Air conduit for manhole

Claim 2

A conduit for supplying air to an enclosure through a manhole with minimum obstruction to a person passing through the manhole, the conduit comprising an elongated, substantially straight central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle so as to minimize obstruction within the manhole through which said central section is adapted to be received, two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section, and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said substantially straight central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed in place within the manhole.

Claim 3

The conduit of claim 1 wherein said central section includes an outer surface, provided with means thereon for attaching said conduit to the manhole.

Claim 4

The conduit of claim 2 wherein said means on said outer surface includes a tab with an opening therethrough.

Claim 5

The conduit of claim 2 wherein said means on said outer surface includes an arcuate channel member mounted on said outer surface of said central section and generally laterally with respect thereto.

Claim 6

The conduit of claim 2 wherein said means attaching includes a circular ring member attached to said outer surface of said central section with said circular ring member disposed laterally with respect to said central section.

Claim 7

The conduit of claim 5 further comprising hinge means for attaching said ring member to said central section.

Claim 8

The conduit of claim 1 wherein said central section includes a longitudinal axis, said outer cylindrical sections being aligned on a common axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said central section.

Claim 9

The conduit of claim 1 wherein the manhole is substantially circular and has a first diameter, and wherein said central section has an outer surface which is cylindrical with a second diameter substantially the same as said first diameter.

Claim 10

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction in the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass, said central section being adjustable in length; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole.

Claim 11

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction in the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass, said central section being adjustable in length; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole.

Claim 12

The conduit of claim 9 wherein said central section comprises a plurality of telescopically slidable portions for lengthwise adjustment.

Claim 13

The conduit of claim 9 wherein said central section comprises a helical spring covered by a tubular air-impermeable sheet material.

Claim 14

A conduit for conducting air through a manhole to the interior of an enclosure wherein said manhole is the entrance/exit, said conduit comprising five longitudinal tubular sections joined end-to-end, including one central section, two intermediate sections and two outer sections; said outer sections being cylindrical pipes, said central section being a portion of a cylinder having the general cross section of a crescent or a segment of a circle over the entire length of said central portion and having a longitudinal axis adapted to be placed substantially parallel to the axis of said manhole; said intermediate sections being connected, respectively, to each end of said central section, with the other end of each of said intermediate sections being connected to one of said outer sections, the cross section of each of said intermediate sections changing throughout its length from the shape of said central portion at one end thereof to a circle at the other end thereof, the relative sizes of the several cross sections being such that the cross sectional area of said central section, of each of said intermediate sections at any location, and of each of said outer sections being substantially the same.

Claim 15

A conduit for conducting air through a manhole to the interior of an enclosure wherein said manhole is the entrance/exit, said conduit comprising five longitudinal tubular sections joined end-to-end, including one central section, two intermediate sections and two outer sections; said outer sections being cylindrical pipes, said central section being a portion of a cylinder having the general cross section of a crescent or a segment of a circle over the entire length of said central portion and having a longitudinal axis adapted to be placed substantially parallel to the axis of said manhole; said intermediate sections being connected, respectively, to each end of said central section, with the other end of each of said intermediate sections being connected to one of said outer sections, the cross section of each of said intermediate sections changing throughout its length from the shape of said central portion at one end thereof to a circle at the other end thereof, the relative sizes of the several cross sections being such that the cross sectional area of said central section, of each of said intermediate sections at any location, and of each of said outer sections being substantially the same.

Claim 16

The conduit of claim 12 wherein said central section is elongated and includes a longitudinal axis, said outer sections being substantially aligned on a common axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said central section.

Claim 17

The conduit of claim 12 further comprising means connected outwardly of said central section for releaseable attachment of said conduit to a manhole.

Claim 18

The conduit of claim 14 wherein said means connected outwardly of said central section includes a tab with an opening therethrough.

Claim 19

The conduit of claim 14 wherein said means connected outwardly of said central section includes an arcuate channel member mounted on and laterally of said central section.

Claim 20

The conduit of claim 14 wherein said means includes a circular ring member attached outwardly of said central section with said circular ring member being disposed laterally of said central section.

Claim 21

The conduit of claim 17 further comprising hinge means for attaching said ring member to said central section.

Claim 22

The conduit of claim 12 wherein said central section has an outer surface which is cylindrical having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a manhole.

Claim 23

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction in the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole; and wherein a cross-sectional area of said conduit at any position throughout its length is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of each said outer section.

Claim 24

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction in the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole; and wherein a cross-sectional area of said conduit at any position throughout its length is at least as large as the cross-sectional area of each said outer section.

Claim 25

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction of the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole, and wherein said central section has an adjustable length to span a throat of the manhole to dispose each of said outer sections generally laterally offset from a wall forming the throat of the manhole.

Claim 26

A conduit for passing air through a manhole with a minimum of obstruction at the manhole, the conduit comprising a central section having a cross section in the general shape of a thin crescent or a thin segment of a circle to minimize obstruction of the manhole through which said central section is adapted to pass; two intermediate sections, attached respectively to each end of said central section and having cross sectional shapes varying from the shape of said central section at the juncture with said central section tapering to a circular shape at the outer end of said intermediate section; and two outer cylindrical sections, respectively attached to the outer end of each of said intermediate sections, said intermediate sections being angularly disposed with respect to said central section such that said outer cylindrical sections are directed away from the manhole when said central section is disposed through the manhole, and wherein said central section has an adjustable length to span a throat of the manhole to dispose each of said outer sections generally laterally offset from a wall forming the throat of the manhole.

Claim 27

The conduit of claim 21 wherein said central section includes a pair of lengthwise telescopically slidable portions to adjust the length thereof.

Claim 28

The conduit of claim 22 wherein one of said slidable portions is outside another of said slidable portions, a spring biased stud member attached to said one slidable portion, and a plurality of holes in both said slidable portions, selectively alignable and adapted to receive said stud member therethrough.

Claim 29

The conduit of claim 21 wherein said central section includes a helical spring covered by a tubular air-impermeable sheet material.

Claim 30

The conduit of claim 24 which additionally comprises a hook member attached to one of said intermediate sections and a ladder member attached to the other of said intermediate sections, said hook member and said ladder member adapted to be releasably attachable to each other to adjust the length of said central section.