US 6,554,217 B1 · Fiber optic cable winding tool

Abstract

A fiber optic cable winding tool having a disk-shaped base with a central axis, and four quarter-circle spools. Each spool has a fiber optic cable contacting surface with a radius of curvature exceeding a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. The tool further includes four radial guides connected to the disk-shaped base for slidably mounting the four spools on the disk-shaped base such that the spools are radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A resilient ring inwardly biases the spools on the radial guides towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base. A moveable wedge-shaped disk engages the spools to permit the spools to be radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base. The radial guides permit the spools to be radially collapsed towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base after winding the fiber optic cable to permit removal of the fiber optic cable from the spools.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A fiber optic cable winding tool comprising:

a disk-shaped base having a central axis;
a plurality of spools, each spool having a fiber optic cable contacting surface with a radius of curvature exceeding a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable;
a plurality of radial guides connected to said disk-shaped base for slidably mounting said plurality of spools on said disk-shaped base such that said plurality of spools are radially adjustable relative to the central axis of said disk-shaped base;
a resilient ring inwardly biasing said plurality of spools on said plurality of radial guides towards the central axis of said disk-shaped base;
and
at least one moveable wedge-shaped disk axially moveable relative to the central axis of said disk-shaped base and engaging said plurality of spools to permit said spools to be radially adjustable relative to the central axis of said disk-shaped base;
wherein said radial guides permit said plurality of spools to be radially collapsed towards the central axis of said disk-shaped base after winding the fiber optic cable on said plurality of spools to permit removal of the wound fiber optic cable from said plurality of spools.

4 more elements

A method of using a fiber optic cable winding tool having a disk-shaped base with a central axis;

a plurality of spools, each spool having a fiber optic cable contacting surface with a radius of curvature exceeding a minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable;
a plurality of radial guides connected to the disk-shaped base for slidably mounting the plurality of spools on the disk-shaped base such that the plurality of spools are radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base;
a resilient ring inwardly biasing the plurality of spools on the plurality of radial guides towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base;
and at least one moveable wedge-shaped disk axially moveable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base and engaging the plurality of spools to permit the spools to be radially adjustable relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base, the method comprising:
radially adjusting the plurality of spools relative to the central axis of the disk-shaped base to set the diameter of the winding of the fiber optic cable;
winding the fiber optic cable on the plurality of spools;
radially collapsing the plurality of spools towards the central axis of the disk-shaped base after winding the fiber optic cable;
and
removing of the fiber optic cable from the plurality of spools.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiber optic cable winding tool

Life of this patent

Fiber optic cable winding tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12