AU2011202570A1

AU2011202570A1 - Sealing body for a cable sleeve

Info

Publication number: AU2011202570A1
Application number: AU2011202570A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andreas Eichstadt; Jens Knorr; Thorsten Muller
Original assignee: CCS Technology Inc
Current assignee: Corning Research and Development Corp
Priority date: 2006-04-11
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-06-23

Abstract

SEALING BODY FOR A CABLE SLEEVE Abstract A sealing body (10) for a cable sleeve comprises several sealing body segments 5 (11, 14) that can be interconnected by means of connection elements, wherein cable feedthrough openings (15) are configured between adjacent sealing body segments (11, 14) and sealing elements (17, 29) are arranged in the vicinity of the cable feedthrough openings (15), said sealing elements being compressed in order to seal the cables (16) that can be introduced into the cable feedthrough openings (15). A central sealing body 10 segment (11) has several recesses (13) distributed around the periphery of an outer shell (12). A respective sealing body segment (14) can be introduced into each recess (13) of the central sealing body segment (11). A respective cable feedthrough opening (15) for receiving and individually sealing one individual cable (16) is configured between the central sealing body segment (11) and each sealing body segment (14).

Description

S&F Ref: 878582D1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address CCS Technology, Inc., of 103 Foulk Road, Wilmington, of Applicant: Delaware, 19803, United States of America Actual Inventor(s): Andreas Eichstadt Thorsten Muller Jens Knorr Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: Sealing body for a cable sleeve The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(5226343_1) Sealing body for a cable sleeve The invention relates to a sealing body for a cable sleeve. 5 Cable sleeves for the structured laying and handling of optical waveguides guided in fiberoptic cables are used in fiberoptic cable networks for protecting spliced 10 joints at junctions between two fiberoptic cables and for protecting the optical waveguides at branch junctions or splitting junctions of fiberoptic cables. In this case, the cable sleeves must ensure the continuity of the fiberoptic cables as though the 15 fiberoptic cables were not interrupted. The structured laying and gentle handling of the optical waveguides plays a decisive role here in ensuring that the transmission properties of the optical waveguides are not adversely affected. 20 EP 0 646 294 Bl has disclosed a cable sleeve which has a covering body and a sealing body, which can be inserted into an opening of the covering body, the sealing body comprising a gel-like sealing material, 25 which is arranged between two dimensionally stable plates. The sealing body is capable of being displaced inwards and outwards in the axial direction with respect to the covering body in a cavity in order to compensate for pressure differences between an internal 30 pressure and an external pressure of the cable sleeve. Depending on this pressure difference, in the process the sealing body comes to bear against different stops. EP 1 238 451 Bl has disclosed a sealing body for a 35 cable sleeve which is formed by a plurality of sealing body segments. The sealing body segments can be connected to one another via connecting elements in the form of latching elements, a plurality of cable 2 insertion openings being formed between adjoining sealing body segments. In the region of the cable insertion openings, gel-like sealing elements are arranged which can be pressed against cables which can be inserted into the cable insertion openings so as to seal 5 off the cable insertion openings. In accordance with EP 1 238 451 B 1, in each case two cable insertion openings are formed between adjoining sealing body segments, which cable insertion openings are jointly sealed off via common gel-like sealing elements. Object of the Invention 10 It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a sealing body for a cable sleeve, with a plurality 15 of sealing body segments, which can be connected to one another via connecting elements, cable insertion openings being formed between adjoining sealing body segments, and sealing elements being arranged in the region of the cable insertion openings, which sealing elements can be compressed so as to seal off cables which can be inserted into the cable insertion openings, wherein a central sealing body segment has, on 20 an outer casing surface, a plurality of cutouts distributed over the circumference thereof, wherein in each case one outer sealing body segment can be inserted into each of the cutouts of the central sealing body segment, and wherein in each case one cable insertion opening for receiving and individually sealing off in each case one single cable is formed between the central sealing body segment and each outer sealing body segment, wherein 25 each outer sealing body segment has a sealing element, which can be compressed individually independently of the sealing elements of other outer sealing body segments via an individual pressure element in order to individually seal off the cable which can be inserted into the respective cable insertion opening. Preferably, each outer sealing body segment can be inserted into a cutout of the 30 central sealing body segment in the radial direction of the central sealing body segment. Preferably, each outer sealing body segment has a plurality of connecting elements, which interact with connecting elements of the central sealing body segment. Preferably, first connecting elements of each outer sealing body segment are in the form of latching tabs or snap-action hooks, which engage in correspondingly 35 contoured cutouts or recesses of connecting elements of the central sealing body segment, 3 each outer sealing body segment being capable of being prefitted on the central sealing body segment via the first connecting elements in such a way that it cannot become detached and in such a way that it is capable of being moved relative to the central sealing s body segment in order to facilitate the insertion of a cable into the corresponding cable insertion opening. Preferably, each outer sealing body segment is capable of being moved in the radial direction relative to the central sealing body segment. Preferably, second connecting elements of each outer sealing body segment are io in the form of latching tabs or snap-action hooks, which engage in correspondingly contoured cutouts or recesses of connecting elements of the central sealing body segment, each outer sealing body segment being capable of being fitted on the central sealing body segment via the second connecting elements in such a way that a final assembled position thereof is fixed relative to the central sealing body segment. is Preferably, the radial position of each outer sealing body segment is fixed relative to the central sealing body segment. Preferably, the central sealing body segment has, in the region of each cutout, a sealing element, which interacts with the sealing element of the corresponding outer sealing body segment. 