the like extending through the adapter, in order to compress the sealant, in contrast to some prior art seal devices, for example, as shown in FIG. described in International Patent Applications WO 90/05401 (Raychem B161), WO 92/22114 (Raychem B207) and WO 93/26069 (Raychem B227). This has an advantage in that it can provide an increased area at the end of the cable splice closure for the cables to extend therethrough, or alternatively it can allow a reduction in the cross section of cable splice closure. The adapter according to the third aspect of the invention, can be the adapter that is used in the seal arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention. Any and all preferred aspects of the adapter described with reference to the first aspect of the invention, may thus be present in the adapter according to the third aspect of the invention. The coupling means (where present) of the adapter, preferably comprise one or more shoulders that can be coupled by one or more cooperating parts of the external member, eg. , one or more parts of the seal device. The term 'shoulder' is widely used and is intended to generally include any shoulder, projection, flange, projection, indented portion or the like. It is preferred that the cooperating part (s) of the outer member comprise part of an inner surface of a port extending through the sealing device. For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the seal device is provided with generally frustoconical crowns, as part of the or each of the ports, and it is preferred that these crowns are coupled with the coupling means, e.g. , espaldones, of the adapter. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter is folded around. By "folded around" it is meant that the adapter is open in cross section in such a way that the adapter can be arranged around each elongated object without having to slide the adapter over the ends of the objects. Accordingly, a fourth aspect of the invention provides an arrangement for sealing an annular space around one or more elongate objects, comprising; (a) a seal device having a port extending therethrough; and (b) an adapter that can be placed within the port, comprising one or more openings to receive at least one of the elongated objects; where the adapter is wrapped around. The compression means of the adapter and / or the sealing device according to all aspects of the invention, preferably are relatively rigid, more preferably, are substantially rigid. The compression means preferably are formed of a plastic material, v. gr. , polypropylene, but instead can be formed from other rigid materials, eg. , metal. In embodiments of the invention in which the adapter is wrapped around, the part or each compression part is also normally wrapped around such that it can be opened to receive the elongated objects and subsequently can be closed around the objects. The sealant is preferably also wrapped around such that it can be opened and closed, together with the compression portions, around the elongated objects. Preferably, the compression parts are hinged, each part preferably having at least one, more preferably two hinge portions. Further, to ensure that the adapter does not accidentally open outwardly, the compression portions are preferably provided with fastening means, which, for example, can be interlocked, to keep the opposite portions held together. The adapter is provided with one or more openings for receiving elongate objects. A preferred number of openings is three, and a particularly preferred adapter is one in which each compression part has two hinges and each of the three hinged portions provides part of two of three openings. The sealant according to the invention can generally comprise a seal material which, when compressed, can be pushed, for example, by lateral expansion, into seal contact with the elongate objects. The sealant may comprise, for example, mastic or grease, especially a highly viscous grease, such as silicone grease. However, preferably the sealant comprises gel. For example, the gel may comprise silicone gel, urea gel, urethane gel, or any suitable gel or geloid sealant material. Preferred gels comprise oil extended polymer compositions. Preferably the gel has a hardness at room temperature as determined using a "Stevens-Volland" Texturing Analyzer of more than 45 g, particularly greater than 50 g, especially greater than 55 g, v. gr. , between 55g and 60g. Preferably it has a stress relieving less than 12%, particularly less than 10%, and especially less than 8%. The last elongation, also at room temperature, is preferably greater than 60%, especially greater than 1000%, particularly greater than 1400%, as determined according to "ASTM D638". The 100% distension tension module is preferably at least 1.8, more preferably at least 2.2 MPa. In general, the set compression will be less than 35%, especially less than 25%. Preferably, the gel has a cone penetration as measured by "ASTM D217" of at least 50 (10"1 mm), more preferably at least 100 (10 '1 mm), even more preferably of at least 200 (10 '1 mm) and preferably not greater than 400 (10"1 mm), especially not