Blown installation of optical fibres and method and apparatus for determining the length of a passage along which an optical fibre is to be blown
First Claim
1. A method of determining a length Ld at least representative of the length of a passage along which an optical fibre cable or unit is to be installed by blowing, said method comprising the steps of flowing a pressurized gas into said passage at a substantially constant pressure P1 and substantially constant flowrate Vf, determining the time tf taken to provide a predetermined gas pressure P2 within said passage and determining said length Ld by reference to said time tf.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining a length Ld at least representative of the length of a passage along which an optical unit or cable is to be installed by blowing, comprises the steps of flowing a pressurised gas into the passage at a substantially constant pressure P1 and substantially constant flow rate Vf until gas pressure within the passage reaches a predetermined level P2. The time period tf during which the pressurised gas was flowed into the passage is determined and then the length Ld is determined by reference to the time period tf.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A method of determining a length Ld at least representative of the length of a passage along which an optical fibre cable or unit is to be installed by blowing, said method comprising the steps of flowing a pressurized gas into said passage at a substantially constant pressure P1 and substantially constant flowrate Vf, determining the time tf taken to provide a predetermined gas pressure P2 within said passage and determining said length Ld by reference to said time tf.
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11. A method of determining a length at least representative of a length of ducting in which an optical fibre unit or cable is to be installed by blowing, the ducting having a first end and a second end and the method comprising:
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connecting a compressor with said first end of the ducting; providing sealing at said second end of the ducting; supplying a gas at a substantially constant pressure P1 and substantially constant flowrate Vf from said compressor into said ducting until a predetermined pressure P2 exists in said ducting; determining the time period tf during which said gas was supplied into said ducting; determining a volume Vd indicative of a volume defined by said ducting by determining a pumped gas volume V1 by multiplying said flowrate Vf by said time period tf and the relationship - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for determining a length (Ld) at least representative of a length of a passage along which an optical fibre unit or cable is to be installed by blowing, said apparatus comprising a flow control device (16;
- 116) for receiving a supply of compressed gas and outputting said compressed gas at a substantially constant pressure (P1) and flow rate (Vf) for supply to a said passage and a computing system that determines said length (Ld) of said passage to which said gas is output based on signals indicative of a time period (tf) in which gas output by said flow control device is supplied to said passage to raise the pressure in said passage to a predetermined pressure (P2).
- View Dependent Claims (16)
Specification