Housing and sealing device

ES 2 633 452 T3

DESCRIPTION

Gel sealing device

The present invention relates to a gel sealing device for sealing a duct with elongated parts through an opening. The gel sealing device provides a sealing section through which the elongated parts extend, where the gel sealing device comprises a gel sealing block having an upper crown and a lower crown with a support section arranged therebetween to support a ring of gel sandwiched between the crowns in the direction of the extension of the elongated parts and forming the sealing section.

Such a gel sealing device is known, for example, from document WO97 / 42693 according to the preamble of claim 1, and from document WO 2005/027290 A1, which finds a particular application in the field of telecommunications technology to which the present invention preferably relates.

The known gel sealing device is accommodated in a lower housing body that can be connected to an upper housing body that forms a cable management area and is provided with a bendable gel ring comprising two ring segments. semicircular gel pads abutting against each other in a radial inner area of ​​the gel sealing device to form a common sealing section between them through which a plurality of of cables. Conventionally, the plurality of cables comprises at least one cable originating from a provider site and at least one cable extending to a customer site such as, for example, a dwelling unit, where said provider cable and said Customer cable are spliced ​​within the organization area located in an area of ​​the upper housing body where the splice is sealed to prevent environmental influences. The provider cable, which is called a trunk cable, may comprise one or more signal transmission elements, such as a fiber optic element or a metal cable element, which is surrounded by at least one outer jacket that protects said item. The customer cable typically comprises a fiber optic element or a wire rope element to be spliced ​​with the assigned element of the main cable in the organization area of ​​the upper housing body, and said fiber optic element or wire rope element it is also protected by an outer jacket or tube such as is used, for example, in a blown fiber application.

Typically, the housing and gel sealing device are accessed multiple times during their lifetime in order to install additional cables at different times and individually. Thus, the sealing section through which the cables extend needs to be accessible for introducing the additional cables to be installed. By accessing the sealing section, all cables running through it are exposed for accessibility. Therefore, during the installation of additional cables, particular attention is required to be paid to the cables that are already installed and that extend through the gel sealing device to avoid damage or similar damage to said cables.

Providing a gel sealing device for sealing an elongated conduit through an opening, where said gel sealing device possesses improved cable access properties, is an object of the present invention.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides a gel sealing device as defined in claim 1.

The present invention is based on the concept that the gel sealing device has a gel sealing block comprising an inner gel ring and an outer gel ring which covers the inner gel ring in a radial direction and comprises a first circumferential segment and at least one second circumferential segment that is adapted to be removable from the first circumferential segment to provide a separate accessible sealing section. The removable character in the sense of the present invention refers to a release of the respective part and also to a reassembly of said part after release. In particular, the at least one second circumferential segment is adapted to be able to be repeatedly released and attached to said first circumferential segment. The gel outer ring is made of a commonly known gel seal material for cable housings used in the technical field of telecommunications technology. This gel seal material is a highly viscous liquid which can be considered as a pseudo-plastic or a non-Newtonian fluid (see EP 0 426 658 B1 and EP 0 681 598 B1). In other words, the gel seal material has the ability to be deformable to conform as a negative pattern to the contours of the surfaces of the parts surrounding the gel seal material, in particular the upper and lower crowns, and of a housing body that accommodates the gel sealing device, provided to contact the gel seal material to effect sealing and to axially and radially support the outer gel ring and the inner gel ring. Furthermore, since the inner gel ring is also made of such a gel sealing material, the portion of the plurality of elongated parts, which is preferably constituted by a plurality of wires extending between the outer gel ring and the inner gel ring will be completely surrounded, that is, encapsulated in its circumferential direction by the gel sealing material. Consequently, the gel seal material will flow and be compressed against the contact surfaces provided with the housing for the gel seal material by exerting a pressure

ES 2 633 452 T3 predetermined against said gel sealing material, so that a seal between them is obtained. Said pressure can preferably be achieved by providing the outer gel ring and / or the inner gel ring with dimensions greater than a space provided in the gel sealing device to support the outer and inner gel rings, respectively. Alternatively, or additionally, the gel sealing device is preferably adapted to compress the outer and inner rings of gel relative to each other, preferably by displacing at least the upper crown or the lower crown towards the other. respective crown.

According to the present invention, the outer gel ring comprises at least two circumferential segments, in particular at least two separate circumferential segments, so that at least two separate sealing sections are provided which are separately accessible from each other by disassembling the at least one second circumferential segment of the first circumferential segment. Therefore, a single elongated part or a plurality of elongated parts can be inserted into said exposed separate sealing section, such that the other elongated part or a plurality of other elongated parts extending through the other section of sealed are still covered by the first circumferential segment and can remain intact. In other words, the separate accessible sealing section can be manipulated by inserting, removing, replacing, or other similar operation of an allocated elongated part or a plurality of allocated elongated parts without affecting the at least one remaining sealing section that still remains. covers the elongated part or the elongated parts that extend through it. Therefore, no particular attention is required to be paid to the elongated portions placed through the sealing section that are not to be accessed. Furthermore, faster installation of additional elongated parts can be achieved at different times, since no time or effort is required to deal with the elongated parts extending through the sealing section that is not to be to access. Preferably, since the present invention finds a preferable application in the field of telecommunications technology, an elongated part is constituted by a commonly known cable that protects a signal transmission element such as a fiber optic element or an element wire rope as described above.

Preferably, the gel sealing block of the gel sealing device has an enveloping shape such that the outer gel ring forms a part of a circumferential outer surface of the gel sealing device provided to contact a circumferential surface. internal of a receiving body that forms a conduit communicating with an opening through which the elongated parts extend. Furthermore, the receiving body is adapted to receive the gel sealing device in its conduit. The receiving body preferably forms a part of a housing which may be formed by a cable connection box or an insulating covering, for example. These receiving bodies are manufactured in the usual way by injection molding of a plastic material. The housing (insulating covering) preferably comprises a first housing part (insulating covering) forming the cable management area and is preferably releasably connected to a second housing part (insulating covering) forming the body reception to receive the gel sealing device. The first housing part (insulating covering) is designated as "upper housing body" in the text that follows, while the second housing part (insulating covering) is designated as "lower housing body" in the text that follows. The lower housing body is further and preferably adapted to support the gel sealing device at least in the longitudinal direction of the conduit. The upper and lower housing bodies are capable of being connected to each other in the longitudinal direction of the duct, so that a spacing of the upper and lower housing bodies is preferably provided in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the duct. Additionally or alternatively, the upper housing body and / or the lower housing body may be made of two halves, where the spacing of the halves occurs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the duct as known.

The envelope shape of the gel seal block may correspond to a polygonal shape or a rounded shape. In general, the wraparound shape can be achieved by any design that has a continuous circumference. Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the outer gel ring need not necessarily be in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the lower housing body in an assembled state of the housing. Despite this, this configuration allows a simple structure of the gel sealing device, since a seal between the inner circumferential part of the lower housing body and the outer circumference of the gel sealing device can be easily obtained by the outer ring of gel. Alternatively, a gel sealing device configuration can be devised comprising a cover covering the outer circumferential surface of the outer gel ring, and a further seal to seal an area between the inner circumference of the lower housing body and the circumference external cover.

