Method and system for transporting cables between cable poles

Abstract

A method of transporting a sash line and / or a new cable 36 from a first connection point to a second connection point some distance from said first connection point, said first and second connection points having an old cable 24 extending therebetween, the method utilising a drone (figure 1, 1) configured to be selectively moved along a cable by remote control, the method comprising mounting said drone to said old cable 24, attaching, adjacent said first connection point, a free end of a said sash line or new cable 36 to said drone, utilising a remote control device to move said drone along said old cable 24 from said first connection point to said second connection point, releasing said free end of said sash line or new cable 36 from said drone and pulling through a desired length thereof.

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a method and system fortransporting cables between cable poles and, mor particularly but not necessarily exclusively, to a method and system for transporting a sash line and / or a cable between cable poles across carriageways or roadways. Background of the Invention Cables such as electrical and telephone cables are frequently connected between a network of poles in order to feed respective properties within a defined vicinity. The first of such cables is connected at one end to the source and at the other end to the top of the nearest of the poles in the network. The next cable is connected at one end to the end of the cable at the top of the pole and, at the other end, to the top of the next pole in the network, and so on. Normally, an operative would simply carry or pull the end of the cable from one of a pole to the next pole, then climb up the pole and secure and connect the end of the cable as required. Not only can this be a laborious process, problems can arise when the next pole in the network is across a public carriageway or road, making it dangerous for both the operative and the public for a cable to be manually handled from one pole to the next, across the carriageway. Often, roadways have to be closed for a period of time, which is obviously time consuming and inconvenient to the public. Aspects of the invention seek to address at least one or more of these issues. Statements of Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transporting a a sash line and / or new cable from a first connection point to a second connection point some distance from said first connection point, said first and second connection points having an old cable extending therebetween, the method utilising a drone configured to be selectively moved along a cable by remote control, the method comprising mounting said drone to said old cable, attaching, adjacent said first connection point, a free end of a said sash line or new cable to said drone, utilising a remote control device to move said drone along said old cable from said first connection point to said second connection point, removing said free end of said sash line or new cable from said drone and pulling through a desired length thereof. Beneficially, an operative at said first connection point may feed a free end of said sash line or new cable through a gap in the housing of said drone prior to causing said drone to be transported to said second connection point. In a preferred embodiment, the method may comprise running a length of a said sash line or new cable from a reel and through a pulley device located at said first second connection point. In the above-described method, a new cable may be transported by the drone from said first connection point to said second connection point. However, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, the method may comprise attaching, adjacent to said first connection point, a free end of a sash line to said drone, utilizing a remote control device to move said drone along said old cable from said first connection point to said second connection point, releasing said free end of said sash line from said drone and pulling through a desired length thereof, coupling, adjacent to said second connection point, said free end of said sash line to the free end of a new cable, and, from said first connection point, pulling said sash line with the new cable coupled thereto, back from said second connection point, until said free end of said new cable reaches said first connection point. Beneficially, the free end of the sash line may be coupled to the free end of the new cable by means of a cable sock. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a remote control drone for use in a method substantially as described above, the drone being configured to be selectively moved back and forth along an existing cable, the drone including means for receiving the free end of a sash line or new cable. Beneficially, the drone may include means for receiving a counterweight to which said free end of said sash line or new cable may, in use, be attached. Preferably, the drone may comprise a housing having therein an opening for receiving and retaining a free end of a said sash line or new cable. In a preferred embodiment, the drone may have a first opening in one edge of said body and a second opening in a second edge of said body, and wherein, in use, a free end of a said sash line or new cable is fed through said opening in said first edge of said drone and then through said opening in said second edge of said drone. The drone may further comprising a wheel located within said body of said drone, and wherein, in use, said free end of a said sash line or new cable is fed through said opening in said first edge of said drone, around said wheel, and then through said opening in said second edge of said drone. In an embodiment, the drone may further comprise a control device configured to maintain said sash line or new cable slack as it is transported from said first connection point to said second connection point. In an embodiment, the remote control drone may further comprise a tension control unit arranged and configured in relation to said sash line or new cable when mounted over said wheel, in use, said tension control unit being configured to selectively apply tension to, or slacken, said sash line or new cable. The tension control unit may, for example, comprise a geared rack coupled to an engaging member and arranged and configured, in use, to selectively cause said engaging member to engage with, and retract from, said sash line or new cable. The above-referenced control device may be configured to, in use, control said tension control unit in accordance with signals received from a remote control device. In an exemplary embodiment, the remote control drone may further comprise means for securing a wire cable sock within the housing thereof. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a drone system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1A is a schematic bottom perspective view of a drone system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the internal features of a drone system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 3A is a schematic view of a drone system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrating also some of the internal elements thereof; Figure 3B is an exploded view of the drone system of Figure 3A, showing a bottom portion thereof in more detail; and Figures 4 to 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating various stages of a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, for transporting a new cable from a second connection point to a first connection point using a remote control drone system. Detailed Description In the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of examples and illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that variations and modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limited sense. The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in some parts. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature applies to only one embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to make another embodiment. