Removable Cable Transit Insert for Watertight Partition Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for passing cables and pipes through partitions, particularly in maritime applications, fail to provide both sufficient sealing and flexibility for easy installation and removal, with conventional methods either being non-removable or not ensuring watertightness.

Innovation Solution

A waterproof device featuring a removable insert molded to match the longitudinal elements, which includes a tubular part for sealing and a spacer ring for enhanced adhesion and sealing, allowing easy installation and removal without damaging the partition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sealing material is poured to fill the entire volume of the hole, then watertightness is achieved, but the cable gland becomes non-removable and difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovewatertightnessVSAvoidremovability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable gland is divided into a permanent frame fixed to the bulkhead and a removable insert that can be detached. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while enabling easy removal and maintenance of cables without damaging the bulkhead or requiring removal of entire sealing material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable insert is extracted as a separate component from the traditional poured sealing material. This insert contains the sealing elements and can be independently removed from the frame, allowing cable maintenance while preserving the permanent frame's attachment to the bulkhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a shrinkable membrane with clamping device is used, then cable addition and removal is facilitated, but sufficient sealing for marine applications is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable accessibilityVSAvoidwatertightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The removable insert combines multiple sealing materials including elastomeric material for the central section and O-rings made of rubber or similar elastomeric material. This composite approach using different sealing materials provides sufficient watertightness for marine applications while maintaining cable accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The central section is molded from elastomeric material that can deform and adapt to cables of various shapes and configurations. This material parameter change allows the sealing surface to conform to irregular cable arrangements while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional cable glands are permanently fixed to the partition, then structural stability is maintained, but cable maintenance becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe fixationVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cable gland system is segmented into a permanently fixed frame and a removable insert. The frame remains stably attached to the bulkhead while the insert can be quickly removed for cable maintenance and reinstalled, significantly reducing maintenance time without compromising the structural stability of the bulkhead connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The removable insert acts as an intermediary component between the permanent frame and the cables. It can be easily detached and reattached, serving as a mediator that allows cable maintenance without requiring removal or damage to the permanently fixed frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 device ensures effective sealing and flexibility, allowing for easy addition and removal of cables and pipes while maintaining watertightness, suitable for various shapes and arrangements of longitudinal elements, including irregular and entangled configurations.

Implementation Method 1

Molding offers the advantage of ensuring that all the space not occupied by the longitudinal element is filled with the sealing material. Furthermore, thanks to molding, the removable insert can be adapted to longitudinal elements of any shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMolding:

Implementation Method 2

The removable insert is made of an elastomeric material, in particular rubber. The removable molded section accommodates longitudinal elements folded back on themselves, i.e., forming loops or knots, as well as intertwined longitudinal elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The intermediate ring may include an intermediate collar suitable for abutting against said chassis. The spacer ring can be made of an elastomeric material. The spacer ring effectively improves the seal between the frame and the removable insert

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4085211B1Device for a sealed passage of longitudinal elements through a partition
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 EXAIL
  • EP4085211B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4085211B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4085211B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for the sealed passage of at least one longitudinal element (60) through a through-hole (TR) provided in a partition (CL), comprising - a frame (2) capable of being permanently fastened in a sealed manner on the partition in order to delimit the hole (TR), - a removable insert (3), of which at least a central portion (7) is produced by moulding on the longitudinal element (5) in order to produce a sealed connection with the latter, the removable insert (3) being configured to be inserted in a removable and sealed manner in the frame (2).