Rotatable seal

Description of the invention

The subject of the invention is a rotary seal for securing containers and preventing the removal of the seal from the spindle of a lock, handle or similar element of a bolt or latch that closes the container.

Rotary seal designs have been disclosed in, inter alia, US Patent Nos. 4,978,026; 5,180,200 and 5,419,599.

Various types of seals for sealing locks or handles of bolts or latches that secure cargo containers include elongated, flexible seal wires and metal or thermoplastic seals. The cables are put through a spindle or a handle, then their ends are connected with each other with a seal which is crimped or deformed in order to prevent removal of the ends of the cable. Since the presence of the cable prevents the spindle or handle from working, unauthorized opening of the container destroys the seal or cable, providing visible evidence of unauthorized opening.

Examples of prior art seals are described in US Patents 421,951; 1,826,033 and 1,911,060.

US Patent No. 421,951 discloses a rotatable seal lock in which the seal tape is positioned within the rotatable member. The element is then rotated causing the catch to fall into an aperture formed in the seal strip which is pulled inside the pivot element to the locking position. The rotatable member is prevented from rotating open by the use of a spring-held detent.

US Patent 1,826,033 discloses a block including a sealing chamber having transverse openings. There is a roller in the chamber, moreover it has a partition used for temporary connection with winding elements inserted through the chamber. The winding elements have holes in which the sealing tape is placed.

US Patent No. 1,911,060 discloses a sealing device having a body with apertures through which flexible sealing elements extend outwardly. The central part of the body is provided with a threaded core which is cut through the holes. Inside the threaded core there is a single turn screw which can be screwed downwards to the elastic securing elements allowing it to be kept in the sealing position.

The above-mentioned commonly known solutions presented in documents US 4,978,026; 5,180,200 and 5,419,599 include a seal to secure the container and provide evidence of tampering, and are also inexpensive to manufacture. In a seal according to US Patent 5,180,200, a rotating rotor is inserted into a chamber in a thermoplastic housing. The walls of the housing include openings extending through the chamber. The rotor has a bore and two peripheral projections, curved in cross section, complementary to the grooves near its top. The rotor is partially seated in the housing by snapping the lower lip into the upper groove of the chamber, and the positioning of the flaps in the housing at predetermined areas allows the openings to be arranged such that the seal wire can be inserted through appropriately spaced holes. With the seal wire inserted, the rotor and housing can be rotated relative to each other to wrap the wire around the rotor. The rotor is then finally positioned inside the housing so that each of the protrusions, which mate with the teeth in the base of the chamber, prevents the rotor from being removed from the chamber, the relative rotation of the rotor-housing, and the conduit removed from the seal.

However, the rotor is only partially inserted when receiving the seal wire, after which the rotor is rotated and then fully retracted. Rotating the rotor to wrap the wire around it and inserting the rotor into the chamber requires a special tool.

US Patent No. 5,419,599 discloses a seal similar to that of Patent 5,180,200, except that the ratchet mechanism, when the rotor is fully retracted, allows relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the housing in only one direction. In addition, a screwdriver can be used to rotate the seal, so no special tools are required.

US Patent No. 5,402,958 discloses a ratchet seal similar to that of Patent 5,419,599. Similar to that seal, the seal of this patent for rotating the rotor to wrap the conductor around the rotor and secure the seal requires the use of a screwdriver or the like. Also, similar to the other patents discussed above, matching curves in the projections and grooves of the cross section axially lock the rotor in the chamber.

The housing. These protrusions and grooves, however, have arched surfaces that could be damaged when breaching the seal.

The authors of the present invention have recognized the need to design a seal similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned US Patent Nos. 5,419,599; 5,402,985 and so on, but characterized in that the fiber conduit can be wrapped around the rotor without the aid of tools. Moreover, the authors of the present invention have noticed the need to fix one end of the filament with the seal while still in the factory. Patent 5,419,599 and related patents do not provide for such a solution. If the fiber has only one end wrapped around the rotor, the wrapped fiber will block the remaining holes of the seal that lie in a common plane and prevent the user from inserting the other end of the fiber. Patent 5,402,958 does not solve this problem since the holes are in different planes. However, this device requires special tools during operation. The present invention relates to a rotary seal suitable for use with a flexible filament for permanently securing the filament to an object. The seal comprises a fiber and a housing comprising a chamber having an axis and an opening made in the housing connected to the chamber and lying in a plane transverse to the axis. The first and second fiber portions pass through this opening, arranged side by side in this plane. Mounted in the housing is a rotor in the chamber, rotating about an axis, and having at least one bore, at least one bore in the rotor being aligned with the bore in said plane through which the fiber passes. The housing also has means to block rotation of the rotor about an axis relative to the housing in a predetermined direction, the filament being inserted into at least one opening, and wrapped in this opening around the rotor and secured to the rotor and the housing.

