Seal assembly and method of testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12152671-B2
Application number	US-201917294391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A dual seal termination assembly having a first termination body; and a sleeve at least partially surrounding the first termination body; primary and secondary seals adapted to be fitted between the first termination body and the sleeve; a test port in the first termination body to supply test fluid to a point between the primary and secondary seals of the first termination body; the test port being adapted to receive test fluid at a predetermined pressure, such that a pressure difference is created between the point between the primary and secondary seals and a point on the other side of the primary seal and a point on the other side of the secondary seal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dual seal termination assembly, the assembly comprising:
a first termination body;
a sleeve at least partially surrounding the first termination body;
primary and secondary seals adapted to be fitted between the first termination body and the sleeve;
a test port in the first termination body to supply a test fluid to a point between the primary and secondary seals of the first termination body;
the test port being adapted to receive the test fluid at a predetermined pressure, such that a pressure difference is created between the point between the primary and secondary seals and a point on an other side of the primary seal and a point on an other side of the secondary seal;
a second termination body wherein the sleeve is connected between the first termination body and the second termination body to form a chamber; and
a second set of primary and secondary seals adapted to be fitted between the second termination body and the sleeve,
wherein the second termination body comprises a first part and a second part;
wherein the second set of primary and secondary seals is fitted in the first part between the second termination body and the sleeve; and
a second test port in the first part of the second termination body to supply a second test fluid to a point between the second set of primary and secondary seals of the first part of the second termination body.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second test port is adapted to receive the second test fluid at a predetermined pressure, such that a pressure difference is created between the point between the second set of primary and secondary seals of the first part of the second termination body and a point on an other side of the primary seal and a point on an other side of the secondary seal of the first part of the second termination body.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
a second sleeve fitted to the second part of the second termination body; and
a third set of primary and secondary seals between an outer surface of the second termination body and an inner surface of the second sleeve.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the second part of the second termination body comprises:
an opening adapted to receive a closure member; and
a third test port at a point between the third set of primary and secondary seals of the second part of the second termination body.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 ,
wherein the third test port is adapted to receive test fluid at a predetermined pressure, such that a pressure difference is created between the point between the third set of primary and secondary seals of the second part of the second termination body and a point on an other side of the primary seal and a point on an other side of the secondary seal of the second part of the second termination body.

6. The assembly according to claim 3 ,
wherein the assembly further comprises a third termination body and the second sleeve is fitted between the second part of the second termination body and the third termination body.

7. A dual seal termination assembly test system, the system comprising:
a dual seal assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the test port is a first test port, the system further comprising a second test port connected to a space outside of the primary and secondary seals, and
a detector connected to one of the first test port and the second test port for detecting whether a test fluid has passed through any of the primary and secondary seals.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the test fluid comprises helium or nitrogen.

9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the primary and secondary seals comprise an elastomer.

10. The system according to claim 7 ,
wherein the termination assembly comprises a termination for an optical fibre cable, or an electrical cable.

11. The system according to claim 7 ,
wherein the predetermined pressure is one of a vacuum, or a pressure greater than 1.1 times atmospheric pressure at a test location.

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Global Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Spanggaard Jens Holt
• Turner Kelly

Classifications

• G02B6/44775

  Cable seals e.g. feed-through (cable seals integrated to the box seals G02B6/4444; pulling eyes G02B6/44465) · CPC title

• G01M3/2838

  for cables (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/2869

  for seals not incorporated in a pipe joint · CPC title

• G01M3/221 Primary

  for cables · CPC title

• G01M3/2853

  for pipe joints or seals (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title