JPH06178418A - Method and apparatus for laying filaments - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Good pumping workability without the need for a relay device.
Extend the pumping limit distance. [Structure] An optical fiber pneumatic pumping device 9 is provided at the introduction end of a pipe 2 installed in advance. A fluid such as compressed air is supplied from the compressed fluid inlet by the compressed fluid supply device 13, and the optical fiber cable 1 is fed out from the optical fiber cable bobbin 11 against the input friction of the optical fiber pneumatic pumping device 9, and the fluid flow. And feed the inside of the pipe 2 under pressure. In the middle of the pipe 2, the capacity in the pipe 2 is changed apparently,
A fluid storage capacity control means 12 for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe 2 is provided. The control means 12 is composed of a cylinder. The Linda head side is communicated with the pipe 2, and the piston rod is reciprocated at any timing,
When the piston rod is pushed up, the volume in the pipe 2 is apparently reduced, and when the piston rod is pushed down, the volume in the pipe 2 is apparently increased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for laying a linear body with a compressed fluid and a laying apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to lay a filamentous body such as a fiber cable with a compressed fluid, there is an optical fiber pneumatic feeding method using an optical fiber pneumatic feeding device as shown in FIG. 6, for example (JP-A-4-131802). Gazette). The optical fiber cable 1 passing through the guide 8 advances in the hollow passage 7 provided in the feed head 3 by the force that overcomes the hydrodynamic force and the frictional force of the seal portion 6 by the rotation of the drive wheel 5, and the hollow passage 7 The compressed air supplied from the compressed air introduction port 4 is pumped into the pipe 2 which is installed in advance and communicates with the compressed air.

In this type of pressure-feeding method using a compressed fluid, an optical fiber cable can be installed later in a previously installed pipe, if necessary, or an optical fiber cable can be installed without connection by connecting the pipes with a pipe connector. It has the feature of being able to do it.

In particular, when an optical fiber cable is laid along with an electric power cable or a communication cable, the longest single length of the electric power cable or the communication cable is as short as 300 m to 1 km due to transportation and the like. By combining the insertion pipe with these cables and connecting them with a connector when laying the optical fiber cable, an optical fiber cable with a length much larger than the longest single length of the power cable or the communication cable is required. Can be installed accordingly. In addition, since it is possible to gradually increase the number of fibers, it is not necessary to lay more optical fiber cables in advance than necessary, so initial investment can be reduced and the number of optical fiber fusion points can be reduced. Therefore, there are many advantages such as reduction of connection loss of the optical fiber cable line and improvement of quality as a communication line.

[0005]

As described above, the method of laying an optical fiber cable is a pressure-feeding method using a compressed fluid, which has a great merit. However, the friction generated between the inner surface of the pipe and the optical fiber cable during the pressure feeding. Due to force (especially when the pipe has many curved routes, this is large), there is a problem that the pipe cannot be laid if the pipe length becomes long. An optical fiber cable can be easily pumped with a normal pipe route of about 1000 m, but if there are many complicated bends or a long route of 1000 m or more, the optical fiber cable cannot be pumped in the middle of the pipe. Will end up.

As a solution to this, as shown in FIG. 7, the pipe 2 is cut into a plurality of pieces so that the lengths of the pipes 2 are within the pressure-feeding limit distance, and the optical fiber pneumatic feed device 10 for relaying is provided on the way. A relay pressure-feeding method has been proposed in which the pressure-feeding is used. That is, the optical fiber cable 1 fed from the optical fiber cable bobbin 11 is introduced into the first pipe 2 by the optical fiber pneumatic feeding device 9 which receives the supply of the compressed fluid from the compressed fluid supply device 13. In this first stage device, the optical fiber cable 1 extends only the pumping limit distance. Therefore, the optical fiber cable 1 pressure-fed from the first pipe 2 is introduced into the second pipe 2 from the second-stage relay optical fiber air pressure feeding device 10, and here, the pressure-feeding limit distance is again used. Postpone. In this way, the pressure feeding distance is extended by repeating the third step and the fourth step.

However, this method cannot be realized if the pipe 2 cannot be cut midway. Moreover, when this method is used, there is a problem that the workability is deteriorated because the introduction work is required at each stage, and the cost is increased because many relay devices are required.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to realize a simple operation and a simple structure,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method for laying a filament and a laying apparatus for the filament, which can significantly extend the pressure feeding distance of the filament such as an optical fiber cable.

[0009]

The method for laying a filament of the present invention is a filament for supplying a fluid compressed at a pressure of atmospheric pressure or more into a pipe to pump a filament such as an optical fiber cable. In the body laying method, the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is pulsated.

