Subsurface fibre optic cable network installation
First Claim
1. A method for installing a subsurface fibre optic cable system within a substrate comprising the steps of:
- providing a length of cable and at least one cable junction box, said box comprising a pair of generally flat spaced apart panels with side and end walls therebetween, said end walls including openings for the entry and exit of said cable, said panels being openable relative to each other for access into the interior;
assembling said cable and said at least one junction box wherein said cable is installed within said junction box;
cutting within said substrate a channel having a width not greater than about 50 mm;
providing a plurality of nodes each comprising a region of said channel widened by up to about 20 mm;
positioning said fibre optic cable within said channel;
placing at least one of said cable junction box or a cable loop fully within said channel nodes; and
restoring said substrate.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of installing fibre optic cables consists of cutting a shallow and narrow trench or channel within a road surface or building wall. A narrow fibre optic cable is laid within the channel, and subsequently covered with a patch material. A branching cable network is provided by cutting at periodic and selected locations, a slightly broader and deeper region of the channel, within which cable loops and/or junction boxes are installed. The nodes may consist of branching nodes, or alternatively non-branching nodes containing a cable loop and/or junction box, the installation of which at a location permits a junction node to be formed at a close by location. The invention also consists of a junction box for use with the system.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for installing a subsurface fibre optic cable system within a substrate comprising the steps of:
-
providing a length of cable and at least one cable junction box, said box comprising a pair of generally flat spaced apart panels with side and end walls therebetween, said end walls including openings for the entry and exit of said cable, said panels being openable relative to each other for access into the interior; assembling said cable and said at least one junction box wherein said cable is installed within said junction box; cutting within said substrate a channel having a width not greater than about 50 mm; providing a plurality of nodes each comprising a region of said channel widened by up to about 20 mm; positioning said fibre optic cable within said channel; placing at least one of said cable junction box or a cable loop fully within said channel nodes; and restoring said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification