阅读说明：本技术 供至少一根管道或电缆从中穿过延伸的导管以及用于密封这种导管的方法 (Conduit for at least one pipe or cable extending therethrough and method for sealing such a conduit ) 是由 约翰内斯·阿尔佛雷德·贝勒 于 2018-09-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：供至少一根管道或电缆延伸穿过的导管,其中,该导管具有内壁,并设有用于在未被所述至少一根管道或电缆占据的导管中进行密封的系统,其中,该系统包括：至少一个橡胶元件,其用于在所述导管中提供支撑结构,该支撑结构被夹紧在所述内壁和所述至少一根管道或电缆之间；和密封剂层,其抵靠所述支撑结构,并用于在所述内壁和所述至少一根管道或电缆之间将所述导管的至少一个端部密封隔离,其中,每个橡胶元件由基本上不可热膨胀类型的耐火硫化橡胶制成,并且其中该密封剂由耐火聚合物制成,该耐火聚合物可在室温下在暴露于湿气时硫化,并且也是基本上不可热膨胀类型。(A conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends, wherein the conduit has an inner wall and is provided with a system for sealing in a conduit unoccupied by the at least one pipe or cable, wherein the system comprises: at least one rubber element for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clamped between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant layer abutting the support structure and serving to seal off at least one end of the conduit between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable, wherein each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, and wherein the sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer which is vulcanizable at room temperature upon exposure to moisture and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type.)

1. A conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends, wherein the conduit has an inner wall and is provided with a system for sealing in a conduit space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable, wherein the system comprises:

at least one rubber element for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clamped in the space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant layer against the support structure for sealing off at least one end of the conduit between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable, wherein each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, and wherein the sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer which is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, wherein the polymer has been vulcanized or is capable of being vulcanized at room temperature upon exposure to moisture, wherein the thickness of the sealant layer is in the range of 14mm to 16mm, most preferably having a thickness of 15mm, wherein each rubber element is a longitudinal element, and wherein the length of each longitudinal element is in the range of 12 to 14cm, and preferably having a length of 13 cm.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rubber elements comprises a shroud wall.

3. The catheter according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the mantle walls is provided with a slit extending over the entire length of the rubber element.

4. The catheter of claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the mantle walls is self-closing.

5. A conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends, wherein the conduit has an inner wall and is provided with a system for sealing in a conduit space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable, wherein the system comprises:

a plurality of rubber elements for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clamped in the space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant layer against the support structure to seal off at least one end of the conduit between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable, wherein each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, and wherein the sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer that is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, wherein the polymer has been vulcanized or is capable of being vulcanized at room temperature upon exposure to moisture, wherein at least one of the rubber elements comprises a hood wall, and wherein at least one of the hood walls is provided with a slit extending over the entire length of the rubber element.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein at least one of the cover walls is self-closing.

7. The catheter of claim 5 or 6, wherein the thickness of the sealant layer is in the range of 14mm to 16mm, and preferably has a thickness of 15 mm.

8. A method for sealing a conduit having an inner wall and through which at least one pipe or cable extends, wherein the method comprises:

-placing at least one rubber element in the conduit in a space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable, so as to provide a clamped support structure with the at least one rubber element, the support structure being such that there remains a space on each side thereof which can be used to apply a layer of sealant within the conduit, which abuts the support structure for sealing off the respective end of the conduit; and

applying a layer of sealant against the support structure to seal the respective ends of the conduits apart, the layer of sealant having a thickness in the range of 14mm to 16mm, and preferably having a thickness of 15mm,

wherein each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, and wherein the sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer that is capable of vulcanizing at room temperature upon exposure to moisture and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type.

9. A method for sealing a conduit having an inner wall through which at least one pipe or cable extends, wherein the method comprises:

placing a plurality of rubber elements in the conduit in a space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable to provide a clamped support structure with the plurality of rubber elements, wherein the placing comprises: placing one of the rubber elements around one of the pipes or one of the cables, the one rubber element being provided with a cover wall having a slit over the entire length of the rubber element, the support structure being such that there remains a space on each side thereof which can be used to apply a sealant layer within the conduit, the sealant layer abutting the support structure for sealing off the respective end of the conduit; and

applying a layer of sealant against the support structure to seal the respective ends of the conduits apart,

wherein each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-thermally expandable type, and wherein the sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer that is capable of vulcanizing at room temperature upon exposure to moisture and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type.

