NL1021102C2 - Sealing member for a hollow profile. - Google Patents

Abstract

A closing device (1) for closing a channel (52) in a hollow profile (40) is described, comprising the combination of a closing body (20) and an auxiliary device (10). The closing body (20) comprises a storage chamber (22) with therein a predefined portion of a hardening substance (30). The auxiliary device (10) comprises a pusher body (12) which is inserted partially in the storage chamber (22) and thus closes the storage chamber (22). On placement into a channel (42), the pusher body (12) is pushed into the storage chamber (22), so that the portion of the hardening substance (30) is pushed out.

Description

Title: Sealing member for a hollow profile

The present invention relates generally to a sealing member for sealing channels in a hollow profile. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sealing member for sealing the end ends of hollow slats as used for covering a swimming pool, and the present invention will be explained hereinafter specifically for this exemplary embodiment, although It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this example.

When a swimming pool is not used for some time, it is known to cover the water surface with a roll-up cover, consisting of a series of consecutive hollow slats coupled together. Each slat is typically formed as a hollow profile of plastic, and contains one or more channels extending in the longitudinal direction of the slat. In a typical exemplary embodiment, a slat has four mutually parallel channels. The slats are formed as an extrusion product with a large length and are tailor-made to order. A slat sawn to length is therefore open at its ends. When such a slat is simply used on a water surface, there is a very high chance that water will end up in the hollow channels, so that the slat can fill with water, which is undesirable. To prevent this, the slat is sealed at its end.

Sealing can be done in various ways. In a possible example, a swelling and hardening substance is introduced at the ends of the hollow channels. In another example, a stopper is glued to the ends of each channel 30. These solutions do not offer satisfactory results.

The publication EP-B1-0.225.862 describes a sealing member which is generally shaped as a support plate which is provided with a number of piston-shaped members which each fit into a corresponding channel of the slat.

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Corresponding to each of said piston-shaped members, the carrier plate is provided with a passage opening. The application of this known sealing member is as follows.

The sealing member is mounted on the end of a slat, each piston-shaped member being inserted into a corresponding channel, so that at the end of each channel a sealed channel section is defined, which is bounded in lateral directions by the channel wall and that in axial direction is limited on the one hand by the piston-shaped member and on the other hand the said carrier plate.

Through each said passage opening in the carrier plate, a curing substance is introduced into the said closed spaces of the corresponding channels. After this substance has hardened, the sealing member is firmly attached to the end of the slat, and a certain seal has been achieved from the interior of the hollow profiles.

Although this known sealing member per se functions well, it still has some important disadvantages. A major drawback of the known sealing member is that it is difficult to reliably automate the fitting of the sealing member, wherein it is a major drawback that it is necessary for an application station where the sealing member is mounted on the slat. are provided with means for supplying and injecting the hardening substance into said enclosed spaces.

An important object of the present invention is to reduce this drawback.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, a sealing member is provided which is provided with a lockable storage chamber. In a preparatory phase, a measured portion of a hardening substance is applied to that storage chamber. That sealing substance can remain in the closed storage chamber without curing. The sealing member can be kept for a long time in this condition. When applied to the end of a slat, the portion of the curing substance is pressed out of that storage chamber. Thus, it is no longer necessary to provide separate means for supplying and injecting substance at a delivery station.

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These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following description of a preferred embodiment of a sealing member according to the present invention with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like or similar parts, and in which Figure 1A schematically shows a top view of a two-part sealing member according to the present invention, in the initial state; figure 1B schematically shows a cross-section along the line B-B of the sealing member of figure IA; Figure 2 shows the sealing member of Figures 1A-B in the loaded state; Figure 3 shows the sealing member of Figures 1A-B in the insertion state; Figure 4 shows the sealing member of Figures 1A-B in the discharged state.

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Figure 1A schematically shows a top view of a two-part sealing member 1 according to the present invention, and Figure 1B schematically shows a side view thereof, partly in cross-section. The sealing member 1 comprises a sealing body 20 and an auxiliary member 10. The sealing body 20 comprises a base plate 21, and a storage chamber 22 extending from the base plate 21 and bounded by a substantially cylindrical storage chamber wall 23 and an end wall 24. The base plate 21 has a passage opening 25 which communicates 30 with the storage chamber 22. At some distance from the base plate 21, the walls 23 and / or the end wall 24 are provided with projecting sealing parts 26.

