Multiple conduit and spacing element therefor

Application filed March. 12, 1829. Serial No. 346,476.

This invention relates to multiple conduit sections each comprising a number of sections of single conduit firmly held together in spaced side-by-side relation. While the g invention is applicable to conduit of any size or material, it is more especially concerned with fiber conduit such, for example, as may be made by rolling a sheet of wet cellulosic pulp under pressure on a mandrel 10 until the desired wall thickness is obtained, then removing the tube of pulp from the mandrel and carefully drying it. The resultant product is comparatively light in weight but is tough and strong. When 15 saturated with, a suitable waterproofing compound such as pitch or asphalt, it makes an excellent conduit section for various purposes, such conduit frequently being embedded in concrete after being laid. In 20 laying multiple conduits, it is often advantageous and economical to build up multiple sections of single conduit sections, the latter being preferably uniformly spaced so that their ends will register properly with the 25 corresponding ends of the conduits in the next succeeding section as laid. By assembling multiple sections at the mill, transportation and laying of the conduit may be facilitated, this resulting in economy of time and 30 labor. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved multiple conduit section which is strong, durable and simple, and which may be assembled with a minimum of effort and expense.

To this end I may provide spacer Hocks with curved recesses to fit against the sides of conduit sections. In general, four such recesses are formed in each spacer block so that multiple sections may be built up with 40 any desired number of rows and columns of single conduit sections. The central portions of my spacing blocks are preferably apertured to save material in making the spacer blocks, to obtain maximum lightness 45 of weight consistent;with strength, and to afford longitudinal channels in the multiple conduit section, through which concrete provided to embed the conduit may bond longitudinally. If desired, an additional line 5© of conduit may extend through the aper tures of blocks alined longitudinally of the conduit.

Various advantageous features of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the disclosure thereof in the 55 description which follows and on the drawings of which,—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spacing element for multiple conduit embodying the invention. . so

Figures 2 to 8, inclusive, are similar views of modified forms of spacer elements.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of a multiple conduit section comprising four individual conduits spaced by an element such as illus- 65 trated in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of a multiple conduit in which are used elements as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of a mul- 70 tiple conduit section in which are used spacer elements as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section on the line 12^-12 of Figure 11. . 75

Figure 13 illustrates the use of spacers such as are illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 14 illustrates the use of conduits of smaller size extending through the apertures of the spacer elements. so

Figure 15 illustrates the use of spacers shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 16 illustrates the use of spacers shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the use of 85 the spacer shown in Figure 7.

Figure 19 illustrates the use of spacers such as shown in Figure 8.

The spacer elements illustrated on the drawings are of the general shape of a cross, ⁹⁰each spacer having a central portion with four arms extending radially therefrom, these arms being successively spaced by equal angles. The sides of adjacent arms are formed so as to constitute an arcuate ⁹⁵edge surface adapted to fit against the side of an individual conduit and to be in contact therewith over approximately a quarter of its circumference. The spacer ele-. inent illustrated in Figure 1, comprises ¹⁰⁰

1,801,401 a central portion 30 which may be apertured as at 31 and from which extend four arms 32 at right angles to one another. These arms are of such length that the arcuate 5 surface 33 formed by the sides of adjacent arms is slightly over a quadrant in angular dimension. Thus the spacer elements 30 are particularly adapted for use in assembling multiple conduit sections which are 10 composed of four individual sections such as illustrated in Figure 9. As shown in this figure, the arms 32 each extend outwardly for a short distance beyond the line, of centers of the pair of individual conduits 15 in contact with the arm. In order to hold the parts of the multiple conduit section securely together, I may provide one or more suitable tie members 34 which may be a steel ribbon, a wire, a fiber strand or any 20 other suitable tension device. If a metal tie member 34 be used, it may be desired to break the continuous metal loop as by an insulating piece 35 to which the opposite ends of the tie member may be attached.

This may be often desirable in such installations as where the conduit is to contain electric power cables carrying relatively high voltage alternating currents. Each tie member 34 may preferably be placed around 30 the multiple conduit section in approximately the same plane as that of a spacer element 30 so as to avoid distortion of the individual conduits 36 by inward and outward pressures thereon at different longi35 tudinal points. Where it is desired to assemble six individual conduits in a multiple section, as illustrated in Figure 10, I may provide spacers 37 such as are illustrated in Figure 2. In this form, three of the 40 arms 32 are of the same length as the arms 32 of the spacer 30, the fourth arm 38 of the spacer 37 being shorter. Thus the angular length of the arcuate edge surface 33 between two arms 32 is slightly over a quad45 rant, whereas the angular length of the arcuate surface between an arm 32 and a shorter arm 38 may be substantially equal to a quadrant. The shorter arms 38 are necessitated, as shown in Figure 10, by rea50 son of the fact that between the conduits of the middle pair, the arms of the two spacer elements 37 are opposed to each other, and hence must fall short of the line of centers between the middle pair of individual con65 duits. The arms 38 are preferably sufficiently short to leave a suitable gap 39 between their ends when assembled in a multiple, conduit section. Where four pairs of individual conduits are assembled in a row, ⁸⁰ as shown in Figure'll, the spacers which are in contact with the pair of conduits at each end of the multiple conduit have a sinΪΐβ short arm, as illustrated in Figure 2.

between the intermediate pairs of conduits, ^w a spacer 40 is preferably used, this spacer having one pair of opposite arms equal in length to the arms of the spacer 30, the other pair of arms being shorter, that is, similar to the arm 38. Figure 13 illustrates a multiple conduit comprising nine individ- ₇₀ual conduits in three rows of three. In such case, it is evident that two adj'acent arms of the spacers 41 may be long like the arms 32, the other two adjacent arms being of the length of the arm 38. Figure 14 il- 75 lustrates the use of the apertures 31 to receive smaller conduits 42. These conduits may be of such a size as to enter the apertures 31 with a driving fit or may be suitably wedged or cemented therein. co

Figure 15 illustrates a multiple conduit comprising four rows of three. Such an assembly may be made up of individual conduits spaced by . elements 41 at the corners and by elements 43 between the intermediate C5 rows, the elements 43 being preferably as illustrated in Figure 5, and each having a single long arm 32 and three shorter arms 38. Figure 16 illustrates a conduit section comprising four rows of four. This multi- 90 pie conduit may comprise spacing elements 41 at the corners, elements 43 at the outer intermediate portions, and a central element 44 which, as illustrated in Figure 6, has four short arms 38. 95 ’ Figure 17 illustrates a multiple conduit section comprising a pair of individual conduits spaced by simple blocks 45. similar to that illustrated in Figure 7. These blocks may be provided with two opposed arcuate ¹⁰⁰faces to receive the individual conduits and to be in contact with them over a suitable angle of their outer surface. Figure 18 illustrates the possibility of using spacer elements 45 in assembling a multiple conduit 105 of four or more individual conduits. This type of spacer also permits the assembling of multiple conduit sections in which the rows of conduits may extend in directions oblique to the columns. no

Figure 19 illustrates a multiple conduit of four individual condqits, these being spaced by elements 46 as illustrated in Figure 8. It is apparent that four of the elements 46 are substantially equivalent to one element 30, ¹¹⁵the elements 46, however, being mutually' spaced as at 47 so that a smaller conduit 42 may be held in clamped position by the inward pressure of the tie member 34 through the individual conduits 36 which presses the ¹²⁰spacer members 46 against the inner conduit 42.