APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING A DUCT OR CONDUIT

Abstract

A pliant tube is positioned in a duct thereby defining two compartments in the duct, one within the tube and the other between the tube and the duct. A pulling device, such as a pull tape or rope, is provided in each compartment and is adapted to be attached to a cable so that a cable can be pulled into each compartment of the duct.

Claims

1. Apparatus to divide a longitudinally extending duct into compartments comprising a longitudinally extending pliant tube positioned in the conduit thereby creating a first space within the tube defining a first compartment and a second space between the tube and the duct defining a second compartment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pulling device in each compartment and adapted to be attached to a cable to pull the cable into the compartments.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pulling device is a tape.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pulling device is a rope.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pliant tube is made of a fabric material.

6. A method of installing at least one cable in a longitudinally extending duct comprising the steps of positioning a longitudinally extending tube made of a pliant material in the duct, positioning a longitudinally extending pulling device in the tube, positioning a second longitudinally extending pulling device between the tube and the duct, and using one of the pulling devices to pull the cable into the duct.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of using the other pulling device to pull a second cable into the duct without allowing the second cable to touch the cable.

8. A method of forming a divided duct comprising the steps of positioning a pulling device in a pliant tube, locating a second pulling device outside of the pliant tube, and extruding a duct around the pliant tube and the second pulling device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a broken away elevational view of a conduit or duct of the type that would be installed underground.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the conduit or duct taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing the divider of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing two cables installed in the conduit or duct.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0022] An apparatus made in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in the drawings. A conduit or duct 11, which is preferably made of an extruded high density polyethylene material, receives a pliable tube 12 along its entire length. Tube 12 can be made of a thin fabric material having a low coefficient of friction, and when positioned in duct 11, tube 12 defines two spaces or compartments within duct 11. A first compartment 13 is located radially between tube 12 and duct 11, and a second compartment 14 is located within tube 12. Each compartment can be provided with a pull tape, rope, or other pulling device 15.

[0023] When it is desired to insert a cable 16 into duct 11, the cable is attached to one of the pull tapes 15 and pulled into the compartment of that tape, for example, compartment 14. Then at a later date when there is a need for another cable 17, it is attached to the other tape or rope in compartment 13 and the cable is conveniently pulled into the duct 11 without interference from the first cable. Specifically, tube 12 will protect both cables from abrasion or the like, and because of its pliant nature, it will move out of the way of the second cable being pulled into duct 11.

[0024] Duct 11 may be extruded around tube 12 and tapes 15 during the manufacturing process to form the complete assembly. That is, a pulling device 15 is positioned in the pliant tube 12, and a second pulling device is located adjacent to and outside of the tube 12. Then, in a manner known in the art, the duct 11 can be extruded around the tube 12 and the second pulling device 15 resulting in the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2. Then apparatus 10 can be inserted into a conduit which is already buried in the ground, or apparatus 10 can itself be buried in the ground without the need for a conduit.

[0025] In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that an apparatus described herein accomplishes the objects of the invention and otherwise substantially improves the art.