The essence of the invention consists in the fact that in the position of locking the seal, the third part of the fiber extends from the second part of the fiber, which is inserted through the opening, and the third part of the fiber is detachably inserted in the rotor opening. The fourth part of the fiber extends from the first part of the fiber, which is inserted through the housing opening and is laid with the second part of the fiber, side by side in said plane, and the fourth part of the fiber is wrapped around the rotor and secured to the rotor.

Preferably, the housing opening includes a slot transversely to the axis, the slot including first and second openings spaced apart in the housing. Part of this slot intersects both openings, at least one opening consisting of adjacent and spaced openings, i.e. the third and fourth openings, lying in said plane. The third hole is aligned with the first hole and the fourth hole is aligned with the second hole. The seal housing according to the invention has fifth and sixth holes, the first and third holes being coaxial with the fifth hole, and the second and fourth holes being coaxial with the sixth hole lying in said plane.

The housing has a pair of spouts located in the chamber, on the inner walls of the housing facing each other, each of which has a surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The seal rotor has protrusions having a complementary surface perpendicular to the axis and mating with each of the spouts to block the rotor within the housing.

In the solution according to the invention, a peripheral channel is formed in said plane between the rotor and the casing in which a plurality of threads of fiber are arranged, wrapped around the rotor. The channel has a cross-sectional area of ​​at least four times the cross-sectional area of ​​the fiber.

The seal of the invention comprises complementary teeth of a ratchet mechanism disposed in the chamber attached to the rotor and housing, and complementary surface elements for axially fixing the rotor to the housing.

Moreover, the seal comprises a handle protruding radially from the housing, and a flange holder connected to the rotor, constituting an element of manual drive of the rotor rotation movement inside the chamber.

According to the invention, the spout is linear and has a surface that passes through opposing through holes in the housing.

The seal further comprises a fiber having first and second opposite ends which is a cylindrical elongated flexible member, the first end seated in one of the third or fourth holes, and wrapped around a rotor rotated in the chamber by half a turn, the fiber passing through the hole while the other end is on the outside of the housing.

PL 195 237 B1

Preferably, the seal comprises a fiber having opposing first and second ends, the fiber being an elongated elastic element and the first end of the fiber seated in the fourth hole and wrapped around a rotor rotated half a turn in the chamber and connected to the first portion of the fiber and the third. part of the fiber extends from the second part through the third and fourth openings to the second end which is outside the housing, and an outer yarn loop outside the casing is formed between the first and second yarn portions.

The fiber used in the construction of the present seal is a multi-strand metal wire or a single fiber of multiple diameters.

The seal according to the invention comprises means for axially unidirectional locking of the rotor in the housing, located in its chamber, which include spouts located inside the chamber, on opposite sides of the housing, and a complementary projection on the rotor cooperating with the spout through mutually parallel surfaces lying on in a plane perpendicular to the axis.

The fiber used in the present solution has a diameter of a given size, and the rotor and the housing form a peripheral internal channel running around the rotor having an axial height and a radial width transverse to the axis, the height and width being equal to at least two given fiber diameters, with the conduit houses a plurality of turns of filament wound around the rotor.

Preferably, at least one opening in the seal housing includes a pair of adjacent spaced openings, at least one opening in the housing having a slot.

