Many industries have ducts or pipes which require the addition of a protective outer duct retrospectively fitted over a section of their length. It may prove impractical to disconnect a cable or pipe and also access may be limited along its length. Typically pre- formed segmented lengths of duct may be assembled around the cable or pipe providing that there is adequate space for access. Alternatively, a length of flexible ducting may be split with a sharp blade along one side of its length and forced over the cable or pipe. Unfortunately, this may cause damage to connections due to the considerable force required to fit the ducting being exerted upon the cable or pipe.

The present invention aims to provide a device in various sizes for applying a split duct over a cable or pipe in confined areas without exerting any significant force to the cable or pipe directly. In one aspect the invention envisages a device according to claim 1. The device preferably comprises a fork or double plough to separate and open up a gap in the split of the ducting wide enough for the cable or pipe to pass between as the duct slides over the plough and around the cable or pipe. The prongs of the fork are not necessarily fixed but can be adjustable, for instance for fitting to pipes of different diameter. Attached to both outer sides of the generally elongate, flat plough forks are guides between which the ducting passes. A handle is pushed to guide the device and carry the load applied to the ducting whilst fitting and a shaft extension can be affixed to the handle and the plough in such a manner as to ensure that the plough adopts the correct

angle between the duct and cable or pipe. This shaft allows access into difficult confined areas containing a cable or pipe. The device can be covered with an insulation material to avoid the transmission of any electrical current.

According to the present invention in its method aspect there is a method of applying a split duct onto a conduit such as a cable or pipe, as defined in claim 4. It may include#e the following steps:- Selecting the correct length of ducting and splitting it with a sharp blade along one side of its length.

Selecting a device offering a suitable gap between the forks of the plough in relation to the diameter of cable or pipe to be ducted, and/or adjusting the forks accordingly. Inserting the pointed edge at the base of the plough into the incision made at one end of the duct until the duct is level with the open end of the plough. Positioning the forks of the plough astride the cable or pipe and lightly pushing it forward so that the cable or pipe becomes wedged between the plough forks.

The handle is held firmly to carry the load when the duct is forced forward by the operator's other hand in a progressive motion pushing it along the length of cable or pipe. The duct will close again once around the cable or pipe.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the forked sides of the-plough are generally flat in the vertical plane along their length and generally concave in the horizontal plane along their length. The guides are generally formed as lips to the top and bottom outside edges along each fork. In a preferred form the plough is fixed seven degrees out of parallel alignment to the shaft which generally has a length proportionate to the diameter and rigidity of the duct. The device is generally covered with an insulating material and

constructed from a rigid material, e. g. steel.

For a better understanding of the invention embodiments of it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show a side view and an end upper view respectively in a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows the duct in position upon the plough; Figure 4 shows the forks of the plough wedged against the cable or pipe; Figure 5 shows the duct being pushed forward along the cable or pipe showing the function of the ducting tool; and Figure 6 shows the duct in position along the cable or pipe.

Briefly, embodiments of the present invention provide a device to position ducting along a section of cable or pipe without the need of disconnection. To prevent damage to cable connections or pipes, a handle is provided to support the load whilst the duct is forced over the cable or pipe.

Referring first to Figure 1, this shows a ducting tool with a shaft 1, a handle 3 at one end and a forked plough 2 at the other. There is an angle between the axis of the shaft 1'and the"tines"or prongs of the plough 2. Referring to Figure 2, this shows the concave plough forks 4 and 5 and the guide edges 6, 7,8 and 9 along the inner and outer edges. Figure 3 shows the duct 11 being pushed onto the plough, so that the longitudinal split 12 in the duct is pushed over the shoulder or base of the fork. The fork should have directions comparable to the diameter of the conduit.

As shown in Figure 4, the cable or pipe 10 is then

wedged between the tines of the fork of the plough, with the fork underneath. Figure 5 shows the handle 5 being supported 12 and the duct 11 being forced over the cable or pipe. As the handle is pulled to the left in Figure 5 the edges of the slit are entrained by the guide edges 6-9 and lifted over the pipe. Finally Figure 6 shows the duct positioned over the cable or pipe.

The tool can be used for any conduit or pipe, such as a rigid water or gas pipe or a flexible electrical cable. The force opening the ducting is applied by the tool and not by the conduit, which is particularly useful if the conduit is a cable because there is no force acting to pull the cable out of the terminals.

The tool can be used to duct cables in electrical installations that cannot be disconnected, such as lamp posts. The cable can then be encased in concrete without fear of rupture or short circuit. The tool is a manual tool but in some applications it could be automated.