Non-Metallic Raceway for Wiring and Fiber Optic Cable and Method of Forming Raceway

Abstract

A continuous, non-metallic conduit for conductors, such as electrical wiring and/or fiber optic cable. The continuous conduit being formed from at least one pair of first and second conduits having enlarged ends coupled together. The enlarged ends are belled or otherwise have a diameter greater than that of the straight run (non-belled) portions of the conduit. The enlarged ends of the conduit being coupled together by fusion or welding, and an internal bead or ridge being formed by the coupling process. The enlarged ends are dimensioned such that the internal bead or ridge formed at the junction between the two enlarged ends does not project radially inward to a position equal to or less than the diameter of the straight run portion of the conduits. The continuous conduit is configured to allow the conductor to be passed therethrough such that the conductor does not contact the internal bead or ridge.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A non-metallic raceway configured to facilitate passage of a conductor comprising:
 at least one pair of non-metallic hollow conduits, including a first non-metallic conduit and a second non-metallic conduit,   the first and second non-metallic hollow conduits each having:   a first belled end portion having belled inner and outer surfaces, the first belled end portion having a first inner diameter at an end thereof,   a second belled end portion having belled inner and outer surfaces, the second belled end portion having the first inner diameter at an end thereof, and   a cylindrical portion extending from the first belled end portion to the second belled end portion and with a second uniform inner diameter,   the first inner diameter being greater than the second uniform inner diameter,   the pair of non-metallic hollow conduits being fused together at respective ends of the first belled end portions to form a fused portion, the fused portion including an internal ridge and an external ridge, and the internal ridge having a third inner diameter, the pair of fused together conduits having uncovered outer surface portions of the cylindrical portions and an entire outer surface of the fused portion that is uncovered,   the third inner diameter being greater than the second uniform inner diameter and less than the first inner diameter, and   the first, second, and third inner diameters being sized such that a conductor passed through the raceway does not contact the internal ridge.   
     
     
         17 . The non-metallic raceway of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of said pairs of non-metallic hollow conduits. 
     
     
         18 . The non-metallic raceway of  claim 16 , wherein the first and the second non-metallic hollow conduits comprise polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The non-metallic raceway of  claim 16 , wherein the first and the second non-metallic hollow conduits comprise polyvinylchloride (“PVC”). 
     
     
         20 . The non-metallic raceway of  claim 16 , wherein the internal ridge extends inwardly more than the external ridge extends outwardly. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a continuous conduit from a first hollow conduit and a second hollow conduit, each of said first and second hollow conduits having first and second bell-shaped end portions and a cylindrical middle portion of uniform inner diameter running from the first bell-shaped end portion to the second bell-shaped end portion, the method comprising:
 positioning the first bell-shaped end portion of the first hollow conduit adjacent the first bell-shaped end portion of the second hollow conduit such that respective circumferences of ends of the hollow conduits are substantially axially aligned, each of said bell-shaped end portions having belled inner and outer surfaces; and   substantially permanently fusing the positioned and aligned bell-shaped end portions together to form a fuse joint at the ends of the bell-shaped end portions,   said substantially permanently fusing forming an internal protrusion at the fuse joint, the internal protrusion protruding substantially radially inward,   the internal protrusion extending inwardly to an inner diameter greater than that of non-belled portions of the first hollow conduit and the second hollow conduit, and   the substantially permanently fused first and second hollow conduits forming the continuous conduit have exposed outer surface portions of the non-belled portions and an entire outer surface of the fuse joint that is exposed and are configured so as to prevent a conductor passed through the continuous conduit from contacting the internal protrusion.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said substantially permanently fusing forms an external protrusion at the fuse joint, the external protrusion protruding substantially radially outward, and
 the method further comprising forming the external protrusion after said substantially permanently fusing.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said forming the external protrusion includes reducing the external protrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said forming the external protrusion includes substantially removing the external protrusion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 forming the bell-shaped end portion of the first hollow conduit;   forming a second bell-shaped end portion of the first hollow conduit;   forming the bell-shaped end portion of the second hollow conduit; and   forming a second bell-shaped end portion of the second hollow conduit.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 traversing the continuous conduit through a man-made cavity; and traversing a conductor along an inside of the continuous conduit such that the conductor does not contact the internal protrusion.   
     
     
         27 . A continuous conduit for housing an electrical or optical conductor, the conduit comprising:
 a first elongated conduit and a second elongated conduit with each elongated conduit having a cylindrical portion and enlarged ends with a diameter larger than the cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion extending from a first enlarged end of the enlarged ends to a second enlarged end thereof and having a uniform inner diameter; and   the first enlarged end of the first elongated conduit being coupled to the first enlarged end of the enlarged ends of the second elongated conduit, the coupled first enlarged ends forming a joint,   the joint including a protrusion that projects radially inward, and wherein the coupled first and second elongated conduits having the joint with the inwardly projecting projection each have entire outer surfaces thereof that are exposed and are configured and operative to house the electrical or optical conductor so the conductor does not contact the internal ridge.   
     
     
         28 . The continuous conduit of  claim 27 , wherein the enlarged ends of the first and second elongated conduits are coupled together by fusion. 
     
     
         29 . The continuous conduit of  claim 27 , wherein the joint includes a protrusion that projects radially outward. 
     
     
         30 . The continuous conduit of  claim 27 , wherein the coupled first and second elongated conduits having the joint with the inwardly projecting projection are configured to allow the conductor to be passed through the continuous conduit without touching the inwardly projecting projection.