Lubricating Duct Feeder

A lubricating feeder apparatus comprises a feeder conduit section, a liquid conduit section, and a liquid regulating device. The feeder apparatus is used for feeding conduit to an underground conduit system having a plurality of conduit system sections connected to form a continuous underground duct. The feeder conduit section defines a primary duct, and includes a receiving end and a feeding end. The liquid conduit section is attached to the feeder conduit section. The liquid conduit section has a liquid receiving end and a liquid dispensing end. The liquid dispensing end is connected to the feeder conduit section such that a secondary duct defined by the liquid conduit section is in fluid connection with the primary duct. The liquid regulating device is disposed within the secondary duct for regulating the flow rate of liquid therethrough.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The system of the present application relates to an apparatus and method for feeding conductors into a conduit. In particular, the system of the present application relates to a system and method for providing lubrication to conductors as they are fed into a conduit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows a side view of a lubricating feeder apparatus100according to the present disclosure. The lubricating feeder apparatus100is particularly well-suited for use with an underground conduit system having a plurality of conduit system sections connected to form a continuous underground duct. Often when a number of conduits are extended through an underground duct, the collective size of the conduits makes it difficult to extend them through the underground conduit system because the internal diameter of the duct may not be much larger than the outside diameter of the group of conduits. In some cases, friction between the inner surfaces of the duct and the outer surfaces of the conduits can be great enough that the amount of force needed to pull the conduits through the duct can result in damage to one or more of the conduits. The lubricating feeder apparatus100provides a convenient way to both channel multiple conduits into a duct and to introduce a lubricating agent onto the conduits as they are being fed into the underground duct. The lubricating agent, which can be, for example, any desired oily or soapy substance, will reduce friction between the conduits and the inner surfaces of the duct, thereby reducing the amount of force needed to pull the conduits through the duct and also reduce the risk of damage to the conduits.

The lubricating feeder apparatus100includes a feeder conduit section102having a receiving end104and a feeding end106. The lubricating feeder apparatus100also includes a liquid conduit section108having a liquid-receiving end110and a liquid-dispensing end112.

In some embodiments, such as the one shown inFIG. 1, the lubricating feeder apparatus100can optionally include an interchangeable and removable size adapter114. The removable size adapter114can be one of a plurality of such adapters that can be attached to the feeding end106of the feeder conduit section102to match the outside diameter of the feeding end106to the internal diameter of an underground conduit system into which the feeder apparatus100is feeding one or more conduits. In the embodiment shown, the size adapter114is a reducer adapter, meaning that it can be used to attach the feeder apparatus100to a conduit system having an internal diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter of the feeder apparatus100. Alternatively, a size adapter114can be an increaser adapter for matching the outside diameter of the feeder apparatus100to a conduit system having an internal diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the feeder apparatus100.

The feeder apparatus100can be a rigid device that is formed of rigid materials such as rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic, metal, or composite material. Alternatively, the feeder apparatus100can be a semi-rigid or flexible device that is formed of semi-rigid or flexible materials, such as flexible PVC, flexible vinyl, or rubber. In some embodiments, the feeder apparatus100can include flexible and rigid components. For example, in some embodiments, the feeder conduit section102can be flexible, for example formed of rubber or flexible vinyl, while the liquid conduit section108is rigid, e.g., formed of PVC or plastic. Still further alternative arrangements are possible by combining various combinations of flexible and rigid components to form the feeder apparatus100.

FIG. 2shows a cross-sectional view of the feeder apparatus100. The feeder conduit section102defines a primary duct116that extends between the receiving end104and the feeding end106of the feeder conduit section102. The liquid conduit section108defines a secondary duct118that extends between the liquid receiving end110and the liquid dispensing end112of the liquid conduit section108. In some embodiments, such as the one shown inFIG. 2, the liquid receiving end110of the liquid conduit section108has an internal diameter that is greater than that of the liquid dispensing end112of the liquid conduit section108. The secondary duct118is in fluid connection with the primary duct116. As discussed in greater detail below, the primary duct116can serve as a passage for directing one or more conduits into an underground conduit system. The secondary duct118can serve as a passage for directing a lubricant onto the conduits as they pass through the primary duct116.

