Cable lead through device
The cable lead through device addresses the challenges of sealing and correct positioning of cable gland blocks by using a frame with specific uprights and elastomeric gaskets, resulting in improved assembly efficiency and enhanced sealing performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IB2024/059309
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-11-10
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing cable lead through devices face issues with ensuring proper sealing, correct positioning of cable gland blocks, and reducing the risk of damage to gaskets during assembly and mounting. Additionally, they often require multiple components and suffer from leakage risks due to improper orientation and positioning of cable gland blocks.
A cable lead through device featuring a rectangular frame with lateral and intermediate uprights that delimit through receiving seats, allowing cable gland blocks with specific axial, top-bottom, and lateral faces to be positioned in four different orientations. The device includes an elastomeric mounting gasket overmolded on the frame, reducing the need for separate gaskets and enhancing sealing.
The solution simplifies assembly and reduces the risk of incorrect positioning of cable gland blocks, ensuring optimal sealing in all orientations and reducing the risk of gasket damage during assembly. It also minimizes the number of components required and enhances the overall sealing performance against humidity and water penetration.
Smart Images

Figure IB2024059309_15052025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
DESCRIPTION"CABLE LEAD THROUGH DEVICE"
[0001] The present invention relates to a cable lead through device mountable to a wall, e.g., of an electric cabinet, at a passage opening through which electric cables or signal cables or fluid tubes must be guided, in an orderly and stable manner so as to ensure a desired degree of sealing and obviate the risk of undesired damage and movement of the same cables.
[0002] Cable lead through devices are known from EP1236256 A1 , with two frame parts connectable to each other in a closed position, forming a rectangular frame, and separable from each other in an open configuration. The two frame parts delimit a plurality of through seats to accommodate one or more elastic cable gland blocks applied about the cables or ducts, wherein
[0003] - when the two frame parts are in the open position, the cable gland blocks, together with the cables or ducts, surrounded by the latter, can be positioned in the through seats or removed from the through seats,
[0004] - when the two frame parts are in the closed position, the cable gland blocks are closely in contact with each other and the frame parts, and form, together with the frame parts, a substantially waterproof plate, crossed by the cables surrounded by the cable gland blocks.
[0005] It is further known to obtain a first U- or comb-shaped frame part with a base beam from which two lateral uprights protrude and, possibly, one or more further intermediate uprights, where the through seats are delimited between two adjacent uprights, respectively, allowing the cable gland blocks to be temporarily inserted and positioned in only the first frame part.
[0006] It is further known to provide a second beam-shaped frame part connectable to the initially free ends of the lateral and intermediate uprights of the first frame part to close the through seats and tighten the cable gland blocks in the closed position.
[0007] It is further known to configure the second U- or comb-shaped frame part, substantially mirrored with respect to the shape of the first frame part, and connectable to the first frame part to close the through seats and tighten the cable gland blocks in the closed position.
[0008] It is further known to obtain the cable gland blocks with an outer surface, grooved or forming ribs, and obtain the through seats of the frame parts with a grooved or ribbed intrados surface, in order to increase a localized contact pressure, and thus the sealing, between the through seats and the cable gland blocks when the cable lead through device is in the closed position.
[0009] The cable lead through device is fastened to the application wall by means of screwing, e.g., four, fastening screws and with the interposition of a special gasket between the cable lead through device and the wall itself.
[0010] To allow the fastening screws to be screwed into the application wall (typically made of thin sheet or a material unsuitable for tightening the screws), it is known to apply special bushes or internally threaded rivets to the application wall.
[0011] The cable lead through devices of the prior art still have some drawbacks.
[0012] The cable gland blocks have a generally cube or parallelepiped shape which allows housing them in the through seats in several different positions and different orientations, e.g., by means of top-bottom and front-rear overturning, including unplanned positions and orientations, which involve a risk of leakage.
[0013] To-date, a sealing barrier continuity is not ensured between the interface regions between the cable gland blocks and the through seats and the sealing regions between the different frame parts and the sealing regions between the frame parts and the wall.
[0014] The correct positioning of an additional gasket between the cable lead through device and the wall is not convenient.
[0015] A positioning of an incorrect additional gasket and / or an uneven or excessive tightening of the fastening screws can damage the additional gasket and compromise the sealing of the mounted cable lead through device.
[0016] The frame parts made of synthetic material by molding have planarity tolerances which are added to the planarity tolerances of the application wall and are not always completely compensated for by the elastic deformation of the additional gasket interposed between the cable lead through device and the application wall.
