Abstract: A manufacturing process converts a standard flat belt conveyor belt into a new, positively driven, pitch differential belt. A strip of thermoplastic material having a physical characteristic, such as melting temperature, that differs from the physical characteristic of the thermoplastic material comprising the conveyor belt, is applied to the drive side of a commercially available conveyor belt and machined to create a plurality of teeth, or drive bars, of any desired geometry that is configured to engage with the with sprockets or drums of the drive mechanism on the conveyor. The strip and/or drive bars can also be made by additive manufacturing, such as by 3D printing. Two ends of the resulting belt segment are cut to length and spliced, preferably with finger joints, to make a continuous loop using an industry standard hot-plate vulcanizer with a custom fitting called an alignment mold.

Abstract: Before pulling a leading end of a fiber optic cable through a duct in order to splice the cable fibers to other fibers located at a far end of the duct, the outer jacket of the cable and elements surrounding the cable fibers are removed to expose the fibers. The exposed fibers are prepared by (a) removing coatings on the fibers, (b) cleaving the ends of the fibers, and (c) placing the cleaved fibers into one or more protective covers. A cable grip or sock is dimensioned and formed to envelop the leading end of the cable including the protective covers, up to and including the outer jacket. The grip together with the cable are pulled through the duct, and the grip and the protective covers are removed at the far end of the duct to expose the cleaved fibers for splicing to the other fibers at the far end.

Abstract: Before pulling a leading end of a fiber optic cable through a duct in order to splice the cable fibers to other fibers located at a far end of the duct, the outer jacket of the cable and elements surrounding the cable fibers are removed to expose the fibers. The exposed fibers are prepared by (a) removing coatings on the fibers, (b) cleaving the ends of the fibers, and (c) placing the cleaved fibers into one or more protective covers. A cable grip or sock is dimensioned and formed to envelop the leading end of the cable including the protective covers, up to and including the outer jacket. The grip together with the cable are pulled through the duct, and the grip and the protective covers are removed at the far end of the duct to expose the cleaved fibers for splicing to the other fibers at the far end.

Abstract: A guide tool device for an optical fiber or cord includes a tool base that mounts on an adhesive syringe. A cord guide head has a flat leading edge, a key removably insertable into a keyway in the tool base, a guide channel for guiding a fiber toward the leading edge, and a tube for receiving an adhesive. An opening in the guide channel communicates adhesive from the tube into the channel, for applying the adhesive along a fiber while it is guided toward the leading edge on the guide head. A fitting is arranged to connect in sealing relationship with a distal end of the syringe, and a flexible tubing is connected between the fitting and the other end of the tube on the cord guide head. When urged toward the distal end of the syringe, the adhesive is communicated into the guide channel in the cord guide head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a hybrid or electro-optical cable. The cable includes an optical fiber having a core region and a cladding region formed around the core region, and at least one coating region formed around the optical fiber cladding region. The coating region includes at least one first electrically conductive carbon structure, at least one second electrically conductive carbon structure, and an electrically insulating material coupled between the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure. The cable provides optical energy transmission via the optical fiber. The cable also provides electrical energy transmission via the at least one first and second electrically conductive carbon structures.

Abstract: A guide tool device for an optical fiber or cord includes a tool base that mounts on an adhesive syringe. A cord guide head has a flat leading edge, a key removably insertable into a keyway in the tool base, a guide channel for guiding a fiber toward the leading edge, and a tube for receiving an adhesive. An opening in the guide channel communicates adhesive from the tube into the channel, for applying the adhesive along a fiber while it is guided toward the leading edge on the guide head. A fitting is arranged to connect in sealing relationship with a distal end of the syringe, and a flexible tubing is connected between the fitting and the other end of the tube on the cord guide head. When urged toward the distal end of the syringe, the adhesive is communicated into the guide channel in the cord guide head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a hybrid or electro-optical cable. The cable includes an optical fiber having a core region and a cladding region formed around the core region, and at least one coating region formed around the optical fiber cladding region. The coating region includes at least one first electrically conductive carbon structure, at least one second electrically conductive carbon structure, and an electrically insulating material coupled between the first electrically conductive carbon structure and the second electrically conductive carbon structure. The cable provides optical energy transmission via the optical fiber. The cable also provides electrical energy transmission via the at least one first and second electrically conductive carbon structures.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution cable for servicing living units inside a MDU building, is formed by surrounding differently colored optical fibers with a jacket having a diameter of not more than about 3.5 mm. The jacket is opaque for hiding the colored fibers at least partially from view, thus reducing or eliminating any negative visual impact of the cable when installed. The colored cable fibers are arranged so that they are visible to an installer when only the cable jacket is cut open. Connection modules are mounted at corresponding living units, and a section of the cable is placed in each module. The jacket on a cable section in a given module is cut open, and a fiber assigned to the corresponding living unit is identified by color. The fiber is cut, and a length of the fiber is removed from the cable section and stored in the given module.

