Cable slack storage device
AssigneeCommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA
InventorsJohan Geens, Jan Willem Rietveld, Bart Vos, Olivier Hubert Daniel Yves Rousseaux
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable storage device (100) includes a removal station (110) and a storage spool (120). Slack length of the cable (190) is advanced into the cable storage device. At least a jacket (195) of the cable (190) is removed at the removal station (110). At least a signal-carrying portion of the cable (190) is wound at the storage spool (120). The removed jacket (195) exits the cable storage device (100). The cable (190) can be axially secured at the cable storage device (100). Certain types of spools can index the cable.
Claims25
A storage device for storing excess length of a cable, the storage device comprising:
- a housing defining an entrance aperture and an exit aperture;
- a spool carried by the housing, the spool being rotatable relative to the housing, the spool defining a cable port;
- a cutting tool carried by the housing, the cutting tool being disposed between the entrance aperture and the spool;
- and
- a channel defined in the housing leading from the entrance aperture, past the cutting tool, to the exit aperture, the channel also opening to a drum of the spool.
A storage device storing excess length of a cable extending between first and second axial ends of the cable, the cable having a first jacketed portion disposed at the first axial end, a second jacketed portion disposed at the second axial end, and an unjacketed portion disposed between the first and second jacketed portions, the second jacketed portion of the cable being longer than the first jacketed portion of the cable, the storage device comprising:
- a housing defining an interior;
- a first cable port through which the first jacketed portion of the cable extends into the housing so that the first axial end of the cable is external of the housing;
- a second cable port through which the second jacketed portion of the cable extends into the housing so that the second axial end of the cable is external of the storage device;
- a removal station disposed at the housing, the removal station being configured to separate an inner portion of the second jacketed portion of the cable from a jacket of the second jacketed portion of the cable, thereby lengthening the unjacketed portion of the cable;
- a storage spool disposed within the interior of the housing, the storage spool being configured to wind the inner portion of the cable, wherein the storage spool is rotatable relative to the housing;
- and
- an exit aperture through which the jacket from which the inner portion is separated exits the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.