[0017] A further disadvantage of the prior art is that, in order to allow the fastening screws to be screwed into the application wall, the bushes or internally threaded rivets necessarily have a rivet head or flange protruding from the application wall into the interface with the cable lead through device, thus interfering with the need for sealing in this region. The cable lead through device fitters currently try to compensate for the thickness of the flanges or rivet heads by inserting a further sealing or rubber layer having a thickness of about 1mm ... 2mm or by tightening the fastening screws so as to crush the rivet heads into the plastic material of the frame of the cable lead through device. Both measures cannot ensure a planned impermeability.
[0018] Furthermore, in the prior art, the cable gland blocks are mainly guided by shape coupling on two opposite lateral sides and compressed against each other from the top downwards, but without certain constraint of the upper and lower sides thereof in an axial extension direction of the cables or ducts enveloped by the latter.
[0019] Finally, during assembly and mounting to the wall of the cable lead through device, both the additional gasket and the fastening screws can easily detach from the frame parts and fall or get lost.
[0020] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved cable lead through device, having features such as to obviate at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0021] It is a particular object of the invention to provide a cable lead through device having features such as to simplify assembly and mounting and avoid positioning errors of the cable gland blocks in the frame parts.
[0022] It is a further particular object of the invention to provide a cable lead through device having features such as to reduce the number of components to be assembled and ensure a mutual correct positioning thereof.
[0023] It is a further particular object of the invention to provide a cable lead through device having features such as to improve the sealing of the cable lead through device against the penetration of humidity and water.
[0024] It is a further particular object of the invention to provide a cable lead through device having features such as to reduce the risk of excessive crushing and damage to the gaskets during the assembly and wall mounting of the cable lead through device.
[0025] At least some of the objects are achieved by a cable lead through device according to claim 1 .
[0026] The dependent claims relate to advantageous and preferred embodiments.
[0027] According to an aspect of the invention, a multiple cable lead through device comprises:
[0028] A) a rectangular frame formed by a base beam on a lower side of the frame, an upper beam on an upper side of the frame opposite to the lower side, a plurality of uprights comprising at least two lateral uprights extending from the base beam to the upper beam on two opposite lateral sides of the frame, and possibly one or more intermediate uprights parallel to the lateral uprights and extending from the base beam to the upper beam in an intermediate region between the two lateral uprights,
[0029] where the lateral uprights and, if provided, the intermediate uprights, mutually delimit a plurality of through receiving seats in a cable passage direction, transverse to a frame plane of the frame,
[0030] where the frame is divided at least into a first frame part and a second frame part connectable to each other in a closed position forming a use configuration of the cable lead through device, and separable from each other in an open position, allowing cable gland blocks to be inserted into the receiving seats,
[0031] B) a plurality of cable gland blocks made of elastomeric material, positionable in the receiving seats in an operating position and having:
[0032] - two opposite first (axial) faces facing in a first local direction of the cable gland block and intended to face, in the operating position, in the cable passage direction,
[0033] - two opposite second (top-bottom) faces facing in a second local direction of the cable gland block and intended to face, in the operating position, the lower side and the upper side of the frame, respectively,
[0034] - two opposite third (lateral) faces, facing in a third local direction of the cable gland block and intended to face, in the operating position, two lateral sides of the frame, respectively,
[0035] - a through channel in the first local direction opening out into the two first faces to receive and surround a cable or duct,
[0036] - a separation cut extending unilaterally from the through channel into only one of the third faces and spaced apart from both second faces, to allow the cable or duct to be inserted laterally into the through channel,
[0037] where the first local direction, the second local direction and the third local direction are orthogonal to one another (each with respect to the other two),
[0038] where the two second faces of the cable gland block are both planar, parallel to each other and preferably smooth (the term smooth shall be understood as smooth to an extent such as to however ensure a sealing in the contact interface of two second faces, e.g., also in the presence of a local or very low surface structuring, e.g., an overlay of a logo or an alphanumerical code. Alternatively, the second faces of the cable gland block can be textured),
[0039] wherein the two third faces of the cable gland block each form a block coupling surface having a plurality of linear grooves and ribs, parallel to one another and parallel to the second local direction, intended to engage, in the operating position, a corresponding upright coupling surface of one of the lateral uprights, respectively, and, if provided, intermediate uprights,
[0040] where the block coupling surfaces, and preferably the entire third local faces, are symmetric to a first local symmetry plane orthogonal to the first local direction,
[0041] thereby, in the operating position, each cable gland block can be accommodated in the receiving seat, in four different orientations, all having the same shape of engagement and geometric coupling between the block coupling surfaces and the upright coupling surfaces, preferably all having the same shape of engagement and geometric coupling between the entire third faces with the receiving seats.
[0042] In the operating position, two cutting surfaces defining the separation cut, are continuously in contact with each other and do not affect the outer shape of the block coupling surface or the third face.
