WO2008125960A1

WO2008125960A1 - A method of forming a seal to a gap, as well as a hose portion and a hose arrangement, adapted to be able to be used in such a method

Info

Publication number: WO2008125960A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Berth Klersy
Original assignee: Bau-How As
Priority date: 2007-04-12
Filing date: 2008-04-11
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: SE531001C2; SE0700908L; EP2150735A4; EP2150735A1

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a method and an elastic, and/or formabIe and/or foldable, hose portion (3), adapted, to form a seal (4) of a gap (S), formed between two surface sections (1, 2), between two construction details or units (A, B). One construction detail (A) displays a first surface section (1), faceable towards the second construction detail (B), while the second construction detail (B) displays a second surface section (2), faceable towards the first construction detail. The method discloses: a. placing an elastic, and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion (3) with an inner channel (31) within a gap-shaped space ('S'), formed between said first (1) and second (2) surface sections, b. filling said inner channel (3'), provided for the hose portion (3), from its one open end section (3e) towards its divergent other open end section (3f), with a viscous filler material (6) and c. causing said viscous filler material (6) to stabilise, to a set and/or to form a hard 'means strand' (6a) as a hose arrangement ((3)).

Description

MP 08-026 PCT Gap Seal

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:

"A Method of Forming a Seal to a Gap, as well as a Hose Portion and a Hose Arrangement, Adapted to be Able to be Used in Such a Method".

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates principally to a method of forming a sealing means or a seal to an existing gap and more particularly to such a method as regards in a simple manner to be able to form said seal to said gap or gaps formed between two opposing surface sections.

The present invention is intended to have its application in sealing of gaps, where the gap is to be defined by opposing surface portions or surface sections between two units or construction details, the one construction detail is to display said first surface section, faceable towards the other construction detail, while said other construction detail is to display a second surface sect- ion, faceable towards the first construction detail.

The present invention also encompasses the utilisation of a hose portion, and to use this hose portion to form a hose arrangement, where this hose portion and hose arrangement, are to be adapted to be able to be used in said met- hod, disclosed according to the invention.

The present invention is further based on the significant feature that said hose portion should be given a total length corresponding to or exceeding the length of the total length of the gap, or a part thereof, as well as a cross section and/or a cross sectional surface, corresponding to (equal to, larger than and/or smaller than) the actual width of the gap (the distance between opposing first and second surface sections). The hose portion and its hose sections, disclosed and used, according to the invention, is principally to be of a formable structure, i.e. the material of the hose portion should more or less be foldable, but not necessarily elastically, in order to be actuable and formed to a less unfolded state by a supplied inner pressure.

However, if the material of the hose portion is chosen to be of an elastic structure, i.e. the material in the hose is to be more or less elastic and thus causing an expanded cross section by a supplied inner pressure, the cross- section will expand and its channel disposed inside the hose portion.

The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow partly under the utilisation of an "elastic" hose portion and/or sections and partly under the utilisation of a "formable" and/or "foldable" hose portion.

It is obvious, to a person skilled in this art, by an observation of the embodiments and applications illustrated hereinbelow, which embodiments and applications will be more particularly illustrated by the use of "elastic" hose por- tion and its sections, and which embodiments and applications however also will be specially intended for "formable" and/or foldable hose portions and which embodiments and applications will be intended for either of or both of the hose portion structures disclosed here.

A person skilled in this technical field may find other hose portion and/or section constructions than that suggested above, which will adapt to the different applications illustrated hereinbelow.

BACKGROUND ART

Methods, arrangements and constructions, relating to the above disclosed technical field, as regards being able to seal a gap or gaps and with a func- tion and a nature which satisfy set requirements, are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.

Even if the present invention principally relates to being able to offer a seal to gaps, slots etc. within the building industry and is intended to have its specific coordination as regards sealing in an air-tight and/or liquid-tight fashion of a gap between adjacent surface sections for neighbouring or adjacent oriented building modules, building elements and/or constructional details, it should be taken into account that the present invention may very well have an advanta- geous application in broadly different other embodiments, applications and application devices and/or construction details and/or units.

As a first example of the state of the art and the technical field to which the present invention relates mention might be made of a method of more or less filling a gap or gaps between two construction details or units with an expandable filler material.

Thus it is known to make for the utilisation as one such expandable filler material in the form of an expandable foamed material, such as a polyurethane foam material enclosed and pressurised within a container, and where such a filler material has moreover proved to contribute in, by means of an adhesion effect, securing the one construction detail or unit in relation to the other.

