Systems and methods for laying underground fiber optic cable
AssigneeFacebook, Inc.
InventorsHamid Hemmati, Hamidreza Bolandhemmat
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Abstract
The disclosed systems for laying underground fiber optic cable may include a drive body, at least one rotational motor, a forward auger element rotatably coupled to the drive body and positioned to be rotated by the at least one rotational motor in a first rotational direction, and a rear auger element rotatably coupled to the drive body and positioned to be rotated by the at least one rotational motor in a second, opposite rotational direction. Various other systems, methods, and devices are also disclosed.
Claims20
A system for laying underground fiber optic cable, the system comprising:
- a drive body;
- at least one rotational motor;
- a forward auger element rotatably coupled to the drive body and positioned to be rotated by the at least one rotational motor in a first rotational direction;
- a rear auger element rotatably coupled to the drive body and positioned to be rotated by the at least one rotational motor in a second, opposite rotational direction;
- and
- a steering mechanism comprising at least one rudder extending radially outward from the drive body,
- wherein the drive body is positioned centrally between the forward auger element and the rear auger element and the at least one rotational motor is positioned within the drive body.
A system for laying underground fiber optic cable, the system comprising:
- an underground drilling device, comprising:
- a central drive body housing at least one motor;
- a forward auger element positioned to be rotated by the at least one motor in a first rotational direction relative to the central drive body;
- a rear auger element positioned to be rotated by the at least one motor in a second, opposite rotational direction relative to the central drive body;
- and
- a steering mechanism comprising at least one rudder extending radially outward from the drive body;
- and
- an aboveground sensor device, comprising:
- a ground-penetrating object sensor configured to sense obstructions in soil in front of the underground drilling device,
- wherein the aboveground sensor device is in communication with the underground drilling device and the underground drilling device is configured to steer around obstructions identified by the aboveground sensor device.
A method of laying underground fiber optic cable, the method comprising:
- rotating, with at least one motor positioned within a central drive body, a forward auger element of an underground drilling device in a first rotational direction relative to the central drive body;
- rotating, with the at least one motor positioned within a central drive body, a rear auger element of the underground drilling device in a second, opposite rotational direction relative to the central drive body;
- steering the underground drilling device with at least one rudder extending radially outward from the central drive body;
- and
- releasing at least one of fiber optic cable or flexible conduit into soil behind the rear auger element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.