BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a conduit assembly for connection to connection points, situated on scattered locations, of several buildings or parts of a building .

Such conduit assemblies are for instance used in city heating systems, wherein a subterranean main conduit is interrupted at each residence to be serviced, by a coupling assembly within which a coupling is realised between the main conduit and a branch conduit. The coupling is enveloped by a watertight branch housing, provided with insulating material. The conduits are provided with a synthetic medium pipe a flexible insulating sheath around the medium pipes and a watertight, corrugated outer layer of a slightly shape-retaining synthetic material.

Realising the coupling between the branch conduit and the main conduit, making it watertight and insulating it in a dirty and often narrow trench, pit or crawl space are laborious actions that need to be repeated for each residence. The trouble for anyone involved therefore is lengthy and the quality of the realised coupling is rather poor due to the dirty and cramped working environment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a conduit assembly that is easy to place. It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable coupling between the main conduit and the branch conduit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect the invention provides a conduit assembly for connection to connection points that are situated on scattered locations, of several buildings or parts of a building for transport of a liquid medium from or to said connection points, comprising a bendable main conduit, several branch housings scattered over the length of the main conduit and bendable branch conduits extending from the branch housings, wherein the main conduit and the branch conduits are provided with a medium pipe, a flexible heat-insulating sheath around the medium pipe and a sealing outer layer around the heat-insulating sheath, wherein the medium pipes of the branch conduits within the branch housings connect to the medium pipe of the main conduit and the sealing outer layers are connected to or united with the branch housing, wherein the main conduit with the branch conduits alongside it is bent within the bendable range in several windings to form a roll. In that way it is possible to transport a considerable length of the conduit assembly provided with several branch conduits in a compact way.

In one embodiment, at the location of the connection to the branch housing, the branch conduit extends substantially parallel to the main conduit. As a result the branch housing is bent along in a parallel path with respect to the main conduit.

In an efficient embodiment the number of branch conduits is at least three.

In an advantageous embodiment the distances between the branch conduits are the same. In one custom-made embodiment the distances between the branch conduits substantially correspond with the distances between the connection points.

In one embodiment the outer diameter of the branch conduit is smaller than the outer diameter of the main conduit. As a result the branch conduit has other characteristics than the main conduit.

In one embodiment the outer ends of the branch conduits following the centre line of the main conduit are all oriented towards the same outer end of the main conduit. As a result the conduit assembly can be rolled up in a compact way.

In one embodiment the conduits and/or the outer layer and/or the branch housing are made of synthetic material, preferably thermoplastic synthetic material .

In one embodiment the sheath is made of foam, preferably polyolefin foam or polyurethane foam.

In one embodiment the outer layer comprises transverse corrugations for reinforcement against transverse forces that are exerted on the conduit assembly when it is placed under a layer of soil.

According to a second aspect the invention furthermore provides a method for arranging a conduit assembly, supplied as a roll, for connecting conduits to connection points that are situated on scattered locations, of several buildings or parts of a building for transport of a liquid medium from or to said connection points, wherein the conduit assembly comprises a bendable main conduit, several branch housings scattered over the length of the main conduit and bendable branch conduits extending from the branch housings, wherein the main conduit and the branch conduits are provided with a medium pipe, a flexible heat-insulating sheath around the medium pipe and a sealing outer layer around the heat-insulating ^' sheath, wherein the medium pipes of the branch conduits within the branch housings connect to the medium pipe of the main conduit and the sealing outer layers are connected to or united with the branch housing, wherein the main conduit with the branch conduits alongside it is bent within the bendable range in several windings to form a roll, wherein the method comprises providing the conduit assembly on a roll to an installation location, winding off a length of the conduit assembly, arranging the conduit assembly with the main conduit in a recess or space intended for that purpose, positioning the conduit assembly with respect to the connection points so that the branch conduits are ready in the vicinity of their respective connection points, bending one or more branch conduits in the direction of the connection points. By using this method the conduit assembly can easily be arranged. The connections between the branch conduits and the main conduits are reliable because they have been arranged in a clean environment prior to being transported to the installation location.

