WO2019008018A1

WO2019008018A1 - Transit module for cables or tubes

Info

Publication number: WO2019008018A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/068061
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Wallmax S. R. L.
Priority date: 2017-07-04
Filing date: 2018-07-04
Publication date: 2019-01-10
Also published as: EP3649713A1; IT201700074980A1

Abstract

The invention pertains to a transit module having removable stacked layers of at least two different colours, the stack of layers comprising groups of layers for improving the adaptability of the stack of layers to a diameter by removal of groups and individual layers.

Description

TRANSIT MODULE FOR CABLES OR TUBES

The present invention refers to a transit module intended to be mounted on or in a wall for enabling the passage of cables or tubes such as electric cables, telecommunication cables or tubes for gases or liquids, through the wall.

Typically, existing transit modules are adapted for guaranteeing a passage which is sealed with regard to liquids, gases and particles.

These transit modules are very useful in the implementation of electric or hydraulic equipment in environments such as ships, planes or other vehicles where there are comparatively thin walls that separate different volumes or atmospheres and that must be traversed by tubes or cables.

In general, transit modules have bodies of elastic material which are compressible and implement an opening, namely a duct, to be penetrated by a tube or a cable. The elastomeric bodies can be located in a rigid frame to be mounted in a stable manner on or in a wall. The tightness with regard to gas, liquids or particles can be achieved by compression such as by dedicated pressing modules to be mounted in the frame.

The transit modules and their compressible bodies typically comprise two half- shells which respectively implement half-cylindrical seats which can, when assem- bled, define the duct for the passage of the cable or tube.

Each half shell can comprise a stack of removable layers in the seat, having a thickness in the range of for example 1 mm or even smaller, said layers serving for adapting the diameter of the opening to the diameter of the tube or cable.

In particular, known stacks can be composed of removable layers of two different colours alternating one by one. Such a module can accommodate tubes or cables of different diameters, thus, starting from a minimum diameter defined by the innermost layer of the stack up to a maximum diameter corresponding to a state where all removable layers have been removed. The different colours assist in removing the correct number of layers in view of the target diameter and in view of removing the same number of layers for both half- shells.

However, it is not too easy to count the correct number of layers in particular in case of a large number of layers existing or to be removed, and the counting and removing of layers can be somewhat inefficient with regard to working time and even prone to errors. Any errors could endanger the required sealing properties.

The problem of the present invention is to provide an improved transit module, in particular in view of the efficiency and precision of the mounting work, and a transit system comprising such modules.

This problem is solved by the transit module according to claim 1 whereas several preferred embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims, in particular preferred uses of the transit module. Further, the invention provides for a corresponding transit system comprising a plurality of such modules.

As can be seen from claim 1 , the present invention relates to a transit module basically similar to what has been described above. In particular, the module com- prises at least two complementary shells which can preferably be exactly two half- shells, but also a larger number of partial shells having respective partial seats (semicylindrical seats in case of two half-shells, naturally). The duct for the passage of the cable or the tube is usually cylindrical but could also be of a different shape such as elliptical (with the obvious consequences for the partial seats).

The module comprises a stack of removable layers for diameter adaption in at least two different colours. The basic idea is to make use of groups of adjacent layers (within each group), the groups being adjacent to each other. These groups thus represent so to say larger steps of diameter change than the individual layers therein. For distinguishing the groups from each other, at least one colour of the layers in any group is different from a colour in any adjacent group. Further, at least two layers within each group have the same colour, which can for instance reduce the complexity in terms of manufacturing and support the person mounting the module in identifying the layers belonging to the same group.

The colour scheme according to the invention, dividing the large number of layers into a smaller number of groups, introduces a second level of order. As far as, in a sense, the alternating colours of the prior art provide a resolution on a "microscopic" scale, arranging the layers in groups provides a resolution on a "macroscopic" scale. By distinguishing groups of layers with the eye, a person in charge of mounting the module can more clearly determine which layers are to be re- moved, in particular by means of a certain schedule of the groups. Such a schedule could be printed on the module, on a frame with the module or on additional material such as instruction sheets or packages. For example, the groups could each comprise the same number of layers or could each span the same diameter difference or there could be a certain relation between groups and layer numbers / diameter spans.. In any case, the mounting person can first determine if a whole group or even a number of groups is to be removed (and which number) and can then, in a subsequent step, remove the correct number of those remaining individual layers still to be removed. Thus, the groups enable a more efficient and precise determination of the layers to be removed during diameter adjustment.

