Sealing arrangement for shaft and tunnel construction

Abstract

A sealing arrangement for shaft and tunnel construction. The elastic tension forces that arise when the sealing systems are pressed against each other by reducing the joint clearance, after the systems have been brought into contact with each other, are reduced or completely avoided relative to prior art, and the required surface contact pressure is achieved by means of a self-sealing force effect of the media pressure. In order to achieve the force effect, the geometry of the sealing elements of the sealing system is designed such that the elements comprise pressure surfaces relative to a vacuum or atmosphere after contacting each other. A differential pressure acts on the pressure surfaces, resulting in the force ensuring the required surface contact pressure on the surface, by means of which the sealing elements contact one another at the contact plane.

1 . A sealing arrangement for shaft and tunnel constructions, comprising
 a) at least two components ( 2 ) lying against each other with abutting sides ( 3 ) so that between the components ( 2 ) a joint ( 4 ) is formed that connects a first area ( 5 ) with a second area ( 6 ), the first area ( 5 ) having a first medium ( 17 ) with a first medium pressure and the second area ( 6 ) having a second medium ( 18 ) with a second medium pressure, wherein a pressure difference is present between the first and second medium pressure, and   b) at least one elastic sealing system ( 7 ) at each of the abutting sides ( 3 ) of the components ( 2 ) for sealing the joint ( 4 ),   wherein each of the sealing systems ( 7 ) has at least one sealing element ( 11 ) projecting to the joint ( 4 ), wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) lie against each other on a contact plane ( 12 ), and wherein each of the sealing elements ( 11 ) has at least one pressure area ( 15 ) exposed to the medium ( 17 ) with the higher medium pressure, so that a sealing force is applied between the sealing elements ( 11 ) at the contact plane ( 12 ), which is greater than the force applied without the pressure difference, and which generates a contact pressing, which is greater than the pressure difference.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element ( 11 ) is pivotable or tiltable about a hinge ( 16 ). 
     
     
         3 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the force component of the contact pressing generated by the pressure difference is >50%, preferably >60%, >70%, >80%, >85% or >90, especially preferred >95%, >96%, >97%, >98% or >99%. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact area ( 30 ), with which the sealing elements ( 11 ) lie against each other at the contact plane ( 12 ) is smaller than the pressure area(s) ( 15 ), wherein the ratio of the pressure area(s) ( 15 ) to the contact area ( 30 ) is preferably at least 2:1, further preferred at least 5:1, at least 10:1, at least 20:1 or at least 30:1, and especially preferred at least 50:1. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the sealing systems ( 7 ) has a base body ( 10 ), with which the sealing system ( 7 ) is attached to the component ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) consist of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the sealing systems ( 7 ) has at least two sealing elements ( 11 ) projecting to the joint ( 4 ) with which the sealing systems ( 7 ) lie against each other at contact planes ( 12 ). 
     
     
         8 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) are arranged in a groove ( 23 ) circumferential around the abutting sides ( 3 ) of the components ( 2 ) and/or at a bevel ( 9 ) of the components ( 2 ) circumferential around the abutting sides ( 3 ) of the components ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the groove ( 23 ) or the bevel ( 9 ) are arranged at the edge of the abutting sides ( 3 ) and the sealing systems ( 7 ) are arranged flush with side surfaces ( 13 ) of the components ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein between the component ( 2 ) and the sealing element ( 11 ) a crack ( 19 ) is present, which is open to the medium ( 17 ) with the higher medium pressure. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) are monolithically designed. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) are arranged generally mirror-symmetric to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The sealing arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the sealing systems ( 7 ) are designed generally wedge-shaped and are arranged at a bevel ( 9 ) of the components ( 2 ) circumferential around the abutting sides ( 3 ) of the components ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . A method for sealing a joint between components of shaft and tunnel constructions, the joint connecting a first area with a first medium and a second area with a second medium, wherein
 a) the components are each, at their abutting sides, equipped with an elastic sealing system, which has a sealing element projecting to the joint,   b) the sealing systems are, with their sealing elements, brought into contact at a contact plane, and   c) by means of a pressure difference, which is present or generated between the first medium and the second medium, a force is exerted to pressure areas of the sealing elements directed to one of the areas in such a manner, that a sealing force is generated between the sealing elements at the contact plane, which is greater than the force generated without the pressure difference, and which generates a contact pressing greater than the pressure difference.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a sealing element is used that is pivotable or tiltable about a hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the force component of the contact pressing generated by the pressure difference is >50%, preferably >60%, >70%, >80%, >85% or >90, especially preferred >95%, >96%, >97%, >98% or >99%. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the contact area, with which the sealing elements are brought in contact at the contact plane is smaller than the pressure area(s) exposed to the higher medium pressure, wherein the ratio of the pressure area(s) to the contact area is preferably at least 2:1, further preferred at least 5:1, at least 10:1, at least 20:1 or at least 30:1, and especially preferred at least 50:1. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein sealing systems are used that consist of elastomeric material. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein sealing systems are used that have at least two sealing elements projecting to the joint with which the sealing systems are brought into contact at contact planes. 
     
     
         22 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A tunnel or shaft construction with a sealing arrangement according to  claim 1 .