Sealing member, slide closure and method

Abstract

 The present invention provides a sealing member for sealing closures, valves and the like in watercourses, comprising a fixing part for fixing the sealing member to a closure or frame plate therewith; and an at least slightly deformable wall extending from the fixing part for the purpose of forming a chamber, wherein the chamber is inflatable under (water) pressure for increasing the travelling distance of the sealing member.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing member for sealing closures in watercourses. The invention further relates to a slide closure provided with such a sealing member, and to a method for the use thereof.

[0002] Such a sealing member and slide closure provided therewith is known from the Netherlands patent number 1008871 of applicant. The known sealing member comprises a strip of a flexible material such as rubber, which is arranged close to the edges of the closure for sealing. Drawbacks of the known sealing member are represented by the low maximum travelling distance which roughly corresponds to the thickness of the strip of flexible material, which particularly when the closure is deformed, for instance in the case of high water pressure, will form a problem. In order to obviate this problem it is possible to arrange around the edges of the closure a frame on which one or more sealing strips of flexible material are likewise arranged on opposite sides of the closure. The closure thus becomes complicated and costly.

[0003] The present invention has for its object to provide a closure with a greater travelling distance or deformation.

[0004] The present invention provides for this purpose a sealing member for sealing closures in watercourses, comprising a fixing part for fixing the sealing member to a closure therewith; and an at least slightly deformable wall extending from the fixing part for the purpose of forming a chamber; wherein the chamber is inflatable under (water) pressure for increasing the travelling distance of the sealing member.

[0005] The deformable wall of the chamber is inflated under water pressure, wherein it continues to seal the watercourse. The closure can also deform, wherein the sealing member is compressed by the flexible wall. The sealing member thus has a greater travelling distance than known sealing members, and is found to be suitable for larger-scale closures.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment a tongue portion is arranged on the wall of the chamber for the purpose of increasing the travelling distance of the sealing member. The maximum travelling distance that can be achieved is thus found to be increased further.

[0007] The travelling distance or deformation preferably lies between 0 and 30 mm. These values are found in practice to be suitable for closures up to 30 mWC (metres water column) .

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment the sealing member comprises a locking member to be arranged in a recess of the fixing part. Not only is a sufficient locking for the above stated applications thus achieved, but the sealing member can also be removed more easily.

[0009] The recess is preferably a groove arranged over the whole length of the fixing part, and the locking member is a cable with a dimension corresponding with the groove. A robust locking can thus be achieved in relatively simple and inexpensive manner.

[0010] In yet another preferred embodiment the fixing part is provided with one or more laterally extending anchoring members. Using these anchoring members it is found possible to fix and anchor the sealing member to a closure in wear-resistant and durable manner.

[0011] The fixing part is preferably an elongate strip of flexible material.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment the fixing part and the wall are of a rubber, elastomer and/or polyurethane. These materials are found to have the desired properties to obtain a sufficient flexibility and durability.

[0013] According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a slide closure for watercourses and the like, in particular sewers, provided with a sealing member as described above.

[0014] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for sealing a closure in a watercourse, in particular a sewer, with use of a sealing member as described above.

[0015] Further advantages and features will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a slide closure according to the present invention in a first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a side view in cross-section of the slide closure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a is a schematic sectional view of detail III of Fig. 2 in a first position of use, the so-called on-seating position;

Fig. 3b shows the detail of Fig. 3a in a second position of use, the so-called off-seating position to which the present invention particularly relates;

Fig. 3c shows the detail of Fig. 3a in a third position of use without pressure difference over the closure, the so-called non-loaded position;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a slide closure according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of detail V of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of the slide closure of Fig. 4.

[0016] Slide closure 1 in Fig. 1 comprises a frame 4 arranged on a vertical dam 2. Arranged slidably in the frame is a plate-like closure 6 which is provided with transverse strengthening ribs 8, 10. Closure 6 is connected to an adjusting mechanism 12 for causing sliding thereof in the height through frame 4.

[0017] Slide closure 1 thus has two positions, a first position of use in which a sewer pipe 16 arranged under the ground 14 is closed, and a second position in which closure 6 is displaced upward, wherein sewer pipe 16 has an open connection to a body of water 18.

[0018] A second preferred embodiment is shown in cross-section in Fig. 2, wherein corresponding components are numbered in corresponding manner as in Fig. 1. The adjusting mechanism comprises the vertical rod 12 which is connected in known manner to the vertical column 13 arranged against closure 6. In the shown preferred embodiment the strengthening ribs 8 are formed by profiles arranged horizontally against closure 6. In the shown position of use the slide closure closes the opening 22 of sewer pipe 16. For the best possible closure a plate 24 of a suitable material is arranged around the edge of opening 22, on the outer side of dam 2, in which plate an opening is arranged which corresponds with opening 22 in sewer pipe 16, against which closure 6 comes to rest in the closed situation. Closure 6 is provided peripherally on the side of pipe 16 with a sealing member 26 of a suitable, at least slightly deformable material which follows the contours of opening 22, which ensures that the seal is substantially watertight, i.e. able to withstand a predetermined water pressure.

