hauling shroud for hauling fibre optic cable along a conduit

• US 20100202748A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prysmian Australia Pty., Ltd. (Prysmian SPA)
• Original Assignee: Prysmian Telecom Cables & Systems Australia Pty Ltd. (Prysmian SPA)
• Inventors: Kaczmarski, Andrew, Mennie, Alexander, Bolto, Kyle, Pierce, Andrew Eliot
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/136
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/54 using mechanical means, e.g. pulling or pushing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/545 Pulling eyes G02B6/475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/081 using pulling means at cable ends, e.g. pulling eyes or anchors

Abstract

A hauling shroud, a cable termination and methods of hauling a fibre optic cable with a pre-connected optic termination along a conduit. The hauling shroud protects the optic termination when being hauled along the conduit. The hauling shroud includes a first housing member and a second housing member such that the first housing member and the second housing member can be joined together to enclose the optic termination. At least one anchoring member is used, for example, connecting pins, such that at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable engages with the anchoring member inside an internal cavity formed within the hauling shroud. Alternatively, at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable are attached together to form a loop which engages with the at least one anchoring member, e.g., the connecting pins. This prevents any hauling forces from being applied to the optic termination.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A hauling shroud for hauling a fibre optic cable along a conduit, comprising:

a longitudinally split, closable housing body having an internal cavity and a grasping element for pulling the fibre optic cable along said conduit; and

at least one anchoring member suitable for engaging with at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable,

wherein;

said internal cavity comprises a seat for housing an optic termination, and

said anchoring member is located within said cavity.

52. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the housing body comprises a first housing member and a second housing member, the first housing member engaging with the second housing member to form said internal cavity.

53. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the housing body comprises a securing element for engaging the strengthening element to the anchoring member.

54. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 53, wherein the securing element is chosen from the group comprising:

a clip, a crimp, a knot, an adhesive, a screw, or a combination thereof.

55. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein a position of the anchoring member is selected from:

in front of the seat, behind the seat, and on one or more lateral sides of the seat.

56. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the anchoring member is selected from:

a pin, a pillar, a catch, a hook, or a combination thereof.

57. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 52, wherein the anchoring member is at least one connecting pin integrally formed as part of the first housing member.

58. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 57, wherein at least two connecting pins integrally formed as part of the first housing member are received into at least two receptacles integrally formed as part of the second housing member.

59. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, further comprising a flexible boot positioned about the fibre optic cable.

60. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 59, wherein the hauling shroud engages with and partially encloses the flexible boot.

61. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 59, wherein the flexible boot comprises a recess for receiving a protrusion possessed by the hauling shroud.

62. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 59, wherein the flexible boot comprises at least one channel for receiving at least one stiffening element of the fibre optic cable.

63. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein an external surface of the hauling shroud has a streamlined shape for assisting in hauling a shroud through the conduit.

64. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the grasping element comprises at least one pulling eyelet suitable for engaging a pulling rope for hauling the fibre optic cable along the conduit.

65. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the anchoring member is located along a longitudinal axis of the housing body.

66. The hauling shroud as claimed in claim 51, wherein the housing body comprises at least one support rib for supporting an optic connector.

67. A cable termination for hauling a fibre optic cable along a conduit, comprising:

at least one optic termination connected to a fibre optic cable, and

a hauling shroud for hauling the fibre optic cable along a conduit, the hauling shroud comprising a longitudinally split, closable housing body provided with a grasping element for pulling the fibre optic cable along said conduit, the housing body defining an internal cavity which comprises a seat for housing the optic termination and which locates at least one anchoring member suitable for engaging with at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable.

68. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein the optic termination is a ferrule.

69. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein the optic termination is an optic connector.

70. The cable termination as claimed in claim 69, wherein the optic connector comprises a ferrule.

71. The cable termination as claimed in claim 70, wherein the optic connector comprises a retaining member for housing said ferrule.

72. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein the housing body comprises a first housing member and a second housing member, the first housing member engaging the second housing member to form said internal cavity.

73. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein the at least one optic termination is aligned with at least one optic fibre of said fibre optic cable.

74. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable are associated together to form a loop which engages the at least one anchoring member of the hauling shroud.

75. The cable termination as claimed in claim 74, further comprising a securing element for coupling the at least two strengthening elements together so as to obtain said loop.

76. The cable termination as claimed in claim 75, wherein the securing element is chosen from the group comprising:

a clip, a crimp, a knot, an adhesive, a screw, or a combination thereof.

77. The cable termination as claimed in claim 67, wherein the at least one strengthening element comprises polymer fibres.

78. The cable termination as claimed in claim 77, wherein the at least one strengthening element is made of aramid yarns.

79. A method of hauling a pre-connectorized fibre optic cable along a conduit, comprising the steps of:

providing a fibre optic cable with at least one optic termination;

positioning the optic termination into a seat formed within a housing body of a hauling shroud; and

securing at least one strengthening element of the fibre optic cable within the housing body.

80. The method as claimed in claim 79, wherein the step of securing comprises the step of engaging the at least one strengthening element with at least one anchoring member provided within an internal cavity of said housing body.

81. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the step of engaging comprises clipping the at least one strengthening element to the at least one anchoring member.

82. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the step of engaging comprises crimping the at least one strengthening element to the at least one anchoring member.

83. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the step of engaging comprises bonding the at least one strengthening element to the at least one anchoring member.

84. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the step of engaging comprises knotting the at least one strengthening element to the at least one anchoring member.

85. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the step of engaging comprises screwing the at least one strengthening element to the at least one anchoring member.

86. The method as claimed in claim 79, wherein the step of securing comprises the step of coupling together at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable so as to form a loop.

87. The method as claimed in claim 86, further comprising the step of engaging said loop with an anchoring member.

88. The method as claimed in claim 79, further comprising the step of connecting the optic termination to at least one optic fibre of the fibre optic cable.

89. The method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the step of coupling comprises clipping together the at least two strengthening elements.

90. The method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the step of coupling comprises crimping together the at least two strengthening elements.

91. The method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the step of coupling comprises bonding together the at least two strengthening elements.

92. The method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the step of coupling comprises knotting together the at least two strengthening elements.

93. The method as claimed in claim 86, wherein the step of coupling comprises screwing together the at least two strengthening elements.

94. The method as claimed in claim 79, further comprising the step of mating a first housing member and a second housing member of said housing body so as to form the hauling shroud and to enclose thereinto the optic termination.

95. The method as claimed in claim 94, wherein the step of mating comprises associating at least part of the first housing member to at least part of the second housing member by resilient engagement, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding.

96. The method as claimed in claim 79, further comprising the step of applying a pulling force to a grasping element of the hauling shroud for hauling the fibre optic cable along the conduit.

97. A method of hauling a fibre optic cable along a conduit, comprising the steps of:

coupling together at least two strengthening elements of the fibre optic cable so as to form a loop, and

engaging said loop with at least one anchoring member provided within a hauling shroud suitable for hauling the fibre optic cable along said conduit.

98. The method as claimed in claim 97, wherein the step of coupling comprises clipping, crimping, bonding, knotting or screwing together the at least two strengthening elements.

99. The method as claimed in claim 97, further comprising the step of providing the fibre optic cable with at least one optic termination.

100. The method as claimed in claim 99, further comprising the step of positioning the optic termination into a seat formed within a housing body of said hauling shroud.