Duct sealing apparatus

#The present invention relates to sealing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible duct seal and compression assembly which reduces potential leakage and slippage.

#Present day flexible ducting is constructed using rubber, fabric reinforced rubber (for example, flexible ducts available from RCF Technologies, Inc., Vidalia, Ga., www.rcftechnologies.com) or flexible plastics secured to metal or rigid tubing by means of commercially available band clamps or welding. Sealing against fluid as well as against internal or external pressure and slippage are important functions of the clamp.

#One typical type of band clamp consists of a metal strip with helical slots at one end. The slots slip through a worm gear located at the opposite end. The strip is wrapped around a tubular end section of the duct which has been placed over a beaded metal tube to which it is secured. The strip is fed through the worm gear and tightened until the duct is locked in place and sealed. Where higher pressures are involved, the duct may, in time, slip out from under the clamp. Hence, a bead is provided at the end of the tube to act as a stop.

#The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:

#FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing a flexible duct and sealing assembly in use with a pair of conventional tubes.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a duct according to one exemplary embodiment.

#FIG. 1 shows a conventionally available rigid first tube 4 and second tube 6, each of which has a bead 8, 10 proximate to one end. The tube is used in many industries and is available from a number of different sources.

#A flexible duct sealing apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and shown in FIG. 1 generally comprises a duct 14 and a sealing assembly 20, generally comprising a split ring 22, a compression ring 24 and an end cap assembly 26. Typically, a pair of sealing assemblies 20 will be used with a single duct 14 so as to join two tubes 4, 6 together. It is contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention to adapt the duct 14 construction to have more than two openings so as to join more than two tubes together, thus employing more than two sealing assemblies 20.

#The duct 14 is formed of a flexible material designed to operate at the parameters desired. A preferred duct is the RISHON® duct available from RCF Technologies, Inc., Vidalia, Ga., which is formed of multiple layers of rubberized material. It is preferable that the duct 14 be able to withstand appropriate levels of temperature, pressure or caustic material as the intended use or environment requires. The duct 14 has a first end 30 having an opening 32 sized to receive tube 4. A first sealing portion 34 having a rounded edge 36 is connected to a generally flat section 38, which in turn is connected to a beveled section 40. The beveled section 40 is connected to a generally flat middle section 42. At the opposite end of the duct 14 are second end 44, opening 46, second sealing portion 48, rounded edge 50, beveled section 51, and flat section 52, which are substantially mirror images of the correlative parts at the first end 30. It is contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention that the components at each end may be the same in size and shape, or may be different, such as when two different diameter or shaped tubes 4, 6 are to be connected. In a preferred embodiment the duct has a circular cross-sectional shape; however, other shapes, such as, but not limited to, oval, elliptical, T-shaped, elbows, involuted or the like are possible.