The auxiliary member 10 comprises a displacer body 12 as well as preferably, and as shown, a handle 11 for handling the displacer body 12. The displacer body 12 has an outer contour with a substantially cylindrical shape adapted to the inner contour of the storage chamber 22. The shape of the displacement body 12 and the shape of the passage opening 25 in the base plate 21 are adapted to each other in such a way that the displacement body 12 can be arranged through said opening 25 in the storage chamber 22, the edge of the opening 25 sealingly connecting on the side wall of the displacer body 12. The displacer body 12 is provided with means, for example and as shown in the form of resilient barbs 13, which engage behind the base plate 21 when the displacer body 12 is partially inserted into said storage chamber 22.

10. in an initial phase, the auxiliary member 10 and the sealing body 20 are separate from each other, as illustrated in Figure 1. This state will also be referred to as the initial state of the sealing member 1. The sealing member is, for example, in this state immediately after the separate manufacture of the auxiliary member 10 and the sealing body 20.

Subsequently, a curing substance 30 is provided in the storage chamber 22 of the sealing body 20, for example an adhesive or sealant or the like, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art. The displacer body 12 is then inserted through the opening 25 and partially pressed into the storage chamber 22, so that the barbs 13 engage behind the base plate 21 and prevent the displacer body 12 from being pulled out of the storage chamber 22. The storage chamber 22 is now closed off by the displacer body 12, and completely filled with kit 30. The kit 30 is now completely enclosed in the storage chamber 22, that is, completely sealed off from the outside world, so that the kit 30 will not cure. In this state, which is illustrated in Figure 2, and which will hereinafter also be referred to as the charged state of the sealing member 1, the sealing member 1 can be stored for a long time until use.

The sealing body 20 is provided with at least one passage channel 27 in at least one side wall 23, which channel 27 is initially closed by a relatively weak breaking section 52. This breaking section 52 is strong enough to be closed during a storage period, wherein the sealing member 1 in the charged state, to keep the glue 30 locked in the storage chamber 22. In a suitable embodiment, wherein the sealing body 20 is made of PVC, the passage channel 27 has a diameter of approximately 3 mm and the breaking portion 52 has a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm.

The loaded sealing member 1 is preferably stored in a hermetically sealing package, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art and is not shown separately for the sake of simplicity.

Figure 3 illustrates how the sealing member according to the present invention is used to seal an end of a hollow profile, for example a slat of a swimming pool cover. In the figures, the hollow profile is generally indicated by the reference numeral 40. The hollow profile 40 has longitudinal side walls 41 which define an elongated inner space or channel 42. The end edge 15 of the profile 40 is indicated by the reference numeral 43. At the profile end, the channel 42 is open.

In the situation of Fig. 3, a loaded sealing member 1 is arranged in the profile 40 to seal the channel 42. The base plate 21 of the sealing body 20 abuts the end edge 43 of the profile 40, and the storage chamber 22 is located within the walls 41 of the profile 40. The cylindrical walls 23 of the storage chamber 22 are at a slight radial distance of the walls 41 of the profile 40. The said sealing parts 26 connect to the walls 41 of the profile 40. Thus, in this state, which will hereinafter also be referred to as the insertion state, an annular space 51 is defined. between the base plate 21, the side walls 23 of the storage chamber 22, the walls 41 of the profile 40, and said sealing parts 26.

This annular space 51 will hereinafter also be referred to as the filling space.

In a next step, the kit 30 is moved from the storage chamber 22 to the filling space 51. To this end, the breaking section 52 is rendered ineffective, or completely removed, so that the said passage channel 27 in the side wall 23 starts to function as a communication channel 27 between the storage chamber 22. and the filling space 51. This can be achieved, for example, by further pressing the displacement body 12 into the storage chamber 6. First, the pressure inside the storage chamber 22 becomes so great that the breaking section 52 collapses and releases the communication channel 27 between the storage chamber 22 and the filling space 51. Subsequently, the displacer body 12 will displace the kit 30 from the storage chamber 22, the kit 30 flowing through said communication channel 27 and filling the filling space 51. This situation, which will hereinafter also be referred to as the discharged state, is illustrated in Figure 4.

The kit 30 will now cure in the filling space 51 and thus form a solid and sealing connection between the sealing body 20 and the profile 40. The condition then achieved will hereinafter also be referred to as the glued condition.