10. The catheter or method of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the substantially non-thermally expandable type of rubber or polymer includes a rubber or polymer that does not contain ingredients that would, upon heating, expand the rubber or polymer to a greater extent than the rubber or polymer itself expands upon such heating.

11. The catheter or method of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the rubber comprises a silicone-based rubber.

12. The catheter or method of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the polymer comprises a silicone-based polymer.

13. The catheter or method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the longitudinal rubber element is a tubular element, or wherein a plurality of the longitudinal rubber elements can together form one tubular element.

14. The catheter or method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the rubber has a hardness in the range of 70 to 78 shore a, preferably about 74 shore a.

15. The catheter or method of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the rubber element is cylindrically shaped.

16. The catheter or method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the cylindrical rubber elements has an outer diameter in the range of 16mm to 40 mm.

17. The catheter or method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the cylindrical rubber element is a tubular element having an inner diameter in the range of 10mm to 32 mm.

18. The catheter or method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealant has a hardness after vulcanization in the range of 35-50 shore a, preferably in the range of 40-45 shore a.

19. A catheter or method according to any preceding claim, wherein each rubber element and/or the sealant is non-flammable at a temperature of 400 ℃.

20. The catheter or method of any of the preceding claims, wherein each rubber element and/or sealant has an oxygen index of 45% or higher.

21. The catheter or method of any of the preceding claims, wherein each rubber element and/or the sealant has a color that contrasts with black.

22. The catheter or method of claim 21, wherein the color is reddish brown or white.

23. Catheter or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the catheter in the axial direction is in the range of 15-17cm, and preferably has a length of 16 cm.

24. The catheter or method of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the catheter is formed of a metal or metal alloy.

25. The conduit or method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit comprises a through hole in a concrete wall or concrete ceiling.

26. A conduit or method according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner wall of the conduit comprises an aqueous layered silicate mineral material, preferably coated with a fire retardant coating.

27. The catheter or method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner wall of the catheter comprises a glass-filled hard engineering plastic.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends, and to a method for sealing such a conduit.

Background

The sealing system is generally applied in a duct which is itself incorporated in this way or another way, for example in a construction element separating two compartments. A pipe or cable may extend from one of the two compartments through the conduit into the other compartment. Such conduits are typically found on ships and/or other offshore applications, such as oil rigs. These conduits are commonly referred to as pipe or cable penetrations or pass-through systems. In such a configuration, these penetrations are considered undesirable necessities. Not only pipes for e.g. water supply and waste water treatment systems, air conditioning systems, hydraulic and pneumatic control, sprinklers, etc., but also pipes for transporting natural gas or oil, need to extend throughout such a construction, even if this requires the introduction of "weak spots" in the separation of the compartments. Instead of a pipe, the cable may also extend through the conduit. Such a cable may for example be a power cable. Thus, where reference is made in this disclosure to a conduit, this may be equivalent to reference to a cable.

Such weakening points are not to a large extent reflected in the mechanical strength of the construction, but rather more in the transmission of undesirable physical phenomena in the overall structure. One of these physical phenomena is the cause of a fire which needs to be confined to only one area as long as possible in order not only to be able to control and suppress the fire, but also to give time for people present in the compartment close to the fire to arrive at a safe distance from the fire before the fire spreads further. In order to prevent smoke and/or fire from passing from one compartment to another through the conduit, the conduit is typically provided with a material that closes the conduit at least for some time when the conduit is exposed to heat due to a fire.

Although reference is made above to a construction element having a duct and separating two compartments, it is also possible that the construction element separates a compartment from the surroundings. It is thus possible for one side of the construction element to be exposed to atmospheric conditions.

It will be understood that the pipes extending through the conduit, the conduit itself, and the construction elements incorporating the conduit are each typically made of a thermally conductive material (e.g. aluminium or steel). Typically in these cases, heat still enters the conduit sleeve only via one or more pipes extending into the conduit from the side exposed to the fire. The same applies to cables which usually have a metal core. The entry of heat through the material from which the conduit is made is generally inhibited by an insulating liner disposed against the outer wall of the conduit and the structural element incorporating the conduit.

