CA1086665A - Modular conduit unit - Google Patents
Modular conduit unitInfo
- Publication number
- CA1086665A CA1086665A CA301,392A CA301392A CA1086665A CA 1086665 A CA1086665 A CA 1086665A CA 301392 A CA301392 A CA 301392A CA 1086665 A CA1086665 A CA 1086665A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- star
- conduits
- cylindrical
- conduit unit
- walls
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L9/00—Rigid pipes
- F16L9/18—Double-walled pipes; Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
- F16L3/22—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals
- F16L3/223—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes
- F16L3/2235—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets specially adapted for supporting a number of parallel pipes at intervals each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
MODULAR CONDUIT UNIT
The modular conduit unit formed from at least four conduits secured together in spaced relationship by means of a plurality of spaced star-shaped spacer elements.
The star-shaped spacer elements are each formed with four equally spaced hollow projections that terminate in end walls and have curved side walls. The curved side walls of adjacent projections merge to form outer walls of the ele-ment that are in the form of cylindrical segments. An in-tegral reinforcing member interconnects said outer walls at points spaced from said end walls and a line of weakness is found in each of said end walls and extends substantially longitudinally of the cylindrical segments. The line of weakness facilitates breaking of the star-shaped member for replacement of a conduit.
MODULAR CONDUIT UNIT
The modular conduit unit formed from at least four conduits secured together in spaced relationship by means of a plurality of spaced star-shaped spacer elements.
The star-shaped spacer elements are each formed with four equally spaced hollow projections that terminate in end walls and have curved side walls. The curved side walls of adjacent projections merge to form outer walls of the ele-ment that are in the form of cylindrical segments. An in-tegral reinforcing member interconnects said outer walls at points spaced from said end walls and a line of weakness is found in each of said end walls and extends substantially longitudinally of the cylindrical segments. The line of weakness facilitates breaking of the star-shaped member for replacement of a conduit.
Description
10~6665 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a star shaped connector and a modular conduit formed therewith. More par-ticularly the present invention relates to a connecting star for a pre-assembled modular conduit unit wherein a plurality of discrete conduits each having an integral bell coupling at one end of the unit are preassembled in a spe-cific relationship.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The term modular or multiple conduit unit as used herein is intended to describe a conduit unit that is pre-assembled from a plurality of discrete conduits secured together in spaced relationship and then delivered to the construction site where it is to be installed, rather than a conduit assembly that is fabricated on site as it is ins-talled.
In the earlier attempts to provide multiple con-duit assemblies, it was not conventional to form pre-assembled multiple conduit units, rather, the individual conduits were assembled on site to form a multiple conduit assembly. However, some of the patent literature indicates that it was conceived that such assemblies could have been pre-assembled. U.S. patent 2 039 387 issued May 5, 1936 to Burke discloses one type of arrangement wherein the con-duits are spaced using a specific star shaped spacer mem-ber and are straped together. A similar arrangement showing a different star-shaped spacer is shown in the Burke et al U.S. patent 1 799 673 issued April 7, 1931. Parker has in-vented several systems for inter-connecting a plurality of conduits into an assembly as shown, for example, in U.S.
patents 1 801 451 issued April 21, 1931 and 1 804 478 issued May 12, 1931. None of these systems have been accepted by the industry.
10~666S
m e arrangement shown in U.S. patent 3 872 894 issued May 24, 1975 to Streit has been tried, but the inven-tion has gained little commercial acceptance. It is some-time essential to pneumatically feed a line through each individual conduit so that a pulling line may be threaded and then the transmission cables pulled therethrough. The coupling arrangement of the patent makes pneumatic threading difficult if not impossible.
- All of the above systems are not easily and se-curely coupled together, and this deficiency forms one of the main reasons why none of these arrangements have been successful.
A further major problem, when a pre-assembled modular unit is made, is breakage occuring during shipment i.e. on occasion one more of the conduits in a multiple conduit unit may break. It is then essential to eliminate this conduit and substitute new one therefore. With the prior art assemblies such substitution (since assembly was generally made on site) would not be necessary since a bro-ken pipe or conduit simply would not be used. When pre-assembled modular units are shipped from the factory the problem of substituting a single conduit into a unit must be solved. In all of the earlier patents no satisfactory arrangement has been disclosed that would make such a subs-titution feasible without dismantling the whole of the conduit unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to pro-vide a multiple conduit unit wherein discrete conduits maybe easily replaced without dismantling the remainder of the modular conduit unit.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide a discrete star-shaped spacer for securing the ~08666S
conduits together in spaced relationship and that may be broken to release a selected conduit.
