EP1718808A1

EP1718808A1 - A sealing device and a method for manufacturing a sealing device

Info

Publication number: EP1718808A1
Application number: EP05700599A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lasse Sönderup
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Sonderup Lasse
Priority date: 2004-02-04
Filing date: 2005-01-24
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Also published as: WO2005075751A1; DK200400045U3

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing device (1) for sealing a hole (10), such as a drain (18), a manhole or a sewer from ingress of fluids (13) into the hole (10). The sealing device (1) comprise a sealing part (3) adaptable for the surface surrounding said hole (10), and the sealing part (3) encloses a centre part (2) of the sealing device (1). The sealing part (3) and the centre part (2) are connected by a connecting part (16). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a sealing device (1).

Description

A SEALING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SEALING DEVICE

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a sealing device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for manufacturing a sealing device.

Devices of various kinds for sealing drains, manholes and the likes, from ingress of environmentally damaging fluids, are well known in the art. The most commonly known type is a mat made of a more of less chemically inactive material such as PVC or canvas. The mat is placed over e.g. a drain or a sewer and then manually covered with e.g. earth, gravel, sand or the like, to increase its weight so that it seals the opening it covers and to prevent it from easily being swept away by a possible flow of fluids.

Another type of sealing device is generally known as an elephantfoot. An elephantfoot is typically used by emergency services as a damage control mean, when working at an accident involving the risk of environmentally damaging substances such as gasoline, oil or chemicals, entering e.g. a drain or a sewer. An elephantfoot is a container made of some sort of a flexible waterproof fabric, and when taken into use e.g. at a scene of an accident, the elephantfoot is place over e.g. a drain and then manually filled with water to increase its weight, so that it seals the drain and to prevent it from being swept away by a flow of the above mentioned fluids.

When trying to prevent environmentally damaging substances entering a sewerage system, time is of the essence and both of the above mentioned devices has the serious drawback that they take time to install, and they involve access to other material than the device itself, such as water, sand or other, where they need to be installed e.g. at the scene of the accident. An example of another sealing device is disclosed in US patent no. US 4,838,732, where two layers of film enclose a core material characterised by a high density and low shear strength. This devise is in itself heavy enough to seal e.g. a drain, and it will not easily be washed away. To obtain these qualities the sealing device has to be quite heavy which is a problem when handling the device e.g. at a scene of an accident.

An object of the invention is to provide for an efficient sealing device for sealing holes such as drains, sewers, manholes or the like in a fast, simple and reliable manner.

Especially it is an object of the invention to provide for a sealing device with advantageous weight distribution, in that weight is only provided where it is needed.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide for a sealing device which is inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention

The invention relates to a sealing device for sealing a hole, such as a drain, a manhole or a sewer from ingress of fluids into the hole. The sealing device comprise a sealing part adaptable for the surface surrounding said hole, characterized in that the sealing part encloses a centre part of the sealing device, and in that the sealing part and the centre part are connected by a connecting part.

It is advantageous to provide a sealing device with a sealing part all the way around the outer edges of a centre part, in that it is at or near the outer edges of the sealing device that the sealing quality of the sealing device is most needed. Furthermore by dividing the sealing device into two parts, namely the centre part and the sealing part, it is possible to provide the two different parts with different qualities regarding weight, flexibility or other.

In an aspect of the invention, the sealing part comprises one filling chamber.

Providing the sealing part with a filling chamber is advantageous in that it provides the sealing device with simple and inexpensive means for adding additional material such as filler.

In an aspect of the invention, the filling chamber is completely or partly filled with a filler.

To ensure that the sealing device and particularly the bottom surface of the sealing part, are pressing firmly against the ground, when the sealing device is in use, it is important that the entire sealing device has a density larger than the environmentally damaging fluids, in which the sealing device is to be deployed, and particularly near or at the outer edges of the sealing device, it is important that the sealing device seals properly. It is therefore advantageous to provide the filling chamber with filler, in that it provides for a way of increasing the sealing parts weight, only where it is needed.

In an aspect of the invention, the filler is a particle material such as sand, gravel or metal pellets, or a liquid such as water, saltwater or glycerine, or any combination thereof.

