Cable entry with a divisible frame

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable gland with a divisible frame, which comprises at least one frame lower part and one frame cover, and which has at least one rectangular chamber for receiving at least one elastic grommet, wherein each chamber is bounded by a base of the frame lower part, the opposite frame cover, and laterally by webs. The pipe penetration according to the invention is characterized in that the base, the frame cover and the webs each have flanges projecting on at least one of their sides in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes towards the chamber.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable gland with a divisible frame of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such feedthroughs for conduits such as cables or hoses are generally known from the prior art. For example, WO 01 / 42 046 A2 describes such a conduit feedthrough, which can be used to introduce conduits through an opening in the wall of a control cabinet. The conduit feedthrough comprises a split frame in which elastic grommets are inserted for sealing and strain relief of the conduits. The split frame is then closed, for example, via a screw connection, as shown in the aforementioned document, and the grommets are compressed in individual chambers of the split frame. This achieves strain relief and sealing for the conduits. Besides screwing, other types of closure are of course conceivable. For example, EP 2 746 634 B1 describes a comparable frame in which the cover can be snapped or clipped onto the lower part of the frame.To further increase the variability regarding the fitting of cable grommets, WO 2018 / 096136 A1 describes a design in which at least individual webs of the frame base can be removed and, if necessary, moved transversely to the primary orientation of a base of the frame base in order to adapt the chambers to accommodate different sized elastic grommets.

[0003] As mentioned above, the grommets serve two purposes: firstly, they provide strain relief for the cables, and secondly, they seal the gap between the cables and the grommets as well as the gap between the grommets and the frame, in order to prevent dirt and especially moisture or water from passing through the cable entry point and thus, for example, into a control cabinet.

[0004] In practice, it has become apparent in some applications that this type of sealing requires improvement. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved pipe penetration that ensures improved sealing.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cable gland with the features of claim 1, and in particular with the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] In the cable gland according to the invention, the divisible frame, comparable to the frames in the prior art, has at least one rectangular chamber for receiving at least one elastic grommet, wherein the at least one chamber is bounded by a base of the frame lower part, the opposite frame cover, and laterally by webs. These webs can, as in the aforementioned prior art, either be formed integrally with the frame lower part or be designed to be inserted into it.

[0007] According to the invention, the base, the frame cover, and the webs each have flanges projecting towards the chamber on one of their sides in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes. These flanges thus project into the chamber area, preferably on a first side of the frame that will later face the environment. They project beyond and additionally cover the actual sealing gap between the nozzle and the frame, thereby achieving a supplementary seal similar to a labyrinth seal. Furthermore, the flanges projecting towards the chamber and thus towards the nozzles provide additional protection against direct exposure of the sealing gap to water, for example, when using a high-pressure cleaner, as is common practice in the food processing industry.The flanges, made of the same material as the frame, are harder than the grommets and, unlike the grommets, are not deformed by the high-pressure cleaner jet. This prevents any potential deformation of the grommets in the sealing area from impairing the sealing gap. The flanges thus provide an additional sealing effect.

[0008] Furthermore, the flanges significantly stiffen the frame structure, particularly the frame cover and the webs, especially those located within the lower frame section between two chambers. This mechanical reinforcement allows for increased forces when pressing the lower frame section and the frame cover together, resulting in a stronger compression between the frame components and the grommets. This also improves the seal.

[0009] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the flanges cover a sealing gap between the grommets and the parts of the frame in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes in order to achieve the aforementioned effect.

[0010] In a particularly advantageous refinement, the flanges extend around the entire circumference of each chamber, thus covering the entire gap between the elastic grommet and the significantly harder frame material. When multiple grommets are present in a single chamber, they seal against each other. Due to the comparatively high elasticity of both components (since they are both elastic grommets), this sealing process is considerably less problematic, eliminating the need for an additional flange covering the joint.

[0011] According to a very advantageous embodiment of the inventive pipe penetration, the flanges are arranged on a first side in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes, wherein a circumferential seal is injection-molded onto a second opposite side of the frame in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes, which completely surrounds the chambers, and in particular all chambers together, so that the system can be sealed against a material having the opening, for example the wall of a control cabinet, without liquid, dirt or the like getting laterally under the frame being able to enter through the opening.

