CABLE PACKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A method of packing a plurality of lengths of cable includes routing a first length of cable around a first guide that extends from a first half of a packing system base. A second length of cable is routed around a second guide that extends from a second half of the packing system base. A third length of the cable is routed around the first guide such that the third length of cable is located on the first length. The second half of the packing system base is then folded onto the first half, such that the second length of cable is deposited on top of the third length of cable, around the first guide. The second half is then unfolded from the first half such that the first length of cable, the second length of cable, and the third length of cable form a first cable loop.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/695,861, filed Aug. 31, 2012, and titled “Cable Packing Systems and Methods,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDVarious types of cables are used in building trades, information technology systems, or other applications to provide necessary or desired service to locations within a building or other structure. These cables may include fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, phone cables, electrical power cables, etc. These cables are manufactured in bulk lengths and stored on cable reels that are too large to be easily manipulated in the field. For example, a bulk reel of cable may weigh hundreds of pounds and store many hundreds of feet of cable. Due to the size of these reels, however, shorter lengths of cable must be transferred to some type of field device, such as a smaller reel or discrete coil that is then brought into the field. The cables used in the field, however, must be stored so as to resist tangling and kinking Typically, cable is unspooled from a cable reel and stacked in a repeated overlapping pattern (in a so-called “figure 8”). Using this pattern helps reduce or eliminate twisting and kinking in the unspooled cable, but the completed stack of cable can be large and unwieldy.
SUMMARYIn one aspect, the technology relates to a method of packing a plurality of lengths of a cable, the method including: routing a first length of the cable around a first guide, wherein the first guide extends from a first half of a packing system base; routing a second length of the cable around a second guide, wherein the second guide extends from a second half of the packing system base; routing a third length of the cable around the first guide such that the third length of the cable is located on the first length of the cable; folding the second half onto the first half, such that the second length of the cable is deposited on top of the third length of the cable, around the first guide; and unfolding the second half from the first half, wherein the first length of the cable, the second length of the cable, and the third length of the cable form a first cable loop. In another aspect, the technology relates to a bundle of cable arranged in a folded figure eight pattern using the above method.
A cable storage system including: a foldable base comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half and the second half are joined at a hinge; a first guide extending from the first half; a second guide extending from the second half; and a separation element detachably secured to the first half, wherein the separation element is adapted to separate a plurality of loops of a cable.
These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad aspects of the disclosure.
There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the technology is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like structure.
In the depicted embodiment, the first pegs 112 and the second pegs 118 are substantially similar mirror images of each other, which allow them to align then the second half 106 is folded onto the first half 104, as described below. While this is not required, such a layout may be advantageous during packing of a cable 122. The cable 122 is unspooled from a bulk reel 125 that may be located at the factory where the cable was manufactured, or at a service provider facility (such as a warehouse or distribution center for a service provider). By unspooling the cable 122 and packing it with the cable packing system 100 as described below, manageable lengths of cable 122 may be brought easily into the field for installation. The length of cable stacked in accordance with the methods described herein resists twisting and kinking but is maintained in a more compact stack than previously available.
An alternative embodiment of a cable packing system 200 is depicted in
Prior to continuing the next step of the cable packing process, the arms 210 are folded over the first loop 212 of cable, as depicted in
The packing system may be manufactured of materials typically used in the field of cable storage and distribution, for example cardboard, paper board, plastics, etc. Systems manufactured from such materials may also be utilized to pack the finished coil upon completion for shipping. Alternatively, the packing system may be manufactured of wood, thin metal, or a wire mesh. The guide elements may be manufactured from materials similar to those used in the base of the packing system, although more robust materials such as metal or hard plastic may be more desirable to resist deflection of the guides during use.
While there have been described herein what are to be considered exemplary and preferred embodiments of the present technology, other modifications of the technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. The particular methods of manufacture and geometries disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and are not to be considered limiting. It is therefore desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the technology. Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is the technology as defined and differentiated in the following claims, and all equivalents.
Claims
1. A method of packing a plurality of lengths of a cable, the method comprising:
- routing a first length of the cable around a first guide, wherein the first guide extends from a first half of a packing system base;
- routing a second length of the cable around a second guide, wherein the second guide extends from a second half of the packing system base;
- routing a third length of the cable around the first guide such that the third length of the cable is located on the first length of the cable;
- folding the second half onto the first half, such that the second length of the cable is deposited on top of the third length of the cable, around the first guide; and
- unfolding the second half from the first half, wherein the first length of the cable, the second length of the cable, and the third length of the cable form a first cable loop.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising crossing a portion of the third length of the cable over a portion of the second length of the cable.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
- after forming the first cable loop, routing a fourth length of the cable around the second guide;
- routing a fifth length of the cable around the first guide such that the fifth length of the cable is located on the first cable loop;
- folding the second half onto the first half, such that the fourth length of the cable is deposited on top of the fifth length of the cable, around the first guide; and
- unfolding the second half from the first half, wherein the fourth length of the cable and the fifth length of the cable form a second cable loop.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
- after forming the second cable loop, routing a sixth length of the cable around the second guide;
- routing a seventh length of cable around the first guide such that the seventh length of the cable is located on the second cable loop;
- folding the second half onto the first half, such that the sixth length of the cable is deposited on top of the seventh length of the cable, around the first guide; and
- unfolding the second half from the first half, wherein the sixth length of the cable and the seventh length of the cable form a third cable loop.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first guide comprises a first plurality of pegs extending substantially orthogonally from the first half
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second guide comprises a second plurality of pegs extending substantially orthogonally from the second half, wherein the second pegs are shorter than the first pegs.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of pegs are spaced evenly from a central point.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of pegs are each located at a distance of about 20 inches from the central point.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first guide and the second guide comprise substantially mirror-image structures located on opposite sides of a hinge connecting the first half and the second half.
10. The method of claim 3, further comprising restraining the first length of the cable, the second length of the cable, and the third length of the cable while routing the fourth length of the cable and the fifth length of the cable.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising binding together the first length of the cable, the second length of the cable, and the third length of the cable.
12. The method of claim 3, further comprising placing a separation element on the first cable loop, prior to routing the fifth length of the cable.
13. A bundle of cable arranged in a folded figure eight pattern using the method of claim 1.
14. A cable storage system comprising:
- a foldable base comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half and the second half are joined at a hinge;
- a first guide extending from the first half;
- a second guide extending from the second half; and
- a separation element detachably secured to the first half, wherein the separation element is adapted to separate a plurality of loops of a cable.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first guide comprises a first plurality of pegs extending substantially orthogonally from the first half.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second guide comprises a second plurality of pegs extending substantially orthogonally from the second half, wherein the second pegs are shorter than the first pegs.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of pegs are spaced evenly from a central point.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of pegs are each located at a distance of about 20 inches from the central point.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first guide and the second guide comprise substantially mirror-image structures located on opposite sides of the hinge.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (Berwyn, PA)
Inventor: Michael James Ott (Chaska, MN)
Application Number: 14/013,805
International Classification: B65H 54/10 (20060101);