According to a third aspect the invention furthermore provides a method for arranging a conduit assembly for connecting a conduit to a connection point of a building for transport of a liquid medium from or to the connection point, wherein the conduit assembly comprises a bendable main conduit, a branch housing and a bendable branch conduit extending from the branch housing, wherein the main conduit and the branch conduit are provided with a medium pipe, a flexible heat-insulating sheath around the medium pipe and a sealing outer layer around the heat-insulating sheath, wherein the medium pipe of the branch conduit within the branch housing connects to the medium pipe of the main conduit and the sealing outer layers are connected to or united with the branch housing, wherein the method comprises, providing a number of conduit assemblies to an installation location, arranging the first conduit assembly with the main conduit in a recess or space intended for that purpose, positioning the first conduit assembly with respect to the respective connection point, so that the branch conduit is ready in the vicinity of the respective connection point, bending the branch conduit in the direction of the connection point, arranging, positioning and bending one or more of the other conduit assemblies in the same manner in the extension of the main conduit of the first conduit assembly, wherein the conduit assemblies are coupled one to the other by means of straight couplings. The conduit assemblies can easily be arranged by using this method. The connections between the branch conduits and the main conduits are reliable because they have been arranged in a clean environment, prior to being transported to the installation location.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the sub claims.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a view of a conduit assembly according to the invention.

Figures 2A and 2B show views of a section of the conduit assembly according to figure 1.

Figures 3A-C show views and a cross-section of details of the conduit assembly according to figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a view of the conduit assembly according to the invention on a roll . Figures 5A-C show a schematic depiction of the operation of the conduit assembly according to figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a view of an alternative conduit assembly according to the invention.

Figures 7A-C show schematic depictions of the operation of the alternative conduit assembly according to figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a conduit assembly 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The conduit assembly 1 comprises a bendable main conduit 2, several shape-retaining branch housings 4 scattered over the length of the main conduit 2 which housings divide the main conduit 2 into consecutive main conduit sections 21, and bendable branch conduits 3 extending from the branch housings 4. The main conduit 2 with the branch conduits 3 parallel alongside it is bent within the bendable range in several windings in winding direction V in order to form a roll- The outer ends of the branch conduits 3 following the centre line of the main conduit 2 are all oriented towards the same outer end of the main conduit 2.

Figure 2A shows a part of the conduit assembly 1 prior to winding or in the unwound condition. Namely one branch housing 4 made of synthetic material, two main conduit .sections 21 connecting thereto on either side of the branch housing 4 and one branch conduit 3. At the location of the branch housing 4, the centre lines Al of the main conduit sections 21 are in each other's extension, the centre line Bl is adjacent thereto and parallel to the centre lines Al .

The detail of figure 2A shows a longitudinal section of the main conduit section 21, which is representative of the longitudinal sections of both the main conduit 2 and the branch conduits 3. The main conduit 2 and the branch conduits 3 are built up with a main medium pipe 11a and a branch medium pipe lib, respectively, a flexible heat-insulating sheath 12 around the medium pipe lla-b and a sealing outer layer 13 around the heat-insulating sheath 12. At the outer ends of the conduits 2 , 3 the medium pipe lla-b extends free from the sheath 12 and the outer layer 13. The sheath 12 is made of a foam, for instance polyolefin foam or polyurethane foam. The medium pipe lla-b is made of synthetic material, for instance a thermoplastic synthetic material. The outer layer 13 is made of a synthetic material, for instance a thermoplastic synthetic material, and comprises circumferential transverse corrugations 14 in order to augment the rigidity of the outer layer 13.

Figure 2B shows the situation after the main conduit sections 21 and the branch conduit 3 have been bent within the bendable range, wherein A2 and B2 indicate the bent centre lines of the main conduit sections 21 and the centre line of the branch conduit

3, respectively. The branch conduit 3 and the main conduit sections 21 are free to bend in any direction within their bendable range. The situation as shown in figure 2B is only an example of the possible bending directions .