[0012] According to a further very advantageous embodiment, it is also provided that the circumferentially molded seal additionally surrounds the fastening device, for example stepped bores for receiving screws, for the frame, in order to seal these accordingly in case openings or bores in the wall of the control cabinet are necessary for fastening.

[0013] In addition to fastening to the control cabinet by screws, as described in the aforementioned prior art, fastening by means of a mounting frame screwed tightly to the control cabinet, into which the frame is clipped, for example, would also be conceivable. The applicant's German patent application DE 10 2020 208 235 A1 describes such a split clip frame into which a cable gland frame can be inserted. Besides simple screw fastening, any other type of fastening is also conceivable in principle; in this context, reference can be made, purely by way of example, to the applicant's WO 2022 / 171 551 A1, which describes clamping the frame cover and fastening via tension hooks that slide along a guide with only two screws.

[0014] As mentioned above, according to a highly advantageous embodiment, the cable gland can have at least two chambers, which are separated by a web and arranged in the lower part of the frame, each serving to accommodate at least one grommet. In this way, for example, two grommets can be accommodated side by side, or in particular, two grommets stacked one above the other, within the same frame. As illustrated in the aforementioned WO 2018 / 096 136 A1, grommets of different sizes can be combined within a frame in virtually any configuration.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the frame cover can be connected to at least one frame base via fastening elements. In principle, several frame bases would also be conceivable, all of which could then be combined with the cover to form a single large frame, as described in the aforementioned WO 01 / 42 046 A2. As mentioned above, the fastening elements can be screws or similar components. Locking the frame cover and, if applicable, the multiple frame bases together is also conceivable. Other fastening elements, such as clamping levers or the like, are also known from the prior art.

[0016] The frame itself can preferably be made of fiber-reinforced plastic and manufactured using injection molding. Such a frame is simple and efficient to produce once the injection mold has been manufactured. It can then be manufactured in larger quantities. Fiber reinforcement, for example with glass fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or similar materials, increases the frame's stability, allowing it to be pressed with greater force and thus enabling improved sealing of the pipes in the grommets, between the grommets themselves, and against the frame.

[0017] Another very advantageous design of the pipe penetration can provide for the use of grommets which have a profile on two opposite sides that interacts with a corresponding profile of the webs next to the chambers, and which are flat on at least one of the other opposite sides, in order to ensure a large-area seal between the elastic grommets when two grommets are used in one chamber.

[0018] A further highly advantageous embodiment of the cable gland according to the invention can also provide that the grommets have at least one opening for the cable, which is connected to an outer edge of the grommet via a slot. This allows pre-assembled cables, such as cables with already attached connectors or hoses with already attached coupling elements, to be inserted easily and efficiently into the grommets by opening them and closing them around the cable to seal the assembly.

[0019] Alternatively, grommets can be used which have at least one opening that is closed by a pierceable membrane on at least one side of the grommet in the direction of travel of the inserted cables. Such grommets do not have a slot but are designed for routing cables without plugs or couplings. The cable is simply pierced through the membrane, which seals around the cable.

[0020] Of course, different types of nozzles can be combined in one frame.

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments of the inventive conduit feedthrough can also be seen from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0022] This shows: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a cable gland in a three-dimensional representation, viewed from a first side; Fig. 2 a representation of the cable routing analogous to Fig. 1 with inserted nozzles; Fig. 3 the cable routing according to Fig. 2. Viewed from a second opposite side; Fig. 4 the cable routing according to Fig. 2 in a front view; Fig. 5 a schematic section through the cable penetration according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6. The cable routing is analogous to the illustration in Fig. 2 in an exploded view; Fig. 7 a representation analogous to the one in Fig. 4 with an alternative nozzle; Fig. 8 a representation analogous to the one in Fig. 2 in the case of an alternative design of the cable routing; and Fig. 9 a representation of the inventive cable routing in a further alternative.