Broadly the present invention comprises; a modular conduit unit composed of at least four cylindrical conduits secured together in spaced relationship with their longitu-dinal axes substantially parallel by at least three spaced star-shaped spacer elements interposed between the conduits, each said star shaped spacer elements being provided with a four equally spaced hollow projections that terminate in end walls and have curved side walls, the curved side walls of adjacent projections merging to form outer walls in the form of cylindrical segments, an integral reinforcing mem-ber interconnecting said outer walls at points spaced from said end walls, a line of weakness in each of said end walls extending substantially axially of said cylindrical segments, the outer walls being adhesively secured in face-to-face relationship with the outer surfaces of said conduits. The conduits preferably are all of the same length and have their opposite ends faces aligned in planes susbtantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said conduits and adjacent the ends of said conduits in one of said planes each being formed with an integeral bell coupling.
Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of the pre-ferred embodiments of the present invention taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a multiple conduit unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing coupled together a pair typical conduit elements for use in the unit illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a star-shaped spacer element constructed in accordance with the present invention and Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig-ure 4 illustrating the cross-sectional shape of the star shaped element.
- Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a multiple conduit unit 10 composed of a plurality of discrete con-duits 12, 14, 16 and.18 secured together by a plurality of spacer elements 20 of substantially star shaped cross sec-tion (3 illustrated) that will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
The conduits are all substantially the same as conduits 11 and 12 as illustrated in Figure 2. Conduit 12 as shown is composed of a long cylindrical section 22 ter-minating at one end in a inwardly tapering bevel 24 and formed at its opposite end with a bell coupling 26. Bell coupling 26 is formed with an outwardly bevelled edge 28 and has its inner surface tapering from a maximum diameter at its mouth at an angle relative to the longitudinal axes of the conduit~ The beveled edge 24 of the mating con-duit 11 is snugly received.wi.thin the coupling 26 and is driven in so that the beveled edge 24 provides clearance to accommodate the fillet 23 on the inside bar of the coupling 26 and two spaced seals 25 and.27 at.the end of the conduit 11 and about the outer periphery of the conduit 11 adjacent the bevelled edge 24 respectively~
The star-shaped spacer elements 20 are extremely important to the present invention and provide substantial-ly the sole means of spacing and inter-connecting the various conduits 12, 14, 16 and 18 forming the conduit unit ~86665 10. As shown in Figure 4, the star-shaped spacer element 20 is in the form of a four-pointed star, i.e. is provided with four equally spaced hollow points or projections each terminating in a substantially planer face or wall 30, 32, 34, 36. These faces 30, 32, 34, 36 are inter-connected by cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 that form the outer walls of the projections substantially as shown. The cy-lindrical segments 38, 40, 42 and 44 have substantially the same curvature as the outer surfaces of the conduits 12, 14, 16, 18 so that the outer surfaces of the conduits are re-ceived in face-to-face relationship with the segments 38, 40, 42, 44.
Each star-shaped element is strengthened by an integral substantially cylindrical internal section 46 having its cylindrical axis aligned with the axis of the star-shaped member. This cylindrical section 46 inter-connects the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42 and 44 at a point spaced from the end walls 30, 32, 34 and 36 and pre-ferably at the points of minimum spacing between opposed cylindrical segments. It will be noted that each projection or point of the star is hollow and has a hollow area 48 which determines the thickness of the planer end walls 30, 32, 34, 36 and of the cylindrical section 46, and of the cy-lindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 between the points of con-tact of the cylindrical section and the cylindrical seg-ments. Obviously these walls will be as thin as possible commensurate with the request strength of the star.
Each of the end walls 30, 32, 34, 36 is provided with a longitudinally extending line of weakness 50. The star-shaped spacer is also weak at each end of the junction or point of contact between the cylindrical section 46 and the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44. These weak points facilitate and ensure the star breaks more easily and in ` ~086665 the proper places to permit complete removal of a broken conduit as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
It may be desirable to provide a deined line of weakness in the walls of the cylindrical section 46 as indicated at 52 (show only on the top right hand corner cylinder 46) to ensure that fracture of the star-shaped element occurs neatly across the cylindrical section 46 when a conduit is to be replaced.
