Cavity Wall Box Membrane Sealing for Airtight Cable Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cavity wall boxes face challenges in maintaining airtightness, especially in damp or clean environments, where increased fluid tightness requirements are needed, and existing solutions require laborious external sealing by fitters.

Innovation Solution

A cavity wall box design featuring a membrane with a tubular sleeve made of soft, elastic material that can be turned inside out for easy installation and sealing, providing fluid-tight sealing capabilities even before the inner zone is separated, along with a collar for enhanced sealing and adaptability to various installation pipe diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional airtight cavity wall boxes are used, then basic sealing is provided, but fluidic tightness requirements for damp rooms or cleanrooms cannot be met and complex external sealing is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic tightnessVSAvoidsealing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a membrane made of soft elastic material that closes the opening of the cavity wall box. This flexible membrane provides fluidic tightness while being simple to install, eliminating the need for complex external sealing procedures required by conventional solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane is integrated directly into the box structure, with the opening closed by the membrane forming an integral part of the box assembly. This nested design ensures fluidic tightness is built-in rather than added through separate external sealing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the membrane is kept intact during installation, then fluidic sealing is maintained, but cable insertion is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluidic sealVSAvoidcable insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The membrane is divided into two functional zones: an outer zone that remains intact to maintain fluidic sealing, and an inner zone that can be removed to create an insertion opening for cables. This segmentation allows both sealing and cable access requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner zone of the membrane is designed to be removable, allowing cables to be extracted through the membrane opening. The outer zone remains in place to maintain the fluidic seal, effectively separating the cable insertion function from the sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a rigid sealing structure is used, then sealing performance is improved, but adaptability to various pipe diameters and orientations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidpipe adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The membrane made of soft elastic material provides effective sealing while naturally adapting to pipes of various diameters and orientations. The flexibility of the elastic material allows it to conform to different pipe configurations without requiring a rigid structured approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic properties of the membrane material allow it to change its physical parameters (shape, size) in response to different pipe configurations. This parameter adaptability enables the same membrane structure to effectively seal around various pipe diameters and orientations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The design simplifies the installation process while ensuring improved fluid-tight sealing, accommodating various pipe diameters and orientations, and reduces the need for external sealing, enhancing the box's sealing performance in demanding environments.

Implementation Method 1

a tubular sleeve (100) for sealing, particularly using fluid sealing, a tube inserted into the sleeve. The sleeve extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end of the sleeve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The tubular sleeve is designed to form a sealing, and in particular a fluidic, seal against a pipe inserted through it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid sealing:

Data Source

PatentEP4235991A1Hollow wall box
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 KAISER AKTIENGES
  • EP4235991A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4235991A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4235991A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a cavity wall box (1) for electrical purposes, comprising a box body (2) having a box base (3) and a box wall (4) extending into the base, which surrounds an installation space (5). The box body (2) can, on the one hand, comprise at least one opening which is closed by a membrane (7) made of a soft elastic material. The membrane (7) comprises a tubular cuff (8) which extends longitudinally from a proximal end (11) to a distal end (12) and surrounds an inner zone (9) of the membrane (7) which is at least partially removable. On the other hand, the invention also relates to a cavity wall box with a collar (15) projecting laterally from the box wall (4) and surrounding the installation opening (6), which is made at least partially of a soft elastic material.