[0023] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a conduit, designated as 1 in its entirety. In the embodiment shown here, this consists of a frame designated as 2, which has a frame base 21 and a frame cover 22. The frame base 21 comprises a bottom 23 and three webs 24, 25, 26. Two rectangular chambers 7 are thus formed between the bottom 23 and the webs 24, 25, 26. The cover 22 closes the frame base and, in the embodiment shown here, is connected to the frame base 21 by means of fastening elements 8 in the form of screws.

[0024] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 2 shows exactly the same structure again in the same view. The only difference is that the two chambers 7 are no longer explicitly visible, as they have each been fitted with two superimposed nozzles 3. These nozzles 3 are inserted into the chambers 7 from above when the lid 22 is open. They serve to accommodate cables 6 (see Figure 2). Fig. 6) such as cables or hoses. Each of the grommets 3 has at least one opening 31 for this purpose, which is connected to the outer circumference via a slot 32. In this way, the grommet 3 can be opened to insert the hose or cable, even if it is already fitted with a plug or connector. The grommet 3 can then be opened together with the inserted cable 6, as shown later in an exploded view in the Fig. The components 6, which will be described later, are inserted into the chambers 7 from above and crimped with the cover 22. This creates a tight seal, with the grommets 3, which have a relatively high elasticity compared to the material of the frame 2, simultaneously providing very good strain relief for the cables 6, since the cables 6 adhere very well to the inner walls of the openings 31 by friction, especially after the grommets 3 have been crimped into the frame 2 via the cover 22.

[0025] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 3 shows the same structure from a second side. This side represents the rear, which faces the system when used on the wall of a control cabinet or similar enclosure, allowing the cables 6 to be routed through the cable gland 1 and an opening in the wall of the control cabinet into the interior of the cabinet. To ensure a good seal, a gasket 4 is molded around both chambers 7 and the mounting holes 29. Molding the gasket 4 onto the frame 2 has the advantage of permanently bonding it to the frame, preventing it from slipping or getting lost, unlike a gasket that would need to be inserted between the frame and the frame. This eliminates the risk of forgetting the gasket.

[0026] The decisive difference compared to the prior art designs, besides this injection-molded seal 4, lies in the fact that the frame 2 is designed such that it has a circumferential flange 5 projecting towards the chambers 7, both in the area of ​​the base 23 and the cover 22 and the webs 24, 25, 26. This is shown in the front view of the first side of the pipe penetration 1 in the illustration of the Fig. In figure 4, this flange 5 can only be recognized indirectly, since the dashed lines show the transitions behind the flange 5 between the grommets 3 and the material of the frame 2.

[0027] The flanges 5 provide greater stability and, on the other hand, conceal the transitions from the grommet 3 to the material of the frame 2 in the direction of travel of the pipes 6, viewed from the front, i.e., in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, this prevents the direct ingress of dirt or liquid into the gap, and the flanges 5 create a kind of additional labyrinth seal, preventing moisture from penetrating in a straight line parallel to the direction of travel. This significantly improves the sealing, allowing protection classes up to IP66 to be easily achieved.

[0028] In the sectional view of the Fig. Figure 5, which shows a highly schematic section through webs 24 and 25, clearly shows these flanges 5, which project beyond the grommets 3 from the first side shown below. To simplify the illustration, the profile between webs 24, 25 and grommet 3, which is attached to webs 24, 25, has been omitted. Fig. 1, which can be seen, is omitted here.

[0029] As mentioned above, the structure is also detailed in the following. Fig. The exploded view shown in Figure 6 illustrates the assembly. The lower frame section with the webs 24, 26, and the base 23 is shown at the bottom, and the cover 22 at the top. Between them are four of the grommets 3, each fitted with a line 6, of which only a section is shown. A special feature of the assembly is the web 25, which could also be called an intermediate web. This web 25 can be inserted and removed, as can be seen in the exploded view. An additional seal for the insertable web 25 can be provided either on the web 25 itself or on the recess in the frame 2 or the base 23 that receives it. This seal can preferably be molded on. Once the web 25 is inserted, the frame 2 can be fitted with four grommets 3, as shown in the preceding illustrations.If the bridge 25 is omitted, then the frame 2 can also be fitted with a single nozzle 3 with correspondingly larger dimensions, as shown in the illustration of the . Fig. 7 in a view which is otherwise analogous to the representation in Fig. Figure 4 is shown to be understandable. Here too, there is the circumferential flange 5 around the entire circumference of the now single chamber 7 with the single nozzle 3.