It is important that the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 match closely with the outer periphery of the conduits 12, 14, 16, 18. Thus, if the star-shaped element is to be formed by injection moulding, such cylindrical surfaces are not easily obtained since tapers to provide mould clearances are required to obtain mould separation.
In an injection moulded element the inner surfaces of the star-shaped element i.e. the inner surfaces in the spaces 48 and the inner surface of the cylindrical section 46 are tapered as indicated at 54, 56, 58 and 60 in Figure 5 to a maximum thickness preferably at the centre of the star while the outer surface of the segments (e.g. segment 40 as shown) are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the star~
The modular unit 10 is formed by securing by adhe-sive the plurality of conduits 12, 14, 16, 18 to a plurality of stars 20. Adhesive is applied to the surfaces 38, 40, 42, 44 of the stars (generally a solvent type adhesive) and the conduits are secured to the star. It is-important that the stars be spaced from the free end of the conduit to permit flexing the free ends sufficient to permit alignment of the conduits so that the coupling elements 26 may slide over the bevelled edges 24 of the conduits in the adjacent unit. After a conduit unit has been assembled, as illus-trated in Figure 1, it i5 shipped to the site where as above indicated the plurality of such conduit units are arranged in end-to-end relationship with the bell coupling at one end encirculing the end of the conduit having the bevelled edge 24 thereby to couple the conduits together.
In some cases, an individual conduit is broken in transit or on the work site and it is necessary to replace the broken conduit. This is accomplished with the present invention by taking a pointed tool such as the tool 62 illus-trated in Figure 4 and driving it in the lines of weakness 50 on opposite sides of the conduit to be replaced thereby to fracture the end walls of the star-shaped element 20 on opposite side of the conduit i.e. in the illustrated arrangement it could be at end walls 30 and 36 assuming the broken conduit is secured to the cylindrical segment 44.
The cylindrical section 46 is then also broken out in the area bounded by the space 48 in each of the projections of the star on opposite sides of and immediately adjacent the point of contact of the section 46 with the segment face 44 e.g. as illustrated at 64 and 66, Figure 4, i.e. the section of the star forming the cylindrical surface 44 will be bro-ken out by breaking the line of weakness 50 on end face 36 as illustrated at 68; by breaking the line of weakness 50 in end face 30 as illustrated at 70 and breaking the cylin-drical section 46 as indicated at 64 and 66 so that the whole segment 44 may be removed from the star 20.
When a conduit is to be substituted for one that has been broken and removed a star-shaped element with at least one of the points removed (e.g by sawing the cylin-drical segments forming opposite sides of the selected pro-jection or point immediately adjacent their points of con-tact with the cylindrical section 46 to leave the section 46 in tact while separating the projection) is inserted between the three conduits remaining in the unit and with 10~6665 two of its projection in a position to provide a cylindrical segment to receive the new or replacement conduit. The three pointed star is adhesively secured to all of the con-duits thereby to secure the replacement conduit to the re-maining conduits.
Points of the stars should be such that the sur-faces or walls 30, 32, 34, 36 are in the plane formed by joining the longitudinal axis of the two conduits on either side of the point. Thus, if a plurality of units are to be stacked together, a star may be interposed between the two units in alignment with stars of the two units being stacked thereby to increase the strength of and ensure proper spacing of the conduits in the combined unit. This is not absolutely essential to the operation and the points may be made slightly shorter and/or the star not aligned with the stars of the two units being combined but the combined unit would not be quite as strong.
The unit 10 preferably will be composed of a minimum of 3 spacers 20, the number being depending on the length of the conduits to be connected together. The end spacers 20 i.e. those adjacent the opposite ends of the conduit unit should be spaced between 6 and 24 inches from the ends of the conduit. If they are spaced any closer, there will not be sufficient flexibility to ensure aligment of conduits of adjacent units and if they are significantly greater spaced, there will be too much flexibility and the unit will not be easiiy coupled and handed.
The invention has been described in relation to a four conduit system but obviously where the system of six or eight may be used.
Also the central cylindrical section 46 may re-ceive suitable conduits such as air hoses or the like that may be smugly received within the section 46.
~Q866~5 Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
. ~ - . ,
The present invention relates to a star shaped connector and a modular conduit formed therewith. More par-ticularly the present invention relates to a connecting star for a pre-assembled modular conduit unit wherein a plurality of discrete conduits each having an integral bell coupling at one end of the unit are preassembled in a spe-cific relationship.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The term modular or multiple conduit unit as used herein is intended to describe a conduit unit that is pre-assembled from a plurality of discrete conduits secured together in spaced relationship and then delivered to the construction site where it is to be installed, rather than a conduit assembly that is fabricated on site as it is ins-talled.
