US5301959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing gland
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1990-10-04
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Granted: 1994-04-12
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Expires: 2010-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A gland seal comprises a plurality of sealing plates (24, 28, 30) sealingly received in a bore (12). Each pair of adjacent plates define between them a sealing channel (42). The channels are linked by elongate slots (41) in the plates to define a generally helical path. The channels are filled with a sealant through a filling hole (54) at one end of its respective channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin A. Gould
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/02; F16J15/14; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4415; G02B6/4427; G02B6/4428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A gland seal for sealing a flexible elongate element passing through an aperture in a boundary, the seal comprising a set of one or more sealing plates and at least one end plate, each sealing plate having a pair of faces which are in contact with either the faces of adjacent sealing plates or a face of an end plate, each pair of adjacent faces defining at least one sealing channel between them; the sealing channel being in the form of an arcuate groove, each sealing plate including at or near an end of the arcuate groove a slot or hole through the sealing plate, said slot or hole providing a passageway to a further sealing channel or providing a passageway to exit the seal, said sealing and end plates being connected so that when the seal is in use, the flexible elongate element extends through an aperture in an end plate and into and along a first sealing channel, and further extends through said slot or hole in a sealing plate to exit the seal or to extend into a further sealing channel located between a further pair of adjacent faces of sealing plates and through a hole or slot in a further sealing plate such that the flexible elongate element extends along a substantially helical path through the seal, the flexible elongate element being sealingly engaged in each arcuate groove to inhibit the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A gland seal for sealing a flexible elongate element passing through an aperture in a boundary, the seal comprising a set of one or more sealing plates and at least one end plate, each sealing plate having a pair of faces which are in contact with either the faces of adjacent sealing plates or a face of an end plate, each pair of adjacent faces defining at least one sealing channel between them; the sealing channel being in the form of an arcuate groove, each sealing plate including at or near an end of the arcuate groove a slot or hole through the sealing plate, said slot or hole providing a passageway to a further sealing channel or providing a passageway to exit the seal, said sealing and end plates being connected so that when the seal is in use, the flexible elongate element extends through an aperture in an end plate and into and along a first sealing channel, and further extends through said slot or hole in a sealing plate to exit the seal or to extend into a further sealing channel located between a further pair of adjacent faces of sealing plates and through a hole or slot in a further sealing plate such that the flexible elongate element extends along a substantially helical path through the seal, the flexible elongate element being sealingly engaged in each arcuate groove to inhibit the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the arcuate groove is located in one of the adjacent faces of each sealing plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which each plate is also formed with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the channel through which a sealant is injectable into the channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal as in claim 3, in which the sealant is chosen from a group consisting of epoxy, silicon rubber and polyisobutadene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A seal as in claim 3, in which said inlet and outlet are at opposite ends of the sealing channel defined between a pair of sealing plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the plates lie substantially normally with respect to the overall path of the flexible elongate element to be sealed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the plates are annular, the seal further including a boss on which the plates are held in sealing engagement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal as in claim 7 in which a retaining collar is secured to the boss to hold the plates in place.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal as in claim 7 in which the boss and a first one of the plates is of a unitary construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A seal as in claim 8 in which the boss and a first one of the plates is of a unitary construction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the hole or slot in each sealing plate communicating with a sealing channel is an elongate slot extending along the general direction of the channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal as in claim 11 in which the hole or slot extends from one face of its associated plate to the other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the plates are located and sealingly engaged with the boundary aperture by means of a radial flange on one plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which a sealing plate is sealingly received within a bore extending through said set of plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the flexible elongate element is an optical fibre or group of optical fibres.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A seal as in claim 1 in which the flexible elongate element is a hollow tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
137 words
A gland seal for sealing a flexible elongate element passing through an aperture in a boundary, said seal comprising an assembly of adjacent plates, each said plate including a pair of opposing substantially planar surfaces, one such surface of each plate being in contact with at least one surface of an adjacent plate, each adjacent pair of said plates including an elongated arcuate sealing channel formed in at least one of the adjacent contacting surfaces, each said plate including an aperture communicating with an end of at least one said sealing channel, said flexible elongate element extending along a substantially helical path formed by said apertures and at least one arcuate sealing channel, said flexible elongate element being sealingly engaged in the at least one arcuate sealing channel so as to inhibit the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
137 words
A gland seal for sealing a flexible elongate element passing through an aperture in a boundary, said seal comprising an assembly of adjacent plates, each said plate including a pair of opposing substantially planar surfaces, one such surface of each plate being in contact with at least one surface of an adjacent plate, each adjacent pair of said plates including an elongated arcuate sealing channel formed in at least one of the adjacent contacting surfaces, each said plate including an aperture communicating with an end of at least one said sealing channel, said flexible elongate element extending along a substantially helical path formed by said apertures and at least one arcuate sealing channel, said flexible elongate element being sealingly engaged in the at least one arcuate sealing channel so as to inhibit the passage of fluid therethrough.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-11 | 1997-10-11 | 1998-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-11 | 2001-10-11 | 2002-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-11 | 2005-10-11 | 2006-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |