Patent Publication Number: US-2023134178-A1

Title: Conduit Fittings for Conduit and Cable Installations

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/274,241, filed on Nov. 1, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to conduit bodies for conduit and cable installations, and more particularly to conduit bodies with features to ease cable routing and pulling, and to conduit bodies with features to facilitate drainage. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Conduit is a well-known protective covering and routing path for use with electrical wire and cable in both industrial, commercial, and residential applications. Electrical installations utilizing conduit typically include lengths of conduit connected by various types of fittings. Conduit is offered in a variety of metal, plastic, and composite materials, and is selected based on the needs of a particular application. A multitude of governing bodies promulgate regulations requiring that conduit used in specific applications meets certain minimum requirements. For example, in certain applications, metal conduit and conduit fittings must maintain a minimum level of sterility to prevent corrosion, contamination and bacteria growth thereon. 
     Cables and/or wires are installed in the conduit by pulling the cables/wires through the run of connected conduits and fittings. Significant force may be required to pull the wire/cable through the conduit run, depending on the inner diameter of the conduit, the number and size of wires, the number and size of bends in the conduit, and the use of pulling lubricant. If the required pulling force is too great to practically pull the cable/wire through the entire run of conduit, conduit bodies with access covers may be installed in the conduit run to allow the cable/wire to be pulled through the conduit run in multiple sections. Some industry regulations require or recommend such conduit bodies be installed after a predetermined number of bends in the conduit run. To install the cable/wire, a leading end of the cable/wire is pulled through the conduit run until the leading end enters the conduit body. A desired amount of the cable/wire is pulled out of the access opening of the conduit body, and then the leading end of the cable/wire is reinserted into the conduit body and pulled through the next section of the conduit run. 
     Conventional conduit bodies, while allowing the cable/wire to be pulled through in sections, still have limitations. First, the cable/wire tends to drag along the inner wall of the conduit fitting when pulled taut, which causes friction. Second, when the leading end of the cable/wire is reinserted into the conduit body and the slack cable is pulled through the next section of conduit, the cable/wire is forced into a tight bend as the last of the slack re-enters the conduit body. A significant amount of force may be required to pull this last bit of slack cable into the conduit body. In some instances, installers will address these issues by simply using a larger trade size conduit than would otherwise be required in order to provide additional room for placement and bending of the cable/wire. While this may ostensibly reduce the pull force required for installation, the use of lager fittings, conduit bodies, and conduit runs adds expense and size that would otherwise not be required by regulatory codes/standards. 
     Conventional conduit bodies also tend to become collection points for water that inadvertently enters the conduit run. The presence of water near or in contact with the cable/wire may be dangerous and run afoul of industry regulations. Additionally, water may corrode various components of the conduit, fittings, and/or cable/wire. 
     In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for conduit bodies designed for easier pulling of cable, and for conduit bodies with features for extracting water. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to conduit bodies for use in conduit and cable installations. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a conduit body including a sidewall defining an internal chamber and at least two ports providing access to the internal chamber, and a cover connectable to the sidewall to enclose the internal chamber. The sidewall defines a first surface section adjacent one of the at least two ports, a second surface section adjacent another of the at least two ports, and a radiused transition section connecting the first surface section and the second surface section and configured for reducing frictional drag of a cable pulled though the internal chamber. The first surface section is spaced apart from the second surface section to increase a volume of the internal chamber. 
     In some embodiments, a distance between the first surface section and the second surface section dictates a bend radius of the cable in the internal chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the conduit body further includes a gasket between the sidewall and the cover. 
     In some embodiments, the at least two ports are arranged at approximately 90° relative to one another. 
     In some embodiments, the cover is located on an opposite side of the internal chamber relative to one of the at least two ports. 
     In some embodiments, the cover is located on a side of the conduit body parallel to a plane extending through the at least two ports. 
     In some embodiments, the conduit body further includes a drain port in fluid communication with the internal chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the conduit body further includes a drain fitting connected to the drain port. 
     In some embodiments, the drain fitting includes a plug or a valve. 
     In some embodiments, the drain port is oriented approximately perpendicular to one of the at least two ports. 
     In some embodiments, the drain port is located at a lowest point of the internal chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the cover is connectable to the sidewall by three fasteners. 
     In some embodiments, each of the three fasteners is adjacent to one of the ports. 
     In some embodiments, the at least two ports include three ports. 