In some embodiments, a liquid regulating device120can be disposed within the secondary duct118for regulating the amount of liquid that can flow from the liquid receiving end110to the liquid dispensing end112of the liquid conduit section108. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the liquid regulating device120is a baffle, such as a plate having one or more holes therethrough. However, alternative embodiments of the liquid regulating device120can be used. For example, as discussed below, the liquid regulating device120can comprise an adjustable valve in place of, or in conjunction with, a baffle. The liquid regulating device120allows for limiting or controlling the amount of liquid that is directed onto conduits as they pass through the primary duct116.

The receiving end104of the feeder conduit section102can be configured to prevent chafing of conduits as they enter the primary duct116. For example, in some embodiments, such as shown inFIG. 3, the inner edge of the receiving end104of the feeder conduit section102can have a beveled edge122. The beveled edge122can have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes, for example resulting in a rounded or chamfered edge. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 4, the inner edge of the receiving end104of the feeder conduit section102can have one or more rollers124or bearings attached thereto that are free to roll as conduit is fed into the primary duct116.

FIG. 5shows a schematic diagram of an example of the feeder apparatus100in use. As discussed above, the lubricating feeder apparatus100is particularly well-suited for use with an underground conduit system.FIG. 5shows a portion of an underground conduit system130. The underground conduit system130provides a duct through which one or more conduits can extend below ground level132. There are a wide variety of such systems known by those in the art that are in widespread use for burying various types of conduits, such as power lines, phone lines, networking cables, and fiber optic cables.

FIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view of the feeder apparatus100in use. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of conduits134can be fed from one or more conduit spools136, through the feeder conduit section102of the feeder apparatus100, then into and through the underground conduit system130. The one or more spools136are supported by a mobile platform138, such as a vehicle, a trailer, or a cart. Also, the feeder apparatus100is supported by a support structure140, which in this embodiment comprises a first support assembly141and a second support assembly142. As the conduits134are fed through the feeder conduit section102, a lubricant (represented by arrows144) is provided into the liquid receiving end110of the liquid conduit section108. The flow rate and volume of the lubricant144can be reduced by the liquid regulating device120to prevent over-saturation of the conduits134. The liquid lubricant can be added to the liquid receiving end110by a person pouring it in or by an automated system, such as the one described below in connection withFIG. 9.

In some embodiments, additional lubricant can be added to the conduits134as they pass through the underground conduit system134with the use of one or more intermediate lubricating apparatus150. The intermediate lubricating apparatus150defines an intermediate lubricating duct that extends between an above-ground liquid-receiving port152and the underground duct of the underground conduit system130. Thus, lubricant added to the liquid-receiving port152will flow into the underground conduit system130and onto the conduits134therein. The use of one or more intermediate lubricating apparatus150can be desirable where the underground conduit system130is long enough for lubricant144to be worn from the conduits134before the conduits134have passed all the way through the underground conduit system130.

FIG. 7shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a support structure140. The support structure140is provided to hold the feeder apparatus100between the spools136and the underground conduit system130. However, as conduits134are being fed from the spool136, the position of the conduit between the spool136and the receiving end104of the feeder apparatus100will tend to move both vertically and horizontally relative to both the spool136and to the feeder apparatus100. This movement of the conduit134results from the way that the conduit134is wound about the spool136. Therefore, it is desirable for the receiving end104of the feeder apparatus100to be free to move with the incoming conduits134while the feeder apparatus100is held in position between the spools136and the underground conduit system130.

The support structure140provides at least two degrees of freedom of movement for the receiving end104of the feeder apparatus100while holding the feeder apparatus100in position between the spools136and the underground conduit system130. The support structure140includes a first support assembly141and a second support assembly142. The first support assembly141includes a cross member156supported by a first leg member158and a second leg member160. The first and second leg members158and160are telescoping elements, meaning that the leg members158and160are free to extend and retract length-wise in the directions indicated by arrows A1and A2, respectively. The second support assembly142includes a cross member162supported by a first leg member164and a second leg member166. The first and second leg members164and166can differ from the leg members158and160in that the leg members164and166are fixed in length. The lubricating feeder apparatus100is supported by the cross members156and162. The lubricating feeder apparatus100is preferably attached to the cross members156and162by connectors168and170, respectively. The connectors168and170preferably are configured such that they are fixed to the feeder conduit section102and are slidably attached to the cross members156and162. The connectors168and170can include clamps, rings, bands, straps, or other hardware that allow the feeder apparatus100to freely slide in the directions indicated by arrows A3and A4relative to the cross members156and162. Also, as a result of the telescoping legs158and160, the feeder apparatus100can pivot on the cross member162of the second support assembly142, allowing the receiving end104to be freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cross member162, thereby moving freely in a vertical direction as indicated by arrow A5.

