Particularly the present invention can be used in the field of household or industrial conditioning systems of the kind referred to as portable"mini- split"and fixed"split".

It is known that household conditioning installations generally comprise two distinct units, an external one and an internal one, connected with each other with a plurality of ducts (refrigerating lines, electric cables, condensate drain) allowing the functioning thereof.

More particularly the raceway described herein can be used in conditioning systems comprising several portable units, with the role of structure for housing and protecting the ducts which connect the different units of which said systems are made up.

It is known that the conditioning system assembling comprises assembling the ducts, which connect the

external unit to the internal unit, in suitable housing unit suitably arranged.

At present in the field of conditioning systems tubular flexible sheaths are used, inside which the ducts are housed which connect the external and the internal unit. Nevertheless this traditional solution involves a number of drawbacks.

Firstly, for inserting the ducts in the sheath, due to the sheath length, it is often necessary using a probe that is previously introduced through the sheath for hooking the ducts from outside and pulling them inside the sheath.

Moreover the connection ends which connect the ducts to the external and internal unit of the system have bigger dimensions than the tubular sheath diameter.

This fact does not allow inserting the ducts, already provided with said connection ends, or the ducts the ends of which have to be bent in the final arrangement. Therefore the latter have to be assembled or bent only after the ducts have been housed inside the sheath. Since the end assembling is usually made by welding, there is evidently the risk of damaging the sheath structure during this operation.

Moreover, in case one of said ducts breaks inside the tubular sheath, for repairing the breakdown it is necessary, in the order: cut said tubular sheath for reaching the broken duct, repairing or replacing the broken duct, disassembling the connection ends of all ducts, inserting the ducts inside a new sheath, fasten the connection ends again on the ducts by welding.

It has to be noted that the look and the overall dimensions of the connection elements protecting and housing sheath are often a discriminating factor in choosing the conditioner: a) due to reasons of look since the traditional sheath is bulky and does not look that good; b) due to functional reasons since a mini-split conditioner is commonly used introducing the sheath through a small window opening. Therefore the narrower the opening, the fewer fresh air is dispersed outside.

An object of the present invention is providing a raceway suitable for housing the ducts for cooling gases, for condensate, electrical ducts and similar ones of conditioning systems, said raceway being not affected by the aforesaid drawbacks and at the same time being easy and cheap to be produced.

This and other objects are achieved with a raceway for providing sheaths suitable for housing the ducts for cooling gases, for condensate, electrical ducts and similar ones of conditioning systems according to the invention, as defined in the enclosed claims.

The raceway according to the present invention comprises a channel longitudinally bounded by corresponding side walls and within which the ducts for cooling gases, for condensate, and electrical ducts of the conditioning system can be housed. A peculiar feature of the aforesaid raceway is that its side walls are provided with means allowing coupling said side walls with each other or with the side walls of a second identical raceway, so as to provide said sheath.

Advantageously said side walls are detachably coupled each with another or with the side walls of said second raceway. This feature allows housing and easily fastening the ducts inside the raceway and, only when the housing is terminated, closing the sheath connecting the walls of two raceways or connecting the two walls of the same raceway, without the housing of ducts inside the sheath being hindered by the connection ends; in fact the latter can be welded to the ducts itself before being

housed in the sheath, with relevant advantages during the assembly operations.

The assembling reversibility is a further advantage of the present invention, in each embodiment described herein.

In case of a duct breakdown, a sheath so defined allows the operator reaching easily inside the sheath itself simply dissassembling the structure, that is separating the two raceways or the two walls of one raceway making up the sheath. When the duct has been repaired or replaced, it is sufficient restoring the original tubular structure by coupling again the two raceways or the two walls of one raceway.

Some particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described referring to the following schematic Figures, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled sheath according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 1, with separated sheath; Figure 3 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 1, in assembled condition;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembled sheath according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 4, unassembled; Figure 6 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 4, assembled; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an assembled sheath according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 7, unassembled; Figure 9 is a cross section of the sheath of Figure 7, assembled.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, with the overall reference numeral 11 a tubular sheath according to a first embodiment of the invention is referred to, obtained by coupling two raceways 13a, 13b. In the sheath 11 the ducts 15a-15b are housed, which can be of different kinds, for example cooling gas ducts, condensate ducts or electric conductors ducts. Said sheath 11 comprises a pair or raceways 13a, 13b, each of which is provided with a longitudinal protrusion 17a, 17b and a corresponding socket 19a, 19b suitable for cooperating with the respective

sockets 19b, 19a and protrusions 17b, 17a of the other raceway so as to make up the tubular sheath 11.

In Figure 2 a cross section of the two raceways 13a and 13b is shown, before being assembled. The protrusions 17a and 17b and corresponding sockets 19a, 19b complementary thereto are arranged along the side walls of each raceway, so as to extend perpendicularly with respect to the plane of sheath 11.