[0043] The frame forms a mounting side intended to face an application wall and a visible side opposite to the mounting side. Therefore, advantageously, in the operating position, the cable lead through device allows the cable gland blocks to face, with each of the two first faces, both the mounting side and the visible side, and with each of the two second faces, both the upperside and the lower side. To date, since the fitters can easily miscalculate the top-bottom orientation and the front-rear orientation of the cable gland blocks, but they never miscalculate the direction of the through channel due to the forced path of the cables, the new configuration eliminates any doubt of installation orientation, it significantly reduces the risk of incorrect positioning of the cable gland blocks, speeding up the assembly of the cable lead through device and ensuring the optimal planned sealing in all four orientations involved.
[0044] In order to better understand the invention and appreciate the advantages thereof, some non-limiting exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0045] figure 1 is a front perspective view (“visible side”) of a frame for a cable lead through device according to an embodiment,
[0046] figure 2 is a rear perspective view (“mounting side”) of a frame in figure 1 ,
[0047] figure 3 is a perspective view from a lower side of a frame part (“second frame part”) of the frame in figure 1 ,
[0048] figure 4 is a front perspective view (“visible side”) of a frame part (“first frame part”) of the frame in figure 1 , and cable gland blocks, according to an embodiment,
[0049] figure 5 is a rear perspective view (“mounting side”) of the frame part (“first frame part”) in figure 4,
[0050] figure 6 is an enlarged and partially sectioned view of a detail in figure 5,
[0051] figure 7 is a sectional view of a detail in figure 5,
[0052] figure 8 is a perspective view of a detail of an upright coupling surface of the frame, according to an embodiment,
[0053] figure 9 is a perspective view of a detail of a mounting surface with a mounting gasket of the frame, according to an embodiment,
[0054] figure 10 is a sectional view of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment, where the cable gland blocks and some gaskets are shown in the non-deformed shape thereof in violation of space,
[0055] figure 11 is a front view (“visible side”) of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment, with an exemplary indication of mutually different cable gland blocks,
[0056] figure 12 is a rear view (“mounting side”) of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment, with an exemplary indication of mutually different cable gland blocks,
[0057] figure 13 is a top view of a frame part of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment,
[0058] figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment,
[0059] figure 15 shows the cable lead through device in section according to the sectionalplane XV-XV in figure 1 1 , mounted to an application wall,
[0060] figure 16 is a perspective view of a cable gland block of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment,
[0061] figure 17A is a top view of the cable gland block in figure 16,
[0062] figure 17B is a front view, figure 17C a first side view, figure 17D a bottom view, and figure 17D a second side view of the cable gland block in figure 16,
[0063] figure 18 shows the cable lead through device mounted to an application wall,
[0064] figure 19 is a sectional view of block coupling surfaces and corresponding upright coupling surfaces of the cable lead through device according to an embodiment,
[0065] figure 20 shows a frame for a cable lead through device according to a further embodiment,
[0066] figures 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25 show a frame for cable lead through devices according to yet further embodiments.
[0067] Description of the cable lead through device 1
[0068] With reference to the figures, a multiple cable lead through device 1 (i.e., suitable for obtaining a sealing passage of a plurality of cables or ducts (not shown) through an application wall 2) comprises a rectangular frame 3 formed by a base beam 4 on a lower side 5 of the frame 3, an upper beam 6 on an upper side 7 of the frame 3 opposite to the lower side 5, two lateral uprights 8 extending from the base beam 4 to the upper frame 6 on two opposite lateral sides 9 of the frame 3, and possibly, one or more intermediate uprights 10 parallel to the lateral uprights 8 and extending from the base beam 4 to the upper beam 6 in an intermediate region between the two lateral uprights 8.
[0069] The lateral 8 and intermediate 10 uprights (if provided) delimit therebetween a plurality of through receiving seats 11 in a cable passage direction 12, transverse or orthogonal to a frame plane 13 of the frame 3,
[0070] The frame 3 is divided at least into a first frame part 14 and a second frame part 15 connectable to each other in a closed position (figure 1 ), forming a use configuration of the cable lead through device 1 , and separable from each other in an open position (figure 14), allowing cable gland blocks 16 to be inserted into the receiving seats 11 .
