Patent ID: 7225533
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: G02B,H02G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for feeding an elongated member into an interior of a conduit through an end portion of the conduit, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein with a central axis, the housing including a first coupling housing and a second coupling housing, the first coupling housing being connected to the second coupling housing via a hinge mechanism disposed along one side of the housing such that the first and the second coupling housings pivot about the hinge mechanism to open and to close the housing about an end portion of the conduit; the housing having a first end along the central axis which defines an opening configured to couple to a first end portion of the conduit; the housing having a second end along the central axis disposed opposite to the first end which defines an opening configured to couple to a second end portion of the conduit opposite to the first end portion of the conduit; a seal assembly disposed along an outer surface of the housing external to the chamber and in a first port defined in the housing, the seal assembly being configured to provide an area external to the housing in fluid communication with the chamber, the seal assembly being further configured with at least one opening to receive the elongated member into the seal assembly and thereafter into the chamber and into the interior of the conduit; and a gas supply assembly disposed along an outer surface of the housing external to the chamber and in a second port defined in the housing anterior to and in linear alignment with the first port such that the seal assembly and the gas supply assembly are disposed in linear alignment relative to one another and the gas supply assembly is disposed anterior to the seal assembly, the gas supply assembly being disposed and configured to supply gas under pressure to the chamber from a gas source.