Using a particle material or a fluid as filler in the filling chamber is advantageous, in that these materials presents the qualities of having a low shear strength, being virtually chemically inactive and relatively inexpensive. In an aspect of the invention, the centre part constitutes between 5% to 80%, preferably between 15% to 60% and most preferred between 25% to 50% of the total area of the sealing device as seen from the top.

The sealing part can be provided with filler, whereby its weight is increased. The present percent ranges therefore provide the sealing device with an advantageous relation between the total area being covered by the sealing device when it is in use, and weight of the sealing device.

In an aspect of the invention, the sealing device comprises a top part and a bottom part made of a waterproof, flexible and substantially chemically inactive material such as rubber, natural or artificial resins, impregnated textile, PVC or preferably polyethylene.

Making the top part and a bottom part of a waterproof, flexible and substantially chemically inactive material is advantageous in that the material needs to be waterproof to prevent fluids from passing through the sealing device. The material need to be flexible to adapt to the surface of the ground surrounding the hole, at which the sealing device is deployed and the material needs to be substantially chemically inactive in order not to be damaged or destroyed when deployed.

Though it should be emphasised, that this does not in any way restrict the top part and the bottom part to be made of the same material.

In an aspect of the invention, the top part and the bottom part are connected to each other by connection means such as gluing, sewing or preferably welding.

Connecting the top part and the bottom part to each other, by connection means such as gluing, sewing or preferably welding, is advantageous in that is provides for a simple, reliable and inexpensive way of connecting the two. In an aspect of the invention, the sealing device has a maximal external measurement of between 10 cm to 200 cm, preferably between 30 cm to 140 cm and most preferred between 55 cm to 105 cm.

If the sealing device is too large, it gets heavy and difficult to handle, and if it is too small, it will not fit over most drains and sewers. The present size ranges therefore provide the sealing device with an advantageous relation between size and usability.

It should be emphasised that by the term "maximal external measurement" is to be understood, the largest measurement to be taken on a sealing device as seen from the top; e.g. the diagonal measurement between opposing corners on a square or rectangular sealing device or the diameter of a round sealing device.

In an aspect of the invention, the sealing device has a total weight of between 1 kg to 100 kg, preferably between 4 kg to 40 kg, and most preferred between 6 kg and 25 kg.

If the sealing device is too heavy it gets difficult to handle and if it is too light it could easily be swept away by a flow of the environmentally damaging fluids. The present weight ranges therefore provides the sealing device with an advantageous relation between weight and usability.

In an aspect of the invention, the sealing device has a substantially square shape.

Most gratings known in the art for covering drains and sewers are square. It is therefore advantageous to make the sealing device in a substantially square shape.

In an aspect of the invention, the filling chamber is a continuous chamber running all the way around said centre part. By making the filling chamber as one continuous chamber all the way around the centre part, the filling chamber becomes easy to fill and the sealing device becomes easy to manufacture.

The invention further provides for a method for manufacturing a sealing device, said method comprising the steps of, placing a top part and a bottom part of said sealing device on top of each other, enclosing a centre part of said sealing device by connecting said top part to said bottom part at an inner connection by use of connection means, partly enclosing a filling chamber of said sealing device by connecting said top part to said bottom part at an outer connection by use of connection means, leaving a temporary opening unconnected. Filling said filling chamber completely or partly with a filler through said temporary opening, and enclosing said filling chamber by connecting said top part to said bottom part at a closing part and hereby closing said temporary opening by use of connection means.

This method provides for a simple and inexpensive way of manufacturing the sealing device.

An aspect of the invention provides for a method for manufacturing a sealing device, wherein said connections are made by welding.

Welding is a fast, reliable and inexpensive way of providing connecting means.

Figures

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which

fig. 1 illustrates a sealing device as seen from the top, fig 2 illustrates a cross-section of the same embodiment of a sealing device as illustrated in fig. 1 as seen from the front,

fig. 3 illustrates a cross-section of another embodiment of a sealing device as seen from the front, and

fig. 4 illustrates a sealing device in use.