Regarding the so-called upper, lower, axial, circumferential, internal, external and radial directions and positions, as used to describe the invention, an upper direction and a lower direction must be understood as directions that run parallel to an axial direction, that is, longitudinal, of the conduit of the lower housing body through which the plurality of cables extend and which corresponds to a direction of extension of said cables, where the upper direction is directed towards an upper side of the lower housing body, which faces the upper housing body, and where the lower direction is directed towards the opposite side, that is, the lower side of the lower housing body. Furthermore, in the sense of

ES 2 633 452 T3 present invention, a circumferential direction refers to the direction that runs around the longitudinal axis of the duct, while an internal direction and an internal side or a radial internal direction and a radial internal side refer to the direction that It runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct and is directed towards that axis. The outer direction (the radial outer direction) and the outer side (the radial outer side) are directed toward the opposite direction of the inner direction and the inner side, respectively. This explanation should not be understood to limit the cross-sectional shape of the gel sealer to a round configuration. Oval, triangular, rectangular or polygonal cross sections are also possible.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second circumferential segment is sandwiched in the direction of extension of the elongated parts by a first upper ring segment and a first lower ring segment, where said first upper ring segments and bottom have a rim that covers in radial direction at least a part of an external circumferential surface of the second circumferential segment, and wherein said first upper and lower ring segments are releasable to the upper and lower crowns, respectively. The preferred configuration enables easy release and fixation of the second circumferential segment from the first circumferential segment of the and the first circumferential segment, respectively. Furthermore, by at least partially covering the outer circumference of the outer gel ring, radial support can be provided in a simple manner without adversely affecting the sealing performance between the gel sealing device and the lower housing body, since the outer gel ring makes further contact with the inner circumference of the lower housing body in an assembled state of the housing to seal the area between the gel sealing device and the lower housing body.

The releasable grip of the first upper and lower ring segments is preferably achieved by at least one blocker that is provided with the first upper and lower ring segments on an opposite side of the frame, where said at least one blocker grips. the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively, from a circumferential side thereof. In other words, the blocker is adapted to overlap an outer circumferential surface of the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively, at least partially in the axial direction of the gel sealing device, such that a hook portion of the The blocker is received by a notch portion arranged on the circumferential surface of the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively. The hook portion of the blocker is preferably disposed on an axial end side of the blocker, and the notch portion is arranged on a respective assigned outer upper edge of the circumferential surface of the upper crown and on an assigned outer lower edge of the circumferential surface. on the lower crown. Even more preferably, the recess portion of the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively, is adapted to fully integrate the blocker at least in the axial or radial direction of the gel sealing device. Accordingly, the notch portion of the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively, has a shape corresponding to a shape of the blocker, where the blocker received in the notch portion forms with the upper crown and the crown. bottom, respectively, a common rimless outer surface at the blocker position.

The second circumferential segment sandwiched by the first upper and lower ring segments can be simply pinched from the radial outer side to the outer circumference of the gel sealing device, particularly the upper crown and the lower crown, respectively. Preferably, the first upper and lower ring segments have identical shapes. This configuration is particularly preferred when said second circumferential segment and the first upper and lower ring segments are adapted to cover the main cable extending through the sealing section. More preferably, said second circumferential segment sandwiched by the first upper and lower ring segments is adapted to cover only at least one looped main wire forming an input wire extending to the upper side of the lower housing body and an output cable extending to the underside of the lower housing body, wherein said input wire and said output wire are preferably arranged in a directly adjacent position in the sealing section. Alternatively, the input cable and the output cable of said main cable can be placed circumferentially spaced from each other, so that at least two second circumferential segments are provided, one to cover the input cable and the other to cover the output cable, and where preferably each of the aforementioned second circumferential segments is sandwiched by a first upper and lower ring segment as described above.

In a further preferred embodiment, the engaging portion formed in the first upper and lower ring segments is preferably a receiving hole that is formed near or at the edges of the circumferential end sides of the first upper and lower ring segments, respectively, so that said receiving hole is adapted to receive the hinge which is formed by pins protruding from the upper and lower crowns towards the first upper and lower ring segments, respectively. In particular, said pin forming the hinge protrudes from the upper crown in the axial direction towards the lower side and the pin formed with the lower crown protrudes, in the axial direction, towards the upper side. The pin receiving hole is located at an assigned position of the first upper and lower ring segments in order to receive the pin and preferably to allow rotary movement of the first upper and lower ring segments and the second circumferential segment sandwiched between them. Said pin and hole

The receiving ES 2 633 452 T3 preferably have a rounded cross-sectional shape. Despite this, said pin and the assigned receiving hole can also have additional shapes to clamp the first upper and lower ring segments to the upper and lower crowns, respectively, from the axial or radial side without possessing rotatability. .

According to another preferred embodiment, the first circumferential segment is sandwiched in the extension direction by a second upper ring segment and a second lower ring segment, wherein said second upper and lower ring segments have a rim covering in a radial direction. at least part of an outer circumferential surface of the first circumferential segment, and wherein said upper and lower second ring segments are attached to the upper and lower crowns, respectively. Said configuration corresponds substantially to the previously described configuration of the rim provided with the first upper and lower ring segments, where similar effects can be achieved. More preferably, the first upper ring segment and the second upper ring segment form a continuous upper ring, and the first lower ring segment and the second lower ring segment form a continuous lower ring. The continuous rings formed in this way cover the circumferential outer surface of the outer gel ring at their axial end sides, so that a radial clamping of the outer gel ring can be further improved.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least, the upper ring and the upper ring or the lower ring and the lower ring comprise an alignment means for determining in the circumferential direction of the crowns, a predetermined position of the upper ring and of the lower ring with the outer ring of gel sandwiched between them with respect to the upper and lower crowns. The alignment means provides an indication for a correct positioning of the upper ring with respect to the upper crown and / or of the lower ring with respect to the lower crown, to simplify the assembly procedure, for example, after the sealing device with gel has been disassembled to insert additional cables. In the sense of the present invention, correct positioning refers to the repeated positioning in an identical manner of the upper ring with respect to the upper crown and / or of the lower ring with respect to the lower crown. The assembly time can therefore be shortened, since it is not necessary to use a trial and error method to discover a correct position of the upper ring with respect to the upper crown and / or of the lower ring with respect to the lower crown.

Preferably, the alignment means comprises a protrusion located on an inner circumferential surface of at least the second upper ring segment or the lower ring segment and projecting therefrom towards a radial inner side, and a protrusion receiving section positioned with the upper crown or the lower crown, respectively, to receive said projection. More preferably, said protrusion receiving section is adapted to receive the protrusion at least from the radial outer side or from the axial direction. Even more preferably, the alignment means is formed by a locking means to releasably clamp the upper ring to the upper crown and / or the lower ring to the lower crown. Thus, correct alignment and correct clamping of the upper ring and the lower ring, respectively, can be achieved in a simple manner.