In the earlier attempts to provide multiple con-duit assemblies, it was not conventional to form pre-assembled multiple conduit units, rather, the individual conduits were assembled on site to form a multiple conduit assembly. However, some of the patent literature indicates that it was conceived that such assemblies could have been pre-assembled. U.S. patent 2 039 387 issued May 5, 1936 to Burke discloses one type of arrangement wherein the con-duits are spaced using a specific star shaped spacer mem-ber and are straped together. A similar arrangement showing a different star-shaped spacer is shown in the Burke et al U.S. patent 1 799 673 issued April 7, 1931. Parker has in-vented several systems for inter-connecting a plurality of conduits into an assembly as shown, for example, in U.S.
patents 1 801 451 issued April 21, 1931 and 1 804 478 issued May 12, 1931. None of these systems have been accepted by the industry.
10~666S
m e arrangement shown in U.S. patent 3 872 894 issued May 24, 1975 to Streit has been tried, but the inven-tion has gained little commercial acceptance. It is some-time essential to pneumatically feed a line through each individual conduit so that a pulling line may be threaded and then the transmission cables pulled therethrough. The coupling arrangement of the patent makes pneumatic threading difficult if not impossible.
- All of the above systems are not easily and se-curely coupled together, and this deficiency forms one of the main reasons why none of these arrangements have been successful.
A further major problem, when a pre-assembled modular unit is made, is breakage occuring during shipment i.e. on occasion one more of the conduits in a multiple conduit unit may break. It is then essential to eliminate this conduit and substitute new one therefore. With the prior art assemblies such substitution (since assembly was generally made on site) would not be necessary since a bro-ken pipe or conduit simply would not be used. When pre-assembled modular units are shipped from the factory the problem of substituting a single conduit into a unit must be solved. In all of the earlier patents no satisfactory arrangement has been disclosed that would make such a subs-titution feasible without dismantling the whole of the conduit unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to pro-vide a multiple conduit unit wherein discrete conduits maybe easily replaced without dismantling the remainder of the modular conduit unit.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide a discrete star-shaped spacer for securing the ~08666S
conduits together in spaced relationship and that may be broken to release a selected conduit.
Broadly the present invention comprises; a modular conduit unit composed of at least four cylindrical conduits secured together in spaced relationship with their longitu-dinal axes substantially parallel by at least three spaced star-shaped spacer elements interposed between the conduits, each said star shaped spacer elements being provided with a four equally spaced hollow projections that terminate in end walls and have curved side walls, the curved side walls of adjacent projections merging to form outer walls in the form of cylindrical segments, an integral reinforcing mem-ber interconnecting said outer walls at points spaced from said end walls, a line of weakness in each of said end walls extending substantially axially of said cylindrical segments, the outer walls being adhesively secured in face-to-face relationship with the outer surfaces of said conduits. The conduits preferably are all of the same length and have their opposite ends faces aligned in planes susbtantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said conduits and adjacent the ends of said conduits in one of said planes each being formed with an integeral bell coupling.
Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of the pre-ferred embodiments of the present invention taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a multiple conduit unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing coupled together a pair typical conduit elements for use in the unit illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a star-shaped spacer element constructed in accordance with the present invention and Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig-ure 4 illustrating the cross-sectional shape of the star shaped element.
- Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a multiple conduit unit 10 composed of a plurality of discrete con-duits 12, 14, 16 and.18 secured together by a plurality of spacer elements 20 of substantially star shaped cross sec-tion (3 illustrated) that will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
The conduits are all substantially the same as conduits 11 and 12 as illustrated in Figure 2. Conduit 12 as shown is composed of a long cylindrical section 22 ter-minating at one end in a inwardly tapering bevel 24 and formed at its opposite end with a bell coupling 26. Bell coupling 26 is formed with an outwardly bevelled edge 28 and has its inner surface tapering from a maximum diameter at its mouth at an angle relative to the longitudinal axes of the conduit~ The beveled edge 24 of the mating con-duit 11 is snugly received.wi.thin the coupling 26 and is driven in so that the beveled edge 24 provides clearance to accommodate the fillet 23 on the inside bar of the coupling 26 and two spaced seals 25 and.27 at.the end of the conduit 11 and about the outer periphery of the conduit 11 adjacent the bevelled edge 24 respectively~
The star-shaped spacer elements 20 are extremely important to the present invention and provide substantial-ly the sole means of spacing and inter-connecting the various conduits 12, 14, 16 and 18 forming the conduit unit ~86665 10. As shown in Figure 4, the star-shaped spacer element 20 is in the form of a four-pointed star, i.e. is provided with four equally spaced hollow points or projections each terminating in a substantially planer face or wall 30, 32, 34, 36. These faces 30, 32, 34, 36 are inter-connected by cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 that form the outer walls of the projections substantially as shown. The cy-lindrical segments 38, 40, 42 and 44 have substantially the same curvature as the outer surfaces of the conduits 12, 14, 16, 18 so that the outer surfaces of the conduits are re-ceived in face-to-face relationship with the segments 38, 40, 42, 44.