Detailed description

Fig. 1 illustrates, as seen from the top, an embodiment of a sealing device 1 comprising a substantially flat centre part 2 and a sealing part 3, connected by a connecting part 16. In this case the connecting part 16 is constituted by an inner connection 4, connection a top part 6 (see fig. 2) and a bottom part 7 (see fig. 2) by means of e.g. welding, and completely enclosing the centre part 2. The outer connection 5 and the closing part 17 completely enclose the sealing part 3. In this embodiment of the invention the outer connection 5 and the closing part 17 is constituted by two independent, more or less overlapping weld seams. The outer connection 5 is welded first, leaving the closing part 17 open for providing the sealing part 3 with a filler 15 (see fig. 2), after which the closing part is welded, completely enfolding the filler 15 (see fig. 2) inside the sealing part 3.

In this embodiment of the invention the sealing device is substantially square but it could be of any other shape such as round, rectangular or polygonal.

In this embodiment of the invention the centre part 2 constitutes approximately 38% of the total area being covered by the sealing device 1, when this is placed over e.g. a drain 10 in the ground 11. In other embodiments of the invention the centre part 2 could constitute both a larger and a smaller percentage of the total area. In this embodiment of the invention the sealing part 3 runs continuously and uniformly all the way around the centre part 2.

In this embodiment of the invention the sealing device 1 has a maximal external measurement of approximately 78 cm, but in another embodiment of the invention the maximal external measurement could both lager and smaller.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the same embodiment of a sealing device 1 as illustrated in fig. 1 as seen from the front.

In this embodiment of the invention the sealing device 1 is made of a top part 6 and a bottom part 7 which are welded together at the inner connection 4 and the outer connection 5 by weld seams. The top 6 and bottom parts 7 are relatively thin mats or film made of e.g. rubber, PVC, polyethylene or another substantially chemically inactive, flexible and waterproof material. They could also be made of some sort of impregnated textile. Other kinds of material are feasible as long as it presents the qualities of being waterproof, relatively chemically inactive and flexible so as to adapt easily to the contour of the surface of the ground 1 1 surrounding a drain 10 or sewer where the sealing device 1 , can be installed.

The top part 6 and the bottom part 7 are in this case welded together but other attachment methods could be used such as gluing, sewing or riveting. In another embodiment of the invention the top 6 and bottom part 7 could be made as on part by casting.

Between the inner 4 and outer connection 5 (including the closing part 17) the top 6 and bottom part 7 encloses a filling chamber 8. This filling chamber 8 is to some degree filled with a filler 15, which in this case is dry sand. In another embodiment of the invention the filler 15 could be another particle material such as metal or synthetic material pellets, gravel or it could be filled with a fluid such as saltwater or glycerin. Other filling materials are feasible as long the material has the same or a higher density than water and it has a relatively low shear strength, making it adapt easily to the contour of the ground surrounding a drain or sewer where the sealing device can be installed. During storage and transport it is also advantageous if the sealing device is so flexible, that it can be folded, making it fit into e.g. an easily manageable transport case (not shown).

In this embodiment of the invention the filling chamber 8 is not completely filled, leaving a small void 9 inside the filling chamber 8. If the filling chamber 8 was completely filled with sand, or any excess air was removed, creating a vacuum in the filling chamber 8, the shear strength would increase, making the sealing part 3 less flexible. If the filling chamber 8 was filled with e.g. saltwater, it could be filled completely without substantially reducing the sealing parts 3 flexibility.

To prevent the filler 15 in the filling chamber 8 from gathering in one side or part of the sealing part 3, the filling chamber 8 could, in another embodiment of the invention, be subdivided into a number of independent sections by a number or dividing walls inside the filling chamber 8.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-section of another embodiment of a sealing device 1 as seen from the front. In this embodiment of the invention the bottom part 7 is a straight mat or film, and the top part 6 bulges between the inner connection 4 and the outer connection 5 defining a filling chamber 8.

The filling chamber 8 is, in this embodiment of the invention, substantially semicircle shaped and in fig. 2 the filling chamber 8 is substantially circular shaped, but in another embodiment of the invention, the chamber 8 could be of a different shape such as triangular, rectangular or polygonal. The filling chamber 8 is not restricted to having the same shape or size all the way around the center part 2. Fig. 4 illustrates a sealing device 1 of the same embodiment as illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, placed over a hole 10 in the ground 11, in this case a drain 18. The sealing device 1 is of a size, that it completely covers the drain 18. The sealing part 3 of the sealing device 1 is positioned on the ground 11 surrounding the grating 12 covering the drain 18.