In a further preferred embodiment, both the second upper ring segment and the second lower ring segment comprise at least one hinge portion preferably disposed in a position directly adjacent to the alignment means at the two circumferentials thereof, so that the hinge portion is adapted to allow a release and fixation of the portion of the upper and lower second ring segments extending circumferentially from said hinge portion towards its circumferential end side, to and from the upper and lower crowns. respectively, in an elongated state of the locking means, that is, in a state of clamping at least the upper ring or the lower ring. Accordingly, the part of the upper and lower second ring segment extending from the hinge portion to the circumferential end side can be folded relative to the gel sealing device, so that the hinge portion forms the axis of rotation. Preferably, the hinge portion is formed as an elbow which extends in the axial direction over the entire axial width of the upper and lower rings, respectively. Therefore, the upper and lower second ring segments are secured in a non-detachable manner to the upper and lower crowns, respectively, where the upper and lower second ring segments together with the first circumferential segment sandwiched in between are not they need to be completely disassembled from the gel sealing device to access the sealing section. The installation time for installing additional cables can thus decrease. Furthermore, the sealing section formed between the first circumferential segment of the outer gel ring and the inner gel ring is thus divided into additional sub-sealing sections accessible separately from each other. For this preferred embodiment, each of the second upper and lower ring segments preferably comprise, on each of their circumferential end sides, a ring fastener adapted to interact with a crown fastener assigned to said element. ring clamping and located in a respective position on an axial end side of the upper and lower crown, respectively, to releasably clamp said second ring segment parts. More preferably, the crown clamping element is formed by a pin protruding from the axial end side of the crown towards the upper and lower rings, respectively, where the ring clamping element is formed from an adapted recess to receive said pin and opens to the radial inner side and to the axial side in the direction of the respective crown. In this way, the part that can be released from the second upper and lower ring segments

ES 2 633 452 T3 can be clamped to the upper and lower crowns, respectively, from a radial outer side and can be clamped to the respective crowns at least in the circumferential direction or in the axial direction.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the upper and lower second ring segments are made of an elastic material, such as rubber or a similar material, to be simply collapsible in the radial direction to accessibly expose the sealing section, so that said second ring segments can be attached to the upper and lower crowns, respectively, as described above. Accordingly, the second ring segments that sandwich the first circumferential segment may be fully or partially bent towards a radial outer side of the gel sealing device, such that a respective part of the sealing section is accessible in an accessible manner.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least one second ring segment of the upper and lower rings with the first circumferential segment of the outer gel ring or at least one of the first ring segments of the upper and lower rings with the second circumferential segments they form a single unit. In particular, the first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment are attached to their assigned ring segment of the upper and lower rings, preferably by a co-injection molding process. More preferably, at least the first circumferential segment or the second circumferential segment is attached to both ring segments of the upper and lower rings, respectively, by said co-injection molding process to form a single unit comprising the respective ring segments of the upper and lower rings with the assigned circumferential segment of the gel outer ring sandwiched in between. Accordingly, the outer gel ring can be simply retained by the upper and lower ring segments, so that assembly and disassembly of the gel sealing device are further simplified.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper crown and the lower crown have, on their outer circumferential surfaces, a plurality of passageways to guide the elongated parts in their direction of extension, such that the passageways are open to an external side. radial of the crowns. The plurality of wires can be inserted into the gel sealing device from its radial outer side. Furthermore, the upper crown and the lower crown provide by their portions, which are arranged in the circumferential direction between the passageways and thus define the passageways, respectively, as long a bearing surface as possible for the ring. external gel sandwiched by the upper ring and the lower ring, since only the material is removed from the crowns to form the passageways in order to allow the elongated parts to be guided through them. Therefore, the sandwiched outer gel ring can be reliably supported in the axial direction of the gel sealing device.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the upper crown and the lower crown are adapted to be displaceable towards each other to compress the sandwich inner gel ring and outer gel ring. More preferably, the support section comprises the rings, so that one ring is fixed to the upper crown on the radial inner side and the other ring is fixed to the lower crown on the radial inner side, such that one of the rings has a free end side with a diameter smaller than the diameter of an opposite free end side of the other ring and where the rings are displaceably fitted one within the other in an assembled state of the section of medium. Said rings project in axial direction from the upper and lower crowns, respectively, so that the outer circumference of said rings forms the support section that supports the inner gel ring. In an alternative preferred embodiment, only one ring is provided, either with the upper crown or with the lower crown, so that the remaining crown comprises a notch adapted to receive the free end side of said ring in order to allow movement. axial of the upper and lower crowns with respect to each other. In this configuration, the single ring forms the support section for the inner gel ring.

To facilitate axial movement of the upper and lower crowns relative to each other, the upper crown preferably has a traction element in a central portion, wherein said traction element extends in the extension direction through an opening in the lower crown to a lower side of the gel sealing device and where the protruding end of the traction element provides a handle for manual movement the upper crown towards the lower crown. This movement can be achieved by pulling the traction element.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the traction element is formed in two parts, so that the first part is a rod that extends from the central portion of the upper crown in the axial direction of the conduit through the opening in the crown. bottom to the bottom side of the gel sealing device and where the free end side of said rod is received by a toothpick that has the handle. Preferably, the free end side of said rod comprises an external screw thread, so that said stick has an internal screw thread screwed into said external screw thread. Furthermore, said stick comprises lateral extensions which project towards a radial outer side and which bear in an axial direction against a lower side of the gel sealing device to provide a sliding surface by which the upper crown that the rod possesses can move in the axial direction towards the lower crown when the stick is forced to rotate in the circumferential direction.

ES 2 633 452 T3

According to another preferred embodiment, the gel sealing device comprises an elongated part alignment means attached to the lower crown on a side opposite the gel sealing block, such that the elongated portion aligning means provides a bearing surface which extends transversely to the direction of extension and which is adapted to abut against a bearing surface formed on an inner circumferential surface of a device receiving body sealing gel. Furthermore, the cable alignment means provides on its outer circumferential surface a plurality of aligned channels to guide the elongated parts towards the sealing section and which are adapted to receive at least one clamping means adapted to hold the elongated part. on the assigned channel, at least in the extension address. The elongated portions extending through the sealing section can be easily aligned by inserting the respective elongated portion from a radial outer side into the assigned channel extending the passageways in the axial direction. For each elongated part, a separate channel is preferably provided. Accordingly, the elongated portions extending to the lower and upper sides of the gel sealer receiving body are located in the circumferential direction of the gel sealer, so that for each elongated portion, a channel is provided and a few separate passageways.

In a further preferred embodiment, the elongated portion alignment means has a recess portion on a circumferential outer surface of a wall side that forms the channel. Furthermore, the clamping means comprises a lateral projection adapted to be received by said recess portion in a clamped state of the clamping means. This allows an axial clamping of the received elongated parts in the assigned channel, so that the elongated parts can be simply aligned in the axial direction of the gel sealing device. In particular, in a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the elongated parts is formed by a tube that guides an optical fiber element or a metal cable element, so that a tube end of the tube can be aligned on the upper side of the upper crown or on the sealing section located between the outer gel ring and the inner gel ring by axial fixation of the tube in the part alignment means elongated thanks to the means of hugging.

The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to a preferred embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

Figures 1A-1C show a perspective side view of a housing comprising a gel sealing device according to the embodiment in an assembled and disassembled state of the upper and lower housing bodies,

Figure 2 shows an exploded side perspective view of the housing of Figures 1A to 1C without the upper and lower housing bodies,

Figure 3A shows a cross-sectional side view of the housing of Figure 1B without the loop section support,

Figure 3B shows an enlarged view of section IIIB of Figure 3A,

Figure 4 shows a perspective side view of the gel sealing device of Figure 2,

Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of the gel sealing device of Figure 4 with the second circumferential segment disassembled,

Figure 6 shows a side view of the cable and tube alignment means,

Figure 7 shows a rear-side perspective view of the cable and tube alignment means of the

Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows a perspective side view of a further housing comprising the gel sealing device according to the embodiment in an assembled state, and

Figure 9 shows an exploded side perspective view of the housing of Figure 8.

For the following description of the housing 1, it should be understood that an upper direction is directed towards the side of the lower housing body 3 to which the upper housing body 2 is connected, while a lower direction refers to the opposite side. Of the same. An internal direction refers to the direction pointing to the central axis of the tubular-shaped lower housing body 3, while an external direction corresponds to a direction from the central axis of the lower housing body 3 towards its radial outer side. A circumferential direction refers to a direction that runs parallel to the circumference around the central axis of the lower housing body 3. An axial direction refers to the direction that runs parallel to the middle axis of the lower housing body 3.

Figures 1A to 1C show a perspective side view of the housing 1 comprising the tubular shaped lower housing body 3 forming a conduit for guiding the main cable 13 and a plurality of cables guided by a plurality of tubes 14 from the side lower to an upper side of the body 3 of

ES 2 633 452 T3 lower housing. The upper side of the lower housing body 3 closed by the upper housing body 2 in the assembled state of the housing 1 defines a cable management area in which the plurality of cables, that is, the main cable 13 and the cable, can be manipulated. plurality of cables guided by the tubes 14. Said organization area has a loop section support 4 fixed to a fixing element support 18. As can be seen in Figures 1C and in particular in Figure 2, the housing 1 comprises a gel sealing device that is received and held in the conduit of the lower housing body 3, so that the support 18 of the element of clamp and loop section support 4 are arranged on the upper side of gel seal block 5. The loop section support 4 provides a base for at least one loop section (not shown) to be fixed to said loop section support 4. The loop section is adapted to store an excess length of the allocated cable. The fastener support 18 has a fastener support base 18a having a disk-like shape and having a receiving portion 18f disposed in the central portion to allow the loop section support 4 to be attached to the support. 18 fixing element. The receiving portion 18f is formed by a protrusion extending in an axial direction towards the upper side and having a receiving hole adapted to receive a plug-like part of the loop section support 4 arranged at its lower end and having polygonal shape. The receiving hole of the receiving portion 18f has a corresponding shape on its inner circumferential side. In this way, a rotational movement of the loop section holder 4 in an assembled state relative to the fastener holder 18 is prevented.

As shown in Figure 2, the fastener holder 18 comprises a plurality of bar-shaped projections 18b extending in the axial direction towards an upper side. Thus, the fastener holder 18 assumes a crown shape. Each bar-shaped projection 18b is adapted to hold a fixing element 19 which can be fixed to an end side of a cable guided by the tube 14. In particular, said bar-shaped projection 18b comprises in axial direction two openings that communicate with the outside of the bar-shaped projection 18b by means of a recess extending from the opening to the circumferential edge of the bar-shaped projection 18b. The fixing elements 19 have two pins adapted to be received by the openings of the bar-shaped projection 18b where said pins have, on their free end side, a swollen part with an external width greater than the middle section of the pin that is It extends from the fastener support base 18a towards the swollen portion. The middle section of the fastening element 19 has an external width that is equal to or less than the recess leading to the opening of the bar-shaped projection 18b. The fixing element 19 is inserted from the side of the bar-shaped projection 18b, that is, the fixing element 19 is inserted into the openings of the bar-shaped projection 18b from the circumferential side. Thus, the fixing element 19 is fixed in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the fixing element holder 18.

On a radial inner side of the bar-shaped boss 18b, a reinforcing member 18g is provided which fixes the bar-shaped boss 18b to the upper surface side of the fixing element support base 18a. Furthermore, the fastener holder 18 comprises a plurality of extensions 18c extending between the bar-shaped projections 18b towards the radial outer side, such that the plurality of extensions 18c form an outer circumference having a larger diameter. than a diameter of the gel sealing device and less than an internal diameter of the lower housing body 3. The sections between the pluralities of extensions 18c form an internal circumference with a diameter less than the diameter of the gel sealing device. The plurality of extensions 18c are supported by an upper section of the lower housing body 3. In particular, the lower housing body 3 comprises an axial direction, a lower section and an upper section, so that the upper section has a larger internal diameter than the lower section. In this way, a step is formed which forms a radially extending bearing surface of the lower housing body 3 at the transition between the upper section and the lower section of the lower housing body 3. The upper section of the lower housing body 3 comprises on its inner circumferential surface a plurality of protrusions projecting in a radial direction from the inner circumferential surface for a length that is equal to or less than a radial length of the bearing surface formed by the step. . The plurality of projections further protrude in the axial direction at least to the upper edge of the upper section. The plurality of projections are arranged in such a way that a plurality of recesses are formed between them which are adapted to axially receive the plurality of extensions 18c arranged with the fixing element holder 18 from the upper side of the housing body 3 lower. In an assembled state of the fixing element holder 18 within the lower housing body 3, a twisting of the fixing element holder 18 relative to the lower housing body 3 can thus be prevented.

As is evident from Figures 1A to 3B, the gel sealing device retained in the passageway of the lower housing body 3 protrudes from the lower side of the lower housing body 3 by a predetermined length. As shown in Figure 2, the gel sealing block 5 comprises an upper crown 11 and a lower crown 12 with a support section 11a, 12a arranged between them, such that the upper and lower crowns 11, 12 sandwich in the axial direction to an inner gel ring 7 and to an outer gel ring 6, 10a covering the inner gel ring 7 in the radial direction, so that the inner gel ring 7 and ring 6, Gel outer 10a form a sealing section in between. The gel sealing device further comprises on the underside of the lower crown 12 a support and alignment means 15 for cable and cable.

ES 2 633 452 T3 tube for guiding and supporting the main cable 13 and the plurality of tubes 14 extending from the lower side of the lower housing body 3.

