System and method for laying cables and the like through a pipe
AssigneeLWF UK Limited
InventorMichael Parker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of laying one or more elongate flexible members through a pipe comprising the steps of attaching a first end of the or each elongate flexible member to a second end of a draw wire, pushing a first length of the or each elongate flexible member into the pipe in a direction from an entry end towards an exit end at a first rate, pulling a second length of the draw wire through the pipe from the entry end towards the exit end at a second rate and coordinating the first length and first rate with the second length and second rate to drive the or each elongate flexible member through the pipe.
Claims20
A method of laying one or more elongate flexible members through a pipe using a draw wire for which a first end of the draw wire is located at an exit end, outside of the pipe;
- a second end of the draw wire is located at an entry end, outside of the pipe;
- and an intermediary portion of the draw wire is located between the entry end and exit end within the pipe, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) attaching a first end of the or each elongate flexible member to the second end of the draw wire;
- b) pushing by applying a driving force, a first length of the or each elongate flexible member into the pipe over a first time T1 in a direction from the entry end towards the exit end;
- c) pulling by applying a pulling force, a second length of the draw wire through the pipe over a second time T2 in the direction from the entry end towards the exit end;
- and
- d) coordinating the first length and first time T1 with the second length and second time T2 to drive the or each elongate flexible member through the pipe.
A system for laying one or more elongate flexible members through a pipe, the system comprising
- a) a draw wire for which a first end of the draw wire is located at an exit end, outside of the pipe;
- a second end of the draw wire is located at an entry end, outside of the pipe;
- and an intermediary portion of the draw wire is located between the entry end and exit end within the pipe with a first end of the or each elongate flexible member attached to the second end of the draw wire;
- b) a supply of one or more elongate flexible member at the entry end;
- c) a first powered device to apply a driving force to the one or more elongate flexible member to push a first length of the or each elongate flexible member into the pipe over a first time T1 in a direction from the entry end towards the exit end;
- d) a second powered device to apply a pulling force to the draw wire to pull a second length of the draw wire through the pipe over a second time T2 in the direction from the entry opening towards the exit end;
- and
- e) a first controller associated with the first powered device to control the driving force, the first length and first time T1;
- f) a second controller associated with the second powered device to control the pulling force, second length and second time T2;
- wherein the first controller and second controller are in real time communication to drive the or each elongate flexible member through the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.