Linear medium pulling and retrieval system

#This invention relates to a device which enables a mechanic or technician, using an affixed sighting mechanism, to project or “shoot” a small rigid or semi-rigid mechanism or clamping fixture, which is attached to a tether and source of line accurately through a predetermined path towards a source of wire, fiber-optic medium, cabling, or tubing, allowing attachment of such tubing to the clamping fixture and retraction of medium back to the original point of projection.

#One of the most difficult and undesirable, potentially hazardous, and labor intensive tasks encountered by the electrician, telephone/telecommunications, sound, and other related technicians, is that of the installation of wiring, cabling, telecommunications leads (phone lines), vacuum lines, fiber-optical, and control cabling for such items as heating and air-conditioning, and other like elements forming a contacting mechanism between two or more mechanical, electromechanical, vacuum devices, hereafter described throughout this summation as cabling.

#This condition exists in virtually all structures where humans live and work; therefore installation of such cabling is typical and prerequisite to human and machine occupation of these areas. Cable-connected equipment includes such devices as telephones, computers, control sequencing/activation devices for heating & air conditioning, tele-fax machines, security systems, camera systems, garage door (remote) switches, and typically, any and all machines and a myriad of other applications. One could quickly observe that at least multiple of these conditions exist in virtually every room or facility which is constructed. The pace and frequency at which these tasks are being performed increases aggressively with worldwide advances in electronic/computer/telephonic technology. There is a substantial and long-felt need for a device which will relieve the installer from dangerous and time-consuming work of threading cables across ceilings not able to support the weight of a person or efficient pulling machine. The device of the present invention allows the technician to string a pull line accurately, safely and quickly between two points and then to pull cable for control of equipment and systems. The present invention empowers persons who may not be physically capable of getting into such areas to perform the same task in about the same time as another who does not have like limitations. These limitations could include persons with one arm/hand, stiff neck, and like circumstances where the person is mobile but does not have normal reach and limb mobility.

#FIG. 1a is an isometric view of the projectile with 4 related sectional details identified below as P1 to P4.

#FIG. 1b is a sectional view of the distal eye portion of the projectile cut by plane P1 as indicated in FIG. 1a.

#FIG. 1c is a sectional view of the intermediate flange of the projectile cut by plane P2 as indicated in FIG. 1a.

#Table 1 gives a complete listing of the indicia and definitions of special nomenclature used herein. For many parameters, the typical value and the usual range, in the units indicated, is given. For the present invention, the optimal dimensions and radial clearances can be conveniently scaled by the free OD of the ESE (energy storage element) or compression spring. The length scaling factors shown in the right column therefore indicate the ratio of the specific length or distance value to the value of D30.3, i.e., the scaled value of D30.3 is exactly 1.00. This sizing approach makes it possible to prepare alternative mechanically-related smaller or larger designs with different power and range without departing from the basic-concept parameters of the present invention. Alternative specific pivot axis positions are designated by specific polar coordinates measured from the a reference point defined by the intersection of (a) the axis of the contact circle defined by the projectile guides with (b) the contact face of the proximal or main arm of the RE (release element) when said contact face lies perpendicular to said axis of guide contact circle. Certain specific length measurements for RE features from a specific pivot axis position, relate of course only to that specific axis position. Such specific measurements can easily be generalized by using known relations of trigonometry and the polar coordinates for the pivot axis.

#1,0 Tethered projectile. The projectile is an elongated, rod-like component prepared with two transverse apertures, one at each end. At the distal end is a first aperture large enough to allow passage and attachment of a wire, fiberoptic/copper-wire cable or tube 3-15 mm in diameter. At its proximal end is a transverse aperture large enough to allow passage of mono- or multi-filament tether 0.1-1.5 mm in diameter. The projectile body includes a rib-stiffened elongated portion between the two ends; the length of this portion is approximately 5-50 times its transverse dimension, i.e., as a cylindrical cross-section, it is approximately 5-50 diameters long overall. The projectile body must be straight, constant diameter or transverse dimension and free of general/localized warping; it should be a cross-section which withstands column flexure/crippling due to the axial force

#TABLE 4 Mech. Properties of Selected Spring Alloys, SI-Units Name SPEC SI-TS1* SI-TS2* SI-Emod* SI-Gmod* TS-fact** music wire A228 1584.7 2749.11 207 82.68 0.45 hard drawn-CLI A227 1012.83 1949.87 207 82.68 0.45 hard drawn-CLII A227 1178.19 2232.36 207 82.68 0.40 hard drawn-HT A679 1639.82 2411.5 207 82.68 0.45 oil temp-CLI A229 1136.85 2018.77 207 82.68 0.45 oil temp-CLII A229 1315.99 2232.36 207 82.68 0.45 carbon, valve A230 1481.35 1653.6 207 82.68 0.45 Cr-V A231 1309.1 2067 207 82.68 0.45 Cr-Si A401 1619.15 2067 207 82.68 0.45 SS 304/302 A313 861.25 2239.25 193 68.9 0.35 SS 316 A313 757.9 1688.05 193 68.9 0.40 SS 17-7 PH, CH A313 1619.15 2308.15 207 75.79 0.45 phos. bronze-A B159 723.45 999.05 103 41.34 0.40 beryl. cooper B197 1033.5 1584.7 131 48.23 0.45 monel-40 AMS7233 999.05 1240.2 179 68.9 0.40 monel-K500 QQN286 1102.4 1378 179 68.9 0.40 Notes: *—Tensile strength and modulus values in MPa, typ. commercial wire TS1 is the lower limit value for std. tensile yield strength TS2 is the upper limit value for std. tensile yield strength **—use this fraction of rated strength for conservation design # [this correction is conservative for curvature and torsion corrections]