As can be seen in Figures 2 to 3A, the upper crown 11 is disk-shaped and has on its outer circumference a plurality of recesses that provide a plurality of passageways 23 extending in the axial direction. The upper crown 11 comprises on its lower side a cylindrical projection 11a with a rounded shape having an external diameter smaller than an internal diameter defined by the lower parts of the plurality of passageways 23. The rounded projection 11a projects from the lower side of the upper crown 11 towards the lower crown 12. The outer circumferential surface of the rounded protrusion 11a provides a first portion of the support section 11a, 12a, 12b formed between the upper and lower crowns 11, 12. The upper crown 11 comprises on its lower side, that is, on the side surrounded by the outer circumferential surface of the rounded projection 11a, a ring-shaped recess 41 and, on the central axis, a plug-like element 17a which it extends from the underside of the upper crown 11 towards the lower crown 12 and towards the cable and tube support and alignment means 15. The ring-shaped recess 41 is adapted to receive a free end side of a ring-shaped projection 12b located with the lower crown 12. Both the recess 41 and the plug-like element 17a extend in the axial direction.

The lower crown 12 is disk-shaped and comprises a plurality of recesses on its outer circumference, which form a plurality of passageways 23 extending in the axial direction. The lower crown 12 has on its upper side a step formed by the rounded-shaped projections 12a, 12b that project from the upper side of the lower crown 12 in the axial direction. An external diameter of the step formed by the rounded shaped projections 12a, 12b is less than an internal diameter defined by the lower parts of the plurality of passageways 23 formed in the external circumference of the lower crown 12. The step formed by the rounded projections 12a, 12b has a first section 12a fixed to the upper side of the lower crown 12 and having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the second section 12b that protrudes from an upper side of the first section 12a. The second section 12b is ring-shaped and is adapted to be received by the ring-shaped recess 41 arranged with the upper crown 11. The outer circumferential surfaces of the step formed by the rounded projections 12a, 12b form the remaining part of the support section 11a, 12a, 12b arranged between the upper crown 11 and the lower crown 12.

The lower crown 12 further comprises an opening in its central portion which guides the pin-like element 17a formed with the upper crown 11 therethrough. The lower crown 12 comprises on its upper side, in an area between the second ring-shaped section 12b, different pin-like projections 42 projecting from the other side of the lower crown 12 in the axial direction. Said plug-like projections 42 cooperate with associated recesses formed on the underside of upper crown 11 in a radial internal area defined by ring-shaped recess 41. In particular, the plug-type projections 42 are received by the corresponding recesses arranged with the upper crown 11 in an assembled state of the gel sealing block 5, whereby said recesses and the plug-type projections 42 form a means of prevention torque that prevents a twisting of the upper crown 11 with respect to the lower crown 12 in said assembled state. Furthermore, the lower crown 12 and the upper crown 11 are movable relative to each other, so that the second ring-shaped section 12b is fitted within the ring-shaped recess 41 of the upper crown 11.

Both the upper crown 11 and the lower crown 12 have on their opposite sides, in axial extension of the passageways 23, edges 24, 28 to guide and align the cable and the tube in and out of the sealing section 22 formed between the inner gel ring 7 and the outer gel ring 6, 10a. Since said cutting edges 24, 28 have substantially identical shapes, cutting edges 24 arranged with lower crown 12 will be described in detail below, so that the described configuration of said cutting edges 24 also basically applies in a corresponding manner to cutting edges 28 formed with the upper crown 11.

As shown in Figures 2 to 3B, the lower crown 12 comprises, in a position directly adjacent to the passage 23 in axial extension thereof, on its upper side, the edges 24 in the shape of a conical half-shell that have a lower side of large diameter attached to the lower crown 12 and a small diameter upper side designating a free end side. The opening diameter of said upper side of small diameter corresponds to an external diameter of the tube 14 guided by said cutting edge 24. The cutting edge 28 in the shape of a conical half shell formed with the upper crown 11 has a lower side of small diameter with a diameter opening corresponding to an external diameter of the cable guided through the tube 14, which ends in the sealing section 22. Furthermore, the lower crown 12 provides on a radial inner side of the conical half-shell shaped cutting edge 24, a recess for receiving the gel seal material from the inner gel ring 7 in an assembled state of the gel seal block 5. . Thus, the conical half-shell shaped edge 24 is surrounded by the gel seal material of the inner gel ring 7 at least in the assembled state of the gel seal block 5, so that the inner ring 7 of gel forms sealing edges on its axial end side. The lower crown 12 further provides, between adjacent conical half-shell shaped edges 24, a bearing surface for radially supporting a lower ring 9, 10c. In other words, the lower crown 12 comprises, in axial extension of the wall sections defining the passageways 23, an axial projection that forms a radial support surface that extends from a radial surface of said wall sections towards the upper side. The surface formed by the wall sections on the upper side of the lower crown 11 and

ES 2 633 452 T3 extending to the radial outer side forms an axial bearing surface for the lower ring 9, 10c. Therefore, the lower ring 9, 10c is supported by the lower crown 12 in axial and radial directions by the aforementioned supporting surfaces located on the upper side of the wall sections defining the passageways 23. Furthermore, the lower crown 12 supports a lower axial end side of the inner gel ring 7 by the recesses formed in the radial internal direction of the conical half-shell shaped edges 24, so that the large diameter side thereof is fixed to the wall sections defining the passageways 23. As for the lower axial end side of the outer gel ring 6, 10a, it is supported by the lower ring 9, 10c.

As is evident from Figures 2, 4 and 5, the inner gel ring 7 is formed by at least one ring which extends continuously in the circumferential direction and which is supported by the support section 11a, 12a, 12b formed by the upper crown 11 and the lower crown 12, respectively. As for the outer gel ring 6, the lower ring 9, 10c and the upper ring 8, 10b both comprise two circumferential segments. In particular, the outer gel ring 6, 10a comprises a first circumferential segment 6 and a second circumferential segment 10a, which in an assembled manner form the outer gel ring 6, 10a. The first circumferential segment 6 is adapted to form with the inner gel ring 7 a sealing section 22 for the tube end of a plurality of tubes 14 guided by the passageways 23 and projecting edges 24 within the sealing section 22. The inner gel ring 7 and the first circumferential segment 6 of the outer gel ring 6, 10a form for each end of the tube in the sealing section 22 a termination 49 against which the axial end side of the tube 14 bears in its state. assembled (Figures 2 and 3B). In particular, both the inner gel ring 7 and the first circumferential segment 6 provide a groove extending from the side of the lower crown 12 into the sealing section 22, such that the grooves of the inner gel ring 7 they are aligned with the assigned grooves provided with the first circumferential segment 6. The respective assigned grooves form in an assembled state of the gel sealing device the termination 49 at its end side in the sealing section 22, so that each groove is adapted to partially surround the end of the received tube, and that termination 49 provides a central aperture to guide the signal transmission element protruding from the end of the tube at termination 49 through to the upper crown 11.

