Apparatuses, systems, and methods for fiber optic communication via duct installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10948680-B1
Application number	US-201916596172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2019
Priority date	Oct 9, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

The disclosed method may include (1) mechanically coupling a first fiber optic cable duct to a powerline conductor, (2) attaching an end of the first fiber optic cable duct to a first port of a duct coupler, (3) attaching an end of a second fiber optic cable duct to a second port of the duct coupler, where the duct coupler forms a contiguous channel with the first fiber optic cable duct and the second fiber optic cable duct, (4) mechanically coupling the second fiber optic cable duct to the powerline conductor, and (5) installing a contiguous fiber optic cable within the contiguous channel. Various other methods, apparatuses, and systems are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
mechanically coupling a first fiber optic cable duct to a powerline conductor, wherein the first fiber optic cable duct comprises a first plurality of microducts located within the first fiber optic cable duct;
attaching an end of the first fiber optic cable duct to a first port of a duct coupler;
attaching an end of a second fiber optic cable duct to a second port of the duct coupler, wherein the second fiber optic cable duct comprises a second plurality of microducts located within the second fiber optic cable duct, and wherein the duct coupler forms a contiguous channel with the first fiber optic cable duct and the second fiber optic cable duct and forms a separate contiguous channel with each microduct of the first fiber optic cable duct and corresponding microduct of the second fiber optic cable duct;
mechanically coupling the second fiber optic cable duct to the powerline conductor; and
installing a contiguous fiber optic cable within the contiguous channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the end of the first fiber optic cable duct to the first port of the duct coupler comprises pressing the first port of the duct coupler into the end of the first fiber optic cable duct.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contiguous channel is hermetic along the first fiber optic cable duct, the duct coupler, and the second fiber optic cable duct.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each separate contiguous channel comprises a separate hermetic fiber optic cable channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein installing the contiguous fiber optic cable within the contiguous channel comprises jetting the contiguous fiber optic cable into the contiguous channel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein mechanically coupling the first fiber optic cable duct to the powerline conductor comprises helically wrapping the first fiber optic cable duct about the powerline conductor.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
unrolling the first fiber optic cable duct from a spool carrying the first fiber optic cable duct as the first fiber optic cable duct is mechanically coupled to the powerline conductor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein mechanically coupling the first fiber optic cable duct to the powerline conductor is performed by a robotic device as the robotic device travels along the powerline conductor.

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Yogeeswaran Karthik
• King Ryan S

Classifications

• H02G3/06

  Joints for connecting lengths of protective tubing {or channels}, to each other or to casings, e.g. to distribution boxes; Ensuring electrical continuity in the joint · CPC title

• H02G3/0487

  with a non-circular cross-section (H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• G02B6/486 Primary

  by helical wrapping · CPC title

• G02B6/483 Primary

  Installation of aerial type · CPC title