20 Preferably, the cutouts of the central sealing body segment, which are used for receiving in each case one outer sealing body segment and individually sealing off in each case one cable, are arranged evenly distributed over the circumference of the central sealing body segment. Preferably, an outer surface of the outer sealing body segments complements the 25 casing surface, which is interrupted by the cutouts, of the central sealing body segment in a final assembled position. Preferably, groove-like cutouts are introduced into the outer surface of the outer sealing body segments and into the casing surface of the central sealing body segment, which cutouts complement one another in the final assembled position and into which 30 cutouts a sealing element can be inserted in order to seal off the sealing body with respect to a covering body of a cable sleeve. In one embodiment, the sealing elements are gel-like sealing elements. In one embodiment, said central sealing body segment is cylindrical, and each outer sealing body segment is cylinder-segment like. 35 3a The present invention also provides a sealing body for a cable sleeve for an optical fiber cable, comprising: a central sealing body segment, the central sealing body segment having an outer 5 casing surface with a plurality of cutouts distributed over the outer casing surface; at least one sealing body segment, the at least one sealing body segment being radially insertable into any one of the plurality of cutouts; at least one sealing element, the at least one sealing element at least partially disposed on the central sealing body segment, the at least one sealing element being 1o associated with the at least one sealing body segment, the at least one sealing element adapted to receive at least one optical fiber cable, and the at least one sealing element being a generally compressible gel-like sealing element; and at least one cable insertion opening, the at least one cable insertion opening being formed between the central sealing body segment and the at least one sealing body is segment, the at least one cable insertion opening being associated with the at least one sealing element for inserting and sealing the at least one optical fiber cable, the at least one sealing element being engaged and disengaged by the at least one sealing body segment, the at least one optical fiber cable being received and sealed independently of any other optical fiber cables inserted into any other cable insertion openings formed 20 between the central sealing body segment and any other sealing body segments. Preferably, the plurality of cutouts are distributed along the periphery of the outer casing surface. Preferably, the sealing body includes at least one pressure element, the at least one pressure element cooperating with the at least one sealing body segment for engaging 25 and disengaging the at least one sealing element, for compressing the at least one sealing element. Preferably, the at least one sealing element includes at least one cutout for receiving the at least one optical fiber cable. In each case one cable can be individually sealed off between the central sealing 30 body segment and each sealing body segment, as a result of which different cable diameters can ideally be taken into consideration when said cables are sealed off. A further advantage consists in the fact that, when a cable is intended to be newly sealed off in the region of a cutout of the central sealing body segment and 3b therefore in the region of a cable insertion opening, access only needs to be gained to the corresponding sealing body segment of this cable insertion opening. The other sealing body segments and therefore the other cable insertion openings remain uninfluenced, with the result that seals of other cables are not impaired. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: - 4 figure 1 shows a sealing body according to the invention for a cable sleeve in a perspective view, figure 2 shows the sealing body according to the 5 invention shown in figure 1 in a partial perspective exploded view, and figure 3 shows a cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment of the sealing body according to the invention illustrated on its own in a 10 perspective view. The present invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to figures 1 to 3, with figure 1 showing a preferred exemplary embodiment of a 15 sealing body 10 according to the invention in the assembled state. The sealing body 10 according to the invention has a central, cylindrical sealing body segment 11, which 20 has, on an outer casing surface 12, a plurality of cutouts 13. A housing of the central, cylindrical sealing body segment 11 is dimensionally stable. In each case one cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 can be inserted into each of the cutouts 13 25 of the central sealing body segment 11, in each case one cable insertion opening 15 for receiving in each case one single cable 16 being formed between the central sealing body segment and each cylinder-segment like sealing body segment 14. In the region of each of 30 the cable insertion openings 15, the cable 16 received by the respective cable insertion opening 15 can be individually sealed off. In the exemplary embodiment shown, in total six cutouts 35 13 for receiving in each case one cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 are formed over the circumference of the central sealing body segment 11, the cutouts 13 being positioned so as to be evenly distributed over the circumference of the central -5 sealing body segment 11. Accordingly, the sealing body 10 shown has six cable insertion openings 15, which can be sealed off individually, for individually sealing off in each case one cable 16. 5 It is noted that the number of cable insertion openings which can be sealed off individually is merely by way of example. A sealing body according to the invention may of course also have, in the region of the central 10 sealing body segment, fewer than six or more than six cutouts for receiving in each case one cylinder segment-like sealing body segment. Each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 (see 15 in particular figure 3) has a gel-like sealing element 17, which is arranged between two so-called spring disks 18. The gel-like sealing element 17 of each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 has a groove-like cutout 30, into which a cable 16 to be 20 sealed off can be inserted. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a force or a pressure can be exerted on one of the spring disks 18 via a pressure element 19, which, in the exemplary 25 embodiment shown, is in the form of an adjusting screw, - via which force or pressure the gel-like sealing element 17 can ultimately be deformed or compressed. That is to say that the spring disk 18 on which the pressure element 19 acts is capable of being moved by 30 means of the pressure element 19 relative to the other spring disk 18 in order thus to adjust the force acting on the gel-like sealing element 17 or the pressure acting on the gel-like sealing element 17. Each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 has a 35 separate pressure element 19 for individually compressing the respective gel-like sealing element 17. Spring elements 20, which protrude inwards into the groove-like cutout 30 of the gel-like sealing element - 6 17, of the spring disks 18 firstly center a cable 16 to be sealed off and secondly prevent the gel-like sealing element 17 from being capable of flowing out of the respective cable insertion opening 15. 5 Preferably, gel-like sealing elements 29 (see figure 2) are likewise positioned in the region of the cutouts 13 of the central sealing body segment 11, which sealing elements 29 interact with the corresponding gel-like 10 sealing element 17 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 to be inserted into the cutout 13. The gel-like sealing elements 29 of the central sealing body segment 11 also each have a groove-like cutout, which ultimately, together with the groove-like cutouts 15 of the gel-like sealing element 17 of the cylinder segment-like sealing body segments 14, define the cable insertion openings 15. The- gel-like sealing elements 29 of the central sealing 20 body segment 11 interact with the gel-like sealing elements 17 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 in such a way that, when a gel-like sealing element 17 of a cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 is compressed via the pressure element 19 25 thereof, the gel-like sealing element 29 interacting with this gel-like sealing element 17 is also compressed, with projections of a spring disk (not shown), which delimit this sealing element 29, engaging in cutouts 31 of a spring disk 18, which delimits the 30 gel-like sealing element 17, for this purpose. In this way, by means of the compression of a gel-like sealing element 17 of a cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 with the aid of the pressure element 19 of this cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14, the 35 gel-like sealing element 29 interacting with this gel like sealing element 17 can also be compressed indirectly.