The second circumferential segment 10a is adapted to form with the inner gel ring 7 a sealing section 22 in a position in which the main wire 13 extends therethrough from the lower side towards the upper side of the lower housing body 3 . In accordance with the segmental configuration of the gel outer ring 6, 10a, both the lower ring 9, 10c and the upper ring 8, 10b comprise a first ring segment 10b, 10c and a second ring segment 8, 9, so respective. The first ring segment 10b, 10c and the second ring segment 8, 9 in an assembled manner form the continuous upper ring 8, 10b and the continuous lower ring 9, 10c, respectively. Both the upper ring 8, 10b and the lower ring 9, 10c have on their internal circumferential sides a pattern of protruding edges that corresponds in shape and configuration to the protruding edges 24, 28 arranged with the upper crown 11 and with the crown 12 bottom, respectively. Accordingly, the conical half-shell shaped edges 28 of the upper crown 11 and the upper ring 8, 10b and the lower crown 12 and the lower ring 9, 10c, respectively, form a conical channel with an end side free having an opening diameter adapted to guide through the main cable 13, the tube 14 and the cable guided through the tube 14, respectively (see Figure 3B).

The lower ring 9, 10c and the upper ring 8, 10b further comprise a rim 26 which extends on its outer circumference in an axial direction towards the outer gel ring 6, 10a to cover and thereby radially support a circumferential surface external of the upper and lower axial ends the external gel ring 6, 10a. Each of the segments 8, 10b; 9, 10c of upper and lower ring is attached to upper crown 11 and lower crown 12, respectively. In particular, the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9 comprise fixing and alignment means 37, 38 , which are arranged in circumferential end sections and in the circumferential middle section of the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9 , respectively. The fixing and alignment means 38 in the middle circumferential section constitutes an interlocking means comprising a lock and a latch, so that the latch is formed with the upper crown 11 and the lower crown 12, respectively, and in a manner that the blocker is formed with the upper and lower ring segments 8, 9, respectively. Adjacent to the blocker on both circumferential sides thereof is a hinge portion 36 made of an elbow extending in the axial direction to allow a release of the portion of the second ring segments 8, 9 extending from the portion 36 hinge to the circumferential end side of the gel sealing device in a locked state of the blocker, that is, of the second ring segments 8, 9.

The fixing and alignment means arranged on each circumferential end side of the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9, respectively, comprises a pin receiving hole that receives a pin 37 formed on the sides of the crowns 11, 12 upper and lower, opposite the second segment 8, 9 of upper and lower ring, respectively, and which is formed in axial extension of the bearing surface of the wall sections that define the passageways 23. In this way, the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9 can be fastened to the upper and lower crowns 11, 12, respectively, by assembling the fixing and aligning means in the axial direction.

Furthermore, the first upper ring segment 10b and the first lower ring segment 10c have identical shapes. Accordingly, from this point on, the first upper ring segment 10b will be described in

ES 2 633 452 T3 detail, so that the described configuration of said first upper ring segment 10b can also be applied to the first lower ring segment 10c. As shown in Figure 5, the first upper ring segment 10b has a circumferential length corresponding to a circumferential length of the second circumferential segment 10a of the outer gel ring 6, 10a. Therefore, the first upper ring segment 10b, the second circumferential segment 10a and the first lower ring segment 10c form in an assembled manner a common circumferential end-sided portion extending in the axial direction. The first upper ring segment 10b comprises on its radial inner side two conical half-shell shaped edges that cooperate with the conical half-shell shaped edges 24 formed with the upper crown 11 to form a conical shaped cable channel for the main cable 13. The first upper ring segment 10b further comprises a rim section 26 radially covering the upper axial end side of the second circumferential segment 10a. Furthermore, the first ring segment 10b has two axial projections 35 on its upper side opposite the rim section 26, such that said two axial projections 35 are arranged on the circumferential end sides of the first upper ring segment 10b, of respectively, as an axial extension of said circumferential end sides. Said two axial projections 35 form a lock with a hook portion on its free end side that grips the upper crown 11 on its circumferential side. The upper crown 11 is provided on its outer circumference with a groove extending in the axial direction of the gel sealing device to receive the blocker in a locked state (see Figure 6). The groove ends on the upper side of the upper crown 11 in a notch portion which receives the hook portion of the blocker, so that the blocker ends at a very far distance in a surface plane formed by the upper surface of the upper crown 11. Consequently, the mentioned two projections 35 have an axial length equal to or less than a thickness of the wall section defining the passageway 23 in the axial direction. The first lower ring segment 10b further comprises, in a radial direction inward with respect to said two axial projections 35 at or near the circumferential end side edges, a receiving hole 39 adapted to receive a pin 37 formed with the crown. 11 upper in a manner corresponding to the pin 37 of the described fixing and alignment means with respect to the second upper ring segment 8. In particular, the pin 37 for holding the second upper ring segment 8 and the first upper ring segment 10b is formed at an adjacent location and protrudes from an identical wall section in the axial direction (Figure 5).

As shown in Figure 6, the lower ring segment 9 comprises on its outer circumferential surface, in the region at the circumferential end sides, a groove 43 cooperating with a blocker 44, which extends in a corresponding position from the lower crown 12 in axial direction. Said blocker 44 is formed on the circumferential outer surface of the wall section that defines the passage 23 for the main cable 13, such that said blocker 44 is cross-shaped with a first part extending in a radial direction forming the blocker that engages with groove 43 and with a second part extending in a perpendicular direction to the aforementioned first part in an axial direction and which is attached to the upper circumferential surface of the lower crown 12 to form a pivot axis around which the lock 44 can be tilted to loosen the attachment of the second lower ring segment 9 with said blocker 44.

As further shown in Figure 2, the gel sealing device comprises a cable and tube support and alignment means 15 attached to the underside of the lower crown 12. The lower crown 12 comprises an axial locking means 45 which protrudes from the lower side of the lower crown 12 and is received by the recess 46 located on the upper side of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15. The cable and tube alignment and support means 15 has a flat upper surface extending in the radial direction and which is arranged to abut against the lower surface of the lower crown 20. As can be seen in Figure 3A, the cable and tube support and alignment means 15 has a central opening through which the pin-like element 17a of the upper crown 11 extends to the lower side. Said plug-like element 17a is received by a rod 17 which extends with one end in an axial direction through said central opening of the cable and tube alignment and support means 15 and, therefore, into the opening arranged in the lower side of lower crown 12. The rod 17 is adapted to retain the pin-like member 17a in order to move the upper crown 11 in the axial direction. In particular, the plug-type element 17a has a male screw thread on the free end side received by the rod 17 which has a female screw thread which is screwed with said male screw thread. Therefore, by rotating the rod 17 in a circumferential direction, the upper crown 11 is displaced towards the lower crown 12. By rotating the rod 17 in the opposite direction, the upper crown 11 is displaced towards the upper side, that is, in a direction opposite to the lower crown 12. The rod 17 comprises on its free end side a handle formed by two opposite fins and an opening extending in a direction transverse to the axial direction. Through said transverse opening, an additional rod can be inserted to form a level with which an increased rotational force can be applied to reliably compress the inner gel ring 7 and the outer gel ring 6, 10a. Furthermore, the rod 17 possesses in a region near the end that receives the plug-like element 17a, counter-pressure portions 17b which bear against a lower circumferential surface side of a projection extending from the lower side of the means 15 of alignment and support of cable and tube and surrounds the opening through which the plug-like element 17a received by the rod 17 extends. Said back pressure parts 17b are formed by bar-shaped projections that extend radially from the rod 17 in opposite directions. Said bar-shaped projections 17b have a

ES 2 633 452 T3 radial length greater than an internal diameter of the protrusion 46 extending from the underside of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15. Said rod-shaped projections 17b bearing against said ring-shaped projection 47 in an assembled state of the gel sealing block 5 provide a counter-force to the axial pressure applied by the inner gel ring 7 and the ring 6, 10a outer gel in a compressed state to prevent said compressed state from loosening.

