Fiber optic cable installation method and apparatus
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsHossein Eslambolchi, John Sinclair Huffman
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Abstract
A fiber optic cable (10) is buried below ground, either by direct burial, or by being pulled through a previously buried duct. During cable burial, the instantaneous resistance between the sheath and ground (the sheath-to-ground resistance) is continuously monitored. If the instantaneous sheath-to-ground resistance drops below a prescribed value, an alarm is generated, signaling a sheath fault. During burial, the length of cable paid out and placed underground is monitored, thus providing an indication of the relative location of the sheath fault.
Claims12
A method for installing metallic sheath fiber optic cable, comprising the steps of:
- burying the cable underground;
- continuously monitoring instantaneous sheath-to-ground resistance as the cable is buried to detect sheath fault;
- and
- generating an alarm once the instantaneous sheath-to-ground resistance falls below a prescribed value as occurs upon a sheath fault.
Apparatus for installing a fiber optic cable underground, comprising
- a prime mover for plowing the cable underground;
- a resistance-measuring unit and computer for continually monitoring instantaneous sheath-to-ground resistance of the cable and for determining when the instantaneous sheath to ground resistance falls below a prescribed value as occurs upon a sheath fault;
- and
- an alarm for providing an alert in response to a signal from the resistance-measuring unit and computer when the instantaneous sheath-to-ground resistance falls below a prescribed value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.