     In some embodiments, two of the three ports are coaxial to one another, and a third of the three ports extends at approximately 90° relative to the other two ports. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a conduit body including a sidewall defining an internal chamber and at least two ports providing access to the internal chamber, a cover connectable to the sidewall to enclose the internal chamber, a drain port in fluid communication with the internal chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the conduit body further includes a drain fitting connected to the drain port. 
     In some embodiments, the drain fitting includes a plug or a valve. 
     In some embodiments, the drain port is oriented approximately perpendicular to one of the at least two ports. 
     In some embodiments, the drain port is located at a lowest point of the internal chamber. 
     Further details and advantages of the various examples described in detail herein will become clear upon reviewing the following detailed description of the various examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a conduit body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the conduit body of  FIG.  1   , with a cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of the conduit body of  FIG.  1   , with the cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the conduit body of  FIG.  1   , taken along line A-A of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of a conduit body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of the conduit body of  FIG.  5   , with a cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a conduit body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the conduit body of  FIG.  7   , with a cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of the conduit body of  FIG.  7   , with the cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a conduit body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded perspective view of the conduit body of  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view of the conduit body of  FIG.  10   , taken along line B-B of  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a conduit body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of the conduit body of  FIG.  13   , with a cover thereof removed for clarity; 
         FIG.  15    is a side view of the conduit body of  FIG.  13   , with a cover thereof removed for clarity; and 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of the conduit body of  FIG.  13   , taken along line C-C of  FIG.  15   . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described aspects contemplated for carrying out the disclosure. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary aspects of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the aspects disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. 
     All numbers used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. The terms “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” mean a range of plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. Further, the term “substantially equal” and like terms mean that the compared values or dimensions are within a range of plus or minus ten percent of one another. 
     The terms “first”, “second”, and the like are not intended to refer to any particular order or chronology, but refer to different conditions, properties, or elements. 
     As used herein, “at least one of” is synonymous with “one or more of”. For example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” means any one of A, B, or C, or any combination of any two or more of A, B, or C. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” includes one or more of A alone; or one or more of B alone; or one or more of C alone; or one or more of A and one or more of B; or one or more of A and one or more of C; or one or more of B and one or more of C; or one or more of all of A, B, and C. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to conduit bodies with features to ease the installation of cable through the conduit body and other sections of a conduit run. In some embodiments, the conduit bodies include an internal chamber having a shape and volume configured to ease cable installation. In some embodiments, the conduit bodies include relatively large edge radiuses to facilitate smooth pulling of cable. 
     Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to conduit bodies including features for draining water accumulated in the conduit bodies or other portions of the conduit run. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , a conduit body  100  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The conduit body  100  includes a sidewall  102  defining an internal chamber  110  which houses one or more cables  90  (see  FIG.  4   ). The sidewall  102  further defines (or is connected to) two ports  104 ,  106 , which provide access to the internal chamber  110  for the cable  90  to be installed. The ports  104 ,  106  in the illustrated embodiment are arranged at approximately 90° relative to one another, though in other embodiments the ports  104 ,  106  could be provided at another angle or could be arranged coaxially relative to one another. Each of the ports  104 ,  106  is configured to receive a conduit through which cable  90  (see  FIG.  4   ) is fed into or out of the internal chamber  110 . Each of the ports  104 ,  106  may include an NPT thread or other industry standard interface for connecting to the conduit. 
     The conduit body  100  further includes a cover  120  which removably connects to the sidewall  102  via fasteners  122 , e.g. screws, received by threaded holes  124  in the sidewall  102 . The cover  120 , along with the sidewall  102 , encloses the internal chamber  110 . The cover  120  is located on an opposite side of the internal chamber  110  relative to the port  106 . In some embodiments, a gasket may be provided between the sidewall  102  and the cover  120  to provide a fluid-tight and/or air-tight seal isolating the internal chamber  110  from the external atmosphere surrounding the conduit body  100 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , within the internal chamber  110 , the sidewall  102  defines a first surface section  112  adjacent the port  104  and a second surface section  114  adjacent the port  106 . The first surface section  112  and the second surface section  114  are arranged on different planes spaced apart by a distance d1. In some embodiments, the distance d1 may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, d1 may be approximately 1.39 inches. The first surface section  112  and the second surface section  114  are connected by a radiused transition section  116 . In some embodiments, a radius r1 of the radiused transition section  116  may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, r1 may be approximately 1.19 inches. Note that the exemplary dimensions of d1, d2, d3, d4, r1, r2, r3, and r4 provided herein are reflective only of certain embodiments of the conduit body given a particular trade size. Other embodiments, particularly embodiments for other trade sizes of conduit, may be outside of the disclosed measurements and ranges. A portion  118  of the internal chamber  110  between the planes of the first and second surface sections  112 ,  114  provides additional volume in which the cable  90  can reside. 