Practical experiences, in association with the use of one thus expandable fo- am material as a filler agent, such as a polyurethane foam, packed in a container with an outlet valve, are that the swelling and expanding effect, which is offered during a setting or curing process of the polyurethane foam material, is large and where the great volume expansion to the final set or cured form as well as its distribution along the gap or the gaps is difficult to calcula- te, in order to obtain a uniform filling degree, as far as it is possible, with an adapted and well distributed thermal and/or sound insulation. Practical experiences indicate a tendency to supply considerably more poly- urethane foam material in an un-foamed phase than what would be needed for a fully expanded and thereby sealing function and normally there will therefore be required a clean cutting process of cured excess material from both the inside of and the outside of the gap, between different construction details or units.

It is also known, in a sealing purpose, to make for the insertion into a formed gap or gaps, such as with the aid of a "putty knife", a strand of porous, ther- mal and/or sound, insulating material, where it has proved that such an application process for said insulation material will give a varying density along the gap and thereby create a varying technical effect along the extent of the gap as regards the obtained sound and thermal insulation.

Also forming part of the prior art is the application of an elastic sealing strand which is to be able to fill up a well defined gap or gaps and where the elastic sealing strand, of plastic or rubber material is to be given such outer dimensions which entail that it can fill out the cross section of the gap under a necessary and applied compression.

The process for making for the sealing of gaps between building modules, building elements and/or construction details or units, such as window units, and at the same time secure these to one another are thus previously known in a large number of variations.

It is also known to make for the utilisation, as sealing means or filler material, of hole-formed sealing beads, which are to be dimensioned in order, with a compressive force generated by the sealing bead, to be able to pressingly support against opposing surface sections for the construction details.

It is further known to the art a sealing construction, illustrated in the Patent Publication US-A-4 741 542, by using an elastomer injection of a dry seal construction, by placing a tube like flexible elastic body member, having a hollow cross-section between spaced apart surfaces, particularly between a curved transparency, such as an aircraft windshield and a curved support.

Moreover the two parts are connected together as by means of bolts, passing through aligned bolt holes in the two parts.

A curable liquid resin, such as a catalysed liquid silicone resin, is injected into the hollow interior of the tubular body member, causing it to stretch laterally within the space between the two adjacent part surfaces and to be compressed into engagement with such surfaces.

The liquid resin is than to be cured to a solid elastomeric state, however exposing elastic properties.

The energy stored in stretching the tube like body member laterally and in compressing same into contact with the two part surfaces effects a seal therebetween.

The Patent Publication US-A1 -2004/0 076 815 is illustrating spacer and/or muntin elements for insulating grazing units.

Here it is disclosed that a muntin bar element is adapted to be connected to at least one interior surface of opposed glass panes and is enclosing an insu- lation cavity.

This muntin bar element has a body configuration that prevents the muntin bar element from collapsing, when rolled for storage.

It is here further suggested that said muntin bar element may be attached to both panes of glass and includes an accommodating element that allows the height of the muntin bar element to adjust, as the opposed panes of glass move towards and away from each other.

This patent publication further discloses a spacer having insulating cavities, wherein the spacer is fabricated from a foam material having a desiccant.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM Taking into account the circumstance that the technical considerations which a person skilled in the art must do in order to be able to offer a solution of one or more set technical problems is on the one hand initially a necessary insight into the measures and/or the sequence of measures to be implemented and on the other hand a necessary selection of the means required, in vi- ew hereof, the following technical problems are likely to be relevant in the e- volution of the subject matter of the present invention.

Taking into account the state of the art, as described above, it is probably therefore likely to be seen as a technical problem to be able to realise the im~ portance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in a method in accordance with the present invention, to simplify the process of being able to form a sealing inside a gap and between gap surface sections, said gap being formed between two adjacent surface sections, such as between two building modu- les, building elements and/or construction details or units, where the one construction detail is to display a first surface section, faceable towards the second construction detail, while the second construction detail is to display a second surface section, faceable towards the first construction detail, in order to make for the utilisation, in an execution of the method, of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion with an open inner channel, which, in an initial state, is to be placed within a gap-formed space, created and defined by said first and second surface sections, and where the length of the hose portion is to be adapted to wholly or partly correspond to the length given to the selected gap and exposing open ends, offering the introduction of a curable filler material to the one end and pressing said filler material through said hose portion and its sections towards and through the second end thereof and thus completely filled which a viscous filler material let said filler material set or cure to a "stiff' material string, inside the interior of the hose portion.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in such an instance, to completely fill an inner open channel provided for the hose portion, from its one open end section continuously towards its divergent other open end section, with a viscous thick filler material, active by a pressured generation, easily flowing and passing through the whole length of the channel inside said hose portion in order by such means to minimise and/or extensively reduce any excess material.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to permit the selection of said viscous filler material from a material which will, depended of time, be able to stabilise and to set and/or to form a hard filler strand or string, within said hose portion, which hereinafter will, considered as only an abbreviated version, be disclosed as a "means strand" or a hose arrangement.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to be able and supply said viscous filler agent or material through the channel, by supplying the filler material, as a fast curing material, under a selected excess pressure, where the value of this excess pressure can be constant or varying with time during the filling process, where a selected excess pressure value advantageously is to take into account special criteria, such as being dependent on the size, diameter and/or inner surface structure of the hose portion, its selected length and/or its deviating orientation, the selected viscosity of the filling material or agent, the selection of the elastic and/or formable and/or foldable material structure of the hose portion and/or its thickness and the temporal curing time of the filler material, so that the setting process does not start and proceed to any substantial degree during the actual viscous filler material filling process.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said viscous filler material to consist of a "somewhat" expandable type, during said setting process or setting sequence.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in a method, disclosed according to the present invention, and that such a method requires, for its advantageous completion, an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, dimensioned and adapted to the orientation and/or width of the gap or gaps.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and consider- ations which will be required in order, as said hose portion, to utilise an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose, with a coated adhesive outer layer, in order thereby temporarily or more permanently to be able to secure against one and/or both of the adjacent surface sections.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, as said hose portion, to utilise an elas- tic and/or formable and/or foldable hose, with an applied outer adhesive band, oriented in a longitudinal extent allocated to the hose portion and thereby create the preconditions to secure the hose portion to the first and/or the second surface section before the filling process or sequence of the viscous filler material is to start.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said adhesive layer to be sele- cted as a double adhesive band, for an initial cooperation with and fixing to the outer surface of the hose portion and with, after the completion of the filling process, said material cooperative and fixing to one and/or both of the surface sections.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, as said hose portion, to utilise an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose, with a coated layer around the outer surface of the hose portion, displaying improved elastic properties and/or for- mable properties, in relation to the properties which the hose portion itself displays, in order thereby, against said first and/or second surface section, to be able to form a tight cooperation, such as an air- or watertight cooperation.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, in an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, utilised according to the method, to utilise a hose portion and/or sections adapted uniformly with, slighter and/or coarser or larger than, the width of an open gap, where the hose portion is coated onto a layer with its associated outer surface. There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, as said hose portion, to utilise an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose, which displays a coating, fixedly re- lated to the outer surface, in the form of an adhesive outer coating, and where the hose portion and/or one or more of its sections can be selected coarser or larger than that of the width of the open gap.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said hose portion to display an outer adhesive band, fixedly related to its outer surface and applied thereto, oriented along the hose portion, for a utilisation in a gap width, which either exceeds or is less than that of a chosen cross section of the hose portion.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said adhesive layer to be selected from a band, with double adhesive layers, for a utilisation in a gap width which either corresponds to, exceeds, or is less than that of the cross section of the hose portion.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and consider- ations which will be required in order to cause said hose portion to encompass an elastic and expandable hose, alternatively a formable or foldable hose, with a coated layer, displaying extremely good elastic properties, in order to be able to form, against said first and/or second surface section, a tight coordination, such as a watertight coordination for a utilisation in a gap width, which either corresponds to, exceeds, or is less than that of the cross section of the hose portion. ___ „

PCT/1B20 ^' 8 / D 0 0 8 97

SOLUTION

In such instance, the present invention takes as its point of departure or ori- gin the prior art, as disclosed by way of introduction as regards to a method, for forming a seal to a gap or gap section, formed between two surface sections and with the preconditions, which are disclosed in the preamble of the appended Claim 1.

In order to be able to resolve one or more of the above disclosed technical problems, the present invention more specially discloses that the prior art technology be complemented by in a first sequence or first processing step, making steps for the placing of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion within a gap-shaped space and where this gap-shaped space is formed by and/or from a first and a second surface section, and as a second process step to fill an inner channel, provided for that hose portion, from its one open end portion or end section towards its divergent or opposite other open end portion or end section, with a viscous filler material, and as a third process step to cause said viscous filler material to stabilise, to a set or cure and/or to form a hard "means strand" as a hose arrangement.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the basic concept of the present invention it is disclosed that said viscous filler material is to be supplied to and through the open end section of the elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose's inner open channel, by a selected excess pressure, and as an alternative said viscous filler material can be constituted by such a means, where use is made of a filler material, which is expandable during a fast curing or setting process.

The process, in accordance with the significative properties of the present invention, requires for its application a portion of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, which, for its advantageous application within the method, requires the satisfying of certain criteria.

In such instance, it is disclosed that said hose portion may advantageously utilise an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose material, with a coated adhesive outer layer, for a utilisation within a gap width, which either corresponds to, exceeds to or is less than that of the cross section area of said hose portion.

Alternatively as said hose portion, can make for utilisation of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose material, with an applied outer adhesive band along the selected length of the hose section.

Said adhesive layer is advantageously to be of a double-adhesive band type.

As said hose portion, use may advantageously be made of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose material, with a coated layer displaying extremely prominent elastic properties, in order, towards said first and second surface sections, to be able to form a tight coordination, such as a watertight coordination.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the method, according to the present invention and the special significative characterising features disclosed thereby, are that there have hereby been created the preconditions, with the aid of the suggested method, to be able to create a seal to a gap or gaps, where the method offers an assembly of constructional details in relation to one another under simple measures and whe- re a utilised viscous filler material can be restricted to a utilised volume and be offered as a filler material within an unambiguously limited volume of a channel inside a hose portion and to cause said viscous filler material to stabilise, within a short time, to a set and/or to hardening to a rigid "means strand", in the form of a hose arrangement, said means strand or arrangement may be as hard as any adjacent concrete structure.

The present invention also discloses the utilisation of an elastic and/or form- able and/or foldable hose portion, which is directly produced in order, as hose sections, to be able to connect and adhere to the above disclosed method.

That which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of a method, according to the present invention, is disclosed in the characterising clause of the appended Claim 1 , while an elastic hose portion, adapted to be able to be used in the method, is disclosed in the characterising clause of the appended Claim 14.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

One currently proposed embodiment, displaying the significative characteri- sing features associated with the present invention, will now, for the purposes of exemplification, be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 shows, in a perspective view, two building modules, building ele- ments and/or constructional details or units, oriented close to or adjacent to one another with an interjacent gap (in reality considerably narrower than that shown in the figure), with a first end surface or surface section, allocated to a first building element, oriented in order to face towards a second end surface or surface section, allocated to a second building element, and where a hose portion is illustrated placed as a loop in the gap, under the utilisation of a first process step; Figure 2 shows, in a slightly magnified or enlarged view, a gap, according to Figure 1 , with an inlaid elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion related section, according to the first process step;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of only one hose portion and its related hose sections, illustrated prepared for a second process step;

Figure 4 is an end elevation and a cross-section showing an elastic and/or a formable and/or a foldable hose portion or hose section, cooperating closely with opposing surface sections, forming said gap, to be filled during and after a completed third process step to form a hose arrangement;

Figure 5 is an end elevation and. a cross-section of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion or hose section for a utilisation in a gap width, which is less than that of any circular, elliptical and/or other cross section form of the hose portion;

Figure 6 is a cross-section and a perspective presentation of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion or section, with an adhesive band applied to one of the peripheral surface sections of said hose portion;

Figure 7 is a cross-section and a perspective presentation of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion or section with a double adhesive band, applied to one of the peripheral surface sections of said hose por- tion, like the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross-section of an elastic hose portion or section for utilisation in a gap width, which exceeds a circular cross section of said hose portion;

Figure 9 is a cross-section of an elastic hose portion or section for utilisation in a gap width, which considerably exceeds a circular cross section of the hose portion and where the hose portion has been given an outer layer of an extremely elastic material, for a liquid-tight (or air-tight) capability of connecting two opposing (planar or semi circular) surface sections and where the material in the hose portion or section is selected to be so elastic that its peripheral surface section will be able to abut against opposing surface sec- tions;

Figure 10 is a perspective presentation of an application with a planar formed hose portion or section, which by means of a gluing process or the like is fixedly related to a frame structure portion, related to a floor section, in order to be able to create a fire protection between modules, by forming a vertical and horizontal sealing;

Figure 11 is a perspective presentation of an application according to Figure 10, where a folded or a more flat hose portion or section has been supplied with a filler material, with an admixture of fire safety material and/or a material protecting against flames;

Figure 12 is a side elevation view and a cross-section view of a folded and more flat hose portion or section, where measures have been implemented in order to form two parallel side surfaces, where said inner side surface, to approximately half of its width (length), is secured to a frame structure portion;

Figure 13 shows the hose portion or section, according to Figure 12, placed between two opposing frame structure portions;

Figure 14 shows in a side elevation view and in a cross-section the hose portion or section, according to Figure 12, in a partly filled state, with a viscous filler material;

Figure 15 is a side elevation view and in a cross-section of the hose portion or section, according to Figure 12, in a fully or completely filled state and where the viscous filler material is set to form a rigid hose arrangement; Figure 16 is a side elevation view and in a cross-section of an elastic and/or foldable hose portion or section, placed in a cylindrical gap and secured via a gluing process to the left-hand gap semi cylindrical half; while,

Figure 17 is a side elevation view and in a cross-section of the hose portion or section, according to Figure 16, in a completely filled state, where the viscous filler material is set and cured and consists of a permanent elastic "means strand" or a rigid means strand, where allocated elasticity is intended to offer a sealing effect towards the gap surfaces while allocated hardness (concrete) is intended to offer a mechanical stability, where said elastic or rigid means strand, in the form of a hose arrangement, is exposing a surrounding elastic cover.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT

By way of introduction, it should be emphasised that in the following description of one currently proposed embodiment, which displays the significative characterising features associated with the invention and which is clarified by means of the figures illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, we have selected terms and a special terminology with the intention in such instance principally of clarifying the inventive idea.

However, in this context, it should be observed that expressions selected he- re should not be seen as restrictive exclusively to the terms utilised and selected here but it should be understood that every such selected term is to be interpreted so that in addition it encompass all technical equivalents which function in the same or substantially the same way, in order in such an instance to be able to attain the same or substantially the same intention and/- or technical effect. With reference to accompanying Figures 1 to 3 the method, associated with the present invention, will be illustrated more closely and with reference to Figures 4 to 17, different elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portions and/or its sections, with allocated gap related opposing surface sections and hose portions related surface, will be illustrated in different embodiments.

In the accompanying Drawings are thus illustrated schematically and in detail not only the basic preconditions for the present invention but the significative properties and features associated with the invention have been given con- crete form, as a result of the currently proposed embodiment described in greater detail hereinbelow of the method, according to the present invention, and its different cross sections for utilised elastic, formable and/or foldable hose portions and/or its sections.

The present invention is based upon the use of a long hose, with an inner channel, from which hose a hose portion is cut, said hose portion is to expose a length somewhat exceeding the total length of a gap. Said hose portion is divided into a number of virtual hose sections.

Figure 1 shows two coordinated building modules, building elements and/or construction details or units, designated "A" and "B", and which are oriented close to or adjacent to one another with an interjacent gap "S", where in reality the gap "S" may be considerably narrower than that illustrated in the figure but also considerably larger than that illustrated in Figure 1.

Here it is illustrated that a first end surface or surface section 1 , allocated to the first building element "A", is to be oriented so as to face towards a second end surface or surface section 2, allocated to the second building element "B" and where a hose portion 3, is loosely and/or fixedly placed within the gap "S", under the utilisation of a first process step "1 A". The present invention is to be illustrated by using a hose portion 3, which may be of an elastic material, of a formable material and/or of a foldable material, and when said hose portion 3 is filled with a viscous filler material and said filler material has been set or cured, it is formed to a hose arrangement (3).

The method, disclosed according to the present invention, is based on the feature of causing a formation of a seal 4, with the aid of an expandable and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion 3 and its sections to form a hose ar- rangement or means (3), within a gap "S", formed between two surface sections 1 , 2 between two construction details, where the one construction detail "A" displays a first surface section or end surface 1, faceable towards the second construction detail, while the second construction detail "B" displays a second surface section or end surface 2, faceable towards the first construc- tion detail "A".

Figure 2 then illustrates, in a slightly larger scale view, a magnified and alternative gap "S", according to Figure 1 , where the gap "S" is shown well separated, only for purposes of clarification.

The gap "S" is to be found and illustrated in greater detail in cross section with reference to Figure 5, with an inlaid elastic hose portion 3, according to a first process step "1A".

Figure 3 then shows, in a perspective presentation, only one emplaced hose portion 3, prepared for a second process step "1B" and a further process step "1 E".

The hose portion 3 is, for purposes of clarification, divided into a number of series-oriented virtual hose sections, with a first hose section 3a, followed by a second hose section 3b, a third hose section 3c and a fourth hose section 3d. An inlet opening, in the form of an open portion or end section 3e of the first hose section 3a, is with other hose sections 3b, 3c and 3d coordinating so as to form an inner open continuous channel 3', allocated along the hose portion 3, while an outlet opening 3f for said inner open channel 3' cooperates with the open end of the hose section 3d.

More specially it is intimated in Figure 3 that a nozzle 5 is to be able readily to be applied to or readily removed from the inlet opening 3e and where there is to pass through this nozzle 5 a utilised viscous filler material 6, with the aid of a pressure generating device or means 7.

The filler material 6 and the pressure generating device or means 7 are intimated or illustrated only schematically here.

The present invention discloses especially for its method the provisions of: "1 A", placing an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable empty hose portion 3, such as a closed loop, within a gap-shaped space "S", formed by and defined by first 1 and second 2 surface sections, said hose portion 3 with its hose sections exposing a length exceeding the length of the space "S",

"1B". completely filling an inner channel 3', allocated to the hose portion 3, from its one open end section 3e towards its diverging other or tailing open end section 3f, with a viscous filler material 6, under an excess pres- sure via a front portion 5a, disclosed herefor as a nozzle 5,

"1C", removing possible excess of filler material 6b, passing out through an outlet opening in the end section allocated to the open end section 3f, "1D". removing the front portion 5a of the nozzle 5 from said inlet end section 3e, and "1E". causing said viscous filler material 6 to stabilise, within the inner channel 3', to a set and/or to hardening said viscous filler material 6 to form a "means strand" 6a (See Figure 4.) or to form a hard or stiff hose arrangement (3).

Thus the present invention intimates the utilisation of an elastic and/or form- able and/or foldable hose portion 3 with its hose sections 3a to 3d in an empty and flexible state for a loose and/or fixed placing within the formed gap - shaped space "S" and with its end sections 3e and 3d preferably placed closely adjacent to one another, see Figure 1.

The hose portion 3 is thus placed, with its hose sections 3a to 3d, as a "closed" loop, as stated within a first process step "1A".

Within the second process step "1 B" the hose portion 3 is filled, along its hose sections 3a to 3d, successively by the viscous filler material 6 or filling agent, such as in the form of a foam material, concrete material or the like, so that the whole of the inner channel 3' of the hose portion 3 is first filled with said filling material 6, where it is to be cured to form a rigid means strand 6a as a hose arrangement (3).

Within the third process step "1 E" the viscous filler material or agent 6 is caused to set, for instance during a large or smaller expansion process, and thereby seal, as a means strand 6a and a hose arrangement (3), under an adapted pressure effect, against the opposite oriented surface sections 1 , 2.

More specially the present invention discloses, that said viscous filler material 6 is to be supplied into the channel 3' by a selected excess pressure, and under the observation of a number of selected criteria.

The present invention further discloses that said viscous filler material 6 is to be of an slightly expandable type during the setting cycle, which thereby will expand the hose 3 with its hose sections 3a to 3d to a larger cross-section than that of its cross-section in the empty state. The present invention also includes the use of a less expansive foldable hose portion and/or sections, with more or less restricted expansion capacity, when pressurised filler material 6 is introduced into the channel 3^' and when a curing effect does not expose any significant expansion effect. Such a hose portion may have the form of a "fire hose" construction and the filling material 6 may be a concrete material, in a liquid diluted and viscous form.

The material within and the selection of cross-section, in an empty state of the hose portion 3 is a question which may be given different forms and which is to be in response to and adapted to many criteria, of which a few will be presented hereinbelow, with reference to Figures 4 to 9.

Fundamentally, the invention discloses the utilisation of an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, ideally of an outer diameter approximating more or less to the width of the gap "S" and with a material thickness in its circular cross section sufficiently thick to be able to withstand an inner pressure from the filler material 6 and for an abutment against the opposing surface sections 1 , 2.

Figure 4 shows in an end elevation and in a cross-section an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion or section 13a, cooperating tightly with and exposing a pressure towards opposing surface sections 1 , 2 for a semicircular gap "S", during a completed third process step "1 E". The thus formed hose arrangement (3) is illustrated.

Figure 5 shows in an end elevation a hose portion or section 23a for utilisation in a gap "S", said gap "S" is exposing a width which may be less than that of the outer circular cross section of the hose portion 23a. Figure 6 shows in a cross-section and in a perspective presentation a hose portion or section 33a, with an adhesive band 34 applied to one of the peripheral surface sections of the hose portion or section 23a.

Opposing surface sections are here deleted.

Figure 7 shows in a cross-section and in a perspective presentation a hose portion or section 43a, with an adhesive double adhesive band 35 applied with its one adhesive side 35a to one of the peripheral surface sections of the hose section 43a, like Figure 6, and with its other adhesive side 35b ready to be fixed to one of the surface sections 1 and 2.

Opposing surface sections are here deleted.

Figure 8 shows in a cross-section an elastic hose portion or section 53a, for utilisation in a gap "S", which width exceeds the cross section of the hose portion in its empty state and where the choice of material and thickness of the hose and its hose portion or section 53a are selected to be so elastic that the cross section of the hose portion 53a can, by an applied inner pressure, expand against opposing surface portions or surface sections 1 , 2.

Figure 9 is a cross-section showing an elastic hose portion or section 63a, for utilisation in a gap "S", which width considerably exceeds the cross-section of the hose portion and where the hose portion has been given an outer layer 63b of an extremely elastic material in order, in liquid-tight (or air-tight) fashion, to be able to connect and adhere against opposing planar and/or semi circular o other forms of surface sections 1 , 2 and where the material in the hose portion 63a is elastic, in order to be able, with peripheral planar surface sections, to abut against opposing planar surface sections 1 , 2. More specially, the present invention discloses, for its practical application, that the hose portion 3 with its hose sections 3a to 3d can be selected from a plastic material, reinforced or not, of a thickness of between 0.5 and 5 mm.

It is further disclosed that the hose portion 3 or the hose sections 3a to 3d can have an elasticity which will be able to offer a magnification of the cross sectional surface from an empty hose section to an expanded hose section, of up to 200 %, preferably up to 100 %.

The selection of elasticity can also be chosen smaller, such as up to 50 %, with the intention that the expanded hose sections 3a to 3d will be able to display outer surface sections, which may urge against planar surface sections 1 , 2 and/or curved opposed surface sections.

The invention will also have a practical application in foldable, not expandable, hose portions 3, where the hose portion is in a wholly or partly folded state, at the first process step "1 A", and where the hose portion 3 is folded out by the inner pressure from the filler material 6 in the second process step.

The viscosity of utilised filler material 6 may vary from water consistency, approx. 1.0 cP, to a more viscous consistency, such as 20 to 100 cP, alternatively a foaming material, such as polyurethane foam.

The criteria, which should here be taken into consideration, are: a. the cross-section of and cross-sectional configuration of the hose portion and/or its sections 3a to 3d, circular, elliptical and/or straight or curved extent for the hose portions and its sections and/or the form of any angular deviations within the hose portions extent, b. the inner surface structure and cross-sectional configuration of the ho- se portion 3 and/or its sections 3a to 3d, c. selected viscosity of the viscous filler material 6, d. the form of and the width of the gap "S", e. the configuration of gap-related surface sections for the opposed support surfaces for supporting any expanded hose portions or sections, f. established and requisite pressure, in order to be able to move portion by portion of the viscous filler material through the channels of succes- sively oriented hose sections, in order to pass out via the outlet opening 3f, g. the time required for the second process step "1 B", h. the setting time or stagnation time of the viscous filler material.

Figure 10 shows in a perspective presentation an application with a flat shaped hose portion 9, which, by means of a gluing process, is fixedly related to a floor related frame structure portion 10, in order to be able to create a fire protection between modules for a vertical and horizontal sealing.

Figure 11 shows in a perspective presentation an application according to Figure 10, where the folded and/or flat hose portion 9 has been supplied with a filler material 6 with an admixed fire safety material and/or material protecting against flames.

Figure 12 shows in a side elevation view and in a cross-section a folded and flat hose portion 9, where measures have been implemented to form two parallel side surfaces 9a, 9b, where the inner side surface 9a is to approximately half of its width "b" (length), fixedly secured to a frame structure portion 10.

Figure 13 shows the hose portion 9, according to Figure 12, placed between opposing frame structure portions 10a, 10b.

Figure 14 shows in a side elevation and in a cross-section the hose portion 9, according to Figure 12, in a partly filled state with viscous filling material 6. Figure 15 shows in a side elevation and in a cross-section the hose portion 9, according to Figure 12, in a completely filled state and in a completely set state.

Figure 16 shows in a side elevation and in a cross-section an elastic or fold- able hose portion 9, placed in a cylindrical gap "S1" and fixed, via a gluing process, to the left-hand gap half 10a.

Figure 17 shows in a side elevation and in a cross-section the hose portion 9, according to Figure 16, in a completely filled state, where the filler material 6 consists of a permanent elastic means strand or a set means strand 6a, or a hose arrangement (3), where the given elasticity is intended to offer a sealing effect while given hardness (concrete) is intended to offer mechanical stability.