According to the invention, both the housing and the rotor include hand-clamped lugs that allow relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the housing.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a rotatable seal with attached fiber accessible before closing the seal, according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the rotatable seal of Fig. 1 after the filament has been locked in the seal in the locked position; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the rotatable seal of Fig. 1, partially in cross section, with the fibers removed; fig. 4 - a side view of the inner rotor of the seal of Fig. 3, having an outer casing of a rotatable seal according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the seal of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the rotor of the rotating seal of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a partially sectioned isometric view of the outer casing of the seal of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the outer casing of the seal of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the outer casing of Fig. 8; fig. 10 - a side view of the outer casing of Fig. 8, viewed from the direction indicated by 10-10; Fig. 11 is a side view of the outer casing of Fig. 8, seen from the direction indicated at 11-11; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the inventive seal showing the initial stage of attachment of the filament to the rotor and housing assembly; Fig. 13 is a section of the seal of Fig. 1 showing the final stage of attachment of the filament to the rotor and housing assembly; fig. 14 a section of the seal according to the invention showing the initial stage of securing the fiber to the rotor and casing assembly in a mode of securing the item to be secured with it; Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the inventive seal showing an intermediate stage of securing the attachment of the fiber to the rotor and housing assembly; Fig. 16 is a section of the seal of Fig. 2 showing the final stage of the securing of the filament and the rotor and housing assembly; fig. 17 - cross section of the seal according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a seal according to a third embodiment of the seal according to the invention.

The rotary seal 2, shown in Figs. 1-2, comprises an outer casing 4 and an inner rotor 6, and a flexible security fiber 8, preferably a multi-strand fiber or a thermoplastic monofilament multidimensional. The term "filament" includes monofilaments made of thermoplastic material, solid conductors or solid strands made of non-metallic materials, and multicore conductors. The figures show the fiber 8 as a multi-strand wire by way of example only.

The term multi-dimensional refers to the diameter of a fiber that has a dimension that varies in value from the maximum dimension (with zero positive tolerance) to the minimum or negative dimension within the tolerance range. For example, a single multidimensional "0.010 inch filament has a maximum diameter of 0.254mm + 0.0mm, and the minimum value may be 0.254mm. The multicore wire 8 has a diameter of approximately 0.76 mm in this embodiment. The monofilament preferably has a diameter of 0.254 mm. The housing and the rotor 6 are

They are injection molded of a brittle thermoplastic material, but may be made of other materials.

The rotor 6 includes a rotor body 10, and a manually operated flange handle 12. The handle 12 is used to rotate the rotor relative to the housing 4. Housing 4 preferably has a generally oval cylindrical hollow body 14, and an outwardly extending flat plate 16. The outer shape of the housing may take any form you want. Housing body 14 has a substantially cylindrical cavity 18 in which rotatably seats the rotor body 10.

In Figures 3, 5 and 8-11, the housing 4 has a substantially oval cylindrical side wall 20 surrounding an oval cross-section chamber 18 which is closed at one end with a base 22. In the wall 20 and in the base 22, at the joint, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth 24 are formed so that they protrude into the chamber 18. Each of the teeth 24 shown in Fig. 7 and 8 has a small slope angle for the falling slope 24a and a large leading slope angle 24b. Tooth depth 24 (radial depth of tooth 24b as measured from central axis 32) is not critical and the function of the teeth will be described in detail below. In this embodiment, each of the teeth 24 makes an angle of 22.5 ° and has radially internal surfaces which are preferably oval segments parallel to axis 32, and in this embodiment have a radius of 5.4 mm from axis 32. Each of the slopes 24b is provided. on a radius centered on the center of the chamber 18 on the axis 32 in the plan view shown in Fig. 8.

A circumferential groove 26 of an oval cross-sectional segment is formed on the inside of the wall 20 at the open end of the chamber 18. A pair of holes 28, 30 is formed through the wall 20 below the groove 26 and above the teeth 24. The holes 28 and 30 have a similar diameter, preferably of 1.6 mm and are adapted for use with a multi-strand cable with a diameter of 0.76 mm. The openings 28 and 30 lie in a plane 29 parallel to the flat base 22 normal to the central axis 32 of the chamber 18.

Through the wall 20 below the groove 26 and above the teeth 24 a second pair of holes 34, 36 lying in plane 29 is formed. The holes 34 and 36 have a diameter similar to the holes 28, 30. The holes 34 and 36 are connected by a slot 38 extending through the chamber 30, the slit has a width, measured in a direction parallel to axis 32, of approximately 0.9 mm. The width of the slot 38 closely corresponds to the diameter of the fiber, but is smaller than the diameters of the holes, which minimizes the possibility of tampering with the cavity 18 of tampering tools.