     The cable  90 , when pulled through the conduit body  100 , generally drags along the radiused transition section  116 , and the cable  90  is forced to bend in order to pass through both ports  104 ,  106 . The force required to bend the cable  90  and the frictional force of the cable  90  against the radiused transition section  116  form a component of the pull force required to install the cable  90 . By increasing the distance d1, and consequently the volume of the portion  118 , the cable  90  can take on a larger bend radius, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  90 . Similarly, by increasing the radius r1 of the radiused transition section  116 , the frictional drag force on the cable  90  is reduced, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  90 . Thus, the conduit body  100  of the present disclosure reduces the required cable pulling force when compared to conventional conduit bodies due to the distance d1, the increase in volume of the internal chamber  110  in the portion  118 , and the radius r1 of the radiused transition section  116 . Therefore, cable installation in the conduit body  100  may require less pulling force than conventional designs, and may allow for more turns in the conduit run. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , a conduit body  200  is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The conduit body  200  includes a sidewall  202  defining an internal chamber  210  which houses one or more cables  92 ,  94 . The sidewall  202  further defines (or is connected to) three ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  which provide access to the internal chamber  210  for the cable  92 ,  94  to be installed. The ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  in the illustrated embodiment are arranged such that ports  204  and  206  are coaxial with one another, and port  208  extends at approximately 90° relative to ports  204  and  206 . In other embodiments, the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  could be provided at other angles relative to one another. Each of the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  is configured to receive a conduit through which cable  92 ,  94  is fed into the internal chamber  110 . Each of the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  may include an NPT thread or other industry standard interface for connecting to the conduit. 
     The conduit body  200  further includes a cover  220  which connects to the sidewall  202  via fasteners  222 , e.g. screws, received by threaded holes  224  in the sidewall  202 . The cover  220 , along with the sidewall  202 , encloses the internal chamber  210 . The cover  220  is located on a side of the conduit body  200  parallel to a plane extending through all three ports  204 ,  206 ,  208 . In some embodiments, the cover  220  is secured to the sidewall  202  with three screws  222  and three holes  224 , with each of the three holes  224  provided adjacent to one of the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208 . The use of three screws  222  and holes  224  adjacent to the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  provides a significantly stronger connection of the cover  220  as compared to conventional conduit body designs. In some embodiments, a gasket may be provided between the sidewall  202  and the cover  220  to provide a fluid-tight and/or air-tight seal isolating the internal chamber  210  from the external atmosphere surrounding the conduit body  200 . 
     Within the internal chamber  210 , the sidewall  202  defines a first surface section  212  on a plane adjacent the ports  204 ,  206 , The sidewall  202  further defines a second surface section  114  adjacent the port  106 . The first surface section  212  and the second surface section  214  are arranged on different planes spaced apart by a distance d2. In some embodiments, the distance d2 may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, d2 may be approximately 1.41 inches. The first surface section  212  and the second surface section  214  are connected by radiused transition sections  216 . In some embodiments, a radius r2 of the radiused transition sections  216  may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, r2 may be approximately 1.25 inches. A portion  218  of the internal chamber  210  between the planes of the first and second surface sections  212 ,  214  provides additional volume in which the cable  92 ,  94  can reside. 
