Patent · US Expired

Transmission line installation

US5467968A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
1References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 5, 1993
Grant dateNov 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 5, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/52
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for installing optical fibres (11) in tubes or ducts (29). An optical fibre is fed from a reel (13) into a small diameter feed portion of duct (25), and compressed air is introduced into the duct. This advances the fibre, using viscous drag forces, into a main duct of larger diameter. There is a pressure drop at the intersection of the two ducts. Subsequently, the advancement of the fibre is continued by maintaining the air supply, and the viscous drag forces, acting on the increasing length of the fibre in the duct, advance it along the duct. Two or more fibres, which may be unsheathed primary coated fibres, may be installed simultaneously.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.