As shown in figure 3, the gel-like sealing element 17, which is delimited by the spring disks 18 on two opposite sides, of each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 is arranged together with the spring 5 disks 18 in a housing 22 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14. The housing 22 of each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 delimits a radially outer surface 21 thereof and is dimensionally stable in the same way as the housing of 10 the central sealing body segment. When, as shown in figure 1, the sealing body 10 according to the invention is assembled and thus the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 have 15 been completely inserted into the cutouts 13 of the central sealing body segment 11, the surfaces 21 of the housing 22 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 complement the casing surface 12, which is interrupted by the cutouts 13, of the central sealing 20 body segment 11 and therefore the housing thereof. As shown in figure 1, groove-like cutouts are introduced both into the outer surface 21 of the housing 22 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body 25 segments 14 and into the casing surface 12 of the central - sealing body segment 11, which cutouts complement one another in the assembled state of the sealing body 10 illustrated in figure 1 so as to form a groove-like cutout 23 running around the periphery in 30 the circumferential direction, into which cutout 23 a sealing body (not illustrated) can be inserted so as to seal off the sealing body 10 according to the invention with respect to a covering body (likewise not illustrated). 35 As can be seen in particular in figure 2, the cylinder segment-like sealing body segments 14 can be inserted into the cutouts 13 of the central sealing body segment 11 in the radial direction of the sealing body 10.