     The cable  92 , when pulled through the conduit body  200 , generally drags along the radiused transition section  216 , and the cable  92  is forced to bend in order to pass through both ports  204 ,  208 . The force required to bend the cable  92  and the frictional force of the cable  92  against the radiused transition section  216  form a component of the pull force required to install the cable  92 . By increasing the distance d2, and consequently the volume of the portion  218 , the cable  92  can take on a larger bend radius, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Similarly, by increasing the radius r2 of the radiused transition sections  216 , the frictional drag force on the cable  92  is reduced, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Thus, the conduit body  200  of the present disclosure reduces the required cable pulling force when compared to conventional conduit bodies due to the distance d2, the increase in volume of the internal chamber  210  in the portion  218 , and the radius r2 of the radiused transition sections  216 . Therefore, cable installation in the conduit body  200  may require less pulling force than conventional designs, and may allow for more turns in the conduit run. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  6   , cable  94  is illustrated in a position near the end of a pulling operation. That is, the cable  94  has been fed through the port  204  and reinserted through the port  208 . The cable  94  naturally forms a loop  95  with a radius rC as the cable  94  is pulled through the port  208 . As the leading end of the cable  94  is pulled through the port  208 , the radius rC of the loop  95  decreases until the loop  95  is small enough to lay within the confines on the internal chamber  210  in the relaxed position of cable  92 . As a tighter radius makes the loop  95  of the cable  94  more difficult to pull, it is advantageous that the internal chamber  210  is large enough that a relatively large radius rC of the cable  94  can be contained in the internal chamber  210 . The portion  218  of the internal chamber  210  provides additional volume which the loop  95  can occupy, when compared to conventional conduit bodies. Thus, the conduit body  200  of the present disclosure allows for a relatively larger loop  95 , which thereby reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  94 , when compared to conventional conduit bodies. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  7 - 9   , a conduit body  300  is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The conduit body  300  is similar to the conduit body  100  illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , with the exception that the cover is provided on the side of the conduit body rather than the top of the conduit body. Like the conduit body  100  of  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the conduit body  300  includes a sidewall  102  defining an internal chamber  110  which houses one or more cables  92 ,  94  (see  FIG.  9   ). The sidewall  102  further defines (or is connected to) two ports  104 ,  106  which provide access to the internal chamber  110  for the cable  92 ,  94  to be installed. The ports  104 ,  106  in the illustrated embodiment are arranged at approximately 90° relative to one another, though in other embodiments the ports  104 ,  106  could be provided at another angle or could be arranged coaxially relative to one another. Each of the ports  104 ,  106  is configured to receive a conduit through which cable  92 ,  94  (see  FIG.  9   ) is fed into the internal chamber  110 . Each of the ports  104 ,  106  may include an NPT thread or other industry standard interface for connecting to the conduit. 
     The conduit body  300  further includes a cover  130  which connects to the sidewall  102  via fasteners  132 , e.g. screws, received by threaded holes  134  in the sidewall  102 . The cover  130 , along with the sidewall  102 , encloses the internal chamber  110 . The cover  130  is located on a side of the conduit body  300  parallel to a plane extending through both ports  104 ,  106 . The cover  130  is secured to the sidewall  102  with three screws  132  and three holes  134 , with two of the three holes  134  provided adjacent to a respective port  104 ,  106 , and the third hole  134  at a corner of the sidewall  102  opposite the ports  104 ,  106 . The use of three screws  132  and holes  134  provides a significantly stronger connection of the cover as compared to conventional conduit body designs. In some embodiments, a gasket may be provided between the sidewall  102  and the cover  130  to provide a fluid-tight and/or air-tight seal isolating the internal chamber  110  from the external atmosphere surrounding the conduit body  100 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  9   , within the internal chamber  110 , the sidewall  102  defines a first surface section  112  adjacent the port  104  and a second surface section  114  adjacent the port  106 . The first surface section  112  and the second surface section  114  are arranged on different planes spaced apart by a distance d3. In some embodiments, the distance d3 may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, d3 may be approximately 1.45 inches. The first surface section  112  and the second surface section  114  are connected by a radiused transition section  116 . In some embodiments, a radius r3 of the radiused transition section  116  may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, r3 may be approximately 1.00 inches. A portion  118  of the internal chamber  110  between the planes of the first and second surface sections  112 ,  114  provides additional volume in which the cable  92 ,  94  can reside. 
     The cable  92 , when pulled through the conduit body  300 , generally drags along the radiused transition section  116 , and the cable  92  is forced to bend in order to pass through both ports  104 ,  106 . The force required to bend the cable  92  and the frictional force of the cable  92  against the radiused transition section  116  form a component of the pull force required to install the cable  92 . By increasing the distance d3, and consequently the volume of the portion  118 , the cable  92  can take on a larger bend radius, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Similarly, by increasing the radius r3 of the radiused transition section  116 , the frictional drag force on the cable  92  is reduced, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Thus, the conduit body  300  of the present disclosure reduces the required cable pulling force when compared to conventional conduit bodies due to the distance d3, the increase in volume of the internal chamber  110  in the portion  118 , and the radius r3 of the radiused transition section  116 . Therefore, cable installation in the conduit body  300  may require less pulling force than conventional designs, and may allow for more turns in the conduit run. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  9   , cable  94  is illustrated in a position near the end of a pulling operation. That is, the cable  94  has been fed through the port  104  and reinserted through the port  106 . The cable  94  naturally forms a loop  95  with a radius rC as the cable  94  is pulled through the port  106 . As the leading end of the cable  94  is pulled through the port  106 , the radius rC of the loop  95  decreases until the loop  95  is small enough to lay within the confines on the internal chamber  110  in the relaxed position of cable  92 . As a tighter radius makes the loop  95  of the cable  94  more difficult to pull, it is advantageous that the internal chamber  110  is large enough that a relatively large radius rC of the cable  94  can be contained in the internal chamber  110 . The portion  118  of the internal chamber  110  provides additional volume which the loop  95  can occupy, when compared to conventional conduit bodies. Thus, the conduit body  300  of the present disclosure allows for a relatively larger loop  95 , which thereby reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  94 , when compared to conventional conduit bodies. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  10 - 12   , a conduit body  400  is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Like the conduit body  200  of  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the conduit body  400  includes a sidewall  202  defining an internal chamber  210  which houses one or more cables  92 . The sidewall  202  further defines (or is connected to) three ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  which provide access to the internal chamber  210  for the cable  92  to be installed. The ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  in the illustrated embodiment are arranged such that ports  204  and  206  are coaxial, and port  208  extends at approximately 90° relative to ports  204  and  206 . In other embodiments, the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  could be provided at other angles relative to one another. Each of the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  is configured to receive a conduit through which cable  92  is fed into the internal chamber  110 . Each of the ports  204 ,  206 ,  208  may include an NPT thread or other industry standard interface for connecting to the conduit. 