[0030] In addition to the frame construction shown here with a removable and / or movable web 25 as an intermediate web, a construction in which this web 25 is fixedly connected to the frame lower part 21 or the base 23 would also be conceivable. Such a construction is analogous to the illustration in Fig. 2 in the Fig. 8 recognizable.

[0031] In addition to the setup with chambers 7 for accommodating four small or one large nozzle, as described so far, larger frames are of course also conceivable. Fig. Figure 9 shows, purely as an example, such a frame 2, which is designed in its left area to accommodate six small nozzles and in its right area to accommodate one large nozzle. Accordingly, instead of the three ribs 24, 25, 26 as before, it now has two additional ribs 27, 28, whereby, purely as an example, the rib designated 25 is formed integrally with the frame base 21, and the two additional ribs 27, 28 to its left are designed as pluggable ribs. The design would, of course, also allow for the use of a different rib instead of the large nozzle 3 in the illustration. Fig.9. On the right, insert a pluggable intermediate bar and four small nozzles 3, and accordingly, on the left side, for example, one large nozzle 3 and two small nozzles 3, or something similar. The intermediate bar could also be made shorter in height, so that, for example, a nozzle 3 with a width of two small nozzles and a height of one small nozzle could be used.

[0032] Of course, the frame 2 could also be realized in any other size, for example to accommodate two or small nozzles 3 side by side, so that the chambers 7 each have only the height of a small nozzle 3. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 01 / 42 046 A2 [0002, 0015] EP 2 746 634 B1

[0002] WO 2018 / 096136 A1 [0002, 0014] DE 10 2020 208 235 A1

[0013] WO 2022 / 171 551 A1

[0013]

Claims

[1] Pipe penetration (1) with a divisible frame (2) comprising at least one frame lower part (21) and a frame cover (23), and comprising at least one rectangular chamber (7) for receiving at least one elastic grommet (3), wherein each chamber (7) is bounded by a bottom (23) of the frame lower part (21), the opposite frame cover (22), and laterally by webs (24, 25, 26, 27, 28), characterized by , that the base (23), the frame cover (22) and the webs (24, 25, 26, 27,2 8) each have flanges (5) projecting on at least one of their sides in the direction of travel of the inserted lines (6) towards the chamber (7). [2] Cable entry (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the flanges (5) extend around the entire circumference of the respective chamber (7). [3] Cable entry (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the flanges (5) are arranged on a first side in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes (6), wherein on a second opposite side of the frame (2) in the direction of travel of the inserted pipes (6) a circumferential seal (4) is injection-molded, which at least completely surrounds the chambers (7) around the circumference. [4] Cable entry (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the injection-molded circumferential seal (4) additionally surrounds fastening devices (29) for the frame (2). [5] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the frame (2) has at least two chambers (7) separated by a bridge (25, 27, 28) for receiving at least one nozzle (3) each. [6] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the frame cover (22) can be connected to the at least one frame lower part (21) via fastening elements (28). [7] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the frame (2) is made of fiber-reinforced plastic and is manufactured by injection molding. [8] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that each of the nozzles (3) has a profile on at least two opposite sides which interacts with a corresponding profile in the sides of the chambers (7) formed by the webs (24, 25, 26, 27, 28), wherein at least one of the other two opposite sides of the nozzle (3) is planar. [9] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that at least one of the nozzles (3) has at least one opening (31) which is connected to an outer edge of the nozzle (30) via a slot (32). [10] Cable entry (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, that at least one of the nozzles (3) has at least one opening (31) which is closed on at least one side of the nozzle (3) in the direction of travel of the inserted lines (6) by means of a perforation membrane.

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