Sealing device and rubber hose continuous vulcanizing device provided with same, and sealing method and rubber hose continuous vulcanizing method provided with same

A sealing device which is disposed at each of an entrance and an exit of a rubber hose continuous vulcanizing device configured to continuously vulcanize a rubber hose including one or more rubber layers by causing the rubber hose to pass through an inside of a vulcanization pipe filled with steam, for preventing the steam in the vulcanization pipe from leaking to outside of the vulcanization pipe, each sealing device comprising:

• a pipe which is provided to be coaxial with the vulcanization pipe, has one end connected to the vulcanizing pipe, and is inclined downward from the one end to an other end, pressurized liquid being pumped into the pipe from an inlet disposed at a side face on the other end side;
• an annular member which is attached to the pipe so as to close an opening on the other end side of the pipe, the annular member having a hole whose inner diameter is larger than an outer diameter of the rubber hose to thereby provide a gap between the inner diameter of the annular member and the outer diameter of the rubber hose, and through which the rubber hose passes;
• a pump which is configured to store the liquid in the pipe by continuously pumping an amount of liquid into the inlet that is more than an amount of liquid that is discharged outside of the pipe while part of the liquid pumped into the pipe is continuously discharged outside of the pipe through the gap between the inner diameter of the hole and the outer diameter of the rubber hose;
• a liquid level gauge configured to detect a vertical position of liquid level of the liquid in the pipe;
• a controller configured to control the amount of liquid pumped from the pump so that the vertical position of the liquid level is constant, based on a detection result of the liquid level gauge;
• and
• a guide member disposed in the pipe at a position between the inlet and a longitudinal axis of the pipe so as to oppose the inlet, and guides the liquid, which is pumped from the inlet, to the one end side,
• wherein leakage of the steam in the vulcanization pipe to the outside of the vulcanization pipe is prevented by the liquid stored in the pipe,
• wherein, as the rubber hose passes through the hole of the annular member, the inner diameter of the hole surrounds the rubber hose and is separated from the rubber hose by the gap such that the rubber hose is out of contact with the hole, and
• wherein, when the rubber hose is passing through the hole of the annular member, the liquid is kept pumped into the inlet and the liquid is kept discharged through the gap between the inner diameter of the hole and the outer diameter of the rubber hose.