Optical waveguides – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2001-03-06
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
Miscellaneous
C385S134000, C385S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198871
ABSTRACT:
The present application is based on and claims priority from German Application No. 297 22 107.8, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a device for the insertion and extraction of a cable, particularly an optical transmission cable, into or from a pipe-shaped line.
In the course of the introduction of new cable facilities for telecommunication by regional and local companies, consideration is given increasingly to alternatives to the conventional laying of telecommunication cable underground for economical and/or organizational reasons. One alternative laying technique for telecommunication cable of particular merit especially in economical terms is represented by the use of gas and water lines already in place in the mains of a city or town supply system. Such a solution is detailed in DE 30 01 226 A1. Aside from the reduction of costs associated with establishing a local or regional telecommunication network, the use of existing lines keeps excavation work to a minimum, so that the space assigned to vehicle traffic, which in many cities barely suffices, suffers little restriction. In addition, no significant problem is caused by the density of existing lines serving all conceivable supply and disposal functions, which instead may prove an asset.
For technical and organizational reasons, as well as for reasons connected with the rite of passage, setting up a telecommunication network using cable, with a comparably small exterior diameter, including the possibility of adding participants, who join the network in the future, is best accomplished by laying optical transmission cable in fresh water lines, for example, of the existing supply network. In this respect, it is of great importance to ascertain the drinking water neutrality of the cable material, particularly of the cable coating, as well as to ensure permanent impenetrability of the cable with regard to water steam. In addition, special care must be taken to see that no germ formation or other microbiological contamination occurs while inserting the cable into the line.
An additional difficulty of laying cable is represented by the fact that barriers or other blocking devices are placed at 150-250 m intervals in drinking water lines for the purpose of blocking the fresh water line. Wherever such devices are set up, the cable needs to circumvent the barriers without any compromising implications of a mechanical or optical nature. This is achieved by extracting the cable from the pipe-shaped line before the barrier and reinserting it into the pipe-shaped line behind the barrier. In addition, in order to set up and branch off participant lines, it is necessary to extract an optical cable from the pipe-shaped line or insert it into the pipe-shaped line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the goal of the present invention is to create a device enabling simple and inexpensive insertion and extraction of the cable into or from the pipe-shaped line, without incurring the risk of damage to the cable or leakage of the medium transported in the line.
According to the present invention, this problem is solved by using a device featuring a housing that is attached to the pipe-shaped line, at least one arched guide pipe placed in the housing and projecting into the line for guiding the cable through a bore drilled into the wall of the line, as well as multiple ring-shaped sealing elements tightly enclosing the cable.
The advantages realized by virtue of the invention mainly consist of the fact that sealed insertion and extraction is ensured even in the high-pressure environment of the pipe-shaped line. Thus, not only will there be no leakage at the sites of insertion and extraction of the medium transported in the line, but the occurrence of contamination inside the pipe-shaped line is infallibly prevented. This is of great significance when using fresh water lines for the laying of cable. The arched guide pipe projecting into the line permits simple and safe insertion and extraction into or from the pipe-shaped line, as well as simple and safe laying of the cable on the ground of the line or lifting the cable from the ground, without the risk of damaging the cable, for example, a transmission cable featuring sensitive optical fibers. Moreover, the device according to the invention can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner and mounted to the line, so that the engineering cost of cable installation, as compared to laying cable directly in the ground, may be contained even in the case of many participant connections and branches as well as frequent barriers set up in the pipe-shaped line. A system with the device according to invention for the insertion and/or extraction of cable is particularly suitable for laying optical cable in supply and disposal mains of an urban or regional supply system as part of the installation of an urban or regional telecommunication network.
The characteristics listed in the dependent claims render the inventions suitable for continued developments and improvements.
To infallibly prevent germ formation or contamination of the medium transported in the pipe-shaped line, it is of a certain advantage if the guide pipe is made from stainless steel or plastic.
It is of particular advantage if the housing features two arched guide pipes projecting into the pipe-shaped line. This way, it is possible to create a branch or circumvent one of the barriers set up in the pipe-shaped line with a single device according to the invention by extracting the cable from the pipe-shaped line through one of the two arched guide pipes and reinserting the same or another cable into the line through the other arched guide pipe.
Therefore, it makes insertion or extraction of the cable easier if the two arched guide pipes project into the pipe-shaped line in opposite directions and if the two guide pipes are arranged in the shape of an X.
With regard to sealing the sites of insertion or extraction of the cable, it is advantageous if a force effective in the guiding direction of the cable is applied to the sealing elements by means of a screw joint.
In order to simplify laying the cable in the pipe-shaped line and in the interest of only a brief disruption of the supply or disposal operation of the pipe-shaped line caused by the laying of cable, it is advantageous if the housing features a lower portion that is attached to the pipe-shaped line and a flange-like upper portion that is attached to the lower portion and encloses the ring-shaped sealing elements. For purposes of manufacturing a device according to the invention, dividing the housing into two portions allows attaching the lower portion, also referred to as saddle or bore element, to the pipe-shaped line by means of retaining bows, for example, then drilling into the line and, finally, scaling the bore penetrating the wall of the line until the cable is guided into the line using a blind flange.
Particularly when drinking-water lines are used for laying cable, it is advantageous if the guide pipe features at least one opening in its wall, on the end, projecting into the housing. This way, air in the guide pipe can escape, thus reliably preventing the formation of bacteria-friendly air cushions in the upper portion of the guide pipe, which projects into the housing.
For hydrodynamic reasons, it is advantageous if the guide pipe features a section that expands in the direction of the flow and functions as a clearance edge.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4342475 (1982-08-01), Moran
patent: 5191633 (1993-03-01), Von Bagh
patent: 1 810 367 (1960-02-01), None
patent: 30 01 226 A1 (1980-08-01), None
patent: 31 40 928 A1 (1983-05-01), None
patent: 42 03 718 A1 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 0294243 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 0780942 (1997-06-01), None
Gregor Paul Egon
Kuhn Lothar Gerhard
Alcatel
Font Frank G.
Nguyen Sang H.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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