Abstract:
An electrical and telecommunications conduit body for connecting electrical conduits. The conduit body includes a body defining a chamber and hubs defining passageways communicating with the chamber. The conduit body includes a guide surface disposed between the chamber ends of the hub passageways, and the guide surfaces function to maintain a minimum radius of curvature of cables passing through the passageway defined by one hub and then through the chamber defined by the body to the other hub passageway so as to avoid pulling the cables over sharp corners at the intersections of the hub passageways with the body chamber.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electrical conduit bodies and, more particularly, to improved electrical conduit bodies such as, for example, LB and TEE bodies particularly adapted for use with Category 5, 5E and 6 telecommunication cables as well as with optical fiber data cabling systems, it being understood that the present invention is also applicable to other uses. 
     As is well known in the art, many building codes require electrical wiring to be enclosed in electrical conduits which conduits may be connected to each other through the agency of electrical conduit bodies. Typical electrical conduit bodies are marketed, for example, by Cooper Industries, Inc. of Houston, Tex. in conjunction with the trademark “CONDULET”. 
     Typical prior electrical conduit bodies have a generally oblong body provided with integral longitudinal walls and end walls and a side wall, such walls defining a chamber open on one side of the body. A removable cover may be provided for closing the open side of the body. The body is also provided with spaced conduit connecting hubs each defining a passageway communicating with the chamber defined by the body. Prior conduit bodies are designed, for example, for wire pulls, such as angled wire pulls and Y wire pulls. However, data transmission performance of Category 5, 5E and 6 telecommunication cables as well as optical fiber data cabling systems can be seriously degraded if they are bent with less than a predetermined minimum bend radius, as for example with less than a minimum one inch bend radius, and no provision is made in prior conduit bodies of the indicated character for providing a smooth transition while pulling cables from the electrical conduit through the conduit bodies while maintaining a predetermined minimum bend radius for the telecommunication cables. Thus, the pulling of Category 5, 5E and 6 telecommunication cables as well as optical fiber data cabling systems through the prior conduit bodies can result in damaging such cabling when it is pulled over the relatively sharp corners encountered in the prior electrical conduit bodies of the indicated character. 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome disadvantages in prior electrical conduit bodies of the indicated character and to provide an improved conduit body which facilitates pulling cables therethrough without pulling the cables over relatively sharp corners and without damaging the cables&#39; performance integrity. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved conduit body particularly adapted for use in Category 5, 5E, 6 and optical fiber data cabling systems which conduit bodies may be retro-fitted or which may be provided as a new unit. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved conduit body adapted to maintain a minimum cable bend radius which protects the cables and prevents the cables from exceeding their minimum bend radius as recommended by recognized telecommunication industry standards. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved conduit body which effects a smooth transition while cables are pulled from one conduit through the conduit body to another conduit while maintaining specified minimum bend radii for the cables. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved electrical and telecommunications conduit bodies which are TIA/EIA569 compliant. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved conduit body which prevents cables passing therethrough from exceeding their minimum bend radius as recommended by TIA/EIA569. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical conduit body incorporating improved means for effecting the pulling of cables from one conduit to another conduit while maintaining the proper minimum bend radius for the cables. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved conduit body that is economical to manufacture and assemble, durable, efficient and reliable in operation. 
     The above as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional elevational view of an electrical and telecommunications conduit body embodying the present invention, showing the same installed on a wall of a building; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art electrical conduit body of the type marketed in conjunction with the trademark “CONDULET”; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a retro-fit unit which may be installed in a prior art unit of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 so as to embody the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a conduit body embodying the present invention, and showing the same with the cables removed therefrom; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the schematic structure illustrated in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the schematic structure illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  6  and  7  thereof, the present invention is shown embodied in an electrical and telecommunications conduit body, generally designated  20 , particularly adapted for use in Category 5, 5E, 6 and optical fiber data cabling systems. The conduit body  20  has a generally oblong body  22  provided with integral longitudinal walls  24  and  26 , a side wall  25 , and end walls  28  and  30 , defining a chamber  32  open on one side of the body  22 . A removable cover  34  may be provided, secured as by screws  35 , for closing the open side of the body. The body  22  is also provided with spaced conduit connecting hubs  36  and  38  defining passageways  40  and  42 , respectively, communicating with the chamber  32  defined by the body  22 . In this embodiment of the invention the longitudinal axes of the passageways  40  and  42  intersect at substantially right angles. It should be understood that the connecting hubs may be provided on the body at any desired locations, and the connecting hubs are threaded for connection to conventional electrical conduits, such as  37  and  39 , which carry the cables to and from the wall  41 . In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for maintaining minimum cable bend radii as the cables pass through the conduit body. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  6  and  7 , an integral guide portion  44  is provided in the side wall  25  of the conduit body. As shown in the drawings, the guide portion  44  extends from adjacent the connecting hub  38  at the lower end of the body, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, through the interior of the conduit body chamber  32  to the hub portion  36  at the upper end of the conduit body whereby a minimum bending radius is maintained as the communication cables, such as  45 , pass through the conduit body as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such a construction facilitates pulling the cables through the conduit body without damaging the cables and avoids pulling the cables over sharp corners. As previously mentioned, data transmission performance of Category 5, 5E, 6 and optical fibers can be degraded if they are bent less than a predetermined bend radius, and the present invention obviates such a condition. The guide portion  44  of the wall  25  maintains a minimum cable bend radius, as for example one inch, which protects the cables and prevents the cables from exceeding their minimum bend radius as recommended by recognized industry standards (BICSI). The guide portion  44  of the wall  25  thus effects a smooth transition for bringing cables from one conduit to another conduit while maintaining the proper minimum bend radius for the cables. 