Alternative embodiments of the feeder apparatus100are shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. It should be appreciated that still further embodiments are possible by combining elements of the embodiments of the feeder apparatus shown inFIGS. 1, 8, and 9.

FIG. 8shows an embodiment of the feeder apparatus100that differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 1in that the feeder apparatus100shown inFIG. 8includes a user-adjustable valve172, a lubricant misting system174, and a flared receiving end104′.

The user-adjustable valve172serves as a user-adjustable embodiment of the liquid regulating device120described above. However, unlike the baffle shown inFIG. 2, which has fixed regulating properties, the valve172allows a person to adjust the amount of liquid that flows between the liquid receiving end110and the liquid dispensing end112of the liquid conduit section108. The valve172can be any of a number of liquid valves known in the art that can be used to adjust the flow rate of liquid therethrough through the use of a rotatable handle or other user-controllable implement.

The lubricant misting system174comprises a hose178connected to one or more misting nozzles180. The misting nozzles180are connected to the feeder conduit section102for spraying lubricant into the primary duct116of the feeder apparatus100. Thus, as lubricant is fed into the hose178, for example from a remote reservoir or any kind of lubricant dispenser, the lubricant travels through the hose178to the nozzles180, which in turn dispense the lubricant onto the conduits134traveling through the primary duct116. While the embodiment shown inFIG. 8allows lubricant to be fed into the primary duct116of the feeder apparatus100through both the liquid conduit section108and the lubricant misting system174, alternative embodiments can lack a liquid conduit section108but include the lubricant misting system174.

The flared receiving end104′ represents an alternative embodiment of the receiving end104of the feeder conduit section102shown inFIGS. 1-7. The flared receiving end104′ differs from the receiving end104of the first embodiment in that the flared receiving end104′ results in a feeder conduit section where the receiving end104′ of the feeder conduit section102has an internal diameter that is greater than that of the feeding end106. More specifically, the flared receiving end104′ has a relatively larger opening that narrows toward the primary duct116. The flared receiving end104′ provides an opening that helps gather and consolidate multiple conduits134that are entering the feeder apparatus100from multiple locations and angles.

FIG. 9shows an embodiment of the feeder apparatus100that differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 1in that the feeder apparatus100shown inFIG. 9includes a spray nozzle182that serves as a user-adjustable embodiment of the liquid regulating device120described above. However, unlike the baffle shown inFIG. 2, which has fixed regulating properties, the spray nozzle182allows a person to adjust the amount of liquid that flows between the liquid receiving end110and the liquid dispensing end112of the liquid conduit section108. The spray nozzle182can be any of a number of spray nozzles known in the art that can be operated to spray a liquid, particularly those where the volume of liquid being sprayed can be controlled by the operator, for example where the operator squeezes a trigger handle or the like and where the spray volume depends on the degree to which the user squeezes the trigger handle.

Also, as shown inFIG. 9, the liquid lubricant can be provided by a lubricant-dispensing system184. The lubricant-dispensing system184comprises a reservoir186, a pump188, and a power source190. The reservoir186can be a canister or container that stores some volume of lubricant to be dispensed into the feeder apparatus100. The pump188can be any of a number of know pumps useful for driving liquid from one place to another. The pump188is in fluid communication with the reservoir186. The pump188is electrically connected to the power source190. The power source190can be any of a variety of known electrical power sources rated suitably for driving the pump188, for example a portable generator or a fixed electrical power source. When the lubricant-dispensing system184is activated, the power source190provides power to the pump188, which in turn pumps lubricant from the reservoir186to the spray nozzle182. Alternatively, the lubricant-dispensing system184can be used with the embodiments shown inFIGS. 1-8where the pump188instead provides the lubricant to the liquid receiving end110of the liquid conduit section108.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the application may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below. It is apparent that a system with significant advantages has been described and illustrated. Although the system of the present application is shown in a limited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but is amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.