Electrical service conduit system and method of use

Abstract

A system and method to route electrical service conduits through the interior of a building and also to comply with the National Electrical Code(NEC). The system includes the use of a two inch concrete encasement which is reinforced by metal plates. A lower portion of the concrete encasement has a flat metal bar therein for mounting to rods extending from a secure ceiling area of a building. The protective nature of the encasement enables the service conduit to be designated as outside of a building and thus in compliance with NEC standards.

Description

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to the building and electrical service conductor arts.

In accordance with the National Electrical Code, hereinafter “NEC”, electrical service conductors must be positioned so as not to pass through the interior of a building.

Electrical service conductors are considered to be outside of a building if they are confined by not less than two inches of brick or concrete.

As shown in the Prior Art drawing of FIG. 2, a building 100 is serviced via service conductors 101 and transformer 102.

When new service conductors are installed, current practice requires tearing up the concrete floor 105, installing the service conductors, and reconstructing the floor. This is clearly a very costly and time-consuming process.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to set forth a novel system and method to avoid the above described costly process and still be within the requirements of the NEC.

It is a further object of the invention to demonstrate a specially designed encasement system which may be utilized, for example, in the upper area 107 of FIG. 2.

It is also an object to describe an electrical conduit encasement system which is designed to be suspended from a solid structural ceiling support of a building, e.g. from a purlin.

It is a further object to show a system and method which may be economically manufactured and used for widespread commercial appeal in the building and electrical service arts.

These and other objects and advantages of the disclosed system and method of use will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the description which follows.

PRIOR ART PATENTS AND DESIGNS

During the course of preparing this specification for submission to the U.S. Patent Office, a complete search of the prior art was conducted in all Classes related to the invention.

Related U.S. Patents are cited as follows:

• U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,409 showing plastic tubing with a concrete duct,
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,105 showing precast concrete ducting,
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,232 describing a ducting sleeve having a nesting half-shell configuration.

The invention described herein is believed to be clearly patentable over all known systems and methods of use in the electrical service conduit arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An encasement system is provided which includes a lower encasement member and an upper mating encasement member.

The encasement members are formed of foam impregnated lightweight concrete and are two inches thick to meet the NEC requirements.

The encasements have steel elements embedded therein to secure the top and bottom sections and also to provide support from a solid structural ceiling element.

The method steps broadly include the following:

• 1) Hang a lower encasement section from rods attached to a secure, solid ceiling area,
• 2) Install a PVC plastic conduit including at least one electrical service conductor,
• 3) Install the upper encasement member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of the principal components of the invention and shows the intended method of use.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of a building having electrical service conductors being supplied via a transformer unit. The conventional prior art use is indicated as well as the area where the present invention may be advantageously utilized.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of some of the principal components of the invention and shows the upper and lower encasement structures in a mated position. The combined plastic pipe and plural electrical service conduits are also shown.

FULL DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing FIG. 1, the overall electrical service conduit system is indicated at numeral 10.

Numeral 20 indicates an upper solid portion of the interior of a building to be serviced.

Extending from the solid element 20 are plural rod elements 21 and 22. Rods 21 and 22 are attached to a lower plate means 25 by nut and washer units shown at 26 and 27.

The lower plate 25 is part of a lower concrete encasement 30. The concrete used in unit 30 can be, for example, a type of foam impregnated lightweight concrete.

The lower flat plate 25 has been weld-mounted to an upper curved plate 35.

Concrete encasement section 30 is precast and is generally in the shape of a half clamshell for purposes to be further described.

The lower concrete encasement section 30 has recessed area portions as indicated at numerals 33a and 33b. It further has protruding exterior portions as shown at numerals 34a and 34b.

The upper curved plate 35 terminates in horizontal ends 38a and 38b respectively.

The system further includes an upper concrete encasement section 40.

Encasement section 40 includes a curved reinforcing steel element 45 which terminates in horizontal end portions 48a and 48b respectively.

The upper concrete encasement section 40 further includes outer recessed areas 44a and 44b. It also includes inner protruding portions 43a and 43b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the system includes an interior PVC plastic pipe indicated at letter P and at least one or more electrical supply lines as indicated at E1 and E2. Encasement section 40 is also in the shape of a half clamshell for mating with the lower encasement section 30.

FIG. 3 shows schematically how the upper and lower encasement sections 30 and 40 are mated together via the recessed and protruding portions previously described.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal portions of steel reinforcing bars 35 and 45 may be joined by means of bolts indicated schematically at numerals 49a and 49b.

The method steps utilized in practice of the invention are as follows:

• a) suspending rod elements 21 and 22 from a secure and solid ceiling area 20,
• b) attaching a lower encasement structure 30 to the suspended rods, the lower encasement structure having two reinforcing steel bars therein,
• c) placing electrical conduit means in the system,
• d) adding an upper encasement structure to the system in a sealing and mating fashion,
• e) securing the upper encasement structure 40 to the lower encasement structure 30.

It is to be understood that the lower and upper encasement structures 30 and 40 are fabricated of pre-cast concrete and comprise a foam impregnated lightweight concrete.

The lower encasement structure may have a flat lower side, as shown in FIG. 1, to accomodate parallel electrical supply runs where needed.

While a particular system and a method of use have been shown and described, it is intended in this specification to cover all equivalent systems and methods of use which would reasonably occur to those of skill in the building and electrical conduit supply arts.

The system and method described may have uses in other specialized environments where enhanced protection of electrical service conduits is deemed necessary.

Claims

1. A-method of encasing an electrical supply conduit and running said conduit through a building having a solid and secure ceiling area comprising the steps of:

a) suspending a plurality of rod elements from said solid and secure ceiling area,

b) attaching a lower encasement structure to said rod elements, said lower encasement structure comprising a two inch thick curved shell element and including a straight steel reinforcing bar means for attachment to said rod elements, said lower encasement structure further including a curved reinforcing steel bar means having end portions which extend outside of said lower encasement structure,

c) placing at least one electrical supply conduit within said lower encasement structure, wherein said electrical supply conduit is contained within a plastic pipe,

d) providing an upper encasement structure, said upper encasement structure comprising a two inch thick curved shell element and including a curved reinforcing steel bar means having end portions which extend outside of said upper encasement structure,

e) providing attaching means for connecting the lower encasement structure to the upper encasement structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said lower encasement structure and said upper encasement structure are fabricated of concrete which includes a foamed material to provide a light weight overall structure.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the lower encasement structure, the straight steel reinforcing bar means is welded to the curved reinforcing steel bar.

4. In combination with the interior ceiling area of a building structure, an encasement system combined with electrical service entrance conduits comprising:

a lower encasement being curved and formed of foam impregnated lightweight concrete,

an upper encasement being curved and also formed of foam impregnated lightweight concrete,

said lower and upper encasements having curved reinforcing steel bars therein,

said lower encasement further having a straight reinforcing steel bar therein,

a plurality of rods extending from a solid and secure area of the ceiling,

said lower encasement structure being attached to said rods,

said upper encasement structure being attached to said lower encasement structure.

5. An encasement system for use with electrical service conduits,

said system including an upper encasement structure fabricated of concrete,

a lower encasement structure fabricated of concrete,

means for joining said upper and lower structures together.

6. The encasement system of claim 5 and further including means for suspending said encasement system for a ceiling.

7. The encasement system of claim 6 and further including reinforcing bar means placed in pre-cast concrete for installation in a building and for routing an electrical supply conduit through a building in compliance with an electrical code.