Apparatus and method for protecting underground cables

A method for protecting at least one underground cable assembly employing an underground cable assembly protection system which comprises:

• forming a trench for said at least one underground cable assembly;
• installing said at least one underground cable assembly in said trench;
• providing a plurality of rigid substantially impact-resistant elongate protective channel members, having a Hardness (Shore "D") of at least about 70, each of said channel members defining an enclosed compartment for housing said underground cable assembly;
• installing said plurality of channel members in said trench so that said underground cable assembly is housed within the confines of said enclosed compartment, said channel members adjoining each other and forming joints therebetween;
• providing a plurality of means for interconnecting said adjoining channel members;
• and
• interconnecting said plurality of channel members by installing said plurality of interconnecting means over each of said joints thereby forming said underground cable assembly protection system.

A method for protecting at least one underground cable assembly employing an underground cable assembly protection system which comprises:

• forming a trench for said at least one underground cable assembly;
• installing said at least one underground cable assembly in said trench;
• providing a plurality of rigid substantially impact-resistant elongate protective channel members having a Tear Strength (Die "C") of at least about 750 pli, each of said channel members defining an enclosed compartment for housing said underground cable assembly;
• installing said plurality of channel members in said trench so that said underground cable assembly is housed within the confines of said enclosed compartment, said channel members adjoining each other and forming joints therebetween;
• providing a plurality of means for interconnecting said adjoining channel members;
• and
• interconnecting said plurality of channel members by installing said plurality of interconnecting means over each of said joints thereby forming said underground cable assembly protection system.

A method for protecting at least one underground cable assembly employing an underground cable assembly protection system which comprises:

• forming a trench for said at least one underground cable assembly;
• installing said at least one underground cable assembly in said trench;
• providing a plurality of rigid substantially impact-resistant elongate protective channel members having a Trouser Tear Strength of at least about 110 pli, each of said channel members defining an enclosed compartment for housing said underground cable assembly;
• installing said plurality of channel members in said trench so that said underground cable assembly is housed within the confines of said enclosed compartment, said channel members adjoining each other and forming joints therebetween;
• providing a plurality of means for interconnecting said adjoining channel members;
• and
• interconnecting said plurality of channel members by installing said plurality of interconnecting means over each of said joints thereby forming said underground cable assembly protection system.

A method for protecting at least one underground cable assembly employing an underground cable assembly protection system which comprises:

• forming a trench for said at least one underground cable assembly;
• installing said at least one underground cable assembly in said trench;
• providing a plurality of rigid substantially impact-resistant elongate protective channel members having an Elongation (At Break) of at least about 60, each of said channel members defining an enclosed compartment for housing said underground cable assembly;
• installing said plurality of channel members in said trench so that said underground cable assembly is housed within the confines of said enclosed compartment, said channel members adjoining each other and forming joints therebetween;
• providing a plurality of means for interconnecting said adjoining channel members;
• and
• interconnecting said plurality of channel members by installing said plurality of interconnecting means over each of said joints thereby forming said underground cable assembly protection system.

An underground cable assembly protection system, comprising

• a plurality of rigid substantially impact-resistant elongate protective channel members,
• each of said channel members defining an enclosed compartment for housing said underground cable assembly;
• and
• means for interconnecting adjoining channel members to each other thereby forming said underground cable assembly protection system wherein the channel members have an Elongation (At Break) of at least about 60.