more than 350 (10" 1 mm) The polymer composition may comprise, for example, an elastomer, or a block copolymer which it has relatively hard blocks and relatively elastomeric blocks Examples of such copolymers include styrene-diene block copolymers, for example styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene diblock or triblock copolymers, or styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene triblock copolymers., as described in the international patent publication number WO 88/00603. However, preferably the polymer composition comprises one or more styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymers, for example as sold under the 'Septon' Trademark by Kuraray of Japan. "Septon 2006" in particular is a preferred grade. Extender liquids employed in the gel preferably comprise oils conventionally used to spread elastomeric materials. The oils may be hydrocarbon oils, for example paraffinic or naphthenic oils, synthetic oils, for example, polybutene or polypropene oils, and mixtures thereof. The preferred oils are mixtures of non-aromatic paraffins and naphthenic hydrocarbon oils. The gel may contain known additives such as moisture trap (e.g., benzoyl chloride), antioxidants, pigments and fungicides. The seal arrangement according to the invention, preferably also includes one or more shutters arranged to be inserted into the adapter to seal one or more openings in the adapter. The shutters generally allow the openings in the adapter to be sealed when elongated objects are not extended through the openings. This has an advantage in that the adapter can normally be opened and reclosed many times during its service life (known as "re-entry capability"), and cables, wires, or fibers, etc., can be added to, or removed from the adapter. The shutters by themselves are preferably elongated. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an adapter according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the adapter of Figure 1 of a different address; Figure 3 shows the adapter of Figures 1 and 2 in an open outward configuration; Figure 4 shows the adapter as shown in the Figure 3 in a different direction; Figure 5a shows an adapter according to the invention in section, with a shutter located therein; Figure 5b shows the obturator of Figure 5a. Figure 5c shows an end view of the adapter of the Figure 5a. Figure 6a shows an end view of a seal arrangement according to the invention; Figure 6b shows a sectional view of an arrangement shown in Figure 6a; Figure 7a shows an end view of another form of seal arrangement according to the invention; Figure 7b shows a sectional view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7a; Figure 8 shows in perspective the seal arrangement of Figures 7a and 7b, where an adapter is shown prior to insertion into a seal device; and Figure 9 shows in perspective the arrangement shown in Figure 8, with the adapter positioned within a port extending through the seal device. Figure 1 shows an adapter 1 according to the invention, comprising two compression parts 3a and 3b, formed of a plastic material, e.g., polypropylene, which together comprise the compression means of the adapter, and the gel 5 located between the two compression parts. The coupling means 7a and 7b in the form of flanges or flanges, are located at the end of each compression part adjacent to the gel. Each compression part is provided with two hinge portions 9, formed of a relatively thin strip of plastic material, such that the adapter, which is wrapped, can be opened to receive one or more elongated objects, v. gr. cables. In the figure, the adapter is shown in a semi-open configuration. The adapter is also provided with three openings 1 1 for receiving elongated objects. Each compression part comprises three portions, which are defined by the two hinge portions, and each portion provides the halves of two openings, such that when the adapter is closed and the three portions meet, the three openings are formed. Figure 2 shows the adapter 1 of Figure 1, in a different direction. From this direction, part of the inside of the adapter is visible, and it can be seen that the halves of the openings in the adapter extend through the adapter and are also provided in the gel. In addition, each compression part has fastening means 13 in the form of clips, for holding the adapter in its closed configuration. Figures 3 and 4 show the adapter 1 of figures 1 and 2 in its completely open outward configuration, Figure 3, illustrating the interior of the adapter and Figure 4 its exterior. The hinge portions 9, the halves of the openings 1 1, and the clips 13, can be seen clearly. Figure 5 shows an adapter 1, according to the invention and a shutter 15. Figure 5a is a sectional elevation of the adapter on the line BB shown in Figure 5c, showing the shutter located in an opening in the adapter. The obturator is provided with raised teeth 17, which engage an end surface 19 of one of the compression portions, adjacent to the gel, and a rear flange 21, provided on the obturator engages an opposite end surface of the compression part. The raised teeth and the rear flange of the