Method and apparatus for deployment of a communication line onto a surface such as a roadway or pathway

• US 9,588,315 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRAXyL, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TRAXyL, Inc.
• Inventors: Turner, Daniel Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Charlie Y
• Application Number:
  US14/672,256
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/46 Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables installation of cables containing electric conductors and optical fibres H02G
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/50 Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts

Abstract

A method and apparatus to quickly deploy a communication line or lines onto a surface (100). After a surface blower (124) blows away debris, a bare communication line (112) is unwound from a spool(s) (116) and guided by a bare communication line guide (114) to the surface (100). Unshaped protectant (108), stored in the protectant container (118), is pumped into the protectant applicator (120). The protectant applicator (120) applies unshaped protectant (108) onto the surface (100) and the bare communication line(s) (112). The unshaped protectant (108) passes through protectant shaping template (110) where it is shaped before being cured by a curing lamp (122). The cured protectant (104) provides a hard protective encasement that firmly adheres to the surface (100). This encasement provides robust protection to the installed communication line (102) from the effects of traffic and weather. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Claims

1. A method of adhering a communication line onto a surface, the method comprising:

a. laying out a length of said communication line using a communication line deployment apparatus onto said surface, said communication line deployment apparatus making contact with said surface at a contact point while laying out said length of said communication line, said surface that said communication line is laid on being coplanar with said contact point,

b. applying an uncured protectant onto said length of said communication line while said communication line is on said surface,

c. pressing a shaping tool against said uncured protectant, said shaping tool possessing an opening and said uncured protectant taking a cross sectional shape of said opening of said shaping tool after said shaping tool is pressed against said uncured protectant, and

d. curing said uncured protectant into a cured protectant to adhere said protectant and said communication line to said surface, said cured protectant possessing said cross sectional shape,

whereby said communication line is protectively encased and adhered to said surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication line is a bare optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding, and an outer coating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication line has a diameter of approximately 80 to 900 microns.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said protectant is selected from one or more of the groups including:

a. ultraviolent cured resins including urethane, polyester, vinylester, and

b. other resins including polyepoxides,

whereby said protectant is capable of resisting weather and traffic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressing and curing steps are performed by said communication line deployment apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said surface is a road.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

said length of said communication line is applied onto said surface by unspooling a communication line spool, and

said uncured protectant is stored in a protectant container and is applied onto said length of said communication line by a protectant applicator device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said uncured protectant is cured by a curing lamp.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said communication line spool, said protectant container, said protectant applicator device, said shaping tool, and said curing lamp are collectively mounted on said communication line deployment apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein

said communication line deployment apparatus further comprises a pump, and

said pump applies pressure to convey said uncured protectant from said protectant container to said protectant applicator device and to eject said uncured protectant from said protectant applicator device onto said communication line while said communication line is on said road surface.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

applying a material that hardens over time onto an area, and

allowing said material to harden to form said surface,

wherein said material is applied and hardened before said length of said communication line is applied on said surface.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising

splicing said bare fiber to a second communication line after curing said uncured protectant, said second communication line not being encased in said cured protectant.

13. A method of adhering a tubular body onto a surface, the method comprising:

applying said tubular body onto said surface using an apparatus that moves along ground level while said tubular body is being applied along said surface at said around level,

applying an uncured protectant onto said surface, said uncured protectant contacting said tubular body to cover said tubular body; and

curing said uncured protectant into a cured protectant to adhere said tubular body to said surface, wherein

said tubular body and said uncured protectant are passed through a shaping tool comprising an opening possessing a cross sectional shape before said uncured protectant is cured so that said uncured protectant takes said cross sectional shape of said opening after passing through said opening; and

said cured protectant possesses said cross sectional shape,

whereby said tubular body is protectively encased and adhered to said surface.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said tubular body is a bare optical fiber.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein

said tubular body is applied onto said surface by unspooling a tubular body spool, and

said uncured protectant is stored in a protectant container and is applied onto said length of said tubular body by a protectant applicator device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said tubular body spool, said protectant container, said protectant applicator device, and said shaping tool are collectively mounted on a tubular body deployment apparatus.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said uncured protectant cures into said cured protectant by sun exposure.