Cable Pass Through Sealing Systems Using Pre-Formed Support Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for sealing cables or elongated members as they pass through walls or barriers are time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when dealing with multiple cables, as they require the application of settable sealants at the worksite.
Innovation Solution
The use of support blocks with pre-formed areas of compressible sealing material that cooperate to form seals when installed around members passing through an aperture, eliminating the need for settable sealants by providing a sealing system with bearing surfaces, passage portions, and wall seal bands constructed from compressible material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If settable sealants are applied around cables at a worksite, then environmental seals are provided around the cables, but the sealing process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant material is pre-formed and pre-positioned on the support blocks during manufacturing, rather than being applied at the worksite. The support blocks arrive at the installation site with sealant portions already configured in precise locations, eliminating the time-consuming and error-prone process of applying sealant on-site while ensuring consistent, high-quality sealing.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple cables are sealed using traditional methods, then all cables are sealed, but the process becomes increasingly time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple support blocks, each with pre-formed sealant portions for specific cable positions. Each support block can be independently installed and sealed, allowing parallel processing of multiple cables. This segmentation enables workers to efficiently handle multiple cables simultaneously without the compounding time loss and error rate associated with traditional sequential sealing methods.
3Productivity
If support blocks with pre-formed sealant are used, then installation speed increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support block integrates multiple functions into a single component: structural support for cables, mounting attachment to the wall, and pre-positioned sealant portions for environmental sealing. By merging the support function, mounting function, and sealing function into one integrated block, the system achieves fast installation without proportionally increasing complexity, as the sealant is simply pre-formed features on the block rather than separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for quick and efficient installation of environmental seals around multiple cables, preventing liquid passage and reducing strain on the cables, while maintaining structural rigidity and flexibility, thus enhancing the sealing process without the need for on-site sealant application.
Implementation Method 1
pre-formed areas of compressible sealing material that cooperate to form seals
Implementation Method 2
compressible sealing material extends from the bearing surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for providing a seal around a plurality of elongated members passing through an aperture in a barrier comprises a plurality of support blocks for mounting to the barrier and extending across the aperture, each support block comprising a block body having a back side facing toward the barrier and having at least one interfacial side facing toward an interfacial side of another support block. Each interfacial side comprises a plurality of bearing surfaces and a plurality of passage portions between the bearing surfaces, each bearing surface configured to bear against a corresponding bearing surface on the interfacial surface of the other support block. A sealant portion covers a substantial area of each bearing surface, each of the sealant portions constructed from a compressible sealing material. One or more passage strips constructed from the compressible sealing material extend across each passage portion between two bearing surfaces on either side of the passage portion. A wall seal band on the back side of each block body, constructed from the compressible sealing material, extends from the bearing surface on one lateral side of the block body, around all of the plurality of passage portions, to the bearing surface on the other lateral side of the block body.