plug are provided to help hold the plug in position in the opening of the adapter. The obturator is arranged to block the opening in the adapter when in use, the opening is not occupied by a wire or cable or the like. Figures 6 and 7, each show an end view and a sectional view of a seal arrangement according to the invention comprising a seal device and an adapter. The layout of Figure 7, is substantially the same as that of Figure 6, with the exception that the stamp device of the last arrangement is provided with three ports 23 and the first arrangement is provided with six ports. Figure 6b shows a seal device 25 according to the invention comprising two compression parts 27a and 27b which together comprise the compression means of the seal device. Between the two "wv- compression parts" is located on the gel-shaped sealant 29. A bolt 31 extends through both compression parts and through the gel 29, the bolt being the means by which the two compression parts 27a and 27b they can be moved towards each other to compress the gel An adapter 1 according to the invention is located in one of the ports 23 of the seal device As in the previous figures, the adapter comprises two compression parts 3a and 3b and an amount of sealant (gel) 5 disposed between the compression parts, While the gel 29 of the seal device and the gel 5 of the adapter are shaded differently for clarity, the composition of each gel can be, and preferably, is identical and are in seal contact with each other The coupling flanges 7 of each compression part of the adapter are in abutting engagement with cooperating portions 33 of the internal surface of the port of the adapter. seal device. The cooperating portions of the seal device comprise crowns extending towards the gel in the center of the seal device. The crowns 33 are shown more clearly in Figure 6a (and Figure 7a). Figure 6a shows a view of the seal device in the direction of arrow AA, before the insertion of the adapter in the lower port. The seal arrangements shown in Figures 6 and 7 can be used to seal a cable splice closure, for example, by inserting the cables into the ports 23 of the seal device 25 and / or inserting optical fibers or wires of descent in the openings 1 1 in one or more adapters 1 and consequent insertion of the adapter (s) in one or more of the ports of the seal device. The seal arrangement containing the wires and wires or fibers can then be inserted into one end of the splice closure and the pin 31 is tensioned to move the compression parts 27a and 27b of the seal device toward each other. This movement of the compression parts of the seal device compresses the gel 29 by pushing the gel laterally outward to form a seal between the seal device and the cable closure and laterally inward in the seal coupling with the cables extending to through the seal device. Furthermore, the movement together with the compression parts 27a and 27b urges the compression parts 3a and 3b of the adapter 1 toward each other, thus compressing the adapter sealant 5 laterally outwardly in seal contact with the gel 29 and laterally inward in seal contact with the wires or fibers extending through the adapter. Figure 8 shows, in perspective, the seal arrangement shown in Figures 7a and 7b. An adapter 1, substantially as shown in Figures 1 to 4, is shown prior to insertion into a seal device 35. This seal device is provided with six ports extending therethrough, each port being defined in part by crowns 37, in the understanding portions 39a and 39b, arranged in a substantially frusto-conical shape. the gel 29 and 5 is provided as always, between the compression parts of each of the seal device and the adapter respectively. Both seal devices and the adapter are wrapped, the seal device having two external portions that are hinged in the region indicated by the number 41 in which they are closed fastened in the region indicated by the number 42. The two compression parts 39a and 39b, of the seal device, can be moved towards each other by means of the central pin 43 which can be fastened by means of the elongated member 45. Figure 9 shows the arrangement of Figure 8, with the adapter 1 placed in one of the ports that extend through the seal device. The crowns 37 of the seal device have the tabs 7 of the adapter engaged to retain the adapter in the seal device and to facilitate the driving of the compression parts of the adapter toward each other.

Claims (20)

1. REVIVAL DICTION EN 1 . A seal arrangement for sealing an annular space around one or more elongate objects, comprising: (a) a seal device having a port extending therethrough; and (b) an adapter that can be placed within the port, comprising one or more openings to receive at least one of the elongate objects, wherein the seal arrangement comprises a sealant and compression means for compressing the sealant, said compression means may move longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the sealant such that the sealant is pushed into seal contact with the elongate object (s) .
2. 2. A stamp arrangement in accordance with the claim 1, in which the compression means and the sealant are provided by the adapter.
