Laying and Protecting Cable into Existing Covering Surfaces

• US 20110070030A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/180
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8816 Mobile land installations
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/02 for digging trenches or ditches machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/08 with digging wheels turning round an axis E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/10 with arrangements for reinforcing trenches or ditches; with arrangements for making or assembling conduits or for laying conduits or cables laying pipes per se F16L1/00, making pipes in situ F16L1/038; laying electric cables per se H02G1/06; drainage device- laying apparatus E02B11/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/101 forming during digging, e.g. underground canalisations or conduits, by bending or twisting a strip of pliable material; by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/12 with equipment for back-filling trenches or ditches
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/06 for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/00 Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water

Abstract

To construct an underground cable line in-situ, cut and immediately evacuate a void in the existing covering surface. Next, lay or apply cable(s) into the void. Then, flow a non-shrinking composition into a portion of the void around the cable to fill a portion of the void. Upon rigidification the cable is encased in the void by the non-shrinking composition. Last, apply a topping material to the exposed surface of the composition in such volume as to fill any remaining portion of the void.

Claims

1. A method for constructing an underground cable line in-situ through an existing covering surface, comprising the steps of:

cutting the existing covering surface to create a void through the existing covering surface and thereby creating a volume of debris;

wherein the step of cutting the existing covering surface is accompanied by evacuating the volume of debris from at least the void;

laying a cable into the void;

flowing a non-shrinking composition into a portion of the void;

encasing the cable by further flowing said non-shrinking composition around the cable and hardening the non-shrinking composition; and

applying a topping material to a remaining portion of the void.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of evacuating the volume of debris from at least the void further comprises:

vacuuming the volume of debris concurrently with the step of cutting the existing covering surface wherein said vacuuming step in performed in a manner overlapping the void.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of vacuuming the volume of debris concurrently with the step of cutting the existing covering surface assists in cooling a cutting blade 33 used in the step of cutting the existing covering surface and capturing a stream of loose debris created by the cutting blade 33.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of cutting the existing covering surface to create the void further comprises:

cutting a channel having a depth of greater than 10.16 cm and a width of less than 3.8 cm.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of flowing said non-shrinking composition into the portion of the void comprises pumping said non-shrinking composition into the void.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of flowing said non-shrinking composition into the portion of the void comprises pouring said non-shrinking composition into the void.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of encasing the cable further comprises allowing a period of time not to exceed twelve hours to pass for setting and rigidifying of said non-shrinking composition prior to carrying out the step of applying the topping material.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said non-shrinking composition comprises a grout which upon drying is impermeable, said grout for use in carrying out said step of flowing said non-shrinking composition.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of cutting the existing covering surface to create the void is carried out continuously in one and only one swath from a starting point A to a finishing point B.

10. In a method for constructing an underground cable line into an existing covering surface which is formed in-situ by cutting a void which creates a volume of debris, laying a cable into the void, and then filling the void, the improvements comprising:

wherein the step of cutting the void is carried out in one and only one swath from a starting point A to a finishing point B; and

evacuating the volume of debris from the void wherein said evacuating step is carried out by vacuuming the volume of debris concurrently with the step of cutting the void.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising flowing a non-shrinking composition into a portion of the void;

and

encasing the cable by further flowing said non-shrinking composition around the cable and rigidifying the non-shrinking composition.

12. An apparatus for constructing an underground cable line in-situ through an existing covering surface, comprising:

a portable cutting machine including a means for cutting the existing covering surface to create a void; and

a means for evacuating a volume of debris created by said cutting means, wherein said evacuating means is mounted in accompaniment with said cutting means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cutting means comprises a means for cutting a void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for cutting said void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide comprises cutting said void less than or equal to about 3.175 cm wide.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for cutting said void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide comprises cutting said void less than or equal to about 2.54 cm wide.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for cutting said void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide comprises cutting said void less than or equal to about 30.48 cm deep.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said evacuating means comprises a vacuum system mounted in juxtaposition and upper-lower with respect to said means for cutting the existing covering surface.

18. An apparatus for constructing an underground cable line in-situ through an existing covering surface, comprising:

a portable cutting machine including a means for cutting the existing covering surface to create a void;

a means for evacuating a volume of debris created by said cutting means, wherein said evacuating means is mounted in accompaniment with said cutting means;

a means for laying a cable into the void following said evacuating means;

a volume of a flowable, non-shrinking composition connected to a means for flowing said non-shrinking composition into at least a portion of the void; and

a volume of a topping material for application to a remaining portion of the void.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cutting means comprises a means for cutting a void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said evacuating means comprises a vacuum system mounted in juxtaposition and upper-lower with respect to said means for cutting the existing covering surface.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the volume of said flowable, non-shrinking composition comprises a grout impermeable when rigidified.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said volume of the topping material overlaps and adheres to said grout.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for flowing includes a pump.

24. An apparatus for constructing an underground cable line in-situ through an existing covering surface, comprising:

a portable cutting machine including a means for cutting a void greater than 10.16 cm deep and less than 3.8 cm wide through the existing covering surface to create a void;

a vacuum system, wherein said vacuum system is mounted in accompaniment with said cutting means;

a means for laying a cable into the void following said evacuating means;

a volume of a flowable, non-shrinking grout connected to a means for flowing said non-shrinking grout into at least a portion of the void;

wherein said grout is impermeable when rigidified;

wherein said flowing means includes a pump;

a volume of a topping material for application to a remaining portion of the void; and

wherein said volume of the topping material overlaps and adheres to said grout.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said vacuum system is mounted in juxtaposition and upper-lower with respect to said means for cutting the existing covering surface.