The cable and tube alignment and support means 15 comprises on its outer circumferential surface a plurality of cable and tube retention channels 27a, 27b, so that each of them extends in an axial direction in extension of the passage 23 formed with the lower crown 12. The configuration of the cable and tube retention channels 27a, 27b will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

As is apparent from FIG. 3A, the cable and tube alignment and support means 15 comprises a crown portion 15a on its upper side for abutting against a crown 3a formed with the lower housing body 3 on its lower side. In particular, the upper side of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15 has an external diameter that substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the lower section of the lower housing body 3, while the circumferential surface of the cable and tube alignment and support means 15 extending from said crown 15a to the lower side has an external diameter that is equal to or less than the internal diameter formed by the lower crown 3a of the body 3 lower housing. Accordingly, the gel sealing block 5 is supported by the lower housing body 3 in the axial direction by the crown 3a formed on the lower side of the lower housing body 3. The external diameter of the gel sealing device is equal to or less than the internal diameter of the lower section of the lower housing body 3 without the crown 3a. Therefore, the gel sealing block 5 is inserted in the axial direction into said lower housing body 3 from its upper side.

Figures 6 and 7 show a side view and a rear side perspective view of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15 attached to the lower housing body 3 by means of the crown 15a formed at the upper end of the means 15 of alignment and support of cable and tube and supporting the underside of the lower crown 12. The cable and tube channels 27a, 27b extending in the axial direction in extension of the passageways 23 comprise a cable guide channel 27b for guiding the main cable 13 in the axial direction and a tube guide channel 27a for guiding the cables. tubes 14 in axial direction. The cable guide channel 27b has recesses for fixing the main cable 13 to the cable and tube alignment and support means 15 by means of cable tape. The tube guide channel 27a has an upper section, a middle section and a lower section in the axial direction so that the upper section is arranged adjacent to the lower crown 12 and so that the lower section is located in the underside of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15. The middle section is thicker in the circumferential direction than the upper and lower sections. Thus, a transition formed between the middle section and the upper and lower sections, respectively, provides a bearing surface 29 that extends in the circumferential direction. Said bearing surface 29 comprises a recess portion 40 which extends in the axial direction (see Figure 7). Both the tube guide channels 27a and the cable guide channels 27b are separated by wall sections 48 extending in the axial direction. An outer circumferential surface of said wall sections 48 forms the outer circumferential surface of the cable and tube support and alignment means 15. The wall sections 48 comprise, in an area of ​​the upper and lower sections of the tube guide channel 27a, a recess 30 formed in the circumferential direction on the circumferential thickness of said wall sections 48, respectively. The surface sides of the wall sections 48 defining the tube guide channel 27a possess, in a region of the upper and lower sections of the tube guide channel 27a in an area of ​​the axial end sides, a portion 34 of vertical notch. Said vertical recess portion 34 provides on its external side and on its axial end side, which is located near the middle section of the tube guide channel 27a, sliding surfaces adapted to avoid an axial and radial displacement of an element that is rests against said sliding surfaces, respectively. As particularly shown in Figure 7, the tube guide channel 27a has a wavy bottom surface formed by two wave crests that extend in the axial direction in accordance with the extension direction of the tube guide channel 27a. The intermediate wave formed in the depression between the two wave crests is adapted to guide the tube 14 in the axial direction and has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the portion of the tube 14 located therein and thus guided.

Figures 6 and 7 further show a tube clamp 16 having a slide carriage shape. In particular, the tube clamp 16 has two tube receiving sections with a U-shaped cross section with a recessed middle section located between them. The notch midsection is formed by elongated males of the U-shaped tube receiving sections, so that the U-shaped tube receiving sections and the notch midsection endow both circumferential sides of the clamp 16 of tube of one side of common surface. The recess mid section constituting a bridge section has two elastically extending circumferential edges each projecting from one circumferential side towards the opposite circumferential side of the tube clamp 16. An elastically extending circumferential cutting edge is attached to one circumferential side of the tube clamp 16, while the other is attached to the opposite side. The edges are adapted to expand to a radial outer side by mounting the tube clamp 16 on the tube 14. Therefore, the tube 14 inserted into the tube guide channel 27a is pressed by the aforementioned extending edges

ES 2 633 452 T3 circumferentially against the lower surface of the tube guide channel 27a.

The tube clamp 16 has on an axial end side two axial projections 32 which protrude from the U-shaped receiving section in the axial direction. Said axial projections 32 are adapted to be received by the recess 40 formed in the bearing surface 29 at the transition between the middle section and the lower and upper sections of the tube guide channel 27a. On the opposite axial end side of the tube clamp 16, a second recess portion is formed, which has two latching pawls 33 extending from said recess portion in the circumferential direction. Therefore, said latching triggers 33, when viewed from a rear side of the tube clamp 16 (see Figure 7), extend from the elongated males of the U-shaped tube receiving section. Said latching triggers 33 are adapted to be received by the vertical notch portions 34 formed in the upper and lower sections of the tube guide channel 27a. The tube clamp 16 further comprises a circumferential side protrusion 31 which extends from the U-shaped tube receiving section to the circumferential outer side of the tube clamp 16. Said circumferential lateral projection 31 is adapted to be received by the circumferential recess 30 formed on the outer circumferential surface side of the wall sections defining the tube guide channels 27a. Additionally, the tube clamp 16 has a radial internal direction with respect to the axial projection 32, a rounded edge between the front edge facing the bearing surface 29 and the radial internal edge on the lower surface of the channel 27a of tube guidance. The rounded edge allows a tiltable insertion of the tube clamp 16 into the tube guide channel 27a, so that the axial projections 32 are first inserted into the assigned recesses 40 and then the latching pawls 33 are attached. in the assigned vertical recesses 34.

By inserting at least one tube clamp 16 in the tube guide channel 27a, the tube 14 is fixed in an axial direction at least in an axial direction by the bearing surface 29 cooperating with the front edge of the clamp 16 tube, from which the axial projection 32 protrudes in combination with a cooperation of the vertical recess 34 that receives the hooking pawls 33. By inserting two identical tube clamps 16 into said tube guide channel 27a in a manner opposite to that shown in Figure 6, tube 14 is fixed in axial direction along opposite axial directions. Furthermore, an axial fixing of the tube 14 in said tube guide channel 27a is further achieved thanks to the cooperation of the circumferential lateral projection 31 received by the circumferential recess 30. The radial fixation of said tube 14 is achieved thanks to the axial projection 32 inserted inside the recess 40 and thanks to the hooking latches 33 received by the vertical recess portions 34.

On the basis of such a fixation, the tube 14 can be reliably aligned and supported with its tube end in the sealing section 22 located between the inner gel ring 7 and the outer gel ring 6, 10a, such as shown in Figures 3A and 3B.