[0071] The cable lead through device 1 further comprises a plurality of cable gland blocks 16 made of elastomeric material, positionable in the receiving seats 1 1 in an operating position (figure 4), and having:
[0072] - two opposite first (axial) faces 17 facing in a first local direction 18 of the cable gland block 16 (local direction 18 indicated in figure 16) and, in the operating position, intended to face the cable passage direction 12 (cable passage direction 12 indicated in figures 1 , 4),
[0073] - two opposite second faces 19 facing a second local direction 20 of the cable glandblock 16 and, in the operating position, intended to face the lower side 5 and the upper side 7 of the frame 3, respectively,
[0074] - two opposite third faces 21 facing a third local direction 22 of the cable gland block 16 and, in the operating position, intended to face the two lateral sides 9 of the frame 3, respectively,
[0075] - a through channel 23 extending in the first local direction 18 and opening out into the two first faces 17 to receive and surround a cable or duct,
[0076] - a separation cut 24 extending unilaterally from the through channel 23 into only one of the third faces 21 and spaced apart from both the second faces 19, to allow the cable or duct to be laterally inserted into the through channel 23.
[0077] The first local direction (or axis) 18, the second local direction (or axis) 20 and the third local direction (or axis) 22 are orthogonal to one another (each with respect to the other two),
[0078] The two second faces 19 of the cable gland block 16 are both planar, parallel to each other and preferably smooth (the term smooth shall be understood as smooth to an extent such as to however ensure a sealing in the contact interface of two second faces 19, e.g., also in the presence of a local or very low surface structuring, e.g., an overlay of a logo or an alphanumerical code. Alternatively, the second faces 19 of the cable gland block 16 can be textured),
[0079] The two third faces 21 of the cable gland block 16 each form a block coupling surface 25 with a plurality of linear grooves 26 and ribs 27, parallel to one another and parallel to the second local direction 20, said block coupling surface 25 being intended to engage, in the operating position, a corresponding upright coupling surface 28 of one of the lateral 8 and intermediate 10 uprights (if provided), respectively.
[0080] The block coupling surfaces 25, preferably the entire third faces 21 , are symmetric to a first local symmetry plane 29, orthogonal to the first local direction 18.
[0081] Thereby, in the operating position, each cable gland block 16 can be accommodated in the receiving seat 11 , in four different orientations, all having the same shape of engagement and geometric coupling between the block coupling surfaces 25 and the upright coupling surfaces 28, preferably all having the same shape of engagement and geometric coupling between the entire third faces 21 with the receiving seats 11 .
[0082] In the operating position, two cutting surfaces defining the separation cut 24 are continuously in contact with each other and do not affect the outer shape of the block coupling surface 25 or the third face 21 .
[0083] The frame 3 forms a mounting side 30 intended to face the application wall 2 and a visible side 31 opposite to the mounting side 30. Therefore, advantageously, in the operating position, the cable lead through device 1 allows the cable gland blocks 16 to face, with eachof the two first faces 17, both the mounting side 30 and the visible side 31 , and with each of the two second faces 19, both the upper side 7 and the lower side 5. Since, in the prior art, the fitters can easily miscalculate the top-bottom orientation and the front-rear orientation of the cable gland blocks, but they never miscalculate the direction of the through channel 23 due to the forced path of the cables, the new configuration eliminates any doubt of installation orientation, significantly reduces the risk of incorrect positioning of the cable gland blocks 16, speeds up the assembly of the cable lead through device 1 and ensures the optimal planned sealing in all four orientations involved.
[0084] Detailed description of the cable gland blocks 16
[0085] According to an embodiment (figures 16, 17), the grooves 26 comprise:
[0086] - two outer grooves (26’), each adjacent to an outer edge 32 formed between the third face 21 and the first face 17,
[0087] - a central groove 26” having a width (in the first local direction 18), greater, preferably greater than double the width (in the first local direction 18) of the outer groove 26’.
[0088] The ribs 27 comprise:
[0089] - two separation ribs (27’) extending between one of the outer grooves 26’ and the central groove 26”, respectively,
[0090] - two edge ribs 27” forming the outer edges 32.
[0091] The outer grooves 26’ have a rectangular section shape. The central groove 26” has a planar bottom and two curved lateral surfaces with an arc-section shape.
[0092] The separation ribs 27’ and the edge ribs 27” all form a flattened, preferably planar rib apex. The edge ribs 27” protrude in the third local direction beyond the separation ribs 27’.
[0093] Advantageously, in the operating position, the central grooves 26” receive, with shape coupling, corresponding central ribs 36” of the upright coupling surface 28, and the outer grooves 26’ receive, with shape coupling and elastic pre-loading, corresponding outer ribs 36’ of the upright coupling surface 28. The outer ribs 36’ preferably have an apical edge ridge 38 so as to locally sink into the elastomeric material of the cable gland block 16, defining a certain sealing line.
[0094] The through channel 23 has a constant sectional shape, e.g., circular cylindrical and / or oval and / or flattened, possibly with the only exception of one or more circumferential ribs 33 protruding radially towards the inside of the through channel 23 to improve the sealing engagement and anti-extraction engagement between the cable gland block 16 and the cable or duct enveloped by the latter.