Today, however, it is not always possible to apply an insulating lining around the conduit, so that heat can be conducted through the conduit material from the outside of the conduit to the inside of the conduit. Thus, heat may be supplied to the inner space of the conduit via at least two paths. The first path is via a pipe or cable extending into the conduit and the second path is through the thermally conductive material of which the conduit is made to supply heat to the interior space of the conduit. Since heat can be supplied via two paths, heat can be supplied very quickly to the inner space of the catheter sleeve. These conditions are often found in offshore constructions and vessels, where the construction material is indeed made of metal (i.e. a heat conducting material). In constructions other than offshore constructions and vessels, like for example onshore constructions, heat ingress via the second path occurs less frequently, if at all.

WO2006/097290 describes a system which is to some extent suitable for placement in a catheter as described above. The system includes a heat expandable rubber sleeve. The rubber is made thermally expandable by incorporating thermally expandable graphite into the rubber. The system further comprises a fire resistant and/or water resistant sealant for sealing off the two ends of the conduit. When exposed to a nearby fire, the heat transferred into the conduit expands the expandable sleeve and thus seals the isolation conduit by forming a soft, almost powdery mass without providing mechanical stability to the seal. The swelling may cause the sealant layer to crack. This rupture is not a problem in itself, as the expanded sleeve already seals the conduit off before the sealant layer ruptures. Sometimes, the sealant is also made thermally expandable.

To allow for rapid and unimpeded thermal expansion, the components of the rubber sleeve are held together within the dimensions of the sleeve, but of course do not become trapped in the rigid internal structure. Thus, the cannula is rather flexible. Since one cannot know how much heat is being provided to the sealed system and to ensure that it responds timely and adequately, the system is configured such that even when only a relatively small temperature rise is experienced, a portion of the system will expand and a closure of the conduit will occur. In other words, the system is made very sensitive due to the uncertainty of how much heat reaches the sealing system. Thus, the heat "over" causes an over-responsive expansion, even out of the catheter.

Although such systems work satisfactorily and pass many fire safety tests, alternative and perhaps even further improved systems are still desired, as in practice, on-board safety of offshore constructions and/or vessels is always a compromise between cost and time that the penetration must withstand a fire at one side of the penetration.

WO2008/104237a1 describes a system for sealing in a conduit space, wherein the conduit space is not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable extending through the conduit. The system comprises: at least one rubber element for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clampable between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant applied against the support structure and for sealing off at least one end of the conduit between the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable. Each rubber element is made of a fire-resistant vulcanized rubber of the type that is substantially non-heat expandable. The sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer that is vulcanizable at room temperature upon exposure to moisture and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type.

One or more rubber elements made of vulcanized rubber have a high mechanical stability when clamped in the conduit. Thus, when applied against a structure, the sealant forms a barrier that is not only odor and smoke resistant, but also water resistant.

It has been demonstrated that sealant supported by a support structure can easily withstand a pressure of 7 bar before being exposed to a nearby fire without causing the sealant to bulge into the conduit at the exposed side. It has further been demonstrated that the seal is thermally insulating. It becomes further clear that such systems experience little thermal expansion in use and when exposed to a nearby fire, such that the support structure provided by the one or more rubber elements clamped in the conduit, the rubber seal provided by the sealant remains in place and continues to provide a proper seal. After exposure to a nearby fire, a significant portion of the seal remains unconsumed and remains to some extent functional as a seal.

A major advantage of the system disclosed in WO20008/104237a1 is that the adequacy of the seal can be easily assessed "on site" by any worker installing the system. It is not necessary to use a computer in the office to design prior to installation based on thermal management considerations and/or thermal expansion considerations (i.e., factors that determine the performance of the sealing system under a simulated fire). Once the stability of the sealing system has been established prior to exposure to a nearby fire (i.e. during installation of the seal), there is little change in stability during exposure to a nearby fire. In other words, mechanical stability and thermal insulation are largely maintained during exposure to nearby fires. This sealing system remains in place and remains acting as a sealing system. No part of the sealing system will fall out of the conduit.

The system disclosed in WO2008/104237a1 may also be applicable in cases where no insulation is applied to the conduit or to a construction element incorporating the conduit. It has been found that this sealing system can withstand very high temperatures.