Abstract: A method of installing a bundle of optical fibers associated with a fiber network through hallways or corridors in a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) to service a number of premises in the MDU. The bundle is adhered along a wall or other supporting surface in a hall or corridor leading to the premises, by dispensing or activating an adhesive material or component over one or both of the bundle and a desired installation path along the supporting surface, and applying the bundle to the supporting surface over the installation path. A cover layer surrounding the fiber bundle is opened at locations along the length of the bundle corresponding to each premises for which a bundle fiber is designated. At each location, the designated fiber is cut and removed from the bundle, and retained to connect to a drop fiber originating from the premises. Installation tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution cable for servicing living units inside a MDU building, is formed by surrounding differently colored optical fibers with a jacket having a diameter of not more than about 3.5 mm. The jacket is opaque for hiding the colored fibers at least partially from view, thus reducing or eliminating any negative visual impact of the cable when installed. The colored cable fibers are arranged so that they are visible to an installer when only the cable jacket is cut open. Connection modules are mounted at corresponding living units, and a section of the cable is placed in each module. The jacket on a cable section in a given module is cut open, and a fiber assigned to the corresponding living unit is identified by color. The fiber is cut, and a length of the fiber is removed from the cable section and stored in the given module.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution or breakout cable for serving multiple customer premises in a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) building. The cable contains a number of bend insensitive fibers each having a different colored coating for identification. A jacket of a flame-retardant polymer compound is extruded to surround the fibers. The jacket is sufficiently opaque to hide the color coated fibers at least partially from view, and the outer diameter of the jacket is not more than about 3.5 mm. A procedure for installing the cable through a hallway of a MDU building so as to lessen any negative visual impact of the installation on observers nearby is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thread for tying a group of fibers in a fiber optic cable having an outer jacket to one another to form a fiber bundle. The thread includes a length of a binder thread, and an adhesion material coated on the binder thread so that (a) the binder thread adheres to the group of optical fibers about which the thread is tied to form the fiber bundle, and the binder thread remains adhered to the bundled fibers to restrain movement of the fibers when the outer jacket and cable elements other than the bundled fibers are removed. After the binder thread is tied about a fiber bundle, exposed surfaces of the adhesion material coated on the binder thread are treated so that the thread does not adhere to any cable elements in proximity to the thread, other than the fibers of the bundle about which the thread is tied.

Abstract: An above-ground optical fiber cable installation consists of an optical fiber cable that is laid along an edge of a street (such as along a curb), and then covered with an adhesive overcoat material, such as a fast-curing epoxy and/or concrete repair/resurface compounds. The adhesive overcoat initially functions to affix the optical fiber cable to the street, and as it cures provides a protective encapsulation for the installed cable. The hard shell prevents exposure of the optical fiber cable to the environment and reduces the potential for damage from equipment that might otherwise cut through the cable. This type of cable installation is useful for situations that require rapid deployment, and avoids the need for creating either underground or aerial pathways.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt comprises a flat belt with sidewalls. Each sidewall has slots spaced at regular intervals, and disposed at an acute angle relative to the facing surface of the sidewall, so that the belt can make a reverse bend with minimal obstruction. The sidewall may have overlapping sections in an alternate embodiment.

Abstract: A thread for tying a group of fibers in a fiber optic cable having an outer jacket to one another to form a fiber bundle. The thread includes a length of a binder thread, and an adhesion material coated on the binder thread so that (a) the binder thread adheres to the group of optical fibers about which the thread is tied to form the fiber bundle, and the binder thread remains adhered to the bundled fibers to restrain movement of the fibers when the outer jacket and cable elements other than the bundled fibers are removed. After the binder thread is tied about a fiber bundle, exposed surfaces of the adhesion material coated on the binder thread are treated so that the thread does not adhere to any cable elements in proximity to the thread, other than the fibers of the bundle about which the thread is tied.

Abstract: Drop cable assemblies suitable for an optical fiber distribution system are disclosed. For some embodiments, the drop cable assembly splits an input optical fiber to a plurality of optical fibers and provides optical connection to designated premises. For other embodiments, the drop cable assembly receives multi-fiber optical connection and provides the optical connections to designated premises.

Abstract: An optical fiber distribution or breakout cable for serving multiple customer premises in a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) building. The cable contains a number of bend insensitive fibers each having a different colored coating for identification. A jacket of a flame-retardant polymer compound is extruded to surround the fibers. The jacket is sufficiently opaque to hide the color coated fibers at least partially from view, and the outer diameter of the jacket is not more than about 3.5 mm. A procedure for installing the cable through a hallway of a MDU building so as to lessen any negative visual impact of the installation on observers nearby is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable distribution box has an interface compartment for interfacing a first set of fibers when routed inside the compartment, with a second set of fibers associated with a fiber optic cable that is routed to the box. A drum region is disposed beneath the interface compartment. The drum region includes a cylindrical wall for supporting a fiber optic cable wound about the wall. The drum region is formed so that the box can turn about the axis of the cylindrical wall when a cable is paid out from the drum region. The interface compartment and the drum region are constructed so that the first set of fibers inside the interface compartment, originate from an inside end portion of the cable wound on the drum region.