[0095] The two first faces 17 are preferably parallel to each other and possibly smooth (except for any raised markings and the through channel 23). Advantageously, the first faces 17 possibly the entire cable gland block 16 has / have a symmetric shape to the first local symmetryplane 29.
[0096] More advantageously, the second faces 19, possibly the entire cable gland block 16 has / have a symmetric shape to a second local symmetry plane 34, orthogonal to the second local direction 20.
[0097] This allows a plurality of cable gland blocks 16 to be piled in the receiving seats 1 1 .
[0098] The cable gland blocks 16 are made of elastomeric material, preferably of thermoplastic elastomer TPE)
[0099] The cable gland blocks 16 can comprise a plurality of said through channels 23 formed in the same cable gland block 16. The at least one through channel 23 of the cable gland block 16 can be formed in a central position with respect to an outer contour of the cable gland block 16, or in an eccentric position with respect to an outer contour of the cable gland block 16.
[0100] “Blind” elastomeric blocks having an external shape identical to the external shape of the cable gland blocks 16 can also be provided, but without the through channel 23, intended to plug positions not used for the passage of cables.
[0101] Detailed description of the receiving seats 11
[0102] The upright coupling surface 28 forms a plurality of linear grooves 35 and ribs 36, parallel to one another and parallel to the extension of the lateral uprights 8 and the intermediate 10 uprights (if provided), said upright coupling surface 28 being intended to engage, in the operating position, a corresponding block coupling surface 25 with shape coupling and sealing pressing contact.
[0103] According to an embodiment (figure 8), the ribs 36 comprise:
[0104] - two outer ribs 36’, one closer to the mounting side 30 and the other closer to the visible side 31 ,
[0105] - a central rib 36” having a greater width, preferably greater than double the width of the outer rib 36’.
[0106] The grooves 35 comprise:
[0107] - two separation grooves 35’ extended between one of the outer ribs 36’ and the central rib 36”, respectively,
[0108] - in only the lateral uprights 8 and possibly in an intermediate connection upright 10’ (which will be described later on), additionally two boundary grooves 35” delimiting the upright coupling surface 28 on the mounting side 30 and on the visible side 31 . Whereas, preferably, the boundary grooves 35” are not present in the remaining intermediate uprights 10.
[0109] The outer ribs 36’ have a triangular-apex or cuspid section shape defining the above apical edge ridge. More advantageously, the outer ribs 36’ form two planar intermediate surfaces 37 retracted with respect to the apical edge ridge 38 and extending on both sides along the apical edge ridge 38. The central rib 36” has a planar apex and two curved lateralsurfaces with an arc-section shape.[001 10] The separation grooves 35’ all form a flattened, preferably planar rib apex. The boundary grooves 35”, if present, have a substantially angled profile, i.e. , they define an outer angle edge or an angular indentation of the angle edge of the lateral upright 8 or, possibly, of the intermediate connection upright 10’.[001 11 ] Advantageously, the boundary grooves 35” on the mounting side 30 are triangular in shape, open towards one of the lateral sides 9 and towards the mounting side 30, so as to expose (and squash) the elastomeric material of the first face 17 of the cable gland block 16 directly towards the application wall 2.[001 12] Advantageously, the boundary grooves 35” on the visible side 31 have a rectangular U shape, open only towards one of the lateral sides 9, so as to form a closing edge 39 which (sealing ly) engages the first face 17 of the cable gland block 16 on the visible side 31 .[001 13] The closing edge 39 on the visible side 31 extends along the lateral uprights 8, along the at least one intermediate connection upright 10’ (if provided), and also along the base beam 4 and along the upper beam 6 forming a waterproof protection all around the receiving seats 1 1.[001 14] The intermediate uprights 10, which are devoid of the boundary grooves 35” and the closing edge 39, and which have a sectional area and extension in the cable passage direction 12 smaller than a sectional area and extension in the cable passage direction 12 of the lateral uprights 8 and the intermediate connection upright 10’, are at least partially or completely covered, on the mounting side 30 and on the visible side 31 , by the edge ribs 27” of the cable gland blocks 16 inserted in the operating position (figure 19).[001 15] The upright coupling surfaces 28, preferably the entire frame 3, are made of thermoplastic material, e.g., of polyamide filled with glass-fiber, having a greater hardness than the elastomeric material of the cable gland blocks 16.[001 16] According to an embodiment, the upright coupling surfaces 28, without the boundary grooves 35” and without the closing edge 39, are symmetric to the frame plane 13. Instead, the entire receiving seats 11 , including the boundary grooves 35” and the closing edge 39 are not symmetric to the frame plane 13, by virtue of the two different functions of interaction with the cable gland blocks 16 on the mounting side 30 and on the visible side 31 (figure 19).[001 17] Detailed description of the frame 3[001 18] According to an embodiment, the first frame part 14 forms the base beam 4, the two lateral uprights 8 and the one or more intermediate uprights 10 in a comb-like configuration (figure 5). The second frame part 15 forms the upper beam 6. The first frame part 14 and the second frame part 15 are connectable to each other by means of connection screws 40 insertable into connection holes 49 of the upper beam 6 and into corresponding connectionholes 49’ of the lateral uprights 8 and, if provided, of one or more intermediate connection uprights 10’, screwable into connection nuts 41 , e.g., un-loosable and non-rotatably accommodated or locked (in hexagonal seats, not shown) in the base beam 4.[001 19] The free ends (in the open position) of the lateral 8 and intermediate 10 uprights comprise connection protrusions 42 inserted (in the closed position) into corresponding connection indentations 43 of the upper beam 6 (figures 3, 4) to further stabilize and align the first frame part 14 and the second frame part 15 with each other.
[0120] The frame 3, preferably only the first comb-shaped frame part 14, forms a plurality, e.g., four, mounting through-holes 44 extending in the cable passage direction 12, to receive mounting screws 45 (figure 14) screwable into the application wall 2.
[0121] The frame 3 comprises a mounting gasket 46, made of elastomeric material, overmolded on the frame 3, in particular on the first frame part 14 and on the second frame part 15 and protruding from the frame 3 on the mounting side 30. The need for a separate gasket and the risk of the incorrect positioning of the gasket are obviated by virtue of the overmolding of the mounting gasket 46 on the frame 3.
[0122] The mounting gasket 46 extends continuously about all the receiving seats 1 1 , in particular along the base beam 4, the lateral uprights 8 and the upper beam 6 and, also about all the mounting holes 44, preferably circularly about each of the mounting holes 44.
[0123] In order to compensate for factory tolerances of the frame 3, the mounting gasket 46 protrudes from the surface of the frame 3 with a gasket height of at least 1 .5 mm, or in a range from 1 mm to 3 mm, e.g., 2 mm.
[0124] On the other hand, in order to avoid the mounting gasket 46 from being squashed due to excessive tightening of the mounting screws 45, the frame 3 forms, on the mounting side 30, a plurality of abutment protrusions 47 adjacent to the mounting gasket 46, preferably at or close to the mounting holes 44 (figure 9). The abutment protrusions 47 allow a higher mounting gasket 46 to be used with respect to the prior art. The protrusions 47 can be in external positions with respect to the mounting holes 44 (positions indicated with reference 47 in figure 9) to obviate the undesired buckling of the frame 3 in response to the tightening of the mounting screws 45. The protrusions 47 can be also or only formed, for example, by a protruding edge of the mounting hole 44, as shown in figure 7.
[0125] The frame 3 further comprises an upper beam gasket 48, made of elastomeric material, over-molded on the frame 3, in particular on the only second frame part 15 and protruding from the upper beam 6 into the receiving seats 11 towards the lower side 5 of the frame 3, in order to sealingly engage the cable gland blocks 16 adjoining the upper beam 6.
[0126] The need for a separate gasket and the risk of the incorrect positioning of the gasket are obviated by virtue of the overmolding of the upper beam gasket 48 on the frame 3.
[0127] The upper beam gasket 48 is formed along with a mounting gasket 46 part extending in the upper beam 6, in a single piece and with material continuity (figure 3). Advantageously, together, the mounting gasket 46 and the upper beam gasket 48 form a closed ring around all the connection holes 49 of the upper beam 6.
[0128] Advantageously, the base beam 4 can be devoid of an elastomeric gasket engaging the cable gland blocks 16 and can serve as a sealing by directly engaging the hard plastic material, e.g., of one or more ribs, of the base beam 4 with the cable gland blocks 16 adjoining therewith.
[0129] According to an embodiment (figures 6, 7, 15), the mounting holes 44 form, on the mounting side 30, a recessed seat (or enlarged outer portion) 50 which is wider than the remaining portion of the mounting hole 44 and adapted to accommodate a rivet head or bush flange of a rivet or internally threaded bush 51 of the application wall 2. This obviates the need to arrange further gasket “spacer” layers between the cable lead through device 1 and the application wall 2.
[0130] According to an embodiment, the mounting holes 44 form interference protrusions 51 protruding radially inwards and are provided to obtain an interference engagement with the mounting screws 45 as an anti-loosing measure for the mounting screws.