The openings 28 and 34 extend along the axis A. The openings 30 and 36 extend along the axis B. The openings 34 and 36 and the slot 38 together form a slotted opening in the wall 20. The respective axes A and B extend through the chamber 18. Further, pairs of openings 28, 34 and 30, 36 are preferably mutually parallel, furthermore, are parallel to base 22 and are coplanar. People with appropriate education will notice that it is possible to introduce other arrangements. For example, the slot 38 and the openings 28, 34 may include a single wide slot or a suitably enlarged opening for the purposes described below, but keeping the opening sizes to a minimum is advantageous in order to minimize the possibility of insertion of security breaking tools into the compartment 18.

Formed inside the housing 4, in the chamber 18, above the teeth 24, two opposing spouts 40 protrude radially into the chamber. Spouts 40 are formed by a linear channel 41 disposed on the inside of wall 20. Spouts 40 are mirror images of one another, and include a flat surface parallel to plane 29 (Figs. 10 and 11). The spouts 40 are linear and have a common, lower, flat surface flush with the surface of the openings 42 in the sidewall 20, which openings are the widening of the channels 41. The openings 42 are arranged generally so as to allow the formation of the spouts 40 and the channels. 41 using the appropriate mold during injection molding. The openings 42 have no safety function.

Housing 4 includes diametrically opposed radially outward flanges 44 on the outer side of wall 20. Flanges 44 and flange lugs 12 are used to provide a leverage effect when rotor 6 is rotated relative to housing 4. Integrally with wall 20 on both sides. on its sides, covers 46 and 48 are formed. The covers 46 and 48 receive extensions of openings 28, 30 and 34, 36 and slots 38, respectively. The covers extend these openings to restrict access to chamber 18 for tampering tools. The flanges 44 and the covers 46 and 48 may be omitted.

The rotor 6 is shown in detail in Figs. 3-6. The rotor 6 is substantially oval and cylindrical and has different types of parts with different radial transverse dimensions

PL 195 237 B1. The rotor 6 includes a head 49 having oval, cylindrical, spaced members 50. The flange 12, which is sheet-like, extends upwardly from the head 49 and is formed with it as a single piece. An annular outer shoulder 51 is an integral part of the rotor, is interposed between the elements 50, and has a shape that fits and engages a groove 26 in the housing 4 (FIG. 3) to engage a snap fit. Alternatively, a groove (not shown) may be formed in the head and a complementary projection in the wall 20 of the housing 4.

The oval cylindrical portion 52 is separated from the head 49 by a circumferential channel 54. Each portion 50 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the chamber 18. The portion 52 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the portion 50 and chamber 18, resting on the inner edges of the spouts 40, such as shown in Fig. 5.

The head 49 and the portions 52 are spaced apart to allow a channel 54 to be formed with a width measured parallel to the axis 32. This width is sufficient to accommodate at least two portions of abutting fibers 8 which are wrapped around the rotor in the channel 54 in direction parallel to the axis 32 '. The channel also has a radial depth normal to the axis 32 'to accommodate two layers of fiber portions 8 wrapped around the rotor. For example, with a fiber having a diameter of about 0.8 mm, channel 54 preferably has a width of about 2.5 mm and a radial depth of about 3 mm. These dimensions are sufficient to accommodate three overlapping layers of fibers 8 radially and axially, giving a cross-sectional area which is four times the surface area of ​​the fiber.

In the channel 54, a pair of through holes 56 and 58, Fig. 4 are formed in the body 10. The holes 56 and 58 are preferably the same diameter as the holes 28, 20, 34 and 36 in the housing 4, for example 1.6 mm. The holes 56 and 58 align with the holes in the housing on the axes A and B, respectively, according to Fig. 8, in one angular position of the rotor 6 with respect to the axis 32 of the housing 4, the axes 32 and 32 'in the assembled state are aligned, as shown in Fig. 3.

Immediately below portion 52 is a circumferential projection 60 having the largest slanted outer cam surface 62 near the head 49. The projection 60 has an upper surface 64 which surface is flat and perpendicular to the axis 32 'and parallel to the surface of the spout 40. 64 mates with surfaces 40 while the rotor is seated in the housing as shown in Figures 3 and 5, permanently retaining the rotor within chamber 18. The protrusion 60 snaps and deflects in cooperation with the spouts 40, causing the rotor to be seated and secured against the spouts 40. This provides better protection against tampering attempts than the curved protrusion 51 and complementary groove 26.