The language that "the layers are made in different colours" is to be understood in that the layers shall comprise a substantial part thereof having the respective colour. It does not necessarily imply that the complete layer is totally in that colour (whereas this is preferred). Naturally, the colour could be a quality of the elas- tomeric material of the layer as such but could also be applied to (a part of) the layer at its surface although this is not particularly preferred. A preferred and easy way to distinguish adjacent groups is that the "border layers" have different colours. In other words, in a pair of two layers adjacent to each other but belonging to different groups, these two layers have different colours (the one layer of a respective pair has another colour than the other layer of this pair). This is, however, not absolutely necessary since a group could also be composed of e. g. three central layers of the same colour framed by a respective "border layer" at both sides of another colour. Then, using the latter colour for the border layer adjacent of an adjacent group would result in the above-mentioned pair comprising two layers of the same colour. A group could then extend from the centre of each such pair to the centre of the next pair. The mounting person would have to remove one of the layers of such a pair when removing a group, consequently. Although the determination of this centre (a middle line) is quite easy, it is still more comfortable to distinguish between different colours. On the other hand, the complete number of colours within the groups and within the complete module shall be limited for limiting the complexity of production and because a simple colour schedule is also more comfortable and easy to use. For this reason, at least two layers within each group shall have the same colour, as already stated above.

Further, it is preferred that the layers within each group have at least two different of the colours. Again, this is not necessary and, in a simple approach, the groups could consist of layers of one single colour for each group. However, using at least two different colours within one group can have the advantage to highlight not only the border between adjacent groups (as already discussed above) but to give also a better differentiation between layers within a group. Generally, it is not so easy to quickly distinguish more than three adjacent layers with the human eye so that, if the same colour is used for adjacent layers within one group, these should preferably be limited to three layers at maximum.

Still further, in view of the above example of exactly one colour within each group, even only two colours would be sufficient for the complete module in that they could alternate from group to group. However, preferably at least three colours are used in the stack. This can be due to using more than one colour within each group. It can also be a consequence of e. g. three alternating colours of groups (with exactly one colour for each group). Then, the mounting person could count the groups in an even more efficient manner in case of many groups.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least a part of the groups, preferably each group, has at least three layers per group. One of the border layers of each group (not two in case of two border layers for non-border groups) has one "first" colour and the remaining layers of the group having one further "second" colour different from the first colour. Therein, the first colour marking the border could be the same for all groups in said part (or even in said module). The second colour could alternate from group to group or even in a sequence of three second colours or more to further distinguish the groups. However, the second colour could also be the same for all groups reducing the total number of colours to 2. There is preferably no group in this part with more than four layers whereof three have the same colour.

Another embodiment provides for at least three layers in each group, one border layer having a first colour and the remaining layers having (in contrast to the embodiment above) at least two alternating colours different from the first colour. Advantageously, the first colour is again the same for all groups. Still further, the at least two alternating colours could advantageously be the same for all groups. Thus, with a limited number of colours, the borders between the groups would be clearly visible and the alternating colours would provide for distinguishing between layers within the group.

Further, the invention contemplates something like a "distance" between the colours in terms of the spectral range (wave length range) of the colours. Certainly, practical colours are not pure spectral colours but can be allocated to such colours in terms of a dominant wave length. In this sense, the first colour of the para above shall preferably not be in between the at least two alternating colours of the layers in the same group. If, for example, the alternating colours are yellow and red, then the first colour should not be orange but for example blue. If this scheduled is followed, by choosing comparatively proximate colours in the spectral range, the groups can even better be distinguished. For example, the alternating colours of one group could be yellow and orange and in another group blue and green or bright blue and dark blue, whereas the first colour would be for example red or even black. Black and white as well as grey would not be regarded to be in between any spectral colours (but grey would be regarded to be between white and black, naturally).

In one implementation of the above, adjacent groups could, as regards the alternating colours, share one of them, whereas a second of the alternating colours differs from group to group. Advantageously, the shared colour can be the same for all groups. In this respect, the above feature of proximity of the alternating col- ours is less important. Further, in this embodiment, the number of colours in total is preferably three and not more.

On the other hand, when increasing the total number of colours to e.g. four or even more, the not-shared colour could alternate in a higher number so that in a further adjacent group (further to the two groups discussed), layers of a fourth colour would alternate with layers of the second colour.

