Apical conduit and methods of using same

• US 10,156,691 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elford, Michael L., Morrill, Robert J., Winterrowd, Michael Paul, Barnett, Jr., Thomas Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC K
• Application Number:
  US15/852,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-135
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/00 Details of pavings E01C1/005, E01C5/003, E01C5/005, E01C7/145, E01C7/185, E01C7/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/025 Making or working grooves or like channels in laid paving, e.g. smoothing groove edges E01C23/026, E01C23/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/0933 rotary, e.g. circular-saw joint cutters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/504 Installation in solid material, e.g. underground
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0437 Channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49815 Disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/51 Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

This document discloses novel conduits for telecommunications lines, such as optical fibers. In an aspect, a conduit might have a body defining one or more channels into which optical fibers can be inserted. In another aspect, the body might have a first face that is substantially planar and a second face opposing the first face. The second face might a low-rise arc profile and/or might be configured to be installed into a depression in a material. Also disclosed are methods and tools for installing, using, and/or removing such conduit.

Claims

1. A conduit for one or more cables, the conduit comprising:

a body defining one or more enclosed channels, each configured to receive one or more telecommunication lines, the body having a first face that is substantially planar and a second face opposing the first face, the second face having a low rise arc transverse, cross-sectional profile,

wherein in a first configuration, the second face is configured to be installed into a depression in a material, such that the first face is disposed substantially flush with a surface of the material when the conduit is installed in the first configuration.

2. The conduit of claim 1, wherein in a second configuration, the first face is configured to be placed on the surface of the material, such that the second face presents the low rise arc transverse, cross-sectional profile to the surface.

3. The conduit of claim 1, wherein the one or more telecommunication lines comprise one or more optical fibers.

4. The conduit of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a first section configured to be joined with a second section.

5. The conduit of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more channels has an enlarged end portion to allow for the insertion of a butt splice tube for joining the first section with the second section.

6. The conduit of claim 5, wherein the first section comprises a first channel, and the second section comprises a second channel, the butt splice tube configured to be inserted partially into the first channel and partially into the second channel, such that the butt splice tube provides a relatively seamless transition between the first channel and the second channel.

7. The conduit of claim 6, wherein the at least one channel has a first cross-sectional diameter, wherein the enlarged end portion has a second cross-sectional diameter that is larger than the first cross-sectional diameter, and wherein the butt splice tube has an inner cross-sectional diameter roughly equal to the first cross-sectional diameter and an outer cross-sectional diameter roughly equal to the second cross-sectional diameter.

8. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a support rib extending from the second face away from the body, the second face corresponding to a groove in a conduit form created by the depression in the material, wherein the support rib prevents displacement of the conduit relative to the conduit form.

9. The conduit of claim 8, wherein the support rib provides additional bonding surface between the conduit and the conduit form.

10. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a chaseway disposed within at least one of the channels, the chaseway defining at least one micro-duct configured to hold a telecommunication line.

11. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising an armor covering surrounding at least a portion of an exterior of the body.

12. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising one or more buffer tubes disposed within at least a second one of the channels.

13. The conduit of claim 1, further comprising a triangular lattice support structure inside the body, the support structure defining at least some of the one or more channels.

14. A method of installing a conduit, the method comprising:

providing a conduit for receiving one or more telecommunication lines, wherein the conduit comprises a body having a first face that is substantially planar and a second face opposing the first face, the second face having a low profile arc transverse, cross-sectional profile;

defining, within the body, one or more enclosed channels of the conduit;

installing a conduit into a depression in a material, wherein the second face is positioned to face the depression in the material, such that the first face is disposed substantially flush with the surface of the material when the conduit is installed in a first configuration; and

inserting one or more telecommunication lines into the one or more enclosed channels.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more telecommunication lines comprise one or more optical fibers.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the conduit comprises a first section and a second section, the method further comprising:

joining the first section with the second section.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first section comprises a first channel, and the second section comprises a second channel, and wherein joining the first section with the second section comprises:

inserting a first end of the butt splice tube partially into the first channel;

inserting a second end of the butt splice tube partially into the first channel; and

positioning the first section adjoining the second section, such that the butt splice tube provides a relatively seamless transition between the first channel and the second channel.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the conduit further comprises a chaseway disposed within at least one of the channels, the chaseway defining at least one micro-duct configured to hold a telecommunication line.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

bonding the conduit to the depression in the material.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the conduit further comprises a support rib extending from the second face away from the body, the second face corresponding to a groove in a conduit form created by the depression in the material, wherein the support rib prevents displacement of the conduit relative to the conduit form, and wherein the support rib provides additional bonding surface between the conduit and the conduit form.