Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulling an article such as a cable are disclosed. The apparatus includes a body having a portion configured to releasably secure the article. A compression force can be applied to secure the article and prevent slippage. A connector is provided at an end of the apparatus to facilitate attachment of a guide such as a thread.

Abstract: Balancing and synchronizing device for a plant (10) comprising one or more brake machines (12) for laying cables (11), each of which comprises a plurality of unwinding members each provided with at least a pair of capstans (14). The device comprises a plurality of control units (22, 22a), configured to automatically adjust the unwinding tension of each individual cable (11), and user interface means (18), independently connected to each control unit (22, 22a), so as to set predetermined functional and operating parameters of each pair of capstans (14). Each control unit (22, 22a) is connected to detector elements (21) of a corresponding pair of capstans (14). The device comprises a data transmission and reception line (25) to which the control units (22, 22a) are connected for at least a part of the laying cycle.

Abstract: An overhead tower assembly comprising an overhead tower, a threading device attached to the tower and defining an opening, a cable positioned through the opening, and a cable catcher attached to the cable. The catcher includes a body secured to the cable and sized to fit through the opening, and an arm attached to the body and movable relative to the body between a collapsed position, having a cross-section smaller than the opening, and an expanded position, having a cross-section larger than the opening. The catcher and can be used to perform a method including attaching the catcher to the cable, inserting an end of the cable through the threading device, pulling the cable through the threading device, contacting the arm with the threading device, moving the arm from the expanded position toward the collapsed position, continuing to pull the cable until the catcher has passed through the threading device, and moving the arm back to the expanded position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire installation device having a clamp and at least one flexible loop disposed on the clamp. The claimed device may also have a feeder section between the clamp and the loop. The loop or loops are preferably thin, and are capable of substantially dispersing from one another to increase the likelihood of being snagged or caught by a user's hand or a standard fish line. The loop or loops are flexible and made out of a tear resistant material. A set screw, or other tightening means, positioned on the clamp, securely holds the wire or cable that is being installed or threaded. The entire embodiment is designed to be robust, compact and flexible, and ideal for use within spatially restricted or concealed areas, to minimize the effort entailed in dragging and installing wiring. The present invention is a very flexible, inexpensive device that can be easily utilized by consumers or by those who are professionally engaged in the art.

Abstract: A vertical cable manager includes a base, an interconnected double-spine assembly topped by a top frame, and a pair of doors. The double-spine assembly is supported by the base. Each door is removably coupled at each lower corner to the base and at each upper corner to the top frame, thus permitting each door to be opened or hinged along either of its lateral sides or removed entirely. The double-spine assembly may support selectively repositionable mounting members, which may in turn support a large cable spool, a selectively repositionable shelf-mounted handle spool assembly, and various other cable management accessories.

Abstract: Pulling grip housing assemblies for a fiber optic assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulling grip assembly is comprised of a pulling grip housing for receiving part of a fiber optic assembly. A pulling grip sleeve is also provided. The pulling grip sleeve has at least one sleeve locking feature suitable for cooperating with a housing locking feature of the pulling grip housing to secure the pulling grip housing to the pulling grip sleeve. In this manner, the pulling grip housing can easily be secured to the pulling grip sleeve and removed when pulling of a fiber optic assembly is completed. The pulling grip housing and pulling grip sleeve can also be reused for pulling other fiber optic assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including an easily installed spiral support useful laying a cable. The spiral support is composed of a counterclockwise spiral portion and a clockwise spiral portion, both of which are connected to each other with a reverse portion therebetween. The spiral support is installed on