Modular bulkhead for sealing passage of cables and pipes in structures of all kinds

Abstract

Modular rectangular parallela pipidle sealing units assembled in a frame for a gas tight penetration seal have perimetral grooves and bores reaching from these grooves into the recesses of the modules to the peripheries of the cables or pipes or filler bodies in the modules. The grooves and bores form a pressurizable network which after pressurization with compressed air can be monitored for gas tightness.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A modular penetration seal for a sealed passage of cables and pipes through structures of all kinds, comprising at least one seal module having two block-shaped parts each formed with a semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to said longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in said module in at least one of said grooves and reaching into said module to an outer surface of said member.  
     
     
         2 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 1  wherein each part of said module has at least one said bore.  
     
     
         3 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 1  wherein each of said modules has two of said bores.  
     
     
         4 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said modules are provided within a frame surrounding said plurality of modules, and the bores of said modules form a communicating system of passages within the modular penetration seal.  
     
     
         5 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a gland frame receiving a plurality of said modules and sealingly retaining same, said frame and said bores forming a communicating system of passages within the seal.  
     
     
         6 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a frame receiving a plurality of said modules and forming with the grooves and bores of said nodules a network of horizontal and vertical passages defining within said seal a test gas volume pressurizable from the exterior and whose pressure can be monitored from the exterior.  
     
     
         7 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 6 , further comprising a wedge assembly sealingly engaging said frame and said modules and braced therebetween to secure said modules in said frame, said wedge assembly being formed with perimetral grooves forming part of said network.  
     
     
         8 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one anchor gasket disposed between layers of said modules and having at least one throughgoing opening in a region of the grooves of modules of said layers.  
     
     
         9 . The modular penetration seal defined in  claim 7 , further comprising a compressed air coupling connected to said network and a compressed air source and a manometer connected to said network for measuring pressure loss therein.  
     
     
         10 . A method of providing a penetration seal in the form of a gas-tight bulkhead in a structure, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of seal modules each having two block-shaped parts formed with semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to said longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in each said module in at least one of said grooves and reaching into said module to an outer surface of the respective said member;    (b) assembling a plurality of said modules in a frame with said modules sealing against one another and against said frame so that said grooves and bores form an internal network defining a test volume sealed against the exterior;    (c) from the exterior pressurizing said network with compressed air; and    (d) measuring pressure loss from said network to ensure gas-tightness of the penetration seal.