# US 10,312,671 B2 · Apparatus for pushing conductors into conduit and other structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,671 B2 - Document ID: US10312671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/784,666 - Filed: 2017-10-16 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-26 - Assignees: Southwire Company - Applicants: Southwire Company, LLC - Inventors: David Scott Jordan; Michael Calvin Jordan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312671B2 ## CPC - H02G 1/08: through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling {(inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401)} - B65H 51/10: with opposed coacting surfaces, e.g. providing nips - H02G 1/085: {using portable tools} - H02G 1/086: {using fluid as pulling means, e.g. liquid, pressurised gas or suction means} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract An apparatus and methods for pushing conductors into conduit and other structures are disclosed. The apparatus (“pusher”) can include rollers to apply a pushing force to one or more conductors or bundles of conductors. One or more rollers can be coupled to a drive mechanism. The pusher is configured to pull conductors or bundles of conductors off of one or more spools, and push the conductors or bundles of conductors without de-bundling or sorting the conductors. The conductors can be fed through the pusher in any format including side-by-side, vertical on top of one another, twisted together, or other formats. The pusher can include a guiding device that is configured to route the conductors from the pusher to a conduit through which the conductors are being pushed or pulled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conductor pusher for pushing a conductor toward a structure, the conductor pusher comprising: a bottom portion comprising a support; a drive roller located at the bottom portion; a top portion connected to the support by a pivot mechanism; a motor that drives the drive roller; at least one roller located at the top portion, wherein the at least one roller cooperates with the drive roller to apply a force to the conductor to push the conductor through the conductor pusher and toward the structure; and at least one pair of guides located at one or more of the top portion or the bottom portion, wherein at least one guide of the at least one pair of guides comprises a further roller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conductor pusher of claim 1, wherein at least one of the drive roller or the at least one roller comprises a grooved roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conductor pusher of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of guides comprises a first pair of guides that is located at an inlet end of the conductor pusher. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The conductor pusher of claim 3, further comprising: a second pair of guides that is located at an outlet end of the conductor pusher. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conductor pusher of claim 1, further comprising a controller that activates the motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conductor pusher of claim 1, wherein the drive roller engages a first side of the conductor, and wherein the at least one roller engages a second side of the conductor. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: locating a conductor within a conductor pusher; and activating the conductor pusher to push the conductor toward a structure, wherein the conductor pusher comprises a bottom portion comprising a support, a drive roller located at the bottom portion, a top portion connected to the support by a pivot mechanism, a motor that drives the drive roller, a controller that selectively activates the motor, at least one roller located at the top portion, wherein the at least one roller cooperates with the drive roller to apply a force to the conductor to push the conductor through the conductor pusher and toward the structure, and at least one pair of guides located at one or more of the top portion or the bottom portion, wherein at least one guide of the at least one pair of guides comprises a further roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein locating the conductor within the conductor pusher comprises: rotating the top portion along an axis that is at least partially formed by the pivot mechanism; and locating the conductor within the conductor pusher. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: adjusting a tension between the top portion and the bottom portion using an adjustment mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded portion that passes through a plate on the top portion and engages a sleeve on the bottom portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the conductor passes between the drive roller and the at least one roller, wherein the drive roller engages a first side of the conductor, and wherein the at least one roller engages a second side of the conductor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one pair of guides comprises a first pair of guides that is located at an inlet end of the conductor pusher. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a second pair of guides that is located at an outlet end of the conductor pusher. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the drive roller or the at least one roller comprises a grooved roller. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: a conductor pusher comprising a bottom portion that comprises a support, a top portion connected to the support by a pivot mechanism, a drive roller located at the bottom portion, a motor that drives the drive roller, a controller that selectively activates the motor, at least one roller located at the top portion, wherein the at least one roller cooperates with the drive roller to apply a force to a conductor to push the conductor through the conductor pusher and toward a structure, and at least one pair of guides located at one or more of the top portion or the bottom portion, wherein at least one guide of the at least one pair of guides comprises a further roller; and a puller that pulls the conductor while the conductor pusher pushes the conductor, wherein the puller pulls the conductor by applying a pulling force to the conductor while the conductor pusher applies a pushing force to the conductor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a remote control for selectively and simultaneously activating and deactivating the conductor pusher and the puller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the drive roller or the at least one roller comprises a grooved roller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the conductor passes between the drive roller and the at least one roller, wherein the drive roller engages a first side of the conductor, and wherein the at least one roller engages a second side of the conductor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one pair of guides comprises a first pair of guides that is located at an inlet end of the conductor pusher. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, further comprising a second pair of guides that is located at an outlet end of the conductor pusher.