Cable dispenser and method
AssigneeSanmina-SCI Corporation
InventorDavid R. Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fiber-optic cable is dispensed underwater into a trench from a vehicle moving along the bed of the body of water. The cable is wound on a stationary spool and dispensed over the end of the spool by a rotary arm driven by a motor controlled to maintain a desired tension in the cable. The cable has a fiber optic core, metal wires wound around the core, and a tensioned laminate of copper tape adhered to plastic tape wound around the wires.
Claims19
An underwater cable laying device for laying cable in a trench in an underwater substrate, said device comprising:
- a movable support structure for supporting said cable dispenser above said trench and for traveling on said substrate along said trench;
- a cable dispenser mounted on said support for dispensing cable into said trench;
- said dispenser comprising an elongated stationary spool having at least one end flange, said spool being mounted on said support structure so as to leave said one end flange free of obstructions to the movement of cable off of said spool over said flange;
- a waterproof powered dispensing mechanism for withdrawing cable from said spool in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said spool over said flange while controlling the tension on said cable and directing said cable into said trench.
A method of dispensing cable underwater comprising unwinding said cable from a spool by pulling said cable over one end of the spool by rotating a dispensing arm adjacent said one end of said spool and controlling the speed of rotation of said arm to control the tension in said cable.
A cable laying device for laying cable in a trench in a substrate, said device comprising:
- a movable support structure for supporting said cable dispenser above said trench and for traveling on said substrate along said trench;
- a cable dispenser mounted on said support for dispensing cable into said trench;
- said dispenser comprising an elongated stationary spool having at least one end flange, said spool being mounted on said support structure so as to leave said one end flange free of obstructions to the movement of cable off of said spool over said flange;
- a powered dispensing mechanism for withdrawing cable from said spool in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said spool over said flange while controlling the tension on said cable and directing said cable into said trench.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.