Each star-shaped element is strengthened by an integral substantially cylindrical internal section 46 having its cylindrical axis aligned with the axis of the star-shaped member. This cylindrical section 46 inter-connects the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42 and 44 at a point spaced from the end walls 30, 32, 34 and 36 and pre-ferably at the points of minimum spacing between opposed cylindrical segments. It will be noted that each projection or point of the star is hollow and has a hollow area 48 which determines the thickness of the planer end walls 30, 32, 34, 36 and of the cylindrical section 46, and of the cy-lindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 between the points of con-tact of the cylindrical section and the cylindrical seg-ments. Obviously these walls will be as thin as possible commensurate with the request strength of the star.
Each of the end walls 30, 32, 34, 36 is provided with a longitudinally extending line of weakness 50. The star-shaped spacer is also weak at each end of the junction or point of contact between the cylindrical section 46 and the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44. These weak points facilitate and ensure the star breaks more easily and in ` ~086665 the proper places to permit complete removal of a broken conduit as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.
It may be desirable to provide a deined line of weakness in the walls of the cylindrical section 46 as indicated at 52 (show only on the top right hand corner cylinder 46) to ensure that fracture of the star-shaped element occurs neatly across the cylindrical section 46 when a conduit is to be replaced.
It is important that the cylindrical segments 38, 40, 42, 44 match closely with the outer periphery of the conduits 12, 14, 16, 18. Thus, if the star-shaped element is to be formed by injection moulding, such cylindrical surfaces are not easily obtained since tapers to provide mould clearances are required to obtain mould separation.
In an injection moulded element the inner surfaces of the star-shaped element i.e. the inner surfaces in the spaces 48 and the inner surface of the cylindrical section 46 are tapered as indicated at 54, 56, 58 and 60 in Figure 5 to a maximum thickness preferably at the centre of the star while the outer surface of the segments (e.g. segment 40 as shown) are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the star~
The modular unit 10 is formed by securing by adhe-sive the plurality of conduits 12, 14, 16, 18 to a plurality of stars 20. Adhesive is applied to the surfaces 38, 40, 42, 44 of the stars (generally a solvent type adhesive) and the conduits are secured to the star. It is-important that the stars be spaced from the free end of the conduit to permit flexing the free ends sufficient to permit alignment of the conduits so that the coupling elements 26 may slide over the bevelled edges 24 of the conduits in the adjacent unit. After a conduit unit has been assembled, as illus-trated in Figure 1, it i5 shipped to the site where as above indicated the plurality of such conduit units are arranged in end-to-end relationship with the bell coupling at one end encirculing the end of the conduit having the bevelled edge 24 thereby to couple the conduits together.
In some cases, an individual conduit is broken in transit or on the work site and it is necessary to replace the broken conduit. This is accomplished with the present invention by taking a pointed tool such as the tool 62 illus-trated in Figure 4 and driving it in the lines of weakness 50 on opposite sides of the conduit to be replaced thereby to fracture the end walls of the star-shaped element 20 on opposite side of the conduit i.e. in the illustrated arrangement it could be at end walls 30 and 36 assuming the broken conduit is secured to the cylindrical segment 44.
The cylindrical section 46 is then also broken out in the area bounded by the space 48 in each of the projections of the star on opposite sides of and immediately adjacent the point of contact of the section 46 with the segment face 44 e.g. as illustrated at 64 and 66, Figure 4, i.e. the section of the star forming the cylindrical surface 44 will be bro-ken out by breaking the line of weakness 50 on end face 36 as illustrated at 68; by breaking the line of weakness 50 in end face 30 as illustrated at 70 and breaking the cylin-drical section 46 as indicated at 64 and 66 so that the whole segment 44 may be removed from the star 20.
