Method and apparatus for introducing an item into a conduit

Abstract

A projectile is utilized to introduce an item into a conduit which already has a cable therein. The projectile includes a body member having a longitudinal opening therethrough. The body member is longitudinally split so that the cable may be received in the opening. The item is attached to the body member. When the projectile with a portion of the cable received therein is put into a conduit and air under pressure is introduced into the conduit, the projectile is pushed along the cable and if the cable is undulating in the conduit, it is straightened and positioned out of the way of the item being introduced.

1 . A method of introducing an item into a conduit which already has a cable therein comprising the steps of placing a portion of the cable in a projectile, attaching the item to the projectile, and introducing air under pressure into the conduit thereby pushing the projectile along the cable and at the same time positioning the item in the conduit. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sealing the interface of the cable and the projectile. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of sealing the interface of the conduit and the projectile. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the projectile is provided with a split and the step of placing includes the step of opening the projectile at the split. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of providing the projectile with a plurality of disks with the air under pressure acting on the disks to push the projectile along the cable, and utilizing the disks to seal the interface between the conduit and the projectile. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of providing the projectile with a plurality of cups with the air under pressure acting on the cups to push the projectile along the cable, and utilizing the cups to seal the interface between the conduit and the projectile. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of providing the projectile with a plurality of ribs and utilizing the ribs to seal the interface between the cable and the projectile. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of pushing includes the step of straightening the cable. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of attaching including the step of attaching a eyebolt to the projectile and attaching the item to the eyebolt. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of attaching including the step of attaching a ring to the projectile and attaching the item to the ring. 
   
   
       11 . A projectile for introducing an item into a conduit which already has a cable therein comprising a body member having a longitudinal opening therethrough, said body member being longitudinally split so that the cable may be received in said opening, and means carried by said body member adapted to attach the item to the body member. 
   
   
       12 . The projectile of  claim 11  further comprising means carried by said body member to engage the conduit. 
   
   
       13 . The projectile of  claim 12  wherein said means is in the form of a plurality of disks carried by said body member. 
   
   
       14 . The projectile of  claim 12  wherein said means is in the form of a plurality of cups carried by said body member. 
   
   
       15 . The projectile of  claim 14  wherein the ends of said body member are threaded to receive said cup. 
   
   
       16 . The projectile of  claim 15  further comprising means to hold said cups on said threaded ends. 
   
   
       17 . The projectile of  claim 16  wherein said cups and said means to hold are split. 
   
   
       18 . The projectile of  claim 11  further comprising ribs formed on said body member and extending into said opening, said ribs being adapted to engage the cable. 
   
   
       19 . The projectile of  claim 11  wherein said body member is made of a resilient material and is slit to form said split. 
   
   
       20 . The projectile of  claim 11  wherein said means is an eyebolt attached to said body member. 
   
   
       21 . The projectile of  claim 11  wherein said body member is made of a metallic material and is split into two portions, and further comprising means to attach said two portions together. 
   
   
       22 . The projectile of  claim 11  wherein said body member is in the form of a sheet of fabric material having longitudinally split edges, and further comprising means to attach said split edges. 
   
   
       23 . The projectile of  claim 22  wherein another edge of said fabric material is of a length approximately the circumference of the cable. 
   
   
       24 . The projectile of  claim 23  wherein an additional edge of said fabric material is of a length approximately the inside circumference of the conduit.