US 6,145,891 AGranted

Double booted flexible entry boot

AssigneeAdvanced Polymer Technology, Inc.

InventorAndrew Youngs

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A double booted flexible entry boot provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. An inner seal member is disposed within the containment region, the inner seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral first hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially into the containment region. A mechanism is provided for rigidifying the seal portion of the inner seal member. A mechanism releasably attaches the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit. An outer seal member is disposed outside of the containment region, the outer seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral second hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially away from the containment region. A mechanism is provided for rigidifying the seal portion of the outer seal member. The first and second support sleeves have a degree of flexibility sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles not necessarily normal to the fluid containment wall. A mechanism releasably attaches the second hollow support sleeve to the conduit. A mechanism, carried by the rigidified seal portion of the outer seal member and adapted to extend axially through the wall and the rigidified seal portion of the inner seal member, releasably attaches the inner seal member to the wall of the containment region. The inner seal member may be repaired or replaced without substantial outside fluid invading the containment region.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A double booted flexible entry boot for providing a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall, the flexible entry boot comprising:

an inner seal member adapted to be disposed within the containment region, the inner seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral first hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and adapted to extend axially into the containment region, the support sleeve having an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment;
means for rigidifying the seal portion of the inner seal member;
means for releasably attaching the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit;
an outer seal member adapted to be disposed outside of the containment region, the outer seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral second hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and adapted to extend axially away from the containment region, the support sleeve having an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment;
means for rigidifying the seal portion of the outer seal member;
means for releasably attaching the second hollow support sleeve to the conduit;
and
means, carried by the rigidified seal portion of the outer seal member and adapted to extend axially through the wall and the rigidified seal portion of the inner seal member, for releasably attaching the inner seal member to the wall of the containment region;
wherein the inner seal member may be repaired or replaced without substantial outside fluid invading the containment region.

6 more elements

A fluid containment system having a flexible entry boot for providing a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall, the flexible entry boot comprising:

an inner seal member disposed within the containment region, the inner seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral first hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially into the containment region, the support sleeve having an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment;
means for rigidifying the seal portion of the inner seal member;
means for releasably attaching the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit;
an outer seal member disposed outside of the containment region, the outer seal member having a substantially planar seal portion and an integral second hollow support sleeve concentric with the seal portion and extending axially away from the containment region, the support sleeve having an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, the hollow support sleeve further having a degree of flexibility relative to the seal portion sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment;
means for rigidifying the seal portion of the outer seal member;
means for releasably attaching the second hollow support sleeve to the conduit;
and
means, carried by the rigidified seal portion of the outer seal member and extending axially through the wall and the rigidified seal portion of the inner seal member, for releasably attaching the inner seal member to the wall of the containment region;
wherein the inner seal member may be repaired or replaced without substantial outside fluid invading the containment region.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/345,943Filed 1 Jul 1999 · continuation
Priority: 5 May 1998
Granted: 14 Nov 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F16L 5/10
Sealing: by using sealing rings or sleeves only
F16L 5/08
Sealing: by means of axial screws compressing a ring or sleeve
F16L 33/04
Hose-clips: tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pin and nut
F16L 41/14
Joining pipes to walls or pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of a wall or to the axis of another pipe: by screwing an…