Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Method or apparatus for placement of conductive wire – Tractor for pulling wire
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-09-25
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Method or apparatus for placement of conductive wire
Tractor for pulling wire
C254S13430R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293520
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to the installation of cables. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for pulling a cable into place along side an existing cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often necessary to increase the number of cables supplying services to a building, such as an office or apartment building. For example, as more telephones, fax machines, computers and other telephony devices are installed in an office building, additional phone cables are required to support the increased demand for phone service. Consequentially, as demand for more types of wired services increase, more cables are required to support the services, whether the service is electrical, telephony, cable TV, data or other services requiring wired access.
Substantial interest has long been shown by providers of such services to increase capacity to a location such as a building. Today, when an existing cable will not support additional service, a “severing” method is utilized. That is, the existing cable is severed and a new cable is tied to one end of the severed cable and used to pull the new cable into position. Thus, the new cable must be capable of supporting the capacity of the cable it replaces, plus the forecast growth.
This method of cable installation, however, suffers from several disadvantages. First, the existing cable becomes dysfunctional since it is severed and no longer utilized. Further, the severing method is inconvenient for consumers since they suffer from interruption of service during the time the existing cable is severed until the new cable is installed.
As such, a need exists for a means of facilitating all installations to accumulate increased demand for wired services. A means of installing a cable without severing existing cables or interrupting service would provide numerous advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a cable pulling device which can be utilized to pull a cable into position alongside an existing cable, in order to increase capacity.
Disclosed in one embodiment is a cable puller for installing a second cable alongside an existing first cable. The cable puller comprises a body having a motor mounted to the body. The motor has an output shaft which attaches to a drive wheel. The drive wheel turns against the first cable to propel the cable puller along the first cable. The cable puller also has a motor controller which is connected to the motor and is adapted to control the motion of the motor. Further, the cable puller has a cable clamp which is attached to the body to hold the second cable securely in the body of the cable puller as it is pulled along the first cable.
In one embodiment, the cable puller has at least one pressure wheel attached to the body and adapted to press the first cable against the drive wheel. In another embodiment, the cable puller has at least one drive wheel which is attached to the body and adapted to help guide the first cable as it passes through the body of the cable puller. In still another embodiment, the cable puller further comprises a cable crimper adapted to set a plurality of tie wraps along said first cable as the cable puller pulls the second cable along into position. In this way, the cable crimper tightens the tie wraps around the first and second cables as the cable crimper returns down the path of the first cable after installing the second cable.
An advantage of the present invention is its ability to allow the capacity of the system to be increased without having to cut into one of the existing cables, thus not interrupting service to the end user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1569521 (1926-01-01), Milton
patent: 3672636 (1972-06-01), Parsen
patent: 3814383 (1974-06-01), Jackson
patent: 3844535 (1974-10-01), Dorough, Jr.
patent: 4014516 (1977-03-01), Jacks
patent: 5901651 (1999-05-01), Boyd
Ericsson Inc.
Hail III Joseph J.
Navarro Arthur I.
Wilson Lee
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