However, the known and applied systems require long installation times and usually require large conduits of at least 18cm in length.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, it is an object to provide a catheter which is for faster installation and which is smaller than catheters currently in use.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends. The conduit has an inner wall and is provided with a system for sealing in a space of the conduit not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable. The system comprises: at least one rubber element for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clamped in a space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant layer abutting the support structure to seal the at least one end of the conduit from the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable. Each rubber element is made of a fire-resistant vulcanized rubber and is of a substantially non-heat expandable type. The sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type. The sealant is cured or capable of curing upon exposure to moisture. The thickness of the sealant layer is in the range of 14-16mm, and preferably has a thickness of 15mm, wherein each rubber element is a longitudinal element, and wherein the length of each longitudinal element is in the range of 12cm to 14cm, and preferably has a length of 13 cm. Advantageously, vulcanization of the fire resistant polymer proceeds more rapidly due to the reduced thickness of the layer as compared to typical layer thicknesses of 20mm or greater known, recognized and applied in the art. Surprisingly, the sealing layer not only cures faster after application, but also becomes a better sealant. Thus, unexpectedly, this reduced thickness provides a better sealant layer than a thicker sealant layer. Although this effect is evident at any thickness in the range of 14-16mm, the development leading to the present disclosure has shown that the optimal thickness of the sealant layer is 15 mm.

This means, therefore, that the conduit need not be so long as to accommodate a 20mm layer of sealant at each end. Assuming a sealant layer is applied at each end of the catheter, each reduction in the thickness of the sealant layer may result in a two-fold reduction in the length of the catheter.

Because the layer of sealant acts better as a sealant, the support structure may also have a smaller dimension in the axial direction of the catheter. First, the sealant layer and its support structure adhere better to each other and therefore have a stronger connection, thereby enhancing the stability of the sealing system in the conduit as a whole. Secondly, as will be explained in more detail below, because of the better adhesion of the sealant to the support structure, the air trapped in the support structure has little, if any, interaction with the environment and is therefore a much better insulator than the air pockets (air pockets) present in similar catheters of the prior art.

The length dimension of the catheter may also be reduced due to the possibility of shorter support structures (shorter in the length direction of the catheter) and thinner sealant layers. That is, in the axial direction, the duct may be shorter and thus, in a compartment separated by a construction element to which the duct has been incorporated, the duct may occupy the space in the compartment to a lesser extent.

Tests have shown that the sealant layer protects the support structure when exposed to a nearby fire. Although the sealant layer may have become a char layer, there is little, if any, noticeable coking on the support structure.

Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it has been found that a thinner sealant layer actually provides better results, as opposed to the conventional view "the thicker the sealant layer, the better the seal integrity". This is believed to be because: given thinner layers, the time required for vulcanization is shorter. Furthermore, with a better sealant layer, it is also possible to have a shorter support structure. It is generally believed that longer support structures will be clamped more firmly. However, it has turned out that by means of a shorter support structure, a thinner sealant layer and thus a shorter conduit, contrary to what is desired based on conventional considerations, the same or even better results as longer support structures, thicker sealant layers and thus longer conduits can be achieved.

It is an object according to a second aspect of the present disclosure to provide a duct having a higher durability when heat enters the duct via a pipe or a cable.

According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a conduit through which at least one pipe or cable extends. The conduit has an inner wall and is provided with a system for sealing in a space of the conduit not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable. The system comprises: at least one rubber element for providing a support structure in the conduit, the support structure being clamped in a space not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable; and a sealant layer abutting the support structure to seal the at least one end of the conduit from the inner wall and the at least one pipe or cable. Each rubber element is made of a fire resistant vulcanized rubber which is substantially non-heat expandable. The sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer which is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type. The polymer is vulcanized or capable of vulcanizing at room temperature upon exposure to moisture. At least one of the rubber elements comprises a mantle wall. At least one of the cover walls is provided with a slit extending over the entire length of the rubber element. The rubber element may surround the pipe and cable in the conduit over the length of the slit and thus be in close contact with the pipe or cable in the conduit. It has been shown that such a fire-resistant vulcanized rubber element works as a heat sink with respect to the air trapped in the duct. Thus, heat is absorbed into the very thermally stable rubber element. This improves the overall insulation of the sealing system in the duct. Thus, the catheter may have a reduced length in the axial direction of the catheter. In this way, in the compartment into which the duct extends partially, the duct does not necessarily occupy as much space in that compartment.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, it is an object to provide a method for sealing a conduit having an inner wall through which at least one pipe or cable extends, such that the method may allow for shorter conduits.

