Conduit alignment tools and methods
Example embodiments of the described technology provide a conduit spacer tool for enforcing a minimum spacing between adjacent conduits. The conduit spacer tool may comprise a body comprising a pair of side arms, each side arm having an equal width. The body of the conduit spacer tool may comprise a slot defined by an inner surface of the side arms, the slot terminating at a groove of the body and the slot having a width for receiving a conduit. The width may be dimensioned to correspond to a designated conduit diameter. When the conduit is fully received in the slot, the conduit may have a centre located at a longitudinal centre of the body.
1 . A kit comprising:
a first conduit spacer tool and a second conduit spacer tool, each of the first and second conduit spacer tools comprising:
a body comprising a pair of side arms that extend in a longitudinal direction, each side arm of the pair of side arms being dimensioned, in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, to correspond to a designated spacing in the width direction between adjacent conduits; and
a slot defined between inner surfaces of the side arms, the slot terminating at a groove of the body and the slot having a width for receiving a conduit, the width of the slot in the width direction being dimensioned to correspond to a designated conduit diameter;
wherein when the conduit is fully received in the slot, the conduit has a center located at a in the center of the body in the longitudinal direction midway between the side of the conduit tool defined by ends of the pair of side arms most distal from the groove and an opposing side of the conduit tool; and
a laser, the laser couplable to the first and second conduit spacer tools.
2 . The kit according to claim 1 wherein the laser is couplable to the first and second conduit spacer tools between the first and second conduit spacer tools.
3 . The kit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools comprises one or more magnets located at one or more of:
an end of one or both of the side arms;
the body on a side of the groove opposite from the pair of side arms; and
the body on a surface which defines the groove.
4 . The kit of claim 3 wherein the one or more magnets are embedded in the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools.
5 . The kit of claim 3 wherein the one or more magnets are removably attachable to one or more of the conduit and a strut channel to thereby maintain a position of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools relative to one or more of the conduit and the strut channel.
6 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools has a length W+2L where W is the width of the slot and L is equal to a standard strut channel depth.
7 . The kit of claim 6 wherein L is 0.75 inches, 1.25 inches or 1.625 inches.
8 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools has a thickness in the range of ¼ to ¾ inches.
9 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools is flat and has a thickness of less than ¾ inches.
10 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the width of each of the side arms of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools is in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches.
11 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the width of each of the side arms of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools is approximately ⅝ inches.
12 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools has a total width equaling the sum of the widths of each of the pair of side arms and the width of the slot.
13 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools comprises a hole penetrating a thickness of the body.
14 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the body of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools is made from one of:
wood;
a polymeric material; and
a metal.
15 . The kit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools comprises a bore, the bore configured to at least partially receive a laser.
16 . The kit of claim 15 wherein the bore of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools has a diameter that forms a friction fit with the laser.
17 . The kit of claim 15 wherein a center of the bore of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools is aligned with the center of the groove of the slot.
18 . The kit of claim 1 wherein the first and second conduit spacer tools are coupled together with a ring.
19 . The kit of claim 1 wherein, in use to secure a conduit to a strut channel, an open end of the slot of at least one of the first and second conduit spacer tools faces away from a structure to which the strut-channel is fixed.