     Conduit bodies embodying the present invention may be manufactured from cast aluminum, cast iron, PVC, or other materials having sufficient strength to withstand the forces exerted thereon. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use in retro-fitting prior art conduit bodies of the type illustrated in FIG.  3 . Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a prior art conduit body, generally designated  120 , is depicted therein. The conduit body  120  has a generally oblong body  122  provided with integral longitudinal walls  124  and  126 , a flat side wall  125 , and end walls  128  and  130  defining a chamber  132  open on one side of the body  122 . A removable cover (not shown) may be provided which may be secured to the body through the agency of screws (not shown) to close the open side of the body. The body  122  is also provided with spaced conduit connecting hubs  136  and  138  defining passageways  140  and  142 , respectively, communicating with the chamber  132  defined by the body  122 . This embodiment of the invention provides a guide member  144  which may be inserted in conduit bodies of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 to facilitate maintaining a minimum cable bend radius which prevents cables passing through the conduit body from exceeding their minimum bend radius as recommended by recognized telecommunications industry standards (BICSI). The guide member  144  includes a curved portion  146  which functions to maintain minimum cable bend radii to prevent the cables from exceeding their minimum bend radii and effects a smooth transition for bringing cables from one conduit to another conduit through the prior art body of the type illustrated in FIG.  3 . The guide member  144  also includes a flat portion  148  which is disposed adjacent the side wall  125  of the body and which extends from the curved portion  146  to the hub  138  to prevent the guide member from moving longitudinally of the chamber as cables are pulled through the chamber. 
     FIGS. 8,  9 ,  10  and  11  schematically illustrate other types of conduit body configurations which may embody the present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a conduit body having three conduit connecting hubs with an integral guide member which prevents cables passing from the hub through the conduit body to the hub at the other end of the conduit body from exceeding their minimum bend radius as recommended by recognized telecommunications industry standards (BICSI). Referring more particularly to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, a conduit body, generally designated  220 , is depicted therein. The conduit body  220  has a generally oblong body  222  provided with integral longitudinal walls  224  and  226 , a flat side wall  225  and end walls  228  and  230  defining a chamber  232  open on one side of the body  222 . This embodiment of the invention may also be provided with a removable cover (not shown) which may be secured to the body through the agency of screws (not shown) to close the open side of the body. In this embodiment of the invention the body  222  is provided with spaced conduit connecting hubs  236 ,  237  and  238  defining passageways  240 ,  241  and  242  communicating with the chamber  232  defined by the body  222 . In this embodiment of the invention, integral guide portions  244  and  245  are provided on the longitudinal walls  224  and  226  of the conduit body. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the guide portions  244  and  245  extend from adjacent the connecting hubs  236  and  237 , respectively, along the longitudinal walls  224  and  226  and through the interior of the body chamber  232  to the hub portion  238  whereby a minimum bending radius is maintained as the communication cables pass through the conduit body. Accordingly, such a construction facilitates pulling cables through the conduit body without damaging the cables and avoids pulling the cables over sharp corners. The guide portions  244  and  245  thus effect a smooth transition for bringing cables from one conduit to another conduit while maintaining the proper minimum bend radius for the cables. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a conduit body having three right angle conduit connecting hubs and two integral guide members which facilitate pulling cables from the hub at the right end of the conduit body as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11, through the conduit body to the hub at the top of the conduit body, as viewed in FIG. 10, and also facilitates pulling cables from the hub at the left end of the conduit body, as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11, through the conduit body to the central connecting hub at the top of the conduit body. Referring more specifically to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings, a conduit body, generally designated  320 , is depicted therein. The conduit body  320  has a generally oblong body  322  provided with integral longitudinal walls  324  and  326 , a flat side wall  325 , and end walls  328  and  330  defining a chamber  332  open on one side of the body  322 . A removable cover (not shown) may also be provided which may be secured to the body through the agency of screws (not shown) to close the open side of the body. In this embodiment of the invention, the body  322  is provided with three conduit connecting hubs  336 ,  337  and  338  defining passageways  340 ,  341  and  342  communicating with the chamber  332  defined by the body  322 . In this embodiment of the invention, integral guide portions  344  and  345  are provided on the longitudinal wall  324  of the conduit body. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the guide portions  344  and  345  extend in opposite directions from the adjacent connecting hub  337  at the top of the body, as viewed in FIG. 10, through the interior of the body chamber  332  to the hub portions  336  and  338  at the opposite ends of the body whereby a minimum bending radius is maintained as the communication cables pass through the conduit body from the hub portion  337  at the top of the body to either of the hub portions  336  and  338  at the opposite ends of the body. Accordingly, such a construction also facilitates pulling the cables through the conduit body without damaging the cables and avoids pulling the cables over sharp corners. The guide portions  344  and  345  on the longitudinal wall  324  thus effect a smooth transition for bringing cables from one conduit to another conduit while maintaining the proper minimum bend radius for the cables. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.