US3383456A - Conduit with internal rupturable conductors - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1968 A. KOSAK 3,383,456

CQNDUIT WITH INTERNAL RUPTURABLE CONDUCTORS Filed Aug. 17, 1966 INVENTOR.

ARM 0 KOSA K BY M W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,383,456 CONDUIT WITH INTERNAL RUPTURABLE CONDUCTORS Arno Kosalr, Madrid 111, Mexico City, Mexico Filed Aug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 572,936 4 Claims. (Cl. 174-68) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conduit in the wall of which are integrally and internally carried conductors rupturable from said wall, including polarization and identification means for the conductors, the conduit being capable of longitudinally receiving other and separate conductors therein independent of the integrally carried conductors.

This invention relates in general to improvements in electrical conduit-conductors and in particular to such improvements in conduits in which insulated conductors are formed integrally therewith.

Electrical conduit, both the rigid and flexible type of rubber, plastic and the metallic types, are well known to the art as is the BX type in which a flexible metallic conduit contains the conductor with its insulation, all of these types being adapted for installations in the walls, ceilings and floors of buildings. However, insofar as I am am aware there does not exist any conduit in which the conductors and their insulated covering are molded integrally therewith providing a unitary structure with both the conduit and conductors for the reception of other con ductors in said conduit when the occasion demands.

Mounting labor costs have created inventions aimed at lowering such costs and in electrical installations as practiced today conduit is installed before the pulling of the conductors making for double cost in electrical installations.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide an electrical conduit-conductor in which the inner passage provided by the conduit is adapted to receive a number of additional conductors in the normal manner, the wall of the conduit integrally carrying conductors in any one of a number of different forms which, when the conduit is properly installed on a job require only the terminal connection for the completion of the installation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a conduitconductor in which each conductor within the conduit is completely insulated from any other conductor.

One more object of my invention is to provide a conduit-conductor in which there is practically no possibility of short circuits caused by crossing conductors, by moisture, or abrasion of insulation or the like.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate, or at least decrease, loss of material by robbery, particularly of the conductor material, inasmuch as its being combined with the conduit makes it diflicult to steal same due to its :bulk.

One more object of the invention is to provide integrally with the conduit, internally or otherwise, conductors or insulation covered conductors of any number of difierent configurations providing means for proper polarization or for identification of specific conductors for any other desired wiring purposes. This would eliminate the need for color coding the conductors although such color coding of the insulation or other medium could still be used if desired as for instance by color coding or applying other indicia to the conduit or insulation adjacent the respective conductor.

It is one more object of my invention to provide a predetermined spacing between certain of the conductors for proper registration between two lengths of conduitconductor when splicing or connecting same.

And one more object of the invention is to provide means which include a predetermined degree of adhesion between the conductor and the conduit whereby the conductor and its insulation will be easily manually rupturable from the conduit for facilitating connection of the conductor at the terminal boxes.

And another object of my invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive form of conduit-com ductor which will effect a considerable saving in manufacturing and installation costs.

These and other objects and advantages as well as the construction and manner of use of my invention will be readily apparent by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of my invention with the end showing the various conductors within their respective coverings or insulations formed integrally with the conduit, one of the conductors being shown extended from its insulation.

FIG. 2 ls a somewhat similar View of a modification of my invention showing a rectangular conduit in which certain of the conductors are so placed within the conduit as to provide polarization means for said conductors.

FIG. 3 is illustrative of another form which my invention may assume.

FIG. 4 shows still another form of my invention with the conduit having a ribbed or fluted exterior and the conductors shown in a different relationship and form from any previously illustrated.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view through a portion of a conduit showing the integral conncction of a conductor and its insulation or covering with said conduit and further showing how said conductor may be manually separated from the conduit for the purpose of making a connection at a junction box or with another conductor. A fragmentary portion of an independent conductor is also shown.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference 10 designates a conduit which forms the external covering for my invention and is normally hollow as shown, the conduit being shown in FIG. 1 cylindrical in configuration and providing the inner space 11.

The conduit 10 may be formed of any suitable material rigid or flexible, such as rubber, plastic or a similar synthetic material which forms a good insulator and in the flexible type is capable of bending sumciently for proper installation under varying conditions. The external configuration of the conduit may be any one of many, either smooth surfaced or carrying an external pattern such as ribbing longitudinally, transversely or diagonally.

Within the internal area of space 1'1 are located the conductors 12, each within its individual covering or insulation 13 formed integrally with the wall of the conduit 10 and separated therefrom by a web 14 or as shown in FIG. 2 formed without the web but with covering 13 adjacent the conduit 10 and manually rupturable therefrom as will be explained in detail hereinafter. A conductor 12w may be formed in the wall of the conduit 10 as shown in FIG. 2.

The conductors 12 may be solid or stranded wire and may have any of many different characteristics for a variety of functions. For example, for the purpose of proper polarization as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of conductors may be offset internally at one side of the conduit 10 and may be substantially rectangular in cross section. These conductors will always match or register with similar conductors in an adjacent conduit or in a junction box or connector designed to receive the particular design of conduit-conductor.

Coding of the conductors as shown diagrammatically at 16 and 16 in FIG. 1 may be accomplished by coloring, spaced projections or ribs, or in any one of many different forms.

In the use of my conduit-conductor it is merely necessary to install same within the walls of any construction in the usual manner running from junction box to junction box. A sufficient additional length of conduit-conductor is left at each end for connections, the wall of the conduit 10 being peripherally cut and then manually separated from the conductors 12 and the insulation leaving said conductors extending for final connection. The ends of the conduits may be secured to suitable junction boxes (not shown) in any manner approved by the Electrical Code in the area where used.

Any time after the installation and securing of the con- I duits additional conductors 12a may-be drawn through the conduit 10 in the manner well known and now practiced in the trade without interfering with the integrally formed conductors carried by the conduit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a new and novel form of conduit-conductor the use of which provides for a substantial reduction in installation costs and results in a complete wiring installa' tion providing facilities for future installation of additional wiring.

Changes of form, proportion and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and I reserve all rights to such changes as come within the scope of these specifications and the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A conduit :provided with an internal space therein surrounded by a wall, conductors within the space and attached to the wall by an insulation which is thinner in cross section than the thickness of the wall, the contiguous line of adhesion between each conductor and the wall being sufiicient to maintain the conductor in contact with the wall and of a degree of adhesion whereby the conductor is manually rupturable from the wall of the conduit.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulation comprises a rib between each conductor and the wall of the conduit, with the degree of adhesion between the rib and the conductor being such that the conductor is manually rupturable from the rib.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulation comprises a rib between each conduct-or and the wall of the conduit, with the degree of adhesion between the rib and the wall of the conduit being such as to render the rib manually rupturable from the wall of the conduit.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulation comprises a rib between each conductor and the wall of the conduit, with the degree of adhesion between the rib and the wall of the conduit and the degree of adhesion between the rib and the conductor being such that the rib and conductor are manually rupturable one from the other and the rib is manually rupturable from the wall of the conduit.

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,543,696 2/1951 Krueger 174-113 2,628,998 2/1953 Frisbie 174-112 2,647,160 7/1953 Hood 17498 3,144,505 8/ 1964 Fork 17470 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,943 10/ 1953 Canada.

814,707 3/1937 France. 1,198,007 6/ 1959 France.

OTHER REFERENCES APC abandoned application of Beckett, Ser. No. 218,- 848, published June 8, 1943, copy in 174/112.

Odenwald: German application No. H-ZO, 650, published Oct. 4, 1956, copy in 174/113 (.2).

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

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