Optical cable member, towing member, and towing method

A towing member for towing an optical cable including an optical fiber and a tensile strength member, the towing member comprising:

• a fixing member configured to fix the tensile strength member of the cable;
• a first housing tube attached to a first end of the fixing member, the first housing tube being a bendable member;
• and
• a second housing tube attached to a second end of the fixing member on a side opposite to the first end, wherein the second housing tube is a bendable member,
• wherein the fixing member comprises a pin and a fixing main body, the pin being a component separate from the fixing main body, the pin being configured to fix a distal end of the tensile strength member, and an end of the pin being inserted into the fixing main body from a side of a first attachment portion of the fixing main body;
• wherein the fixing main body is located between the first housing tube and the second housing tube, and includes the first attachment portion to which the first housing tube is attached and a second attachment portion to which the second housing tube is attached;
• and
• wherein the fixing main body is provided with at least one through hole extending from the first attachment portion toward the second attachment portion.

A method of towing an optical cable by using an optical cable member comprising:

• an optical cable including at least one optical fiber and a tensile strength member each extending in a longitudinal direction, in which a cable main body housing the at least one optical fiber and the tensile strength member and a cable exposure portion in which the at least one optical fiber and the tensile strength member are exposed to an outside are provided along the longitudinal direction;
• a fixing member fixing the tensile strength member at the cable exposure portion;
• a first housing tube disposed between the fixing member and the cable main body, the first housing tube:
• being a bendable member,
• housing the tensile strength member at the cable exposure portion, and
• allowing the at least one optical fiber at the cable exposure portion to extend therein;
• and
• a second housing tube disposed on a side opposite to the first housing tube at the fixing member in the longitudinal direction, the second housing tube housing the at least one optical fiber at the cable exposure portion, wherein the second housing tube is a bendable member,
• wherein the fixing member comprises a pin and a fixing main body, the pin being a component separate from the fixing main body, the pin fixing a distal end of the tensile strength member at the cable exposure portion, and an end of the pin being inserted into the fixing main body from a side of a first attachment portion of the fixing main body;
• wherein the fixing main body is located between the first housing tube and the second housing tube, and includes the first attachment portion to which the first housing tube is attached and a second attachment portion to which the second housing tube is attached;
• and
• wherein the fixing main body is provided with at least one through hole extending along the longitudinal direction, and the at least one optical fiber at the cable exposure portion extends from the first housing tube to the second housing tube through the at least one through hole, the method comprising:
• passing the optical cable through a laying tube;
• and
• removing the second housing tube of the optical cable from the fixing member after passing through the laying tube to expose a distal end portion of the at least one optical fiber.

A towing member for towing an optical cable including an optical fiber and a tensile strength member, the towing member comprising:

• a fixing member configured to fix the tensile strength member of the cable;
• a first housing tube attached to a first end of the fixing member;
• and
• a second housing tube attached to a second end of the fixing member on a side opposite to the first end, wherein the second housing tube is a bendable member,
• wherein the fixing member comprises a pin and a fixing main body, the pin being a component separate from the fixing main body, the pin being configured to fix a distal end of the tensile strength member, and an end of the pin being inserted into the fixing main body from a side of a first attachment portion of the fixing main body;
• wherein the fixing main body is located between the first housing tube and the second housing tube, and includes the first attachment portion to which the first housing tube is attached and a second attachment portion to which the second housing tube is attached,
• wherein the fixing main body is provided with at least one through hole extending from the first attachment portion toward the second attachment portion, wherein
• the second housing tube has a first end having through holes,
• the second attachment portion has screw holes provided at intervals on an outer periphery of the second attachment portion, and
• the second housing tube is detachably fixed to the fixing member by aligning the through holes with the screw holes and fastening them with screws.