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US 12,410,873 B2Granted
Apparatus, system, and method for a tubular body to traverse a gap
AssigneeTRAXyL, Inc.
InventorsDaniel R. Turner, Phillip Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method for deploying a tubular body across a gap. The tubular body is fixed to a surface on either side of the gap. The system includes a first connector housing fixed to the first surface and a second connector housing fixed to a second surface. An insertion end of the first connector housing is smaller than a receiving end of the second connector housing such that the insertion end of the first connector is insertable into the receiving end of the second connector housing. The tubular body passes continuously through the interior volume of the first connector housing and through the interior volume of the second connector housing.
Claims17
A connector apparatus for housing a tubular body traversing a gap, the connector apparatus comprising:
- a first connector housing configured to be fixed to a first surface, the first connector housing comprising a bottom housing that is rigidly connected to the first surface when the first connector housing is fixed to the first surface, the first connector housing further comprising a top housing opposite the bottom housing, an insertion end, and a cable end opposite the insertion end in a horizontal direction, the first connector housing possessing an interior volume defined between the bottom housing, the top housing, the insertion end, and the cable end;
- a second connector housing configured to be fixed to a second surface, the second surface being spaced apart from the first surface by a gap, the second connector housing comprising a bottom housing that is rigidly connected to the second surface when the second connector housing is fixed to the second surface, the second connector housing further comprising a top housing opposite the bottom housing, a receiving end, and a cable end opposite the receiving end in the horizontal direction, the second connector housing possessing an interior volume defined between the bottom housing, the top housing, the receiving end, and the cable end;
- the insertion end of the first connector housing being smaller than the receiving end of the second connector housing such that the insertion end of the first connector is insertable into the receiving end of the second connector housing;
- and
- the first connector housing being configured to receive the tubular body to pass through the interior volume of the first connector housing and the second connector housing being configured to receive the tubular body to pass through the interior volume of the second connector housing, such that the tubular body traverses continuously through the first connector housing and the second connector housing when the first and second connector housings are fixed to the first and second surfaces.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- fixing a first connector housing to a first surface, the first connector housing having an open top portion such that an interior of the first connector housing is exposed;
- fixing a second connector housing to a second surface, the second connector housing having an open top portion such that an interior of the second connector housing is exposed, the second surface being spaced apart from the first surface in a horizontal direction by a gap, a portion of the second connector housing traversing the gap and extending over the first connector housing;
- applying a tubular body onto the first surface, into the interior of the first connector housing through the open top portion of the first connector housing, into the interior of the second connector housing through the open top portion of the second connector housing, and onto the second surface;
- connecting a lid to the second connector housing after the applying of the tubular body to enclose the tubular body in the interior of the second connector housing;
- and
- connecting an other lid to the first connector housing after the connecting of the lid to the second connector housing to enclose the tubular body in the interior of the first connector housing.
3 more elements
A method for deploying a tubular body on a paved surface across a crack in the paved surface, the method comprising:
- forming a groove in the paved surface, the groove extending across the crack in the paved surface such that the groove comprises a first groove segment on one side of the crack and a second groove segment on an other side of the crack;
- attaching a first connector apparatus at the first groove segment;
- attaching a second connector apparatus at the second groove segment, the second connector apparatus overlapping at least in part the first connector apparatus, at least one of the first connector apparatus and the second connector apparatus extending at least partially across the crack;
- deploying the tubular body into the groove such that the tubular body passes continuously in the first groove segment, the first connector apparatus, the second connector apparatus, and the second groove segment;
- and
- applying a protective coating onto the tubular body in the groove.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.