Still further, it can also be advantageous not to share any of the colours alternating within each group among adjacent groups. Examples for two alternating colours per group have been given above. The proximity feature of the colours is particularly preferred in this context. Further, using exactly two alternating colours per group is preferred in this context, as well.

In another implementation of the invention, all layers within each group have the same colour and this colour is different from the colour of adjacent groups, the layer number within the groups preferably being three at maximum. This embodi- ment has been mentioned above and is particularly simple and straightforward. It even allows (but not necessitates) the reduction of the total colour number to 2.

Beside the above-mentioned feature of preferably not more than three adjacent layers of the same colour within a group, the groups as such (for any colour scheme) should not be too large and preferably not comprise more than eight layers, more preferably not more than seven or six. Still further, it is preferred for all embodiments of the invention that the module does not comprise any "residual" layers additional to the layers in the groups as explained. In other words, the groups preferably make up the complete stack of layers. The stack has at least 2 groups, at least 3 or 4 groups are preferred, possible upper limits being for instance not more than 10, 8 or 6 groups. The language of the (adjacent) groups of layers is to be understood in that there is no overlap between groups and, naturally, that there is no removable layer between adjacent groups.

As already mentioned above, white, grey and black can be "colours" as contemplated by this invention. Black is particularly preferred since it has been found that black elastomer layers can be produced with the lowest impact of the colour (the dye) on the properties of the material and in a very cost-efficient manner. In par- ticular, black can be the shared colour as explained above.

The diameters of the duct through the module (the opening) can be printed on the module, preferably. Namely, this can relate to the diameters from one layer to the other, e. g. a minimum diameter, a maximum diameter and the step length of the layers. Additionally or alternatively, it can also relate to the diameters from one group to the other together with a minimum and a maximum diameter. Naturally, an easy schedule provides for layers of constant thickness but the layers of the module could also have variable thickness from group to group. These variable steps could also be subject matter of the printing just mentioned.

The invention also relates to a (complete) transit system comprising at least a plurality of transit modules as explained and a corresponding frame to house the stacked module plurality. The basic idea of such systems in a frame is known. A pressing device is used for compressing the modules for sealing, the pressing device being insertable into the frame or integrated therein. An inserted pressing device can for instance be a wedge-type device comprising wedges moved with re- spect to each other by tensioning a bolt, causing a radical pressure on the modules. The frame can for instance be made of metal, a frame of synthetic material being possible as well. Nota bene, not all modules in the frame need to comply with the features of this invention and possibly some modules are not adaptable as regards the opening diameter at all. Also the use of a transit module for such a transit system is contemplated.

Preferred fields of application for such transit modules or transit systems are in the sealing of tubes or cables penetrating walls such as in a vehicle (a ship, a rail vehicle or even a plane) or in industrial platforms in the sea such as for oil mining, gas mining or other mining, in a housing of a technical device or a technical department in a building, a bay building structure (shaft building structure) or also in a distribution station for electricity or telecommunication cables. Preferably, the wall to be penetrated and sealed is of metal.

The invention is explained in further detail by referring to various embodiments as described below which are, of course, not meant to be limiting but just to be illustrative.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a transit module according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the transit module in figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the transit module of figure 1 in an open state;

Figure 4a and 4b are two schematic perspective views of the transit module of figure 1 in an assembled state with cables of different diameters. The figures show a transit module referenced by numeral 10. This transit module 10 is adapted to be arranged and mounted in a frame (not shown), preferably of metal. Naturally, a plurality of such modules 10 and also different modules can be supported and compressed in the frame.

The module 10 comprises two half-shells 1 1 , 1 1 ' representing two respective half- cylindrical seats 12, 12' which can build up a cylindrical seat or opening, namely a duct for the passage of a cable 20 or a tube by juxtaposition. Each half-shell 1 1 , 1 1 ' has a compressible elastomeric body which is electrically insulating. In the particular embodiment shown, the two half-shells 1 1 , 1 1 ' have a square external profile in order to be stacked onto a plane surface in a stable manner; however, in a more general sense, the half-shells 1 1 , 1 1 ' can also have a curved and/or linear or any external form.

Each half-shell 1 1 , 1 1 ' has a stack of semicylindrical removable layers 13, 14, 15, 16 for implementing the semicylindrical seat, respectively, with a respective diameter that depends on the number of the semicylindrical removable layers still present (and not removed).