The description above is designating the viscous filler material with reference numeral 6, the set or cured filler material with reference numeral 6a, said cured material may be somewhat elastic but also hard and stiff, in order to withstand large forces acting to separate or to displace the opposite surfaces 1 and 2 from one another.

In the method and the hose portion and its hose section it is suggested that as said "means strand" or hose arrangement is used an elastic and/or form- able and/or foldable hose portion, filled with a viscous concrete material, when said concrete material, in a viscous form, is admixed with a reinforcing material.

As said reinforcing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, glass fibres. It is further suggested the use of a fire hose as a foldable hose portion and that said fire hose is to be filled with a viscous filler material, especially in the form of a concrete material.

Said concrete material, in a viscous form, is admixed with said reinforcing material in a pressure pump where said reinforcing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, and glass fibres.

The present invention is naturally not restricted to the above embodiment dis- closed by way of example, but may undergo modifications without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the appended Claims.

In particular it should be observed that every illustrated unit and/or circuit can be combined with every other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

Claims

1. A method of forming a seal, to cover a gap formed between two surface sections, each related to two construction parts, details or units, where the one construction part displays a first surface section, faceable towards the second construction part, while the second construction part displays a second surface section, faceable towards the first construction part, characterised by; a. placing, an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion within a gap-shaped space, formed by said first and second surface sections, b. filling an inner channel, provided for the hose portion, from its one open end section towards its divergent second open end section, with a viscous filler material and c. causing said viscous filler material to stabilise and to set and/or to har- den, to form a "means strand", in the form of a hose arrangement.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that said viscous filler material is supplied to the interior of said channel by a selected excess pressure.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said viscous filler material is chosen from a, during a setting cycle, expandable type.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that as said elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion is used a tubular hose form, with a coated adhesive outer layer.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that as said elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion used is made of a tubular hose form, with an applied outer adhesive band oriented along said hose portion.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 5, characterised in that said adhesive layer is chosen in the form of double adhesive tape.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 4, characterised in that as said elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion used is made of a tubular hose, with a coated layer displaying extremely manifest elastic properties, in order to form, towards said first and second surface sections, a tight coordination, such a watertight coordination.

8. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that as said means strand or hose arrangement is used an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, filled with a viscous concrete material.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that said concrete ma- terial in a viscous form, is admixed with a reinforcing material.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that as said reinforcing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, glass fibres.

11. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims 8 - 10, characterised in that a fire hose is used as a foldable hose portion and that said fire hose is filled with a viscous filler material, in the form of a concrete material.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or 11 , characterised in that said concrete material, in a viscous form, is admixed with a reinforcing material in a pressure pump.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that as said reinfor- cing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, and glass fibres.

14. An elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, adapted to be able to be utilised in a method, as claimed in one or more of the preceding Claims, characterised in that a tubular hose portion, arranged along a gap between two construction details, is filled with a viscous filler material, said filler material, in a cured and/or hardened state, is exposing rigid properties.

15. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 14, characterised in that said tubular hose portion is with its sections in the form of a straight, angled and/or looped configuration.

16. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 14 or 15, characterised in that said tubular hose portion is exposing open end portions or end sections.

17. A portion as claimed in any of the preceding claims 14 to 16, characteri- sed in that as a "means strand" or hose arrangement, is used an elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion, filled with a viscous concrete material or the like.

18. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 17, characterised in that said con- crete material, in a viscous form, is admixed with a reinforcing material.

19. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 18, characterised in that as said reinforcing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, and/or glass fibres.

20. A hose portion as claimed in any of the preceding claims 14 - 19, characterised in that a fire hose is used as a foldable hose portion and that said fire hose is filled with a viscous filler material, in the form of a concrete material or the like.

21. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 20, characterised in that said concrete material, in a viscous form, is admixed with a reinforcing material in a pressure pump.

22. A method as claimed in Claim 21 , characterised in that as said reinforcing material is used a fibrous material, such as steel fibres, carbon fibres, and glass fibres.

23. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 14 or 22, characterised in that a used elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion displays a coating, fixedly related to its outer surface, in the form of an adhesive outer layer.

24. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 23, characterised in that said elastic and/or formable and/or foldable hose portion displays an outer adhesive band, fixedly related to the outer surface and applied thereto and oriented along said hose portion.

25. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 23, characterised in that as an adhesive layer is selected as a double-adhesive band.

26. A hose portion as claimed in Claim 23, characterised in that said hose comprises of an outer coated layer, displaying extremely manifest elastic properties, in order to form, against first and second surface sections, a tight coordination, such as a watertight coordination.