- 8 When fitting the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 into the cutouts 13 of the central sealing body segment 11, connecting elements of the cylinder 5 segment-like sealing body segments 14 in the process interact with connecting elements of the .,central sealing body segment 11. Thus, in the preferred exemplary embodiment, each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 has two different connecting 10 elements, namely first connecting elements 24 and second connecting elements 25. The first connecting elements 24 of each cylinder segment-like sealing body segment 14 are in this case 15 preferably in the form of latching tabs or snap-action hooks, which interact with correspondingly contoured cutouts 26 of connecting elements 27 of the central sealing body segment 11 in such a way that the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 can be 20 prefitted on the central sealing body segment 11 in such a way that they cannot become detached in the region of the cutouts 13. In this case, the first connecting elements 24 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body 14 delimit, together with the cutouts 26 25 of the connecting elements 27 of the central sealing body segment 11, the radial displaceability of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 with respect to the central sealing body segment 11 radially outwards. 30 When the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 are adjusted to a maximum extent radially outwards with respect to the central sealing body segment 11, the first connecting elements 24 of the cylinder-segment 35 like sealing body segments 14 engage in the cutouts 26 of the connecting elements 27 of the central sealing body segment 11 and facilitate the insertion of a cable 16 into the corresponding cable insertion opening 15.