[0019] Fig. 3a to 3c show various positions of use of closure 6 provided with sealing member 26 which comes to rest against plate member 24. Fig. 3a shows the position of use wherein the water pressure from body 18 is greater than the pressure from pipe 16 exerted on closure 6, the so-called on-seating position. As shown, sealing member 26 comprises a fixing part 28 with which the member is fixed in closure 6. Arranged on the fixing part is an at least slightly flexible or deformable wall 30 which ends in a wedge-shaped flexible tongue 32. In the shown position of use the closure 6 is pressed against plate member 24, wherein the deformable wall 30 is compressed. In order to have this deformation result in the smallest possible travelling distance, a recess 34 is arranged in closure 6, in which recess the tongue, or tongue portion 32, comes to rest.

[0020] When the pressure from pipe 16 is now greater than the pressure exerted from outside on closure 6, the position of use as shown in Fig. 3b occurs, wherein closure 6 is deformed such that the outer edges thereof are deformed such that they move slightly away from plate member 24, the so-called off-seating position. This travelling distance becomes larger as the dimensions of closure 6 increase. In order to also provide for sufficient sealing in the case of such larger closures 6, the wall 30 of sealing member 26 according to the present invention is deformable and provided with a chamber 36 which is, as it were, inflated by the inward pressure from sewer pipe 16, as shown, wherein the wall 30 is moved away from closure 6, whereby a greater travelling distance is obtained. In order to make this travelling distance even greater, wall 30 is provided with flexible tongue 32. A sufficient sealing is obtained as long as this continues to rest against plate member 24. In order to be able to undergo the forces exerted on sealing member 26, the fixing portion is provided on the side edges thereof with anchoring portions 38, 40, which run over the whole length of the sealing member and extend laterally in closure 6. Also arranged over the whole length of the fixing part is a groove or channel in which a locking member 42 is arranged, in the shown preferred embodiment a cable of a material that is less flexible than the material from which the wall, the fixing part and the tongue part are manufactured. A locking is thus obtained which can withstand the desired water pressures.

[0021] In a pressureless or non-loaded situation, wherein the pressure exerted on closure 6 from outside is roughly as great as the pressure from sewer pipe 16, the closure is not deformed, wherein both the wall 30 and tongue portion 30 rest against plate member 24 (Fig. 3c).

[0022] If the closure of slide closure 1 extends at least partially above water level 50 in the closing position, for instance when closing a gully 52, it is possible to arrange the sealing member over three sides 54, 56, 58 of the periphery of the closure, wherein the topside is left open. It is also possible to arrange the sealing member in frame plate 24 instead of in or on the closure. Such an embodiment is shown in Fig. 4 to 6. Sealing member 26 is arranged anchored in frame plate 24 in order to close the underside 56 and sides 54, 58 of closure 6, and herein continues in vertical direction on the side walls further than the height of the closure (Fig. 6).

[0023] In a practical preferred embodiment the sealing member according to the present invention has a travelling distance which in compressed position runs from 0 mm to a maximum travelling distance as shown in Fig. 3b of up to 25 mm or even up to 30 mm. These values can of course be varied in accordance with the desired size of the application. Practical embodiments are resistant in an operational range of 0 to 30 m water column, i.e. up to a pressure difference of 3 bar. The sealing member is thus suitable for a slide closure with sides of for instance 3 m, wherein a deformation of 4% on the edges results in about 12 mm of deformation. A smaller version can likewise be manufactured with a maximum travelling distance of 10 mm, which already has a greater travelling distance than known sealing systems.

[0024] Due to the combination of an anchoring in the closure and the deformable wall in combination with the inflatable chamber, the sealing member according to the present invention provides for sufficient variation in sealing, wherein the member is also able to withstand the occurring shear loads. The member is manufactured for this purpose from a rubber-like or flexible material, wherein the fixing part, the wall and the tongue portion are preferably manufactured from an elastomer or from polyurethane, with a hardness of 60-80 kg/mm².

[0025] The present invention is not limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof, in which many changes and modifications can be envisaged within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Sealing member for sealing closures, valves and the like in watercourses, comprising a fixing part for fixing the sealing member to a closure or frame plate therewith; and an at least slightly deformable wall extending from the fixing part for the purpose of forming a chamber, wherein the chamber is inflatable under (water) pressure for increasing the travelling distance of the sealing member.

2. Sealing member as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tongue portion is arranged on the wall of the chamber for the purpose of increasing the travelling distance of the sealing member.

3. Sealing member as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the travelling distance lies between 0 and 30 mm.

4. Sealing member as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, also comprising a locking member to be arranged in a recess of the fixing part.

5. Sealing member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the recess is a groove arranged over the whole length of the fixing part, and wherein the locking member is a cable with a dimension corresponding with the groove.

6. Sealing member as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the fixing part is provided with one or more laterally extending anchoring members.

7. Sealing member as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the fixing part is an elongate strip of flexible material.

8. Sealing member as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the fixing part and the wall are of a rubber, elastomer and/or polyurethane.

9. Sealing member as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, suitable for a water pressure up to 30 mWC.

10. Slide closure for watercourses and the like, in particular sewers, provided with a sealing member as claimed in any of the claims 1-9.

11. Method for sealing a closure in a watercourse, in particular a sewer, with use of a sealing member as claimed in any of the claims 1-9.

Drawing