Boring Attachment for Buried Cable Installation

Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of new telecommunication cables underground is labor and cost-intensive due to the need for excavation and trenching, which is inefficient with existing methods.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a compressor and a boring attachment that is operatively coupled to an existing buried cable, allowing the displacement of ground material and advancement along the cable to place a new cable in a desired position without excavation, using mechanical or hydraulic actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional excavation and trenching methods are used to install new telecommunication cables underground, then the cables can be installed in desired positions, but the process becomes labor-intensive and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cable installationVSAvoidinstallation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The new cable is placed inside a borehole that is created adjacent to an existing buried cable. The existing cable acts as a guide and reference, with the new cable being installed in close proximity through a narrow borehole rather than requiring large-scale excavation. This nesting approach allows installation without disrupting the surrounding area significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A boring attachment with a rotating cutter head is used as an intermediary tool to create the borehole. This device mechanically cuts through the ground material adjacent to the existing cable, forming a tunnel through which the new cable can be pulled. The intermediary boring device eliminates the need for traditional trenching while maintaining precise placement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If excavation and trenching are performed to install new cables, then cables can be buried in desired positions, but labor costs and installation time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable placement precisionVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The boring attachment is first advanced to create the borehole adjacent to the existing cable before the new cable is pulled through. This preliminary action of creating the pathway eliminates the need for subsequent excavation and positioning work, as the borehole is pre-formed at the exact desired location alongside the reference cable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The installation process is divided into distinct segments: first creating the borehole using the rotating cutter head, then pulling the new cable through the formed borehole. This segmentation allows each task to be optimized independently, with the boring device focusing on precise hole creation and the cable pulling operation focusing on efficient cable placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional trenching methods are used, then new cables can be installed underground, but the process disrupts roads, residential areas, and other surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation method flexibilityVSAvoidsurface disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful aspect of traditional trenching—large-scale surface disruption—is extracted and eliminated by replacing it with a minimally invasive boring process. The new method takes out only the necessary small borehole adjacent to the existing cable, leaving the surrounding surface intact while still achieving the goal of underground cable installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the efficient underground installation of new cables by minimizing the need for excavation, reducing labor and costs associated with traditional trenching methods while maintaining the integrity of existing cables.

Implementation Method 1

A system comprising a compressor and a boring attachment that is operatively coupled to an existing buried cable, allowing the displacement of ground material and advancement along the cable to place a new cable in a desired position without excavation, using mechanical or hydraulic actions.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

A system comprising a compressor and a boring attachment that is operatively coupled to an existing buried cable, allowing the displacement of ground material and advancement along the cable to place a new cable in a desired position without excavation, using mechanical or hydraulic actions.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic Pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS11329468B2System and method for new cable provisioning utilizing buried cable

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

AI summary

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.