IP Library Granted Patent US 7,513,023
Granted Patent B2
US 7,513,023 · App. 11/191,305 · Granted Apr 7, 2009

Method for repairing broken conduit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,513,023
App. No.
11/191,305
Granted
Apr 7, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Broken conduit is repaired by enlarging the inner diameter at the broken end portion to provide a socket for receiving a coupling that has a male end portion with a reduced radial wall thickness and is configured so that the external diameter of the male end portion is closely received in the socket while the inner diameter thereof corresponds to the original inner diameter of the conduit.

Claims (21)

1. A method for repairing a broken length of electrical conduit embedded in a foundation and connecting the broken length of conduit to a second length of electrical conduit without damaging the foundation, where the broken length of electrical conduit has a tubular sidewall that defines an axial bore and that terminates in a broken conduit end partially exposed from the foundation, the method comprising the following steps:

a.) enlarging the axial bore of the broken conduit end to form a reamed conduit end;

b.) inserting a repair coupling into the reamed conduit end;

c.) attaching the second length of electrical conduit to the repair coupling.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step a.) includes reaming out a portion of the tubular sidewall of the broken conduit end.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reaming of the tubular sidewall of the broken conduit end reduces the thickness of the tubular sidewall of the reamed conduit end by approximately one half.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the repair coupling of step b.) includes a tubular body defining an axial bore therethrough and terminating axially in an open male body portion adapted for axial insertion into the reamed conduit end and an open female body portion adapted to axially receive the second length of electrical conduit.

5. A method of repairing a broken end portion of a first cylindrical conduit having a first cylindrical internal passage comprising the steps of:

reducing the radial wall thickness of the broken end portion;

attaching a repair coupling to the reduced wall thickness portion of the broken end portion;

attaching to the repair coupling a second cylindrical conduit of the same size as the first cylindrical conduit and having a second cylindrical internal passage of the same size as the first cylindrical internal passage;

the repair coupling being configured to provide an internal transition passage therethrough that is not smaller than the first and second cylindrical internal passages.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of attaching the second conduit to the repair coupling by way of a collar.

7. The method of claim 5 including the step of attaching the second conduit to the repair coupling by way of a repair coupling socket in which an end portion of the second conduit is received.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of reducing the radial wall thickness of the conduit end portion is carried out by enlarging the inner diameter of the conduit end portion.

9. A method of repairing a broken conduit end portion of a cylindrical conduit having an internal passage, comprising:

reducing the radial wall thickness of the conduit end portion to provide a joining portion;

attaching a repair coupling to the joining portion;

the repair coupling being configured to provide attachment thereto of a second conduit, which also has an internal passage and is of the same size as the broken conduit end portion, while providing a continuous internal passage from the broken conduit end portion to the second conduit that is at least as large as the internal passages in the broken end portion and in the second conduit; and

attaching a transition collar to the repair coupling and attaching the second conduit to the transition coupling.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the repair coupling is provided with a socket and the second conduit is attached to the repair coupling by inserting an end portion of the second conduit in the socket.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2014
From: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 032388/0428 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2010
From: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO.
To: THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024812/0767 →
RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2009
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO., THE
Reel/Frame 023032/0688 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 9, 2007
From: LAMSON & SESSIONS CO., THE
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS SUCCESSOR TO HARRIS N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 018746/0451 →