At the bottom of the rotor 6 is a disk 66 from which helical flexible teeth 68 extend radially. Each tooth 68 turns radially outward of disk 66 while remaining in its plane. Teeth 68 have curved radial outer surfaces, preferably an oval segment, and a member segment in the center portion 70 of disk 66, up to the relatively narrow tip of tooth 72. Each tooth 68 is separated from another adjacent tooth by a spiral space 74.

Due to the taper of the teeth 68 towards their tips 72, and due to their conical shape, the teeth 68 are radially flexible in the plane in which the teeth are positioned. Teeth 68 radially resiliently flex when they are rotated in contact with ratchet teeth 24 on the housing. Teeth 68 mate with the teeth 24 of the pawl and form a ratchet with the teeth 24 of the pawl.

Preferably, the radially outer surfaces 76 of the teeth 68 are segments of a circle as well as their radially inner surface 77. Each vertex 72 lies on a radius extending from the rotation axis 32 'of the rotor as shown in Figure 6. each tooth 68 are defined by a corresponding radius extending from a point radially spaced from the axis of rotation 32 '. The shapes of all the teeth 68 were generated by the same two rays, but the points from which they originated have been rotated uniformly with respect to the axis of the rotor 32 ', for example in this embodiment by 90 °.

The teeth 68 are all formed by identical radii which come out of points not lying on the axis 32 'in the same way but at different locations with respect to the axis 32'. The relative angular displacement about the axis 32 'for each of the inner and outer radii is the same for each tooth 68. Thus, for four teeth 68, their radii and the corresponding points from which they exit are rotated four equal distances about the axis 32'. The radii in this embodiment may be 3.4 mm for the inner surface 77 of the tooth and 4.3 mm for the outer surface 76 of the tooth. Surface 77 should have a slope of approximately 35 °.

PL 195 237 B1

When the helical teeth 68 are co-plane with the ratchet teeth 24 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the rotor 6 can only rotate in one angular direction about the axis 32, 32 'due to the interaction of the teeth 68 with the ratchet teeth 24. As the rotor 6 rotates in the 78 direction, the teeth 68 deflect inwardly in the plane, allowing the relative rotation of the rotor. The normal resting state of teeth 68 is that teeth 68 engage with the ratchet teeth 24 to prevent rotation in the opposite direction, as is the case in typical ratchet operation.

As the rotor 6 rotates, the tines 68 ride up the ramp formed by the slope 24a of the tines 24 and bend radially inward. Teeth 68 then spring back to the position shown when they are in the equilibrium position.

The rotor 6 is axially seated in the chamber 18 in the axial position shown in Figures 3 and 5. The projection 51 snaps into the groove 26 as the surface 64 snaps into the channel 41. The differences in diameter between the projections 51, 60 and the matching of the respective grooves such that the rotor 6 easily turns inside the chamber 18 relative to the housing 22 in the direction 78, but also becomes axially locked in the chamber 18 with respect to the axis 32.

The teeth 68 of the disc 66 complement the teeth 24 of the ratchet of the chamber 18, and have sufficient clearance to allow them to be flush with each other when seated. This relative positioning can be realized by, simultaneously with axial seating of the rotor 6 in the chamber 18, rotation of the rotor 6 relative to the housing 4. The teeth 68 taper inwards towards the axis 32 'and towards the lower wall of the rotor as shown in Fig. 4, facilitating the seating of the rotor 6 in position relative to the teeth 24 of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 8.

When rotor 6 is fully seated in housing 4 and shoulder 60 is seated in groove 40 (shoulder 51 seated in groove 26), ratchet teeth 24 and 68 engage preventing relative rotation of housing 4 and rotor 6 away from direction 78.

When the rotor 6 is seated in the chamber 18 as shown in Fig. 8, the axes of the holes 56 and 58 of the rotor (Fig. 5) align with the axes B and A of the respective holes 30, 36 and 28, 34 of the housing 4. Which is shown. in Fig. 12. The rotor 6 can be rotated to match the holes to the position shown. A positioning device (not shown), such as that shown in the aforementioned generally available patents, may be provided to facilitate the positioning of the rotor openings with the housing openings 4.

Figures 12-16 show an embodiment of a rotatable seal 2 according to the present invention at different stages of fixing the filament 8 in the seal. In Figure 12, the end 80 of the filament 8 has been inserted into the bore of the rotor 58 through an opening in the housing 34. This is done at the factory. The rotor 6 is rotated 180 ° to the position of Fig. 13. This causes the hole 58 to be aligned with the holes 30, 36. During rotation, a portion of the filament 82 winds around the rotor 6 in the channel 54.