Practically, the layers 13, 14, 15, 16 serve for adapting or adjusting the diameter of the cylindrical seat or opening to the diameter of the cable 20 or tube intended to pass the transfer module so that the required sealing properties with respect to gas, liquids or particles can be obtained.

According to the invention, the layers 13, 14, 15, 16 are made in different colours and are arranged in the stack in adjacent groups of adjacent layers 13, 14, 15, 16.

In particular, the stack of layers comprises at least two (here three) groups of lay- ers of which a first group is built up of layers 13 of a first colour alternating with layers 14 of a second colour, wherein a second group is built up of layers 15 of a third colour alternating with layers 14 of the second colour, and, here, of a third group of layers 16 of a fourth colour alternating with layers 14 of the second colour, as shown.

Thus, in the present groups of layers, a plurality of layers of two respective colours alternate one by the other and the groups differ in one of these two colours. The layers can have a variable thickness from group to group or a constant thickness of for example 1 mm or less.

Each group of layers corresponds to an interval of diameter values obtainable for the cylindrical seat or opening.

Preferably, each group of layers does not comprise more than eight layers, here six, three of each colour (and four of each colour in case of eight). Preferably, the second colour is black and this colour can be obtained by an addition of carbon black to the elastomeric material of the layers.

The transition from one layer to the other is easy to distinguish by the eye due to the change of colour and also the transition from one group to the other can be distinguished since one of the colours changes.

In order to achieve a required diameter in a quick and easy manner, first the number of groups to be removed and then the (possible) number of additional individual layers to be removed has to be determined. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the first colour could be yellow, the second colour could be black, the third colour could be orange and the fourth colour could be violet.

For an even more comfortable work, the diameters of the openings or seats could be printed onto the transit module 10, one group by the other or even one layer by the other. In this example, the layers can have a thickness of 1 mm, the minimum diameter can be 24 mm, the maximum diameter can be 52 mm, the first group of layers corresponds to the interval from 24 mm to 36 mm, the second group corresponds to the interval from 36 mm to 44 mm and the third group corresponds to the interval from 44 mm to 52 mm. If, in this case, a cable of 40 mm shall be introduced, it is obvious that the complete first group and a part of the second group must be removed and that for example two layers of the second group are left. This is possible without individually counting the layers and thus more quickly and safe. The removal of the layers has to be done for two half-shells 1 1 , 1 1 ' in a similar manner and the removal of one layer of 1 mm thickness in one half-shell corresponds to the increase of the diameter of the opening or seat of 2 mm.

Of course, the module or even the individual layers could be marked with informa- tion on the diameters which can assist in finding the correct adaption.

As has already been discussed in the introductory portion of the description, various other manners of layer colour schedules and groups are contemplated. For a better understanding, the schedule of figure 2 can also be written as, from the in- side to the outside:

ababab cbcb dbdb

where a stands for the first colour in the first group, b for the second colour in the first and second and third group, c for the third colour in the second group (the second colour of this group), and d for the fourth colour in the third group (the sec- ond colour in this group). Using this manner of representation, the following schedules are within this invention as well and are explained in a similar manner referring to the figures analogously:

A simple embodiment has been mentioned earlier and would look like:

aaab baaab baaa. There, the border between groups would be in the centre between the two layers with colour b, the middle group comprising two b layers and the outer groups each comprising just one. However, also

baab baaab baaab

would be feasible, naturally. A further simple version is

aaa bbb aaa bbb aaa

or, using more colours

aaa bbb ccc aaa bbb ccc.

As already discussed, the three layer groups should not be more complex than three layers, here. The determination of the centre of border layers can be avoided by the following example:

abbb abbb abbb

or even

abbb accc addd abbb.

A further structure within the groups would be feasible as follows:

abcbcb abcbcb abcbcb,

using two colours additional to the border colour within each group. Herein, b could for example be yellow, c could be red and a could be blue so that the border would appear in a strong contrast to the "average" colour of approximately orange within the group because b is not in between yellow and red as regards the spectral range. Of course, b could also be black, c could be grey and a could be signal red for a better distinction. In this manner, the "average" colour of the groups could also change by changing one or even both of the alternating colours within the groups such as:

abcbc adede afgfga.

Therein, the pairs of d as light green and e as dark green and of f as bright red and g as dark red could be used in the same sense.

