Apparatus and method for unwrapping fibre optic cable from an overhead line
AssigneeFocas Limited
InventorsDavid Dale Appleford, James Charles Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for unwrapping fiber optic cable (B) from an overhead line (A). The apparatus comprises a carriage (1) which sits on the overhead line (A) and is moveable along the overhead line (A) and a guide arm (2) mounted for rotation about the carriage (1). The guide arm (2) performs the unwrapping action of the fiber optic cable (B) from the overhead line (A). There is also a drum (3) and drum drive means (5), the drum (3) gathering the fiber optic cable (B) which has been unwrapped from the overhead line (A). There are also a device (6) for varying the speed of rotation of the guide arm (2) with respect to the forward speed of the carriage (1).
Claims14
An apparatus for unwrapping fibre optic cable from an overhead line comprising a carriage which sits on the overhead line and is moveable along the overhead line, a guide arm mounted for rotation about the carriage, the guide arm performing the unwrapping action of the fibre optic cable from the overhead line, a drum and drum drive means, the drum being driven by the drive means to gather the fibre optic cable which has been unwrapped by the guide arm from the overhead line wherein the apparatus further comprises means for varying the speed of rotation of the guide arm with respect to the forward speed of the carriage.
A method for unwrapping fibre optic cable from an overhead line comprising the steps of mounting an unwrapping apparatus having a carriage on an overhead line, moving the carriage along the overhead line, rotating a guide arm mounted on the carriage about the carriage to unwrap the fibre optic cable from the overhead line, gathering the unwrapped fibre optic cable on a drum mounted on the carriage, and continuously adjusting the unwrapping rotational speed of the guide arm with respect to the forward speed of the carriage to provide for variations in the pitch of the fibre optic cable being unwrapped from the overhead line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.