As shown in figure 3C the branch housing 4 comprises a first shell member 41 and a second shell member 42 that connect to each other. As shown in figures 3A-C the branch housing 4 bounds · the conduit passage openings 51, 52 and 53 for accommodation of the outer ends of the two main conduit sections 21 extending in each other's extension and the branch conduit 3, respectively, wherein the conduit passage openings 52 and 53 are placed next to each other so that the centre lines Al, Bl of the conduits 2, 3 extend parallel to each other from the branch housing

4. The branch medium pipe lib is bent within the branch housing 4 via a curvature or an inclined part 31 in order to connect transverse to the main medium pipe 11a. Said transverse connection can for instance be effected by a welded joint 43. At the location of the conduit passage openings 51, 52, 53 the branch housing 4 is provided with shrink sleeves 44 for in combination with the outer layers 13 of the conduits 2, 3 optimally sealing off the conduit passage openings 51, 52, 53.

The first shell member 41 is provided with a filling hole 46 closed off by means of a filling cap 45, through which filling hole 46 insulating foam 47 has been arranged in the branch housing 4. The foam 47 has the same material composition as the insulating sheath 12.

Figure 4 shows the conduit assembly 1 according to the invention, wherein the main conduit 2 with the branch conduits 3 alongside it within the bendable range has been bent in several windings in the winding direction V around a roller 6, for instance a reel, to form a roll.

Figures 5A-C show a process of installing the conduit assembly 1 according to figure 4. Said process can be used in a similar way in the conduit assembly 1 without the roller 6 according to figure 1.

Figure 5A shows the situation wherein the conduit assembly 1 on the roller 6 has been supplied to an installation location where three equi-distanced residences 7 are positioned. Each house 7 is provided with a connection point 71 for connecting the branch medium pipe lib of one of the branch conduits 3, for instance for the supply of hot water. The length of the main conduit sections 21 is chosen such that.. the intermediate distance of the consecutive branch conduits 3 and the intermediate distance of the consecutive connection points 71 is substantially the same .

Figure 5B shows the situation after the conduit assembly 1 according to an unwinding direction U has been unwound several windings, wherein an unwound length of the main conduit 2 can be arranged in a recess or space (not shown) intended for that purpose, for instance a ditch or the crawl space under the houses 7. The branch conduits 3 are alongside the main conduit 2 with their centre line Bl substantially parallel to the centre line Al of the main conduit 2. The main conduit 2 is positioned with respect to the connection points 71, so that the branch conduits 3 are ready in the vicinity of their respective connection points 71.

Figure 5C shows the situation after the branch conduits 3 have been bent in the direction of their respective connection points 71. The branch medium pipes lib are subsequently connected to the connection points 71.

Although the intermediate distance of the houses 7 as shown in figures 5A-C is the same, alternative situations are possible in which the intermediate distance is not the same. The lengths of the main conduit sections 21 can be adapted thereto, so that a customised solution is provided.

Figure 6 shows an alternative conduit assembly 8, comprising one branch housing 4, two alternative main conduit sections 22 connected thereto on either side of the branch housing 4 and one branch conduit 3, wherein the main medium pipes 11a at the outer ends of the main conduit sections 22 extend free from the sheath 12 and the outer layer 13.

Figures 7A-C show a process of installing two alternative conduit assemblies 8 according to figure 6.

Figure 7A shows the situation wherein two conduit assemblies 8 have been arranged in a recess or space intended for that purpose at an installation location where two equi-distanced residences 7 are positioned. The length of the alternative main conduit sections 22 is chosen such that the intermediate distance of the consecutive branch conduits 3 and the intermediate distance of the consecutive connection points 71 is substantially the same. The branch conduits 3 are alongside the alternative main conduit sections 22 with their centre line Bl parallel to the centre line Al of the alternative main conduit sections 22. The conduit assemblies 8 are positioned with respect to the connection points 71, so that the branch conduits 3 are ready in the vicinity of their respective connection points 71.

Figure 7B shows the situation after the conduit assemblies 8 are connected to one another with a straight coupling member 23.

Figure 7C shows the situation after the branch conduits 3 have been bent in the direction of their respective connection points 71. The branch medium pipes lib are subsequently connected to the connection points 71.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.