The above colour schedules could be implemented as shown in the figures and could of course have variable numbers of layers within the groups and variable numbers of groups as well as variable thicknesses of the layers within one module or different but homogenous thicknesses in a module. Generally speaking, the embodiments could be modified in various directions by features and adaptions familiar to the skilled person. In particular, they could also be used for other seal- ing modules than parallel epipeds to be stacked in a frame, such as for cylindrical single sealing feed-throughs having removable layers for a diameter adaption.

Claims

Transit module (10) for the sealed passage of a cable or tube (20), comprising at least two complementary shells having respective partial seats, preferably two half-shells (1 1 , 1 1 ') having respective semicylindrical seats (12, 12'), that form a preferably cylindrical seat and thus a duct for the passage of the cable or tube (20) by juxtaposition of the shells (1 1 , 1 1 '), and by combination of the partial seats, each shell (1 1 , 1 1 ') having a stack of removable layers (13, 14, 15, 16) adapted to implement the seat for the cable or tube (20), having a diameter that depends on the number of the removable layers (13, 14, 15, 16), the layers (13, 14, 15, 16) being made in at least two different colours and being arranged in the stack so that the colour of one of the layers results to be different from that of the layers adjacent thereto, characterized in that the stack has adjacent groups of adjacent layers, wherein at least one colour of each group is different from at least one colour of any group adjacent to said group and wherein at least two layers within each group have the same colour.

Transit module according to claim 1 wherein the layers of a respective pair of layers, the layers of the respective pair being adjacent to each other but belonging to different groups, have different colours.

Transit module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the layers within each group have at least two different of the colours.

Transit module according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the number of different colours of the module is at least three.

Transit module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein at least a part of the groups has at least three layers in each group, one of said layers at a border of each said group and thus adjacent to an adjacent group having a first colour and the remaining layers having one and the same second colour different from said first colour, at least the first colour being the same for all groups in said part, wherein there is preferably no group in the part with more than four layers.

Transit module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein at least a part of the groups has at least three layers in each group, one of said layers at a border of each said group and thus adjacent to an adjacent group having a first colour and the remaining layers having at least two alternating colours different from said first colour, at least the first colour being the same for all groups in said part.

Transit module according to claim 6, wherein the first colour is not in between the at least two colours of said layers in the groups as regards the spectral range of colours.

Transit module according to claim 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 7, wherein in one, preferably each group, layers of a first colour alternate with layers of a second colour, and, within a group adjacent to the group, layers of a third colour alternate with layers of the second colour.

Transit module according to claim 8, wherein there is no further colour of a layer in the module than said first, said second, and said third colour.

Transit module according to claim 8, wherein, in a further group adjacent to one of said groups, layers of a fourth colour alternate with layers of the second colour.

Transit module according to claim 1 , 2, 3 or 4, wherein the colours of the layers within each group are different from the colours in any group adjacent thereto.

12. Transit module according to claim 1 1 , wherein the layers within the groups have alternating at least two colours and the layers in any adjacent group have at least two different alternating colours, the layers in the groups preferably having exactly two alternating colours being different from the col- ours of the layers of any adjacent group.

13. Transit module according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the colours within each group have no colour of any adjacent group in between them as regards the spectral range of colours.

14. Transit module according to claim 1 , 2 or 4, wherein all layers within each group have the same colour and the colours of adjacent groups are different from each other, the number of layers within each group preferably being not more than three.

15. Transit module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said groups of layers comprises a number of layers (13, 14, 15, 16) not greater than eight. 16. Transit module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the colours, in case of claim 9 or 10, preferably the second colour, is black.

17. Transit module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on said transit module (10) the diameters corresponding to the passage from one layer to the other as well as the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter that can be obtained are printed.

18. Transit module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said layers (13, 14, 15, 16) have a thickness that is variable from group to group or a constant thickness.

19. Transit module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on said cable transit module (10) the diameters corresponding to the passage from one group to the other as well as the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter that can be obtained are printed.

20. Transit system comprising a plurality of transit modules according to one of the preceding claims and a frame, the system being adapted to that the plurality of transit modules is stacked in the frame side by side and on top of each other and compressed for sealing.

21 . The use of a transit module of one of claims 1 to 19 for a transit system according to claim 20.

22. The use of a transit module according to one of claims 1 to 19 or of a transit system according to claim 20 for sealing tubes or cables penetrating a wall in a vehicle, in particular a ship or a rail vehicle, in an industrial platform installed in the sea such as for mining, a housing of a technical device, a bay building structure or shaft building structure, or a distribution station for electricity or telecommunication.