According to this third aspect of the present disclosure, a method according to claim 8 is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, it is an object to provide a method for sealing a conduit such that the method allows the use of a shorter conduit, wherein the conduit has an inner wall through which at least one pipe or cable extends.

According to this fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a method according to claim 9 is provided.

For the sake of clarity, it is noted that a rubber or polymer of the type that is substantially non-thermally expandable includes rubbers or polymers that do not contain components that, when heated, will cause the rubber or polymer to expand to a greater extent than the rubber or polymer itself expands upon such heating.

Drawings

The present disclosure further describes more detailed examples with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which:

fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a catheter according to the present disclosure in cross-section;

fig. 2 schematically shows an example of a catheter according to the present disclosure in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective and semi-exploded view of steps of an example of a method according to the present disclosure during installation of a sealing system;

fig. 4 shows an example of method steps according to the present disclosure during installation of the sealing system in a perspective view;

fig. 5 shows in perspective an example of method steps according to the present disclosure in a final stage of installation of the sealing system;

fig. 6 is a perspective and partially exploded view of an example of a catheter according to the present disclosure;

fig. 7 schematically illustrates an example of a catheter according to the present disclosure in cross-section; and

fig. 8 schematically shows an example of a catheter according to the present disclosure in cross-section.

In the drawings, like parts have like reference numerals.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows an example of a cross section of a catheter, here referred to as a through system (transit system) TS. The pass-through system TS is usually incorporated in a metallic, substantially plate-shaped construction element P. The plate-like construction element P can be located between two spaces SI, SII separated by the construction element P. The plate-like construction element may be part of a bulkhead, a wall or a deck, for example in or on a ship, or may be part of another construction constructed substantially from metal, such as for example steel. The pass-through system TS comprises a conduit wall 1, which is made of a material that conducts heat in this example. The conduit wall 1 may be welded into the opening of the construction element P. Although the ducts are incorporated in a substantially plate-shaped construction element P of metal as shown in this example, it is also possible that the ducts are incorporated in a partition made of, for example, concrete walls or any other material.

The pipe 2 extends through the conduit. As will be discussed later, it is also possible that instead of the pipe 2 one or more cables extend through the opening. The pipe 2 may be made of steel, copper nickel alloy or, for example, of a so-called glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) pipe. The system installed in the space in the conduit not occupied by the pipe 2, typically the annular space between the inner wall 3 of the conduit 1 and the pipe 2, comprises at least one rubber element 4 for providing a support structure in the conduit 1. The one or more rubber elements 4 may be clamped between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2. In practice, the support structure is thus clamped in the catheter 1. Each of the clamped rubber elements 4 is part of the support structure. The system further comprises a sealant layer 5, the sealant layer 5 being for applying against the support structure and for sealing off at least one end 6 of the conduit 1 between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2. As shown, it is preferred that both ends 6 are sealed off by a sealant layer 5. The thickness of the sealant layer 5 is in the range of 14-19mm, preferably in the range of 14-16mm, most preferably having a thickness of 15 mm. In the present disclosure, the thickness of the layer may also be defined by the distance between the end of the support structure clamped in the conduit and the nearest end of the conduit.

Each rubber element 4 is made of a fire-resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-heat-expandable type. The rubber is preferably a silicone-based rubber. The rubber may be prepared by standard procedures known to those skilled in the art based on widely commercially available components. Sealant layer 5 is made of a fire resistant polymer that is vulcanizable at room temperature upon exposure to moisture and is also of a substantially non-thermally expandable type. The polymer is preferably a silicon-based polymer. Likewise, such sealants may be prepared by standard procedures known to those skilled in the art based on widely commercially available components. The substantially non-thermally expandable type of rubber includes rubbers that do not contain components that would cause the rubber to expand upon heating to a greater extent than the rubber itself expands upon such heating. Likewise, polymers of the substantially non-thermally expandable type include polymers that do not contain components that, upon heating, will cause the polymer to expand to a greater extent than the polymer itself expands upon such heating.