As the filament 8 is wrapped around the rotor 6, a portion 84 moves through the slot 38 in the direction 86 from the opening 34 to the opening 36, Fig. 13. Which secures the end 80 to the seal 2. The seal is then shipped from the factory to the customer in this state. end use. As shown in Fig. 13, the channel 54 is large enough for the fiber so that it is possible to wrap further portions of the fiber around the rotor in the channel 54 in the radial direction and in the axial direction.

In Fig. 14, the end 88 of the fiber 8 is passed through the holes 90 of the spindle 92 to be secured with the seal 2. The end 88 is then inserted into the already empty hole 34, through the hole 56 of the rotor 6, and through the hole 28 in the housing on the rotor 6. outside the housing 4. This allows the size of the loop 89 to be adjusted. The other end 80 remains secured in the rotor 6 as shown. The rotor is then rotated relative to the housing 4 to the position of Fig. 15 so that a portion of the filament 91 rests in the opening 56.

The rotor is then rotated by grasping its flange 12 with the fingers of one hand and grasping the housing 4 through its flanges 44 with the fingers of the other hand. A portion of the fiber 91 remains locked in opening 56 during rotation.

In Fig. 15, the rotor 6 is further rotated as shown to an intermediate stage to the housing 4. As the rotor 6 is further rotated, a portion of the fiber 94 is advanced towards portion 84 through a slot 38 in the housing 4 as it is drawn into the channel. 54 around the rotor. The slit 38 is axially dimensioned sufficient to allow a portion of the fiber to pass therethrough. Of course, as a portion of the filament 94 passes through the slot 38, it is also wound onto the rotating rotor 6. End 88 is also wound around the rotor and is pulled into channel 54.

In Fig. 16, the rotor 6 is then rotated in the direction 78 a multiple number of turns, for example three, to completely wind the filament onto the rotor in the channel 54 as shown. Ka8

The thread 54 is large enough to accommodate this multiple number of turns. While three turns have been described as being preferred, it is possible to introduce more or fewer turns in specific embodiments. A ratchet, consisting of teeth 26 and 68 of the housing 4 and the rotor 6, respectively, locks the rotor in its pivoted position and prevents it from returning to any of the earlier stages of rotation of the rotor. Teeth 24, Fig. 8, are provided with a suitable pitch and are appropriately spaced to allow the rotation of the rotor to gradually increase to its final locked position in Fig. 16. The surface 64 of the projection 60, Fig. 3 keeps the rotor in its position during rotation.

The underside of the casing 4 may include notches 96, Figures 3 and 5, to aid in maintaining the casing 4 during rotation, when the deformation of the fiber 8 requires a high torque application.

Rotation of the rotor 6 deforms the filament 8 in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the rotor 6 by wrapping the filament around a relatively sharp 180 ° bend where the rotor bore meets the outer surface of the rotor in the channel 54. These sharp bends immobilize the filament 8 against the rotor preventing both removal of the filament 8 , from seal 2 and opening of seal 2. When the rotor is fully seated in the housing, fig. 3 and 5, the upper surface of the head 49 of the rotor 6 is preferably flush with the upper surface 98 of the housing 4 and forms a smooth surface with the upper surface 98. Such a smooth surface makes it difficult to break the protection, separating the rotor 6 from the housing 4, after axially seating the rotor in chamber 18 of the housing 4. No tools are needed to rotate the rotor.

Other features of the seal 2 may make disassembling the seal 2 difficult. First, as noted, the wrapping and deformation of the filament makes it difficult to axially slide the rotor 6 out of the housing 4. Second, the snapped-in pair of the groove 60, 41 makes it difficult to axially open the seal 2. Third, the teeth 24, 76 help to prevent opening. seals 2. Fourth, the covers 46 and 48, if present, prevent a slender elongated object from being introduced into one of the openings 28, 20, 34 and 36 and the slots 38. Effective extension of the openings 28, 30, 34, 36 and the slots 38 through the covers 46 and 48 minimizes a chance of the object engaging the rotors 6, which is supposed to break the protection, to reach the place where the lever force may be applied.

If the rotor and casing are preferably injection molded from a brittle thermoplastic material, attempts to break the seal 2 will be visible as a result of breakage, breakage of the seal, which damage will occur when a force is applied to break the seal.

The housing 4 and the rotor 6 of the rotatable seal 2 can be made of a strong and substantially semi-rigid material such as metal, rubber, plastics or the like. Acrylic plastic is a preferred material, but may also be a plastic known as engineering plastics, having relatively high melting points and high strength. The housing 4 and the rotor 6 of the rotary seal 2 can also be made of transparent materials. This allows a visual inspection of the mutual alignment of the openings 28, 30, 34, 36, 56 and 58, so that properly secured fibers 8 can be visually inspected for visible signs of tampering.

When the fiber 8 is a single fiber with multiple diameters, it may have an outer diameter that exactly matches the diameter of the various openings. This allows for the introduction of closer tolerances of holes and fibers, which to a greater extent allows to resist breach of the seal.

When the seal 2 is in the locked position, the inner rotor 6 and the housing 4 must be damaged, or the sealing thread 8 must be cut to remove the seal 2 from the spindle 92 so that the spindle elements of the lock can move or function. Due to the use of strong materials in the construction, a great force is required to break the seal or cut the fiber 8. However, if such destruction or cutting takes place, easily detectable evidence is introduced that such a breach has occurred.

In the alternative embodiment of Figure 17, the housing 100 of the seal 99 has a wall 102 and is otherwise identical to the housing 4 except that the opening 30 is omitted. The numerals with the mark in Figure 17 represent identical components to those in the housing 4. with the same digital markings. The rotor 104 has the same shape and configuration and is otherwise identical to the rotor 6, except that it has one through hole 56 'and one blind hole 106. The holes 56' and 36 'are in an initial stage aligned with each other. one axis, similarly the openings 28 ', 106 and 34 are initially mutually respectively

PL 195 237 B1 aligned with one axis. The slot 38 'is between the openings 36 and 34' and has the same function as the comparable slot 38 in the seal 2.

In use, the end 80 of the fiber according to Fig. 12 is inserted into the blind hole 106. The fiber 8 is then secured in the seal 99 in the same manner as described above with reference to Figs. 12-16, by rotating the rotor 104 by 180. To the position of Fig. 13. As before, the size of the loop is determined by the length of the yarn passed through the appropriately aligned holes 28 ', 56' and 34 ', and also then the rotor is turned.

When a filament (not shown in Fig. 17) is in the position of Fig. 13, the remainder of the filament is blocked in seal 99 in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 14-16 with respect to seal 2. Since all openings are are flush, the slot 38 'allows the filament of Fig. 13 to move in a suitable manner as the bore 58 of the rotor rotates. This frees openings 28, 56 and 34 on one side of the rotor and housing to accommodate the other end of the filament 88 and portions of the filament 91 as shown in Figure 14. Two embedded portions of filament 84, 94 of Figure 15 are provided. exiting the seal, thus being substantially coplanar and in communication with each other through the slot 38.

Without the slot 38, the fiber 8 if inserted into the opening 34 as shown in Fig. 12, after rotation of the impeller, would remain on the right side of the housing, instead of moving to the left as shown in Fig. 13. In this case, none of the openings it would not be free to receive a portion of the fiber 91 as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The gap 38 is therefore important for the operation of the seal 2.

However, it is possible to introduce a different hole pattern, according to another implementation of the invention. For example, the opening 28 ', Fig. 17 may be omitted if desired, as the loop 89, Fig. 14, of the security yarn does not need to be adjusted before securing the yarn to the seal. Also, it is possible to introduce one large hole in the rotor, instead of two holes. Such a large opening, however, weakens the rotor, and is not so advantageous. Although the independent openings and the slit 38 are shown, in another arrangement they may be replaced with one thicker slit extending in the transverse direction, instead of a narrowed slit in the axial direction connecting the larger diameter openings as shown.

In a further embodiment of Fig. 18, the seal 108 may include a rotor 110 having a transverse slot 112 in place of the two holes 56 and 58 in rotor 8 of Figs. 4 and 5. The slot 112 may have a uniform width identical to that shown in the drawing, or may include a different thickness similar to that of the slot 38 and the openings 34,36 connected to the slot 38 as shown in Figs. 7-10.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that various kinds of modifications are apparent to those of skill in the art, which modifications do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.