3. 3. A seal arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the compression means and the sealant are provided by the seal device.
4. A seal arrangement according to any preceding claim, in which the seal device and the adapter each provide the seal, in which, in use, the sealant provided with the sealing device and the sealant provided by the adapter , they are in seal contact with each other.
5. 5. A seal arrangement of any of the preceding claims, in which the seal device and the adapter each provide the compression means, and the compression means provided by the seal device press the compression means provided by the adapter Lengthally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the sealant such that the sealant is pushed into seal contact with the elongate object (s).
6. 6. A seal arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the compression means provided by the adapter is provided with coupling means that can be coupled, in use, by the compression means of the coupling. seal device.
7. 7. A seal arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the coupling means comprises one or more spalls that can be engaged by one or more cooperating portions of the compression means provided by the sealing device. .
8. 8. A seal arrangement according to claim 7, in which the part or each cooperating part of the compression means comprises part of an inner surface of a port extending through the sealing device. .
9. 9. A sealing arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the means of compression are provided by the adapter, which compression means comprises at least two, preferably only two, compression parts and at least some of the sealant is located between the compression portions, the compression portions being movable toward each other longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) to compress the sealant such that the sealant is pushed into contact seal with elongated objects.
10. A seal arrangement according to claim 9, when dependent on claim 8, wherein the compression means provided by the seal device also comprises at least two, preferably only two, compression parts, the parts of which of compression are movable towards each other to drive the compression parts provided by the adapter.
11. 11. A seal arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the adapter is a wrapper.
12. 12. A seal arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealant comprises gel.
13. A seal arrangement according to any preceding claim, which further comprises one or more shutters arranged to be inserted in the adapter to seal an opening not used in the adapter.
14. 14. A substantially cylindrical adapter for a seal device, comprising one or more openings for receiving one or more elongate objects, the adapter comprising: (a) a sealant; (b) compression means for compressing the sealant; and (c) coupling means; wherein the coupling means is provided on the curved outer surface of the adapter and can be coupled, in use, by an external member to the adapter to move the compression means to compress the sealant such that the sealant is driven into contact with the adapter. seal with the elongated object (s).
15. A seal arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the adapter comprises an adapter according to claim 14.
16. 16. An arrangement for sealing an annular space around no or more elongate objects, comprising: (a) a seal device having a port extending therethrough; and (b) an adapter that can be placed within the port, comprising one or more openings to receive at least one of the elongated objects; where the adapter is wrapped around.
17. A method for sealing an annular space around one or more elongate objects, comprising: (i) placing an adapter, comprising compression means, around the elongated object and placing a seal device, comprising compression means around the adapter, the adapter and / or the sealing device also comprising sealant; and (ii) driving the compression means of the adapter longitudinally with respect to the elongate object (s) by means of the compression means of the seal device, thus compressing the sealant such that the sealant is pushed in seal contact with the elongated object (s).
18. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the adapter and the sealing device comprises each sealant and in which the compression of the sealant pushes the sealant of the adapter and the sealant of the seal device into seal contact one with the other.
19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, for sealing an annular space between an external housing and one or more elongated objects, wherein the method also comprises the step of inserting the adapter containing the sealing device into the housing, and step (ii) causes the seal to be pushed into seal contact also with the housing.
20. 20. A method according to claim 19, when dependent on claim 18, in which the sealant of the adapter and the seal of the seal device are pushed into seal contact with each other, the adapter sealant is pushed into contact with the seal. Seal with the elongated objects and seal of the seal device is pushed into contact with the housing. SUMMARY A seal arrangement for sealing an annular space around one or more elongate objects comprises: (a) a seal device (25) having a port (23) extending therethrough; and (b) an adapter (1) that can be placed inside the port (23), comprising one or more openings to receive at least one of the elongated objects; wherein the seal arrangement comprises a sealant (5, 29) and compression means (7a, 7b, 27a, 27b) for compressing the sealant, with compression means that can move longitudinally with respect to the (s) object (s) elongated (s) to compress the sender is pushed into seal contact with the elongated object (s).