- 9 Once a cable 16 has been inserted into the cable insertion opening 15, the corresponding cylinder segment-like sealing body segment 14 is then capable of being displaced radially inwards, in which case the 5 second connecting elements 25, which are likewise preferably in the form of latching tabs or snap-action hooks, engage in correspondingly contoured recesses of the connecting elements 27 of the central sealing body segment 11 so as to fix the cylinder-segment-like 10 sealing body segment 14 in the respective cutout 13 of the central sealing body segment 11. These recesses are not illustrated in figures 1 and 2, but are offset radially inwards with respect to the cutouts 26 of the connecting elements 27. 15 In the exemplary embodiment shown, each cylinder segment-like sealing body segment 14 has in total four first connecting elements 24 and four second connecting elements 25, which -are formed on four webs 28, which 20 extend in the radial direction and act on the housing 22. In this case, a first connecting element 24 and a second connecting element 25 are formed on each of the webs 28 and each point or act in opposite directions on the corresponding webs 28. 25 The sealing body 11 'according to the 'invention thus has a central, cylindrical sealing body segment 11 and a plurality of cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14, which can be inserted into cutouts 13 of 30 the central sealing body segment 11 in the radial direction. In this case, a cable insertion opening 15, which is used for receiving and individually sealing off a single cable 16, is formed between each cylinder segment-like sealing body segment 14 and the central 35 sealing body segment 11. Each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 has a gel-like sealing element 17, which can be individually compressed or deformed. Pressure elements - 10 19 associated with the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 are used for this purpose, via which pressure elements 19 an individual force or an individual pressure can be exerted on the gel-like 5 sealing elements 17 of each cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 14 so as to individually deform the latter. Gel-like sealing elements 29 arranged in the cutouts 13 of the central sealing body segment 11 interact with the gel-like sealing elements 17 of the 10 cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14. These gel-like sealing elements 29 can be compressed indirectly via the pressure elements 19 of the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14. 15 The connecting elements 24 and 25 of the cylinder segment-like sealing body segments 14 make it possible for the latter to be fitted in a simple manner on the central sealing body segment 11, first connecting elements 24 being used- for prefitting the cylinder 20 segment-like sealing body segments 14 on the central sealing body segment 11 in such a way that they cannot become detached, and second connecting elements 25 fixing the cylinder-segment-like sealing body segments 14 in the final assembled position on the central 25 sealing body segment 11. A significant advantage of the sealing body 10 according to the invention consists, inter alia, in the fact that all of the cables can be sealed off individually. If, for example, the seal of a cable 16 is intended to be changed in the region of a cylinder segment-like sealing body segment 14 or a cable 16 is intended to be inserted for the first time into the corresponding cable insertion opening 15, the seals of other cables in the region of other cylinder-segment like sealing body segments 14 do not need to be detached for this purpose. As a result, the complexity involved for sealing off a cable 16 can be markedly reduced.

- 11 List of reference symbols 10 Sealing body 11 Central sealing body segment 12 Casing surface 13 Cutout 14 Cylinder-segment-like sealing body segment 15 Cable insertion opening 16 Cable 17 Gel-like sealing element 18 Spring disks 19 Pressure element 20 Spring element 21 Surface 22 Housing 23 Groove-like cutout 24 First connecting element 25 Second connecting element 26 Cutout 27 Connecting element 28 Web 29 Gel-like sealing element 30 Cutout 31 Cutout

Claims

1. A sealing body for a cable sleeve, with a plurality of sealing body segments, which can be connected to one another via connecting elements, cable insertion 5 openings being formed between adjoining sealing body segments, and sealing elements being arranged in the region of the cable insertion openings, which sealing elements can be compressed so as to seal off cables which can be inserted into the cable insertion openings, wherein a central sealing body segment has, on an outer casing surface, a plurality of cutouts distributed over the circumference thereof, wherein in each case one 10 outer sealing body segment can be inserted into each of the cutouts of the central sealing body segment, and wherein in each case one cable insertion opening for receiving and individually sealing off in each case one single cable is formed between the central sealing body segment and each outer sealing body segment, wherein each outer sealing body segment has a sealing element, which can be compressed individually independently is of the sealing elements of other outer sealing body segments via an individual pressure element in order to individually seal off the cable which can be inserted into the respective cable insertion opening.

2. The sealing body as claimed in claim 1, wherein each outer sealing body segment can be inserted into a cutout of the central sealing body segment in the 20 radial direction of the central sealing body segment.

