OPTICAL FIBRE INSTALLATION APPARATUS

• US 20100155681A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Taylor, Christopher C., Barker, Philip A.
• Application Number:
  US12/445,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/134.400
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 1/086 using fluid as pulling means, e.g. liquid, pressurised gas or suction means

Abstract

A blowing head for installing an optical fibre unit into a tube, including driving means for driving the optical fibre unit into the tube, the driving means having a plurality of driving surfaces, wherein one or more attic plurality of the driving surfaces are resiliently biased with a predetermined force toward the other driving surface or surfaces, and wherein in use the optical fibre unit moves between the plurality of driving surfaces.

Claims

1. A blowing head for installing an optical fibre unit into a tube, including driving means for driving the optical fibre unit into the tube, the driving means having a plurality of driving surfaces, wherein one or more of the plurality of the driving surfaces are resiliently biased with a predetermined force toward the other driving surface or surfaces, and wherein in use the optical fibre unit moves between the plurality of driving surfaces.

2. A blowing head according to claim 1 wherein the driving means includes a first driving surface and a second driving surface, the first driving surface being a surface of a rim of a first drive wheel which in use is coupled to a power source to rotatably drive the optical fibre unit into the tube via the blowing head.

3. A blowing head according to claim 2 wherein the second driving surface comprises a surface of a rim of a second drive wheel.

4. A blowing head according to claim 3 wherein the second drive wheel is in use coupled to a power source to rotatably drive the optical fibre unit into the tube via the blowing head.

5. A blowing head according to any one of claims 2 to 4 further including biasing means to bias the first driving surface against the second driving surface, and wherein the biasing means is spring-loaded.

6. A blowing head according to claim 5 wherein the biasing means is a helical spring.

7. A blowing head according to any preceding claim wherein the driving means is arranged in use to be responsive to any change in movement of the optical fibre unit.

8. A blowing head according to claim 7 wherein the driving means is in use powered to an electric motor capable of outputting an electric current which is capped.

9. A blowing head according to any preceding claim further including means to direct a source of pressurised air into the tube via the blowing head.

10. An installation including a blowing head for installing an optical fibre unit into a tube, including driving means for driving the optical fibre unit into the tube via the blowing head, the driving means having a plurality of driving surfaces, wherein one or more of the plurality of the driving surfaces are resiliently biased with a predetermined force toward the other driving surface or surfaces, and wherein in use the optical fibre, unit moves between the plurality of driving surfaces.

11. A method of installing an optical fibre unit into a tube, including the steps of

inserting the optical fibre unit into the blowing head,

driving the optical fibre unit through the blowing head between a plurality of driving surfaces, wherein one or more of the plurality of the driving surfaces are arranged to resiliently bias with a predetermined force toward the other driving surface or surfaces, and

driving the optical fibre unit out of the blowing head and into a tube connected to the blowing head using the driving means.

12. An optical fibre unit installed into a tube whenever obtained by carrying out a method including the steps of

inserting the optical fibre unit into the blowing head,

driving the optical fibre unit through the blowing head between a plurality of driving surfaces, wherein one or more of the plurality of the driving surfaces are arranged to resiliently bias with a predetermined force toward the other driving surface or surfaces, and

driving the optical fibre unit out of the blowing head and into a tube connected to the blowing head using the driving means.