System and method for new cable provisioning utilizing buried cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10439382-B2
Application number	US-201715669525-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques for underground cable installation are provided. A system includes a compressor and a boring attachment. The boring attachment may be operatively coupled to the compressor and further coupled to an outer sheath of a buried cable. The boring attachment may be configured to be actuated by the compressor. In response to being actuated by the compressor, the boring attachment may be configured to displace at least some ground material, in contact with the buried cable, in which the buried cable is buried, and advance in at least one direction along a longitudinal axis of the buried cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a compressor;
a sensor configured to detect a location of a buried cable;
a boring attachment operatively coupled to the compressor and further coupled to an outer sheath of the buried cable and the sensor, the boring attachment configured to be actuated by the compressor, wherein the boring attachment is configured to:
couple to a new cable;
displace at least some ground material, in contact with the buried cable, in which the buried cable is buried; and
advance in at least one direction along a longitudinal axis of the buried cable;
place the new cable in a desired position coextensive with the buried cable; and
track, based on input from the sensor, at least one of a travel distance along the buried or a location of the boring attachment relative to the buried cable.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment comprises the sensor, wherein the boring attachment is further configured to track the position of the buried cable as the boring attachment advances in the at least one direction.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment further comprises a guide configured to couple to the outer sheath of the buried cable, and configured direct movement of the boring attachment.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment further comprises a sleeve configured to couple circumferentially around the buried cable, wherein the sleeve is configured to traverse the buried cable in the at least one direction.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment is configured to allow, via displacement of the at least some material, the buried cable to be removed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment is further configured to couple to an inner duct, wherein the boring attachment is configured to pull the inner duct over the buried cable such that the buried cable is enclosed within the inner duct.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment is configured to vibrate responsive to being driven by the compressor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the boring attachment is configured to produce a vibrating action responsive to being driven by the compressor.

9. An apparatus comprising:
a boring attachment, operatively coupled to a compressor, wherein the boring attachment is configured to be coupled to an outer sheath of a buried cable and be driven by the compressor, and wherein the boring attachment is configured to be coupled to a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a location of the buried cable,
the boring attachment is configured to:
couple to a new cable;
displace at least some ground material, in contact with the buried cable, in which the buried cable is buried;
advance in at least one direction; and
place the new cable in a desired position coextensive with the buried cable; and
track, based on input from the sensor, at least one of a travel distance along the buried or a location of the boring attachment relative to the buried cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boring attachment is configured to advance in the at least one direction coextensive to a longitudinal axis of the buried cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boring attachment is further configured to track the position of the buried cable as the boring attachment advances in the at least one direction.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boring attachment further comprises a guide configured to couple to the outer sheath of the buried cable and to direct movement of the boring attachment.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boring attachment further comprises a sleeve configured to couple circumferentially around the buried cable, wherein the sleeve is configured to traverse the buried cable in the at least one direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the boring attachment is further configured to couple to an inner duct, wherein the boring attachment is configured to pull the inner duct over the buried cable such that the buried cable is enclosed within inner duct.

15. A method comprising:
attaching a boring attachment to an outer sheath of a buried cable;
coupling a sensor to the boring attachment;
detecting a location of the buried cable with the sensor;
coupling a new cable to the boring attachment;
driving, via a compressor, the boring attachment;
displacing, via the boring attachment, at least some ground material, in contact with the buried cable, in which the buried cable is buried;
advancing, with the boring attachment, in at least one direction coextensive with a longitudinal axis of the buried cable;
tracking, based on input from the sensor, at least one of a travel distance along the buried or a location of the boring attachment relative to the buried cable;
steering the boring attachment based at least in part on the location of the buried cable detected by the sensor; and
pulling, via the boring attachment, a new cable into a desired position coextensive with an original position of the buried cable.

Assignees

• Centurylink Ip Llc

Inventors

• Elford Michael L
• Kawamoto Pete A
• Unser Diana L

Classifications

• E21B7/30

  without earth removal · CPC title

• E21B7/24

  Drilling using vibrating or oscillating means, e.g. out-of-balance masses (percussion drilling E21B1/00) · CPC title

• H02G1/06

  for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle · CPC title

• H02G9/02 Primary

  laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile · CPC title

• E21B47/09

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · CPC title