3. The sealing body as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each outer sealing body segment has a plurality of connecting elements, which interact with connecting elements of the central sealing body segment.

4. The sealing body as claimed in claim 3, wherein first connecting 25 elements of each outer sealing body segment are in the form of latching tabs or snap action hooks, which engage in correspondingly contoured cutouts or recesses of connecting elements of the central sealing body segment, each outer sealing body segment being capable of being prefitted on the central sealing body segment via the first connecting elements in such a way that it cannot become detached and in such a way that 30 it is capable of being moved relative to the central sealing body segment in order to facilitate the insertion of a cable into the corresponding cable insertion opening.

5. The sealing body as claimed in claim 4, wherein each outer sealing body segment is capable of being moved in the radial direction relative to the central sealing body segment. 13

6. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein second connecting elements of each outer sealing body segment are in the form of latching tabs or snap-action hooks, which engage in correspondingly contoured cutouts or recesses of connecting elements of the central sealing body segment, each outer sealing body 5 segment being capable of being fitted on the central sealing body segment via the second connecting elements in such a way that a final assembled position thereof is fixed relative to the central sealing body segment.

7. The sealing body as claimed in claim 6, wherein the radial position of each outer sealing body segment is fixed relative to the central sealing body segment. 10

8. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims I to 7, wherein the central sealing body segment has, in the region of each cutout, a sealing element, which interacts with the sealing element of the corresponding outer sealing body segment.

9. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cutouts of the central sealing body segment, which are used for receiving in each case one is outer sealing body segment and individually sealing off in each case one cable, are arranged evenly distributed over the circumference of the central sealing body segment.

10. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims I to 9, wherein an outer surface of the outer sealing body segments complements the casing surface, which is interrupted by the cutouts, of the central sealing body segment in a final assembled 20 position.

11. The sealing body as claimed in claim 10, wherein groove-like cutouts are introduced into the outer surface of the outer sealing body segments and into the casing surface of the central sealing body segment, which cutouts complement one another in the final assembled position and into which cutouts a sealing element can be 25 inserted in order to seal off the sealing body with respect to a covering body of a cable sleeve.

12. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sealing elements are gel-like sealing elements.

13. The sealing body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said 30 central sealing body segment is cylindrical, and wherein each outer sealing body segment is cylinder-segment like.

14. A sealing body for a cable sleeve for an optical fiber cable, comprising: a central sealing body segment, the central sealing body segment having an outer casing surface with a plurality of cutouts distributed over the outer casing surface; 14 at least one sealing body segment, the at least one sealing body segment being radially insertable into any one of the plurality of cutouts; at least one sealing element, the at least one sealing element at least partially disposed on the central sealing body segment, the at least one sealing element being 5 associated with the at least one sealing body segment, the at least one sealing element adapted to receive at least one optical fiber cable, and the at least one sealing element being a generally compressible gel-like sealing element; and at least one cable insertion opening, the at least one cable insertion opening being formed between the central sealing body segment and the at least one sealing body 10 segment, the at least one cable insertion opening being associated with the at least one sealing element for inserting and sealing the at least one optical fiber cable, the at least one sealing element being engaged and disengaged by the at least one sealing body segment, the at least one optical fiber cable being received and sealed independently of any other optical fiber cables inserted into any other cable insertion openings formed is between the central sealing body segment and any other sealing body segments.

15. The sealing body of claim 14, the plurality of cutouts being distributed along the periphery of the outer casing surface.

16. The sealing body of claim 14, the sealing body including at least one pressure element, the at least one pressure element cooperating with the at least one 20 sealing body segment for engaging and disengaging the at least one sealing element, for compressing the at least one sealing element.

17. The sealing body of claim 14, the at least one sealing element including at least one cutout for receiving the at least one optical fiber cable.

18. A sealing body for a cable sleeve substantially as hereinbefore described 25 with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 31 May 2011 CCS Technology, Inc. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person 30 SPRUSON & FERGUSON