When a conduit is to be substituted for one that has been broken and removed a star-shaped element with at least one of the points removed (e.g by sawing the cylin-drical segments forming opposite sides of the selected pro-jection or point immediately adjacent their points of con-tact with the cylindrical section 46 to leave the section 46 in tact while separating the projection) is inserted between the three conduits remaining in the unit and with 10~6665 two of its projection in a position to provide a cylindrical segment to receive the new or replacement conduit. The three pointed star is adhesively secured to all of the con-duits thereby to secure the replacement conduit to the re-maining conduits.
Points of the stars should be such that the sur-faces or walls 30, 32, 34, 36 are in the plane formed by joining the longitudinal axis of the two conduits on either side of the point. Thus, if a plurality of units are to be stacked together, a star may be interposed between the two units in alignment with stars of the two units being stacked thereby to increase the strength of and ensure proper spacing of the conduits in the combined unit. This is not absolutely essential to the operation and the points may be made slightly shorter and/or the star not aligned with the stars of the two units being combined but the combined unit would not be quite as strong.
The unit 10 preferably will be composed of a minimum of 3 spacers 20, the number being depending on the length of the conduits to be connected together. The end spacers 20 i.e. those adjacent the opposite ends of the conduit unit should be spaced between 6 and 24 inches from the ends of the conduit. If they are spaced any closer, there will not be sufficient flexibility to ensure aligment of conduits of adjacent units and if they are significantly greater spaced, there will be too much flexibility and the unit will not be easiiy coupled and handed.
The invention has been described in relation to a four conduit system but obviously where the system of six or eight may be used.
Also the central cylindrical section 46 may re-ceive suitable conduits such as air hoses or the like that may be smugly received within the section 46.
~Q866~5 Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
. ~ - . ,
Claims (6)
1. A modular conduit unit composed of at least four conduits secured together in spaced relationship with their longitudinal axis substantially parallel by at least three spaced star-shaped spacer elements interposed between the conduits, each of said star-shaped spacer elements being provided with four equally spaced projections that termi-nate in an end wall and have curved side walls, said curved side walls of adjacent projections merging to form outer walls substantially in the form of cylindrical segments, an integral reinforcing member interconnecting said outer walls at points spaced inwardly from said end walls, each of said end walls being provided with a line of weakness extending substantially axially of said cylindrical sections, the outer face of said cylindrical sections being in face-to-face relationship to and adhesively secured directly with said conduits.
2. A modular conduit unit as defined in Claim 1 wherein said conduits are substantially all of the same lengths and have their opposite ends aligned in plane sub-stantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said conduits, each said conduits adjacent their end in one of said planes being each formed with an integral bell coupling and the opposite ends being bevelled inwardly.
3. A modular conduit unit as defined in Claim 1 wherein said reinforcing member is substantially cylindri-cal and said points are the closest points on opposed cy-lindrical segments.
4. A modular conduit unit as defined in Claim 3 wherein the inner faces of said hollow projections and of said cylindrical reinforcing member taper toward each other from the outer longitudinal ends of said star-shaped element toward the centre of said star-shaped element.
5. A modular conduit unit as defined in Claim 2 wherein said reinforcing member is substantially cylindrical and said points are the closest points on opposed cylindri-cal segments.
6. A modular conduit unit as defined in Claim 5 wherein the inner faces of said hollow projections and of said cylindrical reinforcing member taper towards each other from the outer longitudinal ends of said star-shaped element toward the centre of said star-shaped element.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA301,392A CA1086665A (en) | 1978-04-18 | 1978-04-18 | Modular conduit unit |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA301,392A CA1086665A (en) | 1978-04-18 | 1978-04-18 | Modular conduit unit |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1086665A true CA1086665A (en) | 1980-09-30 |
Family
ID=4111276
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA301,392A Expired CA1086665A (en) | 1978-04-18 | 1978-04-18 | Modular conduit unit |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1086665A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5236227A (en) * | 1991-11-12 | 1993-08-17 | Robert Adams | Assembly for connecting multi-duct conduits having tapered alignment walls |
-
1978
- 1978-04-18 CA CA301,392A patent/CA1086665A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5236227A (en) * | 1991-11-12 | 1993-08-17 | Robert Adams | Assembly for connecting multi-duct conduits having tapered alignment walls |
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