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In the above, the principle of the invention has been explained on the basis of the closure of a single channel 42 by a single sealing body 20. If the profile 40 has several channels 42 to be sealed (in Figure 1A, a profile is by way of example) 40 with three channels), several single sealing members 1 can be arranged next to each other. The expression "single sealing member" is herein understood to mean that the sealing member has a single sealing body 20 as well as a single auxiliary member 10. By a "single sealing body" 20 it is meant that only a single storage chamber 22 is formed on a base plate 21. By a "single auxiliary member" is meant that only a single displacer body 12 is formed on a handle 11.

For use with a profile 40 with a plurality of channels 42 to be sealed, however, the sealing member 1 is then preferably of multiple design, by which is meant that the sealing body 20 and the auxiliary member 10 are of multiple design. By a "multiple sealing body" 20 it is meant that the base plate 21 is provided with a plurality of storage chambers 22, each bounded by respective side walls 23 and a respective end wall 24 and each provided with sealing parts 26, the dimensions and positions of said walls 23 and sealing parts 26 are adapted to the dimensions and positions of the plurality of adjacent channels 42 in the profile 40. By a "multiple displacement body" 12 is meant that a single common handle 11 displacer bodies 12 are formed, the shape and dimensions of the individual displacer bodies being adapted to the shape and dimensions of the corresponding storage chambers 22 of the sealing body 20. Thus, it is possible to have several channels 42 with one single sealing body 20 and one single displacer body 12 seal a single application operation from a profile 40 in 10.

In the foregoing, with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it has been described in detail how first the sealing body 20 is fitted in the channel 42 and how subsequently the kit 30 is pressed out of the storage chamber 22 by pressing the displacer body into the chamber 22 12. In practice, both operations will preferably be combined into a single placement operation wherein the loaded sealing member 1 is handled by grasping the handle 11 and pressed into the channel 42 of the profile 40 with an axially directed movement. During this axial movement, as explained above, the sealing body 20 will first penetrate the channel 42, whereafter, when the base plate 21 abuts the end 43 of the profile 40 and the axial force 25 is continued on the handle 11, the sealing body 20 is retained but the displacer body 12 moves further and thus penetrates the storage chamber 22 and displaces the glue 30.

For efficient use of the kit 30, it is desirable that as little as possible remains in the storage chamber 22. In other words, it is advantageous if as much of the kit 30 as possible is displaced from the storage chamber 22 by the displacing body 12. To this end, the sealing body 20 is preferably configured such that the filling space 51, which is defined in a profile 40 when the sealing body 20 is fitted, has a volume corresponding to the volume of the storage chamber 22 in the loaded state.

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Furthermore, the shape and size of the displacer body 12 are preferably substantially the same as that of the storage chamber 22; it is noted in this connection that in the figures for the sake of clarity a relatively large gap is drawn between the displacement body 12 and the walls 23, 24 of the storage chamber 22.

In order to ensure that with a close fit between the displacement body 12 and the walls 23, 24 of the storage chamber 22, the kit 30 can reach the communication channel 27, the communication channel 27 is preferably located near the end of the side wall 23, that is to say near the rear wall 24. Furthermore, a displacement 14 is preferably provided in the displacer body 12, the position of which in the discharging state of Figure 4 corresponds to that of the communication channel 27.

It has been described in the foregoing that the kit 30 will not cure in the storage chamber 22, but will in the filling space 51. Depending on the composition of the kit used, the cure can take place under the influence of a small amount of air already supplied to the kit. can reach via small gaps between sealing body 20 and profile 40. It has been found that in many cases it is sufficient if the sealing body 20 does not fit exactly into the profile. Preferably, however, an air supply channel with predetermined dimensions is provided to ensure the supply of sufficient air to the kit 30 in the filling space 51. Such an air supply channel is preferably so small that it is prevented that the kit flows out of the filling space 51.

In figure 4, such an air supply channel 55 is shown in the base plate 21, at such a location that that air supply channel 55 communicates with the filling space 51. Figure 4 also shows that the handle 11 can comprise an opening 56 which communicates with that air supply duct 55.

An additional advantage of such a construction is that it is now possible to visually check the proper seal.

Furthermore, it is possible that a capsule 57 is provided in the storage chamber 22, which capsule is filled with a hardener 58 (illustrated in Figure 2). This capsule 57 is constructed in such a way that it collapses during use, for example because the displacer body 12 breaks the capsule 57. This achieves various benefits. In the first place, it is now possible to use a two-component kit. Secondly, the sealant component outside the capsule 57 will not cure or will not cure easily without contact with the hardener 58, so that the storage time of the sealing member 1 in its charged state may be longer. In the third place, the kit is then not dependent on the supply of air for curing.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, but that various variants and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, it is possible for the rear wall 24 and / or the sealing parts 26 to have a beveled profile to facilitate insertion into a channel 42.