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and / or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, steps, elements, components and / or groups thereof As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items. Directional descriptors such as upper, lower, left, right, clockwise, anti-clockwise, front, rear and other similar adjectives are used for clarity and refer to the orientation of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, however it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention may not always be oriented as illustrated and the invention is not intended to be limited in this regard. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a drone 1 according to the invention comprises a generally triangular housing 10 having a first wheel 12 at the apex thereof. An arm 14a, 14b extends from each side edge of the housing 10, the arms 14a, 14b being affixed to the housing 10 by means of respective hand screws 15. At each end of each arm 14a, 14b, there is a respective second wheel 16a, 16b having a respective clearance 18a, 18b coupled thereto. A slot 20 is provided at the apex of the housing, and a releasable retaining cord 22 is mounted at the apex and configured to extend over the slot when in a retaining configuration, and to be moved away from the slot 20 when released. The clearance members 18a, 18b are provided to push small branches out of the way when the device is in use. A vent cap 19 is provided on the ‘front’ face of the housing 10. In use, the drone is configured to be mounted on a cable 24, which sits in the slot 20 against the first wheel 12 (not shown in Figure 1), extends below the second wheels 16a, 16b and through the respective clearance members 18a, 18b. A remote control (not shown) can be used to move the drone back and forth along the cable 24. This technology is known, and an example can be seen at https: / / eu.wiralcam.com / . Referring additionally to Figure 1A of the drawings, an opening 17 is provided in the bottom of the housing 10, that allows a payload to be attached thereto. The payload may include a counterweight (not shown) to which the free end of a sash line or cable may be attached whilst it is being transported, in use, from a first connection point to a second connection point. Referring now particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, a fourth wheel 26 is provided at the centre of the base of the housing 10, the fourth wheel 26 being located adjacent to a metal pin 28 on one side thereof. A tension control unit 29 in the form of a geared rack is provided, the geared rack being communicably coupled to the metal pin 28. The geared rack 29 comprises a micro motor and planetary worm gear 31 that acts to move the metal pin 28 forward (toward the wheel 26) and backward (away from the wheel 26). The metal pin 28 acts to secure the payload (i.e. the new cable 26, as will be described hereinafter) by ‘pinching’ the sash line or new cable 26 against the wheel 26 when the pin 28 is moved forward, and dropping the payload when the metal pin 28 is pulled back. A control unit (not shown) can be used to control the operation of the tension control unit 29, as required. A first gap or opening 30 is provided in the base on the opposite side of the fourth wheel 26, and a second gap or opening 32 is provided in the side edge of the housing 10, close to the base. The electronics required for operation of the device are housed in the regions denoted 34. Although the arms 14a, 14b extend from the side walls of the housing at substantially 45 degrees thereto, this is not considered essential. Referring to Figures 3A and 3B of the drawings, in use, and in addition to the transport (i.e. original) cable 24, a sash line or new cable 36 is mounted between the second gap 32, over the fourth wheel 26 and through the first gap or opening 30 at the base of the housing 10. In some embodiments, there is provided, in the housing 10, a pin 33 with a screw to allow the attachment of a wire cable sock 35, which is used to pull new fibre optic cables to certain heights, as will be known to a person skilled in the art. A divider 39 separates the sash line or new cable 36 from the wire cable sock 35. An external knob 41 is provided for ease of manual interaction with the pin 33. A battery housing 43 is also provided within the housing 10. Referring additionally to Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings, in use, a sash line 36 is mounted between the second gap 32, over the fourth wheel 26, through the gap 30 in the base of the housing. A counterweight 7 is attached to the drone 1, via the opening 17, and the drone 1 is mounted on the original cable 24, which sits in the slot 20 and over the wheel 12 at the apex of the housing 10, and extends, on each side of the housing, over the second wheels 16a, 16b and through the clearance members 18a, 18b, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The metal pin 28 of the tension control unit 29 is communicably coupled to a control unit (not shown), the pin 28 and control unit being configured to maintain the sash line 36 slack as it is transported from the first connection point to the second connection point. Referring, first, to Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings, at the start of the process, a first pulley 4 is coupled at the first connection point. The operative feeds the free end of a sash line 36 (from a reel 6 at ground level) through the first pulley 4, and then attaches the free end of the sash line 36 to the drone 1, as described above, the free end of the sash line 36 then being coupled to the counterweight 7. The operative climbs down the pole 11 to ground level and, using the remote control 5, drives the drone 1 along the original cable 24 (toward a second connection point 9, not shown in Figure 4, at which there is a second pulley 8) with the sash line 36 being pulled along with it. The operative can adjust the tension on the sash line 36, as it is being pulled toward the second connection point, using the handheld reel 6. As the drone reaches the second connection point, the operative deploys the counterweight 7 to bring the free end of the sash line 36 downward. Referring additionally to Figure 5 of the drawings, the operative then removes the counterweight 7 from the drone 1 and feeds the free end of the sash line 36 through the second pulley 8, at the second connection point. A free end of a new cable 45 is attached to the free end of the sash line 36, by means of a cable pulling sock 35, and the operative then returns to the pole 11 (at the first connection point) and, from there pulls the sash line 36 (with the new cable 45 attached thereto), thereby pulling the new cable 45 (from a cable drum 47) and the drone 1 back to the starting point at the first connection point. Referring additionally to Figure 6 of the drawings, the operative climbs to the top of the pole 11 (to the first connection point), removes the sash line 36 from the drone 1, and pulls the sash line 36 through the first pulley 4, before detaching the new cable 45 from the sash line 36. The new cable 45 can then be installed into a connection box 8. Finally, the drone 1 may be removed from the original cable 24. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, from the foregoing description, that variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the 5 invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of transporting a sash line and / or a new cable from a first connection point to a second connection point some distance from said first connection point, said first and second connection points having an old cable extending therebetween, the method utilising a drone configured to be selectively moved along a cable by remote control, the method comprising mounting said drone to said old cable, attaching, adjacent said first connection point, a free end of a said sash line or new cable to said drone, utilising a remote control device to move said drone along said old cable from said first connection point to said second connection point, releasing said free end of said sash line or new cable from said drone and pulling through a desired length thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein an operative at said first connection point feeds a free end of said sash line or new cable through a gap in the housing of said drone prior to causing said drone to be transported to said second connection point.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising running a length of a said sash line or new cable from a reel and through a first pulley device located at said first connection point.

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising attaching, adjacent to said first connection point, a free end of a sash line to said drone, utilizing a remote control device to move said drone along said old cable from said first connection point to said second connection point, releasing said free end of said sash line from said drone and pulling through a desired length thereof, coupling, adjacent to said second connection point, said free end of said sash line to the free end of a new cable, and, from said first connection point, pulling said sash line with the new cable coupled thereto, back from said second connection point, until said free end of said new cable reaches said first connection point.

5. A method according to claim 4, comprising coupling the free end of the sash line to the free end of the new cable by means of a cable sock.

6. A remote control drone for use in a method according to any of claims 1 to 5, the drone being configured to be selectively moved back and forth along an existing cable, the drone including means for receiving the free end of a sash line or new cable.

7. A remote control drone according to claim 6, including means for receiving a counterweight to which said free end of said sash line or new cable may, in use, be attached.

8. A remote control drone according to claim 6 or claim 7, comprising a housing having therein an opening for receiving and retaining a free end of a said sash line or new cable.

9. A remote control drone according to claim 8, having a first opening in one edge of said body and a second opening in a second edge of said body, and wherein, in use, a free end of a said sash line or new cable is fed through said opening in said first edge of said drone and then through said opening in said second edge of said drone.

10. A remote control drone according to claim 9, further comprising a wheel located within said body of said drone, and wherein, in use, said free end of a said sash line or new cable is fed through said opening in said first edge of said drone, around said wheel, and then through said opening in said second edge of said drone.

11. A remote control drone according to any of claims 6 to 10, further comprising a control device configured to maintain said sash line or new cable slack as it is transported from said first connection point to said second connection point.

12. A remote control drone according to any of claims 6 to 11, further comprising a tension control unit arranged and configured in relation to said sash line or new cable when mounted over said wheel, in use, said tension control unit being configured to selectively apply tension to, or slacken, said sash line or new cable.

13. A remote control drone according to claim 12, wherein the tension control unit comprises a geared rack coupled to an engaging member and arranged and configured, in use, to selectively cause said engaging member to engage with, and retract from, said sash line or new cable.

14. A remote control drone according to claim 13, wherein the control device is configured to, in use, control said tension control unit in accordance with signals received from a remote control device.

15. A remote control drone according to any of claims 6 to 14, further comprising 5 means for securing a wire cable sock within the housing thereof.

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