Said protrusions and said sockets can extend along the whole length of the raceway or, alternatively, be arranged in a discrete way and at regular intervals along each raceway 13a, 13b.

Preferably said protrusions 17a, 17b and said sockets 19a, 19b have a saw-toothed profile.

In Figure 3 the two raceways 13a and 13b are shown in cross section, assembled by embedding one on the other with a suitable pressure of the operator, so as to form the tubular sheath 11.

The internal surface of raceways 13a, 13b is provided with suitable flexible protrusions or separators 16a, 16b suitable for securely blocking the ducts 15a-15e within the sheath 11 and keeping them separated each from another, so as to avoid a

contact between the ducts for cooling gas and condensate and electric conductors, if any.

Preferably said separators 16a, 16b define three housings: two side housing for the ducts for cooling gases and condensate, and a central housing for electric conductors and for the draining condensate duct.

According to a first embodiment, the modular sheath is assembled as follows: - the ducts 15a-15e of the system are housed in the channel 14a, 14b of one of the two raceways, for example raceway 13b; - then the raceway 13a is positioned above raceway 13b and, with a suitable pressure, is connected to raceway 13b through the cooperation of protrusion 17b and of socket 19b of raceway 13b with socket 19a and protrusion 17a of raceway 13a respectively.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the two raceways making up the tubular sheath can be defined by the same flexible plastic extruded section, which later can be cut in modules having the desired length. At the assembling, two identical modules are put one on another so that the protrusion 17a, 17b of one of them corresponds to the socket 19a, 19b of the other.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, a tubular sheath according to a second embodiment of the invention is generally referred to as 21. Said sheath 21 is made up of a raceway 23 which can be folded on itself so as to form the channel housing the ducts for the cooling gas and for condensate and the electric conductors of the system. To this purpose, the side walls 22, 24 of said raceway 23 can be connected together, said connection being possible due to a longitudinal protrusion 27 on the first wall 22 suitable for cooperating with the corresponding socket 29 on wall 24 so as to form the tubular sheath 11. For facilitating connection of the two walls 22,24 of the raceway 23 during assembly, a sliding cursor 28 is provided.

Protrusion 27 and the corresponding socket 29 complementary thereto are arranged along the side walls of raceway 23, so as to extend perpendicularly to the plane of sheath 21.

Preferably said protrusion 27 and said socket 29 have a nail-head profile or a saw-toothed profile.

Advantageously, according to this embodiment of the invention, the raceway 23 can be produced deriving from only one flexible plastic extruded section,

from which modules of the desired length can be later obtained.

According to this second embodiment of the invention, the assembly of the modular sheath 21 is carried out as follows: - raceway 23 is in an open position and the system ducts are housed inside it; - afterwards the raceway 23 is folded onto itself and the walls 22,24 of said raceway 23-by means of a suitable pressure, of cooperation of protrusion 27 of wall 22 with the corresponding socket 29 of wall 24 and thanks to the aid of sliding cursor 28-are connected together.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the reference 31 generally indicates a tubular sheath according to a third embodiment of the invention. Said sheath 31 is made up of a raceway 33 which can be folded onto itself so as to form the channel that houses the ducts for cooling gas and condensate and the electric conductors of the system. To this purpose, the side walls 32,34 of said raceway 33 can be connected together. Said connection is possible due to at least a substantially C-shaped longitudinal rib 38 which keeps joined together the edge 37 of first wall 32 and the edge 39 of the second wall 34

so as to form the tubular sheath 31. It is possible arranging a rib 38 having a length substantially equal to the length of the raceway 33 or, alternatively, a plurality of ribs of intermediate length arranged at regular intervals.

According to said third embodiment of the invention, the modular sheath 31 can be assembled as follows: - the raceway 33 is in open position and the system ducts are arranged inside it; - afterwards raceway 33 is folded onto itself and the two walls 32,34 of said raceway 33 are connected together by means of the rib 38 so as to form the tubular sheath 31. Said rib 38, once is inserted, keeps the edge 37 of wall 32 firmly connected to the edge 39 of the wall 34 of raceway 33.

Advantageously according to this third embodiment of the invention, the raceway 33 can be manufactured starting from one flexible plastic extruded section only, from which modules of desired length are later obtained.

The raceway according to the invention, in any described embodiment, achieves the desired objects, since allows quite easier assembling, so that inserting the ducts inside the sheath does not need to be commissioned any longer to specialised

companies, and maintenance of ducts housed inside the sheath is much simpler, with consequent time- and cost saving.

Moreover, after being assembled, the side walls of said sheath if necessary can be welded for improving the covering strength.