Further, the apparatus for laying a filament of the present invention overcomes the resistance of the pipe introducing portion to eject the filament such as an optical fiber cable into the pipe, and compress the ejected filament by a compressed fluid. The fluid pressure feeding means and the fluid storage capacity control means for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe by making the capacity in the pipe apparently variable.

Further, in the apparatus for laying a filamentous body according to the present invention, instead of the fluid storage capacity control means, a part of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is leaked to supply the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe. This is a fluid leak control means for pulsating the pressure.

Further, in the apparatus for laying a linear body of the present invention, instead of the fluid storage capacity control means, the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is controlled so that the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is controlled. The supply fluid pressure control means for pulsating the pressure is used.

The linear member is a metal cable or the like in addition to the optical fiber cable or the optical fiber constituting the cable. The simplest and cheapest compressed fluid is air. The material of the pipe is preferably a polyethylene pipe having a smooth inner surface and a small friction resistance. Further, in order to pulsate the compressed fluid, it is possible to fluctuate around the steady pressure or to fluctuate within the steady pressure.

The fluid storage capacity control means connects the cylinder to the pipe to reciprocate the piston at an arbitrary timing, or connects the chamber to the pipe and attaches a shutter or a valve to the chamber inlet, and the shutter or the valve is arbitrary. Opening and closing control at the timing of
Make the volume in the pipe variable.

The fluid leak control means provides a pipe with a branch pipe open to the atmosphere, and leaks a part of the compressed fluid supplied to the pipe from the branch pipe at an arbitrary timing.

Further, the supply fluid pressure control means changes the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe by controlling the flow rate of the compressed fluid supplied from the compressed fluid supply means at an arbitrary timing.

[0017]

[Function] When it becomes impossible to pump the filamentous body by the compressed fluid at a constant pressure, the capacity in the pipe is apparently made variable by the fluid storage capacity control means at an arbitrary timing, and the capacity of the pipe is controlled by the fluid leak control means. Part of the compressed fluid supplied to the pipe is leaked, or the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is controlled by the supply fluid pressure control means.

Then, the pressure of the compressed fluid pulsates, the positional relationship between the linear body and the pipe is displaced, and the contact frictional force is reduced. Therefore, the linear body that has stopped starts moving again, and the length of the pressure-feeding strip is greatly increased. Become longer.

Although the pressure of the compressed fluid depends on the pipe and peripheral parts, it is 98
It is preferably less than × 10 ⁴ Pa.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment. At the introduction end of the pipe 2 installed in advance,
An optical fiber pneumatic feeding device 9 including a drive wheel, a feed head and the like similar to the conventional example described in FIG. 6 is attached. A fluid such as compressed air is supplied from the compressed fluid inlet by the compressed fluid supply device 13, and the optical fiber cable 1 fed out from the optical fiber cable bobbin 11 against the input friction of the optical fiber pneumatic feeding device 9 It is configured so that the inside of the pipe 2 is pressure-fed by being placed on the flow of.

In the middle of the pipe 2, a fluid storage capacity control means 12 for apparently varying the capacity of the pipe 2 and pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is provided.
The fluid storage capacity control means 12 is composed of a cylinder in the illustrated example. The cylinder head side is communicated with the pipe 2, and the piston rod is reciprocated at any timing,
When the piston rod is pushed up, the capacity inside the pipe 2 is apparently reduced, and when the piston rod is pushed down, the capacity inside the pipe 2 is apparently increased. A known actuator can be used to reciprocate the piston rod at an arbitrary timing, but in that case,
The pressure in the pipe may be fed back to control the cylinder.

One or two or more fluid storage capacity control means 12 may be provided at an arbitrary position of the pipe 2, and when two or more fluid storage capacity control means 12 are provided, it is preferable to control the piston rods synchronously.

In the above-mentioned structure, if the pipe route has a complicated bend or the length is 1000 m or more, the optical fiber cable cannot be pumped in the middle of the pipe. However, according to the present embodiment, the fluid storage capacity control means 12 is provided in the middle of the pipe 2 so that the capacity inside the pipe 2 can be changed apparently. Therefore, when it becomes impossible to pump the optical fiber cable 1 by the compressed fluid under constant pressure, the fluid storage capacity control means 12 is controlled at an arbitrary timing to change the apparent capacity in the pipe 2. This arbitrary timing is appropriately set according to the type of the optical fiber cable or pipe, the laying length of the optical fiber cable, or the like, or in accordance with empirical rules. FIG. 2 is an example of a graph showing a pressure fluctuation due to an apparent capacity change in the pipe 2 by the fluid storage capacity control means 12. One cycle is taken in about 2 minutes, and the pressure is 88.2 × 10 ⁴ Pa at constant pressure,
By using the fluid storage capacity control means 12, 83.3
The pulsation has a width of × 10 ^{4 to} 93.1 × 10 ⁴ Pa.

