Patent ID: 7090175
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. An insulating wire separator apparatus for separating a tracer wire a safe electrically insulative distance from a main conduit in a trench prior to back-filling comprising: a) an elongated body having opposite ends, a resilient, main conduit receiving portion at one of said opposite ends having an inner radius sized to receive said main conduit therein, an opening into said main conduit receiving portion facing away from the remainder of said body and sized to flex about said main conduit, and a pair of conduit engaging sliding wedge surfaces on opposite sides of said opening which engage said main conduit to flex said main conduit receiving portion to expand said opening and position said main conduit within said main conduit receiving portion upon the application of force between said main conduit and said conduit engaging sliding wedge surfaces of said main conduit receiving portion; b) an arm portion of said body extending away from said main conduit receiving portion on a side opposite said opening, said arm portion extending to the other of said opposite ends, an electrically insulative safe distance beyond said main conduit receiving portion; c) a plate and earth anchor portion extending generally perpendicularly from said arm portion in proximity to said conduit receiving portion whereby said force may be applied between said conduit engaging sliding wedge surfaces and said main conduit to flex said main conduit receiving portion and expand said opening to position said main conduit in said main conduit receiving portion and to resist rotation of said wire separator apparatus about said main conduit after back-filling; and d) a tracer wire clip portion for receiving a tracer wire therein, said tracer wire clip portion being positioned on said arm portion adjacent to said other end to position the tracer wire said safe distance from said main conduit receiving portion and said conduit therein to protect said conduit from being damaged.