Apical conduit method and system

• US 10,146,024 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2018
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elford, Michael L., Winterrowd, Michael P., Sims, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pak, Sung
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HOANG Q
• Application Number:
  US15/866,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4469 Security aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4486 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/504 Installation in solid material, e.g. underground

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing installation of optical fiber, non-fiber lines, and/or power lines in a ground surface. In various embodiments, a foldable base might be placed in a channel in a ground surface. The foldable base might include a base portion, two side wall portions, at least two points of articulation, and two plug contacts. Each point of articulation allows each side wall portion to fold relative with the base portion, forming a cavity. One or more lines may be placed within the cavity. A plug, placed above the lines in the cavity, may engage with the two plug contacts to secure the plug to the foldable base. Capping material, placed in microchannel on a top surface of the plug, may flow beyond the microchannel and over any openings between the plug and the foldable base and between the foldable base and edges of the channel.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

placing a foldable base in a channel in a ground surface, the foldable base comprising a base portion, two side wall portions, at least two points of articulation, and two plug contacts, wherein each point of articulation separates the base portion from one of the two side wall portions and allows each side wall portion to fold relative with the base portion, wherein each plug contact is disposed at an end of each side wall portion opposite from the corresponding point of articulation, wherein the base portion, when placed in the channel, lies longitudinally along a bottom of the channel and the two side wall portions are in contact with sides of the channel;

placing one or more lines within a cavity formed by folding of the two side wall portions relative to the base portion of the foldable base that is placed in the channel in the ground surface;

placing a plug above the one or more lines that are placed in the cavity, the plug engaging with the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel, the plug comprising a top surface and a microchannel along the top surface, the microchannel being parallel with the channel when the plug engages with the two plug contacts of the foldable base when the foldable base is placed in the channel; and

placing one or more layers of capping material in the microchannel, the one or more layers of capping material flowing beyond the microchannel and over any openings between the plug and the foldable base and between the foldable base and edges of the channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more lines comprises at least one of one or more telecommunications lines, one or more power lines, one or more optical fiber cables, one or more non-fiber cables, or one or more conduits.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two points of articulation each comprises one of a folding groove, a folding crease, or a hinge.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises side engagement contacts on either side of the plug, wherein each of the two plug contacts comprises a complementary engagement contact that mates with a corresponding one of the side engagement contacts of the plug, wherein the plug engaging with the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel comprises the side engagement contacts of the plug engaging with the corresponding complementary engagement contacts of the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one set of side engagement contact and corresponding complementary engagement contact is symmetrical with the other set of side engagement contact and corresponding complementary engagement contact.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the two plug contacts of the foldable base comprises deformable portions that allow the two plug contacts to deform when the plug makes contact and mates with the two plug contacts of the foldable base.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the deformable portions comprise gel material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the foldable base further comprises at least two sets of friction fingers, wherein when the foldable base is placed in the channel, each set of friction fingers is disposed along a side wall portion between the side wall portion and the corresponding side of the channel, the at least two sets of friction fingers engaging against the sides of the channel to secure the foldable base in place within the channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plug further comprises one or more maintenance access slots that are disposed at intervals along a longitudinal length of the plug, each maintenance access slot being perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the plug.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more layers of capping material comprises a shearable top coat.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing an adhesive layer in the channel prior to placing the foldable base in the channel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a swellable joint filler tape above the one or more lines in the cavity prior to placing the plug above the one or more lines.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

spreading, using a spreader tool, the one or more layers of capping material over the plug and over any openings between the plug and the foldable base and between the foldable base and edges of the channel.

14. A system, comprising:

a foldable base, comprising;

a base portion;

two side wall portions;

at least two points of articulation; and

two plug contacts;

wherein each point of articulation separates the base portion from one of the two side wall portions and allows each side wall portion to fold relative with the base portion;

wherein each plug contact is disposed at an end of each side wall portion opposite from the corresponding point of articulation;

wherein the base portion, when placed in a channel in a ground surface, lies longitudinally along a bottom of the channel and the two side wall portions are in contact with sides of the channel;

wherein, when placed in the channel in the ground surface, the two side wall portions fold relative to the base portion of the foldable base to form a cavity, wherein one or more lines are placed in the cavity;

a plug, comprising;

a top surface; and

a microchannel along the top surface;

wherein the plug, when placed above the one or more lines that are placed in the cavity, engages with the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel, wherein the microchannel is parallel with the channel when the plug is engaged with the two plug contacts; and

one or more layers of capping material,

wherein, after the plug engages with the two plug contacts of the foldable base, the one or more layers of capping material form a layer that flows beyond the microchannel and over any openings between the plug and the foldable base and between the foldable base and edges of the channel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more lines comprises at least one of one or more telecommunications lines, one or more power lines, one or more optical fiber cables, one or more non-fiber cables, or one or more conduits.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the two points of articulation each comprises one of a folding groove, a folding crease, or a hinge.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the plug further comprises side engagement contacts on either side of the plug, wherein each of the two plug contacts comprises a complementary engagement contact that mates with a corresponding one of the side engagement contacts of the plug, wherein the plug engaging with the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel comprises the side engagement contacts of the plug engaging with the corresponding complementary engagement contacts of the two plug contacts of the foldable base to secure the plug in place relative to the foldable base in the channel.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the two plug contacts of the foldable base comprises deformable portions that allow the two plug contacts to deform when the plug makes contact and mates with the two plug contacts of the foldable base.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the foldable base further comprises at least two sets of friction fingers, wherein when the foldable base is placed in the channel, each set of friction fingers is disposed along a side wall portion between the side wall portion and the corresponding side of the channel, the at least two sets of friction fingers engaging against the sides of the channel to secure the foldable base in place within the channel.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the plug further comprises one or more maintenance access slots that are disposed at intervals along a longitudinal length of the plug, each maintenance access slot being perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the plug.