CABLE INSTALLATION USING INDUCTION

• US 20110006786A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Barker, Philip Alfred, Neild, Ian, Heatley, David John Taylor
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/656
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/002 with electrical coupling to the indicating devices
• 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 device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the air is flowing out from the second conduit end. In an embodiment, the device includes a housing, means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end, a detector arranged to detect an electrical property change, and an actuator for causing an electrical property change detectable by the detector, wherein in use, the air flowing into the device causes the detector and the actuator to move relative to each other, causing an electrical property change detectable by the detector.

Claims

1. A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the air is flowing out from the second conduit end, the device comprising

a housing,

means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end,

a detector arranged to detect an electrical property change, and

an actuator for causing an electrical property change detectable by the detector,

wherein in use, the air flowing into the device causes the detector and the actuator to move relative to each other, causing an electrical property change detectable by the detector.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the detector comprises at least one of an induction coil or a capacitor being part of an oscillator, connected to a signal processor for detecting tones generated by the oscillator, the device further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal comprising the detected tones.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the actuator is arranged to move within the housing, and comprises or includes a metallic element.

4. A device according to any preceding claim further including holding means to hold the actuator in one of either a first position or a second position, wherein movement between the first position and the second position causes the electrical property change.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the holding means to hold the actuator in the first position comprises a spring urging against the actuator.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the holding means to hold the actuator in the second position comprises means causing compression of the spring.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the holding means comprises a magnet and a metal disc disposed opposite to each other.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein in use, the air flowing into the device causes the magnet and the metal disc to move towards each other and then to be magnetically coupled together.

9. A device according to any preceding claim further including an air vent through which in use, the air flows when the actuator is held in the second position.

10. A device according to any preceding claim further including means to return the actuator to the first position from the second position.

11. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the actuator is detected by the detector when the actuator is held in the first position.

12. A device according to any preceding claim further being suitable for confirming that the cable has arrived at the second conduit end, wherein the detector is arranged to detect a further inductance change caused by the detected presence of a bead including a metallic component connected to a fibre unit.

15. A system for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, comprising a device for confirming that the air is flowing out from the second conduit end according to any preceding claim.

16. A system according to claim 15 including a device of any preceding claim wherein apparatus at the first conduit end is configured to receive and to automatically respond to the detected change.

17. A method for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, and to confirm that the air is flowing out of the from the second conduit end, the method comprising

attaching a device of any one of claims 1 to 12 to the second conduit end,

applying the flow of air into the first conduit end,

causing the actuator of the device to move relative to the detector of the device, and

causing an electrical property change detected by the detector.

19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18 using the device of any one of claims 1 to 14, further including the step of transmitting a signal based on the detected change.

20. A method according to claim 17 to further confirm that the cable has arrived at the second conduit end, including

connecting a bead to an end of the cable,

installing the cable into the first conduit end, and

causing a further electrical property change detected by the detector.

22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21 further including

transmitting a signal comprising the further detected change to apparatus located at the first conduit end, and

causing the apparatus at the first conduit end to automatically respond to the transmitted signal.

13. A device for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, the device being suitable for confirming that the air is flowing out from the second conduit end, the device comprising

a housing,

means to enable connection of the device to the second conduit end,

a piston moveably located within the housing, and

a detector for detecting a change in a position of the piston,

wherein in use, the air flowing into the device causes a change in the position of the piston within the housing, which is detected by the detector.

14. A device according to claim 13 further being suitable for confirming that the cable has arrived at the second conduit end, wherein the detector is arranged to detect a further change in the position of the piston caused by travel of a bead connected to a fibre unit within the housing.

18. A method for use with a conduit having a first conduit end and a conduit second end, into which conduit a cable can be installed using a flow of air into the first conduit end, and to confirm that the air is flowing out of the from the second conduit end, the method comprising

attaching a device of claim 13 to the second conduit end,

applying the flow of air into the first conduit end, and

detecting with the detector a change in the position of the piston within the housing caused by the flow of air.

21. A method according to claim 18 to further confirm that the cable has arrived at the second conduit end, including

connecting a bead to an end of the cable,

installing the cable into the first conduit end, and

causing a further change in position of the piston within the housing detected by the detector.