[0131] According to an embodiment, the first frame part 14 and the second frame part 15 are (pre-) connectable to each other in the closed position by means of a snap connection, e.g., with a ratchet (figure 20), in order to obtain a temporary connection to prepare for a final screwing with connection screws.Reference numerals cable lead through device 1 application wall 2 frame 3 base beam 4 lower side 5 upper beam 6 upper side 7 lateral uprights 8 lateral sides 9 intermediate uprights 10 receiving seats 1 1 cable passage direction 12 frame plane 13first frame part 14 second frame part 15 cable gland blocks 16 first faces 17 first local direction 18 second faces 19 second local direction 20 third faces 21 third local direction 22 through channel 23 separation cut 24 block coupling surface 25 grooves 26 outer grooves 26’ central groove 26” ribs 27 separation ribs 27’ edge ribs 27” upright coupling surface 28 first local symmetry plane 29 mounting side 30 visible side 31 outer edge 32 circumferential rib 33 second local symmetry plane 34 grooves 35 separation grooves 35’ boundary grooves 35” ribs 36 outer ribs 36’ central ribs 36” intermediate surfaces 37 apical edge ridge 38 closing edge 39 connection screws 40 connection nuts 41connection protrusions 42 connecting indentations 43 mounting holes 44 mounting screws 45 mounting gasket 46 abutment protrusions 47 upper beam gasket 48 connection holes 49 of the upper beam 6 connection holes 49’ of the uprights recessed seat 50 interference protrusions 51 bush or threaded rivet 52
Claims
CLAIMS1. A cable lead through device (1 ) comprising:A) a rectangular frame (3) formed by:- a base beam (4) on a lower side (5) of the frame (3),- an upper beam (6) on an upper side (7) of the frame (3) opposite to the lower side (5),- a plurality of uprights (8, 10, 10’) comprising at least two lateral uprights (8) extending from the base beam (4) to the upper beam (6) on two opposite lateral sides (9) of the frame (3), wherein the uprights (8, 10, 10’) delimit one or more through receiving seats (11) therebetween, passing through in a cable passage direction (12) transverse to a frame plane (13) of the frame (3), wherein the frame (3) is divided at least into a first frame part (14) and a second frame part(15) connectable to each other in a closed position and separable from each other in an open position, which allows inserting cable gland blocks (16) into the receiving seats (1 1 ), wherein the frame (3) forms a mounting side (30) intended to face an application wall (2) and a visible side (31 ) opposite to the mounting side (30).B) a plurality of cable gland blocks (16) made of elastomeric material, positionable in the receiving seats (1 1 ) in an operating position and having:- two opposite first faces (17) facing a first local direction (18) of the cable gland block (16) and, in the operating position, intended to face the cable passage direction (12),- two second opposite faces (19) facing a second local direction (20) of the cable gland block(16) and, in the operating position, intended to face the lower side (5) and the upper side (7) of the frame (3), respectively,- two third opposite faces (21 ) facing a third local direction (22) of the cable gland block (16) and, in the operating position, intended to face the two lateral sides (9) of the frame (3), respectively,- a through channel (23) extending in the first local direction (18) and leading to the two first faces (17) to receive and surround a cable or conduit,- a separation cut (24) extending unilaterally from the through channel (23) into only one of the third faces (21 ) and spaced apart from both second faces (19), to allow laterally inserting the cable or conduit into the through channel (23), wherein the first local direction (18), the second local direction (20), and the third local direction (22) are orthogonal to one another, wherein the two second faces (19) of the cable gland block (16) are both planar and parallel to each other and smooth or structured, wherein the two third faces (21) of the cable gland block (16) each form a block couplingsurface (25) with a plurality of linear grooves (26) and ribs (27), parallel to one another and parallel to the second local direction (20), said block coupling surface (25) being intended to engage, in the operating position, a corresponding upright coupling surface (28) of one of the uprights (8, 10, 10’), respectively, wherein the block coupling surfaces (25), or the entire third faces (21 ), are symmetric to a first local symmetry plane (29) orthogonal to the first local direction (18).
2. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the operating position, each cable gland block (16) can be accommodated in the receiving seat (11) in four different orientations, all with the same geometric coupling and engagement shape between the block coupling surfaces (25) and the upright coupling surfaces (28).
3. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grooves (26) comprise:- two outer grooves (26’), each adjacent to an outer edge (32) formed between the third face (21 ) and the first face (17),- a central groove (26”) having a greater width than the width of the outer groove (26’), and wherein the ribs (27) comprise:- two separation ribs (27’) extending between one of the outer grooves (26’) and the central groove (26”), respectively,- two edge ribs (27”) forming the outer edges (32).
4. A cable lead through device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the outer grooves (26’) have a rectangular section shape, the central groove (26”) has a planar bottom and two curved side surfaces with an arc section shape, the separation ribs (27’) and the edge ribs (27”) all form a planar rib apex, and the edge ribs (27”) protrude in the third local direction (22) beyond the separation ribs (27’).
5. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein:- the through channel (23) has a circular cylindrical shape, with the only exception of possible circumferential anti-extraction ribs (33),- the two first faces (17) are parallel to each other and planar,- the first faces (17) or the entire cable gland block (16) has / have a symmetric shape with respect to the first local symmetry plane (29).- the second faces (19) or the entire cable gland block (16) has / have a symmetric shape with respect to a second local symmetry plane (34) orthogonal to the second local direction (20).
6. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright coupling surface (28) forms a plurality of linear grooves (35) and ribs (36), parallel to one another and parallel to the extension of the uprights (8, 10, 10’), wherein the ribs (36) comprise:- two outer ribs (36’), one closer to the mounting side (30) and the other closer to the visible side (31 ),- a central groove (36”) having a greater width than the width of the outer rib (36’), and wherein the grooves (35) comprise:- two separation grooves (35’) extending between one of the outer ribs (36’) and the central rib (36”), respectively.
7. A cable lead through device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the outer ribs (36’) have a triangular-apex or cuspid section shape defining an apical edge ridge (38), the central rib (36”) has a planar apex and two curved side surfaces with an arc section shape, the separation grooves (35’) all form a planar rib apex.
8. A cable lead through device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the outer ribs (36’) form two planar intermediate surfaces (37) retracted with respect to the apical edge ridge (38) and extending on both sides along the apical edge ridge (38).
9. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the lateral uprights (8) further form two boundary grooves (35”) delimiting the upright coupling surface (28) on the mounting side (30) and on the visible side (31 ), wherein:- the boundary grooves (35”) on the mounting side (30) have a triangular shape, open towards one of the lateral sides (9) and towards the mounting side (30),- the boundary grooves (35”) on the visible side (31) have a rectangular II shape, open only towards one of the lateral sides (9), so as to form a closing edge (39) which engages the first face (17) of the cable gland block (16) on the visible side (31 ).
10. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the closing edge (39) on the visible side (31 ) extends along the lateral uprights (8) and also along the base beam (4) and along the upper beam (6) thus forming a waterproof protection all around the receiving seats (11 ).
11. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the upright coupling surfaces (28), without the boundary grooves (35”) and without the closing edge (39), are symmetric with respect to the frame plane (13), while the entire receiving seats (1 1 ), including the boundarygrooves (35”) and the closing edge (39), are non-symmetric with respect to the frame plane (13).
12. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first frame part (14) and the second frame part (15) are mutually connectable by means of connection screws (40) insertable into connection holes (49) of the upper beam (6) and into connection holes (49’) formed in at least the lateral uprights (8) of the plurality of uprights (8, 10’) and screwable into connection nuts (41 ) in the base beam (4), wherein the frame (3) forms a plurality of mounting through-holes (44) extending in the cable passage direction (12), to receive mounting screws (45) screwable into the application wall (2).
13. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the frame (3) comprises a mounting gasket (46), made of elastomeric material, over-molded on the first frame part (14) and the second frame part (15) and protruding from the frame (3) on the mounting side (30).
14. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 13, wherein the mounting gasket (46) extends along the base beam (4), along the lateral uprights (8), and along the upper beam (6) and also around all the mounting holes (44).
15. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of uprights (8, 10, 10’) comprises one or more intermediate uprights (10) parallel to the lateral uprights (8) and extending from the base beam (4) to the upper beam (6) in an intermediate region between the two lateral uprights (8).
16. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the frame (3), on the mounting side (30), forms a plurality of abutment protrusions (47) adjacent to the mounting gasket (46) close to the mounting holes (44).
17. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (3) further comprises an upper beam gasket (48) ,made of elastomeric material, overmolded on the second frame part (15) and protruding from the upper beam (6) into the receiving seats (1 1) towards the lower side (5) of the frame (3), in order to sealingly engage the cable gland blocks (16) adjoining the upper beam (6).
18. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claims 17 and 13, wherein the upper beam gasket (48) is formed together with a part of the mounting gasket (46) extending in the upperbeam (6), in a single piece and with material continuity.
19. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 18, wherein the upper beam gasket (48) and the mounting gasket (46) together form a closed loop around all the connection holes (49) of the upper beam (6).
20. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the mounting holes (44) form, on the mounting side (30), a recessed seat 50 being wider than the remaining portion of the mounting hole (44) and adapted to accommodate an internally threaded rivet head or a bushing flange of a rivet or bushing (51 ) of the application wall (2).
21. A cable lead through device (1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the mounting holes (44) form interference protrusions (51 ) protruding inwards to obtain an anti-fall engagement with the mounting screws (45).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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