An example of a rubber element in the form of a sleeve that would be suitable for use in the techniques of the present disclosure is available from the applicant under the trade name NOFIRNO. Similarly, the Sealant available is under the trade name NOFIRNO Sealant.

Preferably, each rubber element 4 is a longitudinal element having a length l in the range of 10cm to 16cm, preferably in the range of 12 to 14 cm. Most preferably, the length l is 13 cm. This allows easy placement of such elements in the conduit parallel to the pipe 2. When the sealing system comprises one rubber element, this may be a substantially annular element provided with a longitudinal slit to allow the coaxial placement with the pipe 2. However, it is also possible that the rubber element is an element which can be wound around the pipe 2 and forced in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 2 and the conduit into the space between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2. The longitudinal rubber elements 4 aligned as shown in fig. 1 provide a support structure against which the sealant layer 5 may be applied. The support structure provided by the one or more rubber elements 4 provides good support for the sealant 5 when pressure is applied in the longitudinal direction of the conduit and pipe 2.

Fig. 2 shows that a catheter according to the present disclosure may also be positioned asymmetrically with respect to the construction element P.

Fig. 3-5 show how a sealing system according to the present disclosure is installed in a conduit through which a pipe 2 extends, as an example of a method for sealing a conduit, wherein the conduit has an inner wall and at least one pipe or cable extends through the conduit.

Such a method comprises: placing at least one rubber element in a space in the conduit not occupied by the at least one pipe or cable, thereby providing a clamped support structure with the at least one rubber element. The support structure is such that there is still space left on each side thereof for applying a layer of sealant within the pipe, which lies against the support structure to seal off the respective end of the pipe. The method further includes applying a sealant layer against the support structure to seal the respective ends of the conduits apart. The thickness of the sealing layer is in the range of 14-19mm, preferably in the range of 14-17, most preferably having a thickness of 15 mm. As previously mentioned, the thickness of the sealant layer may also be defined by the shortest distance between the end of the support structure clamped in the catheter and the nearest end of the catheter.

In these figures it is shown that the rubber element 4 may be a longitudinal rubber element having a tubular shape. Each rubber element 4 preferably comprises a mantle wall. When the cover wall itself is closed, i.e. not split, the tubular rubber element is stronger than in the case of a cover wall provided with longitudinal slits. The thickness of the mantle wall is preferably in the range of 2-5mm, even more preferably 3-4 mm. Although the tubular element 4 may be provided, for example, so that the cross-section is square, triangular or a different angled shape, it may also have a more rounded cross-section, such as an oval or circular cross-section. Preferably, each rubber element is cylindrical in shape. This shape contributes to the tubular element 4 being equally strong in each transverse direction. Once the conduit 1 is filled with tubular rubber elements of such longitudinal cylindrical shape, the support structure formed with those elements 4 can be clamped by itself in the space between the inner wall 3 of the conduit 1 and the pipe 2. This enhances the strength and rigidity of the support structure. In this way, the support structure may also support the pipe 2 extending through the conduit 1. Due to the inherent properties of the material used to construct the support structure, mechanical shocks can be easily absorbed by the support structure. Vibrations, especially in the lateral direction, are most likely completely damped out by the support structure. At the same time, the strength provided by the support structure in the longitudinal direction is very high. Sound may also be attenuated and thus absorbed by the sealing system according to the invention.

The strength increases further with the tightness with which the rubber element 4 is clamped in the space between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2. The relative movement of the rubber elements 4 in their axial direction is inhibited by the relatively high frictional force generated at their contact surfaces. The rubber element also has a low compression set, i.e. a property which relates to the maximum deformation that the rubber can withstand and from which the rubber can still relax completely back to its original dimensions. The compression set is relatively low, about 40%, so that the clamping provided can be maintained during the service life of the sealing system.

In addition to the good mechanical properties of the support structure, it must also be understood that such a structure comprises a plurality of channels that are completely isolated from each other, making it also a good insulator, in particular when the sealant layer 5 is applied at both ends 6 of the duct 1 and is sealed off at both ends. The air cavities formed by the unconnected channels also add to the high thermal insulation of the support structure itself.

