Systems and apparatus for protecting subsurface conduit and methods of making and using the same

摘要

Systems and apparatuses protect subsurface conduit. Specifically, the systems and apparatuses protect subsurface conduit by disposing one or more rigid caps over a length of the subsurface conduit under a roadway for decreasing and/or eliminating impacts and/or damage to the subsurface conduit caused by automobiles and other vehicles utilizing the roadway. Methods of making and using the same are further provided.

主权项

1. An apparatus for protecting subsurface conduit, the apparatus comprising:
a protective cap having a first end, a second end, and a non-corrugated length between the first end and the second end, further having, in cross section, a first leg having a first base with a first planar bottom surface and a first transition portion between the first leg and the first base, a second leg having a second base having a second planar bottom surface and a second transition portion between the second leg and the second base, and an arcuately-shaped protective span having an apex between the first leg and the second leg, the first leg, the second leg and the protective span having a consistent thickness between the first transition portion and the second transition portion, wherein the protective cap has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the protective cap comprising a rigid material with a reinforcing material therein between the interior surface and the exterior surface; wherein the protective cap is unitary without seams or joints from the first planar bottom surface of the first base through the first transition portion, the protective span and the second transition portion to the second planar bottom surface of the second base; the interior surface curved concavely from the first base to the second base; and the first base being wider than the first leg and the second base being wider than the second leg, the exterior surface curved concavely between the first leg and the second leg relative to an imaginary line disposed between the first leg and the second leg, the exterior surface smoothly curved convexly along the first transition portion between the first leg and the first base relative to an imaginary line disposed between the first leg and the first base and along the second transition portion between the second leg and the second base relative to an imaginary line disposed between the second leg and the second base, the exterior surface extending straight downwardly from the first transition portion to the first planar bottom surface of the first base, and the exterior surface extending straight downwardly from the second transition portion to the second planar bottom surface of the second base; wherein the first planar bottom surface of the first base and the second planar bottom surface of the second base run uniformly over the length of the protective cap.