Cable dispenser and method
AssigneeSanmina-SCI Corporation
InventorDavid R. Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fiber-optic cable is dispensed underwater into a trench from a vehicle moving along the bed of the body of water. The cable is wound on a stationary spool and dispensed over the end of the spool by a rotary arm driven by a motor controlled to maintain a desired tension in the cable. The cable has a fiber optic core, metal wires wound around the core, and a tensioned laminate of copper tape adhered to plastic tape wound around the wires.
Claims13
An underwater cable laying device for laying cable in a trench in an underwater substrate, said device comprising:
- a movable support structure for supporting said cable dispenser above said trench and for traveling on said substrate along said trench;
- a cable dispenser mounted on said support for dispensing cable into said trench;
- said dispenser comprising an elongated stationary spool having at least one end flange, said spool being mounted on said support structure so as to leave said one end flange free of obstructions to the movement of the cable off of said spool over said flange, and wherein said spool has a hollow center and including a guide structure for guiding said cable off of said spool, and into and through said hollow center;
- a waterproof powered dispensing mechanism for withdrawing cable from said spool in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said spool over said flange while controlling the tension on said cable and directing said cable into said trench.
A cable laying device for laying cable in a trench in a substrate, said device comprising:
- a moveable support structure for supporting said cable dispenser above said trench and for traveling on said substrate along said trench;
- a cable dispenser mounted on said support for dispensing cable into said trench;
- said dispenser comprising an elongated stationary spool having at least one end flange, said spool being mounted on said support structure so as to leave said one end flange free of obstructions to the movement of cable off of said spool over said flange;
- a powered dispensing mechanism for withdrawing cable from said spool in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said spool over said flange while controlling the tension on said cable and directing said cable into said trench;
- and
- wherein said spool has a hollow central conduit and said cable withdrawing mechanism has a rotary mounted dispensing arm with guide rollers for guiding said cable over the edge of said flange and through said central conduit to exit at the end opposite the end at which said flange is located.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.