Line retrieval system and method

• US 20070040157A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Labor Savings Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Labor Savings Systems Limited
• Inventors: Turner, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,648,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/134.3FT
• 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: H02G 1/085 using portable tools

Abstract

A line retrieval system comprises a retrieval device having a radially magnetized magnet adapted to be magnetically coupled to an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure for drawing the object in a desired direction relative to the structure.

Claims

1. A line retrieval system, comprising:

a retrieval device having a radially magnetized magnet adapted to be magnetically coupled to an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure for drawing the object in a desired direction relative to the structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet comprises a cylindrical magnet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet is rotatably coupled to the retrieval device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the retrieval device comprises at least one roller adapted to roll along the structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet is rotatably coupled to a yoke of the retrieval device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet is coupled to the retrieval device to maintain unidirectional rotation of the magnet relative to the retrieval device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the retrieval device comprises a clutch mechanism for maintaining unidirectional rotational of the magnet relative to the retrieval device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet, when the retrieval device is placed proximate to the structure, is adapted to unidirectionally rotate relative to the structure to magnetically couple to the object.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises another magnet.

10. A line retrieval system, comprising:

means for drawing an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure in a desired direction relative to the structure, the drawing means comprising a radially magnetized means for magnetically coupling to the object through the structure.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for maintaining unidirectional rotational movement of the radially magnetized means relative to the drawing means.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for enabling rolling of the drawing means along the structure.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the radially magnetized means comprises a cylindrically-configured radially magnetized means.

14. A method for manufacturing a line retrieval system, comprising:

providing a retrieval device having a radially magnetized magnet coupled thereto, the magnet adapted to magnetically couple to an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure to enable drawing of the object in a desired direction relative to the structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the retrieval device comprises providing a cyndrically-configured magnet.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the retrieval device comprises providing at least one roller adapted to enable rolling of the retrieval device along the structure.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the retrieval device comprises rotatably coupling the magnet to the retrieval device for unidirectional rotation thereof relative to the retrieval device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the retrieval device comprises providing a clutch mechanism for maintaining unidirectional rotation of the magnet relative to the retrieval device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the retrieval device comprises coupling the magnet to the retrieval device such that, when the retrieval device is located proximate to the structure, the magnet is adapted to unidirectionally rotate relative to the structure to magnetically couple to the object.

20. A line retrieval system, comprising:

a handle having a radially magnetized magnet rotatably coupled thereto, the magnet adapted to be magnetically coupled to an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure to enable drawing of the object along the structure.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a clutch mechanism adapted to maintain unidirectional rotation of the magnet relative to the handle.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising at least one roller adapted to roll along the structure.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the magnet comprises a cylindrically-configured magnet.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the handle comprises a yolk disposed at an end thereof.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the magnet is rotatably couple to a yolk disposed at an end of the handle.

26. A retrieval system, comprising:

a first magnet locatable on a first side of a structure, the first magnet being radially magnetized, the first magnet magnetically couplable to a second magnet disposed on a second side of the structure opposite the first side, the first and second magnets movable relative to the structure to move an object coupled to one of the first and second magnets relative to the structure.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first magnet comprises a cylindrical magnet.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first magnet is rotatably disposed within a sleeve.

29. A line retrieval system, comprising:

a device having a magnet, the magnet rotatable relative to the device to automatically align a pole of the magnet with a corresponding pole of a magnet placed on a side of a structure opposite the device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the rotatable magnet comprises a cylindrical, radially magnetized magnet.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the rotatable magnet is disposed within a sleeve of the device.