     The conduit body  400  further includes a cover  230  which connects to the sidewall  202  via fasteners  232 , e.g. screws, received by threaded holes  234  in the sidewall  202 . The cover  230 , along with the sidewall  202 , encloses the internal chamber  210 . The cover  230  is located on an opposite side of the internal chamber  210  relative to the port  208 . A gasket  240  may be provided between the sidewall  202  and the cover  230  to provide a fluid-tight and/or air-tight seal isolating the internal chamber  210  from the external atmosphere surrounding the conduit body  400 . 
     Within the internal chamber  210 , the sidewall  202  defines a first surface section  212  on a plane adjacent the ports  204 ,  206 , The sidewall  202  further defines a second surface section  214  adjacent the port  106 . The first surface section  212  and the second surface section  214  are arranged on different planes spaced apart by a distance d4. In some embodiments, the distance d4 may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, d4 may be approximately 1.45 inches. The first surface section  212  and the second surface section  214  are connected by radiused transition sections  216 . In some embodiments, a radius r4 of the radiused transition sections  216  may be in a range from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches, and in certain embodiments, r4 may be approximately 1.25 inches. A portion  218  of the internal chamber  210  between the planes of the first and second surface sections  212 ,  214  provides additional volume in which the cable  92  can reside. 
     The cable  92 , when pulled through the conduit body  400 , generally drags along the radiused transition section  216 , and the cable  92  is forced to bend in order to pass through both ports  204 ,  208 . The force required to bend the cable  92  and the frictional force of the cable  92  against the radiused transition section  216  form a component of the pull force required to install the cable  92 . By increasing the distance d4, and consequently the volume of the portion  218 , the cable  92  can take on a larger bend radius, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Similarly, by increasing the radius r4 of the radiused transition sections  216 , the frictional drag force on the cable  92  is reduced, which in turn reduces the pulling force required to install the cable  92 . Thus, the conduit body  200  of the present disclosure reduces the required cable pulling force when compared to conventional conduit bodies due to the distance d4, the increase in volume of the internal chamber  210  in the portion  218 , and the radius r4 of the radiused transition sections  216 . Therefore, cable installation in the conduit body  400  may require less pulling force than conventional designs, and may allow for more turns in the conduit run. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  13 - 16   , a conduit body  500  is illustrated in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The conduit body  500  is similar to the conduit body  300  illustrated in  FIGS.  7 - 9   , but includes a drain port  150  in the sidewall  102 . The drain port  150  is in fluid communication with the internal chamber  110  and provides a path for water to flow out of the internal chamber  110 . The conduit body  500  is typically installed with the drain port  150  facing downward so that gravity induces any water in the internal chamber  110  to flow toward the drain port  150 . The drain port  150  is located at a lowest point of the internal chamber  110  so that substantially all liquid in the internal chamber  110  can flow out of the drain port  150 . Further, the conduit body  500  may be installed at a lowest position within a conduit run (or the lowest position in a particular section of a conduit run) so that water in connected components (e.g. conduit, fittings, and/or other conduit bodies) flows into the conduit body  500  and toward the drain port  150 . 
     The drain port  150  is adjacent to the port  106  and oriented approximately perpendicular to the port  106  in the illustrated embodiment, though other positions of the drain port  150  are also possible. The drain port  150  may include an NPT thread or other interface for connection to a drain fitting  152  (e.g. a plug, valve, or the like) that can be opened to drain the internal chamber  110 . 
     Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.