Stuffing tube

In combination with a cable extending through an opening in a partition, a stuffing tube arrangement for providing a seal between said cable and said partition, comprising

• a tube having a cylindrical end portion having an internal thread, and an inwardly tapered portion adjacent the inner end of said cylindrical end portion, the exterior of said tube being welded to said partition at said opening,
• a member having a tapered section having outer portions complementarily engaging said tapered portion of said tube, a cylindrical section extending from the narrow end of said tapered section, and a rounded corner between said tapered section and said cylindrical section,
• said cylindrical section being of smaller diameter than and spaced inwardly from said tube at said narrow end of said tapered section,
• an externally threaded hollow gland nut meshed with said thread of said tube and having an end received in said cylindrical end portion,
• a washer in said cylindrical end portion, one end of said washer being engaged by said end of said gland nut, and
• a seal in said cylindrical end portion, one end of said seal being engaged by said tapered section of said member, and the opposite end of said seal being engaged by the opposite end of said washer, said cable extending through said tube, said member, said seal, said washer, and said gland nut,
• said seal being compressed between said member and said washer, so that said seal is forced inwardly against said cable and outwardly against the wall of said cylindrical end portion for forming a seal with said cable and said tube.

The method of extending an electrical cable or the like through a partition in an airtight relationship therewith, comprising the steps of

• forming a tube so as to have a first part of a first substantially constant diameter, and a tapered shoulder at one end of said first part,
• securing the exterior of said tube to a partition so that said tube extends through said partition and is in an airtight relationship therewith on the exterior of said tube,
• forming an adapter member having a tapered part, and a substantially cylindrical part extending from the smaller end of said tapered part which is substantially complementary to an electrical cable to be extended through said partition,
• inserting said adapter member into said first part of said tube and bringing said tapered part of said adapter member into engagement with said tapered shoulder of said tube,
• extending said electrical cable through said tube and said adapter member,
• positioning a sealing member around said cable in said first part of said tube, with one end of said sealing member adjacent said tapered part of said adapter member,
• positioning a washer around said electrical cable and adjacent the opposite end of said sealing member, and
• then exerting a compressive force on said sealing member by pressing inwardly on said washer so that said sealing member is pressed against said cable by said tapered part of said adapter member for forming a substantially airtight seal therewith, and said sealing member is expanded outwardly against the inner periphery of said first part of said tube adjacent said washer for forming a substantially airtight seal with said tube.

The method of converting a stuffing tube transmitting a first cable of a first diameter through a partition to the transmission of a second cable of a second diameter different from that of said first diameter, which tube includes a first end part of a first diameter, and a tapered shoulder at the inner end of said first end part, comprising the steps of

• removing said first cable from said tube,
• extending said second cable through said tube,
• making an adapter with a tapered part, and a cylindrical part at the narrow end of said tapered part,
• said cylindrical part being made substantially complementary to the exterior of said second cable,
• positioning said adapter in said tube so that said second cable is received in said adapter and said tapered part of said adapter engages said tapered shoulder of said tube,
• positioning a sealing member around said second cable in said first part of said tube with one end of said sealing member being adjacent said tapered part of said adapter,
• positioning a washer in said tube adjacent the opposite end of said sealing member, and
• exerting a compressive force on said sealing member by pressing inwardly on said washer so that said tapered part of said adapter forces said sealing member against the surface of said cable, and said washer forces said sealing member outwardly against the inner periphery of said first part of said tube.

In combination with a tubular body for extending through a bulkhead or deck of a ship, said tubular body having an internal thread at one end and an internal shoulder inwardly of said one end, a hollow gland nut for meshing with said thread, a washer engageable by said gland nut, and an electrical cable extending through said tubular body, said gland nut and said washer, a sealing arrangement for said electrical cable comprising

• a tubular member having a tapered part, and a relatively short
• cylindrical part at the narrow end of said tapered part,
• said member being receivable in said tubular body with outer portions of said tapered part in engagement with said internal shoulder,
• said cylindrical part having a smaller diameter than that of said tubular body adjacent said shoulder, whereby when said tapered part so engages said internal shoulder said cylindrical part is spaced from the wall of said tubular body,
• said cable being receivable in said tubular member, and a seal adapted to be wrapped around said cable, said seal including
• an elongated elastomeric member,
• and a ductile wire inside said elastomeric member for causing said elastomeric member to retain a helical shape imparted to it,
• whereby said elastomeric member can be wrapped around said cable and given a generally helical shape between said tapered part and said washer, and compressed upon advancement of said gland nut for sealing around said cable and along the interior of said tubular body.

In combination with a tubular body for extending through a bulkhead or deck of a ship, said tubular body having an internal thread at one end and an internal shoulder inwardly of said one end and tapering toward the opposite end of said tubular body, a hollow gland nut meshed with said thread so that one end of said gland nut is received in said one end of said tubular body, a washer in said tubular body adjacent said one end of said gland nut, and an electrical cable extending through said tubular body, said gland nut and said washer, a sealing arrangement for said cable comprising

• a tubular member received in said tubular body and having
• a first part extending inwardly from one end of said tubular member and tapering to a location intermediate the ends of said tubular member from a relatively large diameter adjacent said one end thereof to a relatively small diameter at said intermediate location,
• at least the outer portion of the exterior of said first part substantially complementarily engaging said internal shoulder,
• and a second part extending from said first part at said intermediate location to the opposite end of said tubular member,
• said second part being cylindrical, said second part having a smaller diameter than that of said tubular body adjacent said shoulder so that said second part is spaced from the wall of said tubular body,
• said cable extending through said tubular member and being relatively closely received in said second part,
• and a deformable sealing member surrounding said cable and engaging said first part and said washer,
• said sealing member being compressed by said gland nut through said washer and by said first part so that said sealing member makes firm engagement with said cable and the wall of said tubular body to effect a seal.