Furthermore, the sealing parts 26 are shown in the figures as being of a circular contour, so that the annular filling space 51 has the same axial length at each angular position. However, it is also possible for the sealing parts 26 to run obliquely away, so that the annular filling space 51 at the communication channel 27 has a maximum axial length and 180 ° opposite this has a minimum axial length.

Furthermore, it has been described above as an example that the breaking section 52 collapses due to pressure increase in the kit 30. It will be clear that the breaking section 52 can also collapse in other ways, for example by making use of mechanical aids which puncture the breaking section 52 .

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Claims (19)

A sealing body (20) for sealing a channel (42) in a hollow profile (40), comprising: at least one lockable storage chamber (22) that can be inserted into a channel (42) for storing a predetermined portion of a curing substance (30). 2. Sealing body according to claim 1, wherein the storage chamber (22) is delimited by a substantially axially directed storage chamber wall (23) and an end wall (24), and wherein the walls (23) and / or the end wall (24) are provided of one or more protruding sealing parts (26). 3. Sealing body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one passage channel (27) is arranged in at least one side wall (23), which passage is preferably closed by a relatively weak breaking section (52). The sealing body of claim 3, wherein the. communication channel (27) is preferably located substantially at the end of the side wall (23), near the rear wall (24). Sealing body according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a capsule (57) arranged in the storage chamber (22) and filled with a hardener (58). 25 A sealing body according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a base plate (21) carrying the storage chamber (22) with a passage opening (25) which communicates with the storage chamber (22). 30 A sealing body according to claim 6, wherein the base plate (21) is provided with a plurality of storage chambers (22), each bounded by respective side walls (23) and a respective end wall (24) and each provided with sealing parts (26). 35 '; i A sealing body according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the base plate (21) is provided with an air supply duct (55). 9. Auxiliary member (10) for use in conjunction with a sealing body (20) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one displacer body (12) suitable for being inserted into a storage chamber (22) in order to receive the substance (30) ) to substantially displace from it. 10 10. Auxiliary member according to claim 9, for use in conjunction with a sealing body (20) according to claim 6, wherein the shape of the displacer body (12) and the shape of the passage opening (25) in the base plate (21) are such to each other adapted that the displacer body (12) can be arranged through said opening (25) in the storage chamber (22), the edge of the opening (25) sealingly connecting to the side wall of the displacer body (12). Auxiliary member according to claim 10, provided with locking means (13) such as, for example, barbs or the like, to counteract a withdrawal of the displacer body (12) from the storage chamber (22). An accessory according to any of claims 9-11, for use in conjunction with a sealing body (20) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the displacer body (12) is provided with a groove (14) which, when the displacer body (12) is inserted into the storage chamber (22), can communicate with the communication channel (27). An accessory according to any of claims 9-12, further comprising a handle (11) carrying the displacer body (12). 35 Auxiliary device according to claim 13, for use in conjunction with a sealing body (20) according to claim 7, wherein the handle (11) is provided with a plurality of displacement bodies (12), the shape and dimensions of the individual displacement bodies 1021102 being adapted to the shape and dimensions of the corresponding storage chambers (22) of the multiple sealing body (20). An accessory according to claim 13 or 14, for use in conjunction with a sealing body (20) according to claim 8, wherein the handle (11) is provided with an opening (56) that can communicate with said air supply duct (55). A sealing member (1) for sealing channels in a hollow profile, comprising the combination of a sealing body (20) according to any of claims 1-8 and an auxiliary member (10) according to any of claims 9-15. Sealing member according to claim 16, wherein the shape and size of the displacer body (12) are always substantially the same as that of the corresponding storage chamber (22). 18. A sealing member according to claim 16 or 17, wherein a portion of a hardening substance (30) is arranged in a storage chamber (22), which storage chamber (22) is closed with a corresponding displacer body (12). 19. Method for sealing a channel (42) in a hollow profile (40), comprising the steps of: placing the filled storage chamber (22) of a charged sealing member (1) in front of the channel (42); applying pressure to the corresponding displacer body (12) to press the filled storage chamber (22) into the channel (42); and applying pressure to the corresponding displacer body (12) to press said displacer body (12) into the storage chamber (22) to displace the substance (30) therefrom. 4 n. : · "-