When the pressure of the compressed fluid pulsates in this way,
The position of the optical fiber cable 1 inside the pipe 2 changes with the pulsation, and the contact frictional force between the optical fiber cable 1 and the pipe 2 decreases, so that the optical fiber cable 1 starts moving again and the pumping distance further extends. .

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the fluid storage capacity control means 1
Instead of 2, the fluid leak control means 14 for leaking a part of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe 2 at an arbitrary timing.
That is the point. In the illustrated example, the fluid leak control means 14 is composed of an on-off valve attached to a branch pipe. A branch pipe open to the atmosphere is provided in the middle of the pipe 2, and an opening / closing valve is attached to the branch pipe to control opening / closing of the branch pipe at any timing. When the pressure is reduced and closed, the pressure in the pipe 2 is returned to the steady pressure. This can also cause pulsation in the pressure of the compressed fluid.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing pressure fluctuations in the pipe 2 by the fluid leak control means. Steady pressure 8
The lower limit is 78.4 × 10 ⁴ with the upper limit of 8.2 × 10 ⁴ Pa.
The pulsation has a width of Pa.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the fluid storage capacity control means 1
Instead of 2, the supply fluid pressure control means 15 for controlling the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe 2 at an arbitrary timing.
That is the point. In the illustrated example, the supply fluid control means 15 is constituted by a valve opening control valve, and the compressed fluid supply device 1
3 and the optical fiber pneumatic feeding device 9 are attached to the supply path. Valve opening control By controlling the opening of the valve,
A pulsating fluid is supplied into the pipe 2. The pressure fluctuation at that time is the same as that in FIG.

As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the pressure of the compressed fluid is controlled by the output of the optical fiber pneumatic pumping device 9,
In the third embodiment, the control is performed on the input side. However, by pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe 2 together, the frictional resistance can be removed and the pumping limit of the optical fiber cable can be further extended. it can. The timing control may be manual or automatic. In addition, although the lower limit value of pulsation is set to the atmospheric pressure or higher in all the above-mentioned embodiments, this may be set to the atmospheric pressure.

[0029]

(1) According to the method of claim 1,
Even if the pumping at the steady pressure becomes the limit, the pressure can be removed by a simple operation of pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe, and the pumping distance can be further extended.

(2) According to the apparatus described in claims 2 to 4, as means for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid, fluid storage capacity control means for varying the capacity in the pipe and compression supplied to the pipe. Since the fluid leak control means for leaking a part of the fluid and the supply fluid pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe are used, a complicated device such as a relay device is not required, and the structure is It can be simplified and can be constructed at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a wire laying apparatus for carrying out the wire laying method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a pressure time-dependent change characteristic diagram showing an example of pulsation of the pressure in the pipe when the fluid storage capacity control means according to the first embodiment is used.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the apparatus for laying a linear body for carrying out the method for laying a linear body of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a pressure time-dependent change characteristic diagram showing an example of pulsation of the pipe internal pressure when the fluid leak control means according to the second embodiment is used.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the apparatus for laying a linear body for carrying out the method for laying a linear body of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a wire laying device used in a conventional optical fiber pneumatic feeding method.

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a relay pumping system which is an example of a conventional long pumping.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber cable 9 Optical fiber pneumatic feeding device 11 Optical fiber cable bobbin 12 Fluid storage capacity control means 13 Compressed fluid supply device 14 Fluid leak control means 15 Supply fluid pressure control means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method of laying a linear body in which a fluid compressed at a pressure of atmospheric pressure or more is supplied into a pipe to pressure-feed the linear body, wherein the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe is pulsated. A method for laying a filamentous body, characterized in that 2. A fluid pumping means for overcoming the resistance of the pipe introduction portion to send out the filamentous body into the pipe and forcing the ejected filamentous body by a compressed fluid, and the capacity in the pipe is made apparently variable. And a fluid storage capacity control means for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe. 3. A fluid pumping means for overcoming the resistance of the pipe introduction portion to send out the filamentous body into the pipe and forcing the ejected filamentous body by compressed fluid, and one of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe. And a fluid leak control means for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe. 4. A fluid pumping means for overcoming the resistance of the pipe introduction part to send out the filamentous body into the pipe and forcing the ejected filamentous body by compressed fluid, and the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe. And a supply fluid pressure control means for pulsating the pressure of the compressed fluid supplied into the pipe.