It has been found that an optimal support structure can be formed when the outer diameter of the plurality of cylindrical rubber elements is in the range of 16-40 mm. Depending on the outer diameter, the inner diameter is preferably in the range of 10-32 mm. The hardness of the fire resistant vulcanized silicone rubber is preferably in the range of 70-78 Shore A. A very suitable hardness is 74 shore a. In order to easily produce, order, stock and install these rubber components, these components are preferably all of the same shape. However, it is possible that these elements comprise two types of rubber elements. All elements may have similar dimensions in the longitudinal direction, but the transverse dimensions of one type of member of the two types and the other type of member of the two types may differ. This allows to fill the conduit with the rubber element 4 in an optimal way, not only in terms of ease of installation but also in terms of obtaining a support structure with optimal performance.

It is noted that by using longitudinal elements having a shape as shown in fig. 2 of, for example, WO 03/067136, it is also possible to achieve a support structure having the following structural properties obtained using tubular rubber elements.

As shown in fig. 4, once the space between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2 is completely filled with the rubber element 4, a sealant layer 5 made of a fire-resistant polymer (preferably a silicon-based polymer) and curable at room temperature upon exposure to moisture is applied at the end 6 of the conduit between the inner wall 3 and the pipe 2 and against the support structure formed by the rubber element 4.

The sealant layer may be made such that: such that the outer layer 8 of sealant cures in a period of about 1 to 2 hours, typically even more quickly, upon exposure to atmospheric moisture. The hardness of the sealant is about 40-45 shore a when applied to seal off the end 6 of the conduit 1 and vulcanize within 1 to 2 hours (or even faster) when exposed to atmospheric humidity.

As shown in fig. 5, before the sealant layer 5 has fully cured (i.e. vulcanized), the sealant may be manually pressed further into the conduit so that the sealing material will eventually be within the tubular elements 4 and between the tubular elements 4. Of course, when applying the sealant against the structure, in particular when using a so-called high pressure applicator to apply the sealant, the sealant may already end up in the cavity of the support structure. This is shown to some extent in fig. 6. Pressing the sealant into the conduit 1 can continue until the sealant is flush with the outer end 6 of the conduit. After curing of the sealant layer 5, the support structure and the sealant layer 5 may be mechanically a single structure. The adherence of the sealant layer 5 to the rubber element 4 forming the support structure and to the inner wall 3 of the catheter 1 is both good.

The performance of the sealing system is also very good when a nearby fire on one side of the duct is exposing that side of the duct to a significant amount of heat. Initially, i.e. within the first hour after exposure to a nearby fire, no smoke passes through the seal from the side where the fire occurred. The same is true for odor. Indeed, within the first hour after exposure of that side of the duct to a nearby fire, only the glowing colour of the metal duct and steel structural element P indicates that a fire is occurring on the other side of the duct.

On the side not exposed to fire, the sealing system rises only about 160 ℃ in the middle between the inner wall 3 of the conduit 1 and the pipe 2 (both made of steel) after one hour. Since the silicone rubber and sealant are non-flammable at temperatures of 400 ℃ or less, this portion of the sealing system remains intact. The mechanical stability of the seal is also largely unaffected by a fire occurring at the other end of the conduit. Each of the rubber element 4 and the sealant layer preferably has an oxygen index (oxyden index) of 45% or more. It has turned out that during these described situations, such an embodiment of the sealing system according to the invention is not consumed during exposure to a nearby fire at either side of the conduit. It has been demonstrated that without any insulation applied to the duct and/or the construction element P (so that heat can enter the duct via the construction element P and the pipe 2), the sealing system can easily withstand exposure to a fire at one end of the duct for more than one hour without any smoke or odour passing through the duct and without any flame passing through the duct to the unexposed side. When applying the insulating material against the pipe and/or the construction element P, it is possible to prolong the time during which this excellent insulation provided by the sealing system can be maintained. This material is shown by reference numeral 8 in fig. 6, typically in the form of mineral wool. However, the system is invented primarily for use in construction elements P that are not insulated. The conduit may be shorter in the longitudinal direction if it is determined that insulation is to be applied.

Preferably, the sealing system is arranged such that the rubber element 4 and/or the sealant 5 have a color that contrasts with black. This allows the sealing system to be quickly identified after one side of the conduit 1 is exposed to a nearby fire. This allows the severity of the fire to be assessed, as well as the duration of exposure of the sealing system to extremely high temperatures. In other words, it allows understanding what happens in terms of heat exposure during a fire. The color contrasting with black is preferably reddish brown, similar to the color of laterite. Even in completely black and burned out compartments, it is easy to trace back the color.

