Method installing a duct, device for carrying out said method, and a tape-shape element for use with said method

• US 7,018,136 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Inventors: Van Bijsterveld, Cornelis Casparus, Kerling, Frank Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shackelford, Heather
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spahn, Gay Ann
• Application Number:
  US10/450,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20040037649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 405/184.1, 405/184.2, 405/184.3, 405/183.5, 405/176, 156/200, 156/201, 156/203, 156/466, 156/465, 156/461, 138/128, 138/118, 138/156
• US Class Current: 405/184.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/06 for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/08 through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling inserting electrical cables into tubes using wallbores E21B17/206; for optical cables G02B6/4401
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5191 Assembly

Abstract

Method for installing a duct where an existing longitudinal member is present along a section over which the duct is to be installed. The longitudinal member is utilized as a guide for the duct. The tape-shaped element is closed around the longitudinal element through mating of complementary coupling devices longitudinally situated along the tape-shaped member so as to form a duct, with the coupled tape-shaped element then being propelled along the longitudinal element to extend the duct. The tape-shaped element can house an optical fiber cable. Through use of such a tape-shaped element, the duct, illustratively housing an optical fiber cable, can be formed around an existing (e.g. copper) telecommunications cable with any need to interrupt or remove that cable.

Claims

1. A method for installing a duct, a longitudinal element being present along a section over which the duct is to be installed, the longitudinal element being utilized as a guide for the duct to be installed, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a tape-shaped element;

forming the tape-shaped element around the existing, longitudinal element, thus forming a duct closed circumferentially around the longitudinal element, by coupling to one another closing members present at longitudinal edges of the tape-shaped element; and

propelling the duct over the longitudinal element;

wherein, to form a branch in the duct, the tape-shaped element has a carrier provided on at least one side thereof, with a number of microducts, one of the microducts being cut and released from the circumference of the duct.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein a fluid is fed through the duct to a front end of the duct.

3. The method recited in claim 1 wherein a fluid is fed through at least one of the microducts.