Figures 8 and 9 show a further housing 100 receiving two gel sealing devices in accordance with the preferred embodiment as described above. In fact, the additional housing 100 may be adapted to receive different gel sealing devices. Said additional housing 100 comprises a tubular upper housing body 101 that provides a common cable management area for the cables guided and sealed by the gel sealing devices, while said cable management area is arranged between openings formed at the axial end sides of the upper housing body 101. Each axial end side of the upper housing body 101 can be connected to a lower housing body 102 in a manner similar to that described in relation to the upper housing body 2 and the lower housing body 3 of the housing 1 described above. In particular, the lower housing body 102 receiving the gel sealing device and the assigned end side of the upper housing body 101 are basically configured in a manner corresponding to the lower and upper housing bodies 3, 2 of the housing 1 discussed. above, so that the gel sealing device is retained in each lower housing body 102 in the axial direction thereof.

A method for inserting the main cable 13 and tubes 14 into the housing 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above will now be described. In case the housing 1 is preassembled as shown in Figure 1A, the upper housing body 2 is removed from the lower housing body 3 which is then moved to the lower side to expose the gel seal block 5. The main cable 13 and tubes 14 to be installed in the gel seal block 5 are inserted through the conduit of the lower housing body 3. To facilitate installation, the sealing section 22 arranged between the inner gel ring 7 and the outer gel ring 6, 10a is exposed in an accessible manner by a rotary movement of the rod 17 in a circumferential direction corresponding to the direction of release, so that the upper crown 11 moves to the upper side, that is, away from the lower crown 12, thereby decompressing the inner gel ring 7 with respect to the ring 6, 10a external gel. By said axial movement of the upper crown 11 away from the lower crown 12, the fixation of the first upper and lower ring segments 10b, 10c with the second circumferential segment 10a sandwiched between them is released. In particular, the plug receiving hole 39 and the plug 37 are spaced from each other. Therefore, the first upper and lower ring segments 10b, 10c, together with the second circumferential segment 10a, can be removed from the gel seal block 5. Said release can be carried out by releasing the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9 that sandwich the first circumferential segment 6, or without

ES 2 633 452 T3 release them. Next, the main cable 13 is inserted from the radial outer side of the gel seal block 5 into the passage 23 and the cable guide channel 27b provided with the upper crown 11, the lower crown 12 and the alignment means 15 and cable and tube support. If necessary, the main cable 13 can be made to loop in the organization area before being guided back through the gel seal block 5 to an exterior of the housing 1. After insertion of the main lead 13 into the gel seal block 5, the first upper and lower ring segments 10b, 10c, together with the second circumferential segment 10a, are mounted in the gel seal block 5 by inserting of the pin 37 into the pin receiving hole 39 and by displacing the upper and lower crowns 11, 12 towards each other.

The insertion of the tube 14 can be carried out parallel to the insertion of the main cable 13 or separately. Alternatively, or in addition to releasing the second circumferential segment 10a to expose the sealing section 22, the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9 along with the first circumferential segment 6 sandwiched between them are collapsed away from the block. 5 gel seal in a clamped state of the second upper and lower ring segments 8, 9. The tube 14 is inserted from a radial outer side into the gel seal block 5 in such a way that the tube end is positioned in the groove on the inner gel ring 7 in the seal section 22. The end of the tube is aligned with respect to an inner end side of the groove, with the assigned groove of the outer gel ring 6, 10a forming the termination 49. Furthermore, the tube 14 is inserted into the tube guide channel 27a and fixed thereto by the tube clamps 16. In case the cable is not guided through the tube 14 towards the upper side of the gel sealing block 5, a dummy cable 20 can be introduced into said tube end from the axial upper side, so that an upper part of the dummy cable 20 is supported by the bracket 18 of the fixing element. Alternatively, the tube end can be closed by a tube end plug. In the event that a cable is guided through the tube 14 to the upper side of the gel sealing block 5, the cable is spliced ​​with an assigned cable guided by the main cable 13, so that the splice is stored in the cable management area. If splicing of the tube guided cable 14 is not to be carried out at this point in the cable installation, the tube guided cable 14 can be attached to a fixture 19 which can be mounted on the fixture bracket 18 . Thus, if a splice of said cable with the main cable 13 is to be carried out later, the upper housing body 2 simply needs to be removed from the housing 1 to provide access to the free end of the cable supported by the support 18 of the cable. fixing element.

After carrying out the insertion of the cable 13 and / or the tube 14, the sealing sections comprising the cable 13 and the tube 14 are sealed by assembling the respective circumferential segments 6, 10a to the gel sealing block 5 . The rod 17 is rotated in a circumferential direction corresponding to a mounting direction, so that the upper crown 11 moves towards the lower crown 12, to fix the outer gel ring 6, 10a with the rings 8, 10b; 9, 10c upper and lower. Before or after that, the gel sealing device is inserted into the conduit of the lower housing body 3. In the event that the gel sealing device is inserted after rotating the rod 17, the rod 17 is further rotated in the mounting direction to further compress the inner gel ring 7 and the outer ring 6, 10a of gel, such that the outer circumference of the outer gel ring 6, 10a is compressed against the inner circumference of the lower housing body 3 to achieve sealing. Next, the fastener bracket 18 with the loop section bracket 4 is installed in the upper section of the lower housing body 3 by the alignment achieved by a rotation of the fastener bracket 18 thanks to the projections 18c elongated ones formed with the fixing element support 18 and the recesses located on the inner circumferential side of the upper section of the lower housing body 3. The rod 17 can then be forced to rotate further in the mounting direction if necessary to further compress the inner gel ring 7 and the outer gel ring 6, 10a, thereby further pressing the Gel sealing material in the radial outer direction towards the inner circumferential surface of the lower section of the lower housing body 3 to obtain a reliable seal. The upper housing body 2 is fixed to the lower housing body 3 at least after installing the loop section bracket 4.

ES 2 633 452 T3

List of numerical references

1, 100

2, 101

3, 102

3rd housing upper housing body lower housing body crown of lower housing body loop section support gel sealing block first circumferential segment inner gel ring second upper ring segment second lower ring segment

10th second circumferential segment

10b first segment of upper ring

10c first segment of lower ring upper crown

11th round-shaped protrusion lower crown

12a, 12b rounded protrusion forming a step main cable middle alignment tube and cable and tube support

15th crown of the alignment means and cable support and tube clamp tube 17 rod

17th plug-in element

17b fixing element support back pressure part

18a fastener bracket base

18b bar-shaped protrusions

18c extensions

18f receiving portion

18g reinforcing element fastening element dummy cable passage sealing section

24, 28 raised edge

ES 2 633 452 T3 fence

27th tube guide channel

27b cable guide channel circumferential notch lateral protrusion axial protrusion circumferential protrusion vertical notch axial protrusion hinge portion plug means of fixing and aligning plug receiving hole notch portion ring-shaped notch plug-like protrusion middle locking groove interlocking groove ring shaped boss wall section termination