The sealing device 1 prevents an environmentally damaging fluid 13 from entering the drain 18 in that, the flexibility of the sealing part 3 makes it adapt to the contour of the ground 11 surrounding the drain 18. The filler 15 in the filling chamber 8 provides the sealing device 1 with enough weight, that the bottom surface 14 of the sealing part 3 is pressed firmly against the ground 11 , preventing the fluid 13 from being pressed in underneath the sealing device 1. The filler 15 in the filling chamber 8 also provides the sealing device 1 with that much weight, that the friction between the bottom surface 14 of the sealing part 3 and the ground 11, on which the sealing device 1 is placed, is greater than the transverse force produced by a possible flow of the environmentally damaging fluids 13, preventing the sealing device 1 from being washed away.

The top 6 and bottom part 7 is made of a waterproof material, so if the sealing device 1 is flooded by the fluids 13, the fluids 13 would press down the centre part 2 of the sealing device 1 making it press against the grating 12 of the drain 18, and prevent the fluids 13 from entering the drain 18.

The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of a sealing device for sealing e.g. drains, manholes or sewers. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims. List

1. Sealing device 2. Centre part 3 Sealing part 4. Inner connection 5. Outer connection 6. Top part 7. Bottom part 8. Filling chamber 9. Void 10. Hole 11. Ground 12. Grating 13. Environmentally damaging fluid 14. Bottom surface of the sealing part 15. Filler 16. Connecting part 17. Closing part 18. Drain

Claims

1. A sealing device (1) for sealing a hole (10), such as a drain (18), a manhole or a sewer from ingress of fluids (13) into said hole (10), said sealing device (1) comprise a sealing part (3) adaptable for the surface surrounding said hole (10), characterized in that said sealing part (3) encloses a centre part (2) of said sealing device (1), and in that said sealing part (3) and said centre part (2) are connected by a connecting part (16).

2. A sealing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said sealing part (3) comprises one filling chamber (8).

3. A sealing device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said filling chamber (8) is completely or partly filled with a filler (15).

4. A sealing device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said filler (15) is a particle material such as sand, gravel or metal pellets, or a liquid such as water, saltwater or glycerine, or any combination thereof.

5. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said centre part (2) constitutes between 5% to 80%, preferably between 15% to 60% and most preferred between 25% to 50% of the total area of said sealing device (1) as seen from the top.

6. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing device (1) comprises a top part (6) and a bottom part (7) made of a waterproof, flexible and substantially chemically inactive material such as rubber, natural or artificial resins, impregnated textile, PVC or preferably polyethylene.

7. A sealing device (1) according to claim 6 wherein, said top part (6) and said bottom part (7) are connected to each other by connection means such as gluing, sewing or preferably welding.

8. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing device (1) has a maximal external measurement of between 10 cm to 200 cm, preferably between 30 cm to 140 cm and most preferred between 55 cm to 105 cm.

9. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing device (1) has a total weight of between 1 kg to 100 kg, preferably between 4 kg to 40 kg, and most preferred between 6 kg and 25 kg.

10. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing device (1) has a substantially square shape.

1 1. A sealing device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said filling chamber (8) is a continuous chamber running all the way around said centre part (2).

12. A method for manufacturing a sealing device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 11 , said method comprising the steps of, placing a top part (6) and a bottom part (7) of said sealing device (1) on top of each other, enclosing a centre part (2) of said sealing device (1) by connecting said top part (6) to said bottom part (7) at an inner connection (4) by use of connection means, partly enclosing a filling chamber (8) of said sealing device (1) by connecting said top part (6) to said bottom part (7) at an outer connection (5) by use of connection means, leaving a temporary opening unconnected, filling said filling chamber (8) completely or partly with a filler (15) through said temporary opening and, enclosing said filling chamber (8) by connecting said top part (6) to said bottom part (7) at a closing part (17) and hereby closing said temporary opening by use of connection means.

13. A method for manufacturing a sealing device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said connections are made by welding.