Fig. 7 illustrates another example of a catheter according to the present disclosure.

The pass-through system TS is shown as an example of a conduit through which the cable 2 extends. The catheter has a catheter wall 1 and an inner wall. The conduit is provided with a system for sealing in the conduit space not occupied by the cable 2. The system comprises at least one rubber element 4, which at least one rubber element 4 is used to provide a support structure in the conduit that is clamped in the space not occupied by the cable 2. The system further comprises a sealant layer 5, the sealant layer 5 abutting the support structure to seal the at least one end 6 of the conduit from the inner wall and the cable 2. Each rubber element 4 is made of a fire-resistant vulcanized rubber of a substantially non-heat-expandable type. The sealant is made of a fire resistant polymer that has been vulcanized or that can be vulcanized at room temperature and upon exposure to moisture. The polymer is also of the substantially non-expandable thermal type. The rubber element 10 comprises a mantle wall. The cover wall is provided with slits (not shown) extending over the entire length of the rubber element 10. The rubber element 10 is preferably a longitudinal element and is preferably tubular. The element 10 may be placed around the cable 2, ideally so that contact is obtained between the rubber element 10 and a coating 9 of the cable 2.

Fig. 8 shows a pass-through system TS or conduit with a sealing system according to the present disclosure. The sealing system is suitable for "multiple penetrations", i.e. for more than one pipe (or cable) extending through a conduit. Of course, it is possible that more cables 2 extend through the conduit. The element 11 may be of the single sleeve type with a slit extending over the length of the sleeve so that the sleeve can be placed around the cable 2. The rubber element 4 may be provided in the form of a plurality of units of bonded rubber element 4. The individual rubber elements can be easily torn off from the unit of bonded elements. Such a rubber element may still have the shape of a sleeve, i.e. longitudinal and tubular. An example of a refractory sleeve member is disclosed in EP2116280a1, which is bonded together as a unit of a plurality of sleeve members.

A catheter such as that shown in fig. 7 and 8 is provided using the following method. A rubber element is placed around one or more cables extending through the conduit, wherein the rubber element is provided with a mantle wall, and the mantle wall has a slit over the entire length of the rubber element. Further, a plurality of rubber elements are placed in the space in the conduit not occupied by the one or more conduits or the one or more cables. As more and more rubber elements are placed in the space not occupied by the pipe or cable, a clamped support structure is eventually provided. The positioning of the support structure in the conduit is preferably such that there is still space available on each side thereof for applying a layer of sealant within the conduit, which abuts the support structure to seal off the respective end of the conduit. Once a very stable support structure is obtained, a layer of sealant is applied against the support structure to seal off the respective ends of the conduit.

Examples of catheters according to the present disclosure have a length in the axial direction in the range of 15-17 cm. Preferably, the conduits have a length of 16 cm.

It is further noted that examples of conduits according to the present disclosure are suitable not only for multiple cables or multiple conduits, but are also suitable for use with mixtures of conduits and cables, and for conduits and/or cables formed of different materials, such as plastics and metals.

The present disclosure is not limited to any of the above examples based on the drawings and figures. Many modifications are possible.

In particular, the rubber element 4 may have a different shape than that shown and discussed. A mass having a predetermined configuration may be provided, such as would be obtained by clamping a plurality of tubular elements together, and a suitably sized segment may be cut from such mass for insertion into a catheter. These variants are all understood to fall within the framework of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The conduit may be formed from a metal or metal alloy. Thereby, heat will also be transferred via the conduit material into the conduit. Alternatively, the conduit may comprise a through hole in a concrete wall or a concrete ceiling. Thereby, less heat will be transferred into the conduit. The conduit may also be formed in or from an insulating material to block heat. The conduit may have an inner wall comprising an aqueous layered silicate mineral material, preferably coated with a fire retardant coating. Alternatively or additionally, the inner wall of the conduit comprises a glass-filled hard engineering plastic. These are prefabricated ducts, which usually have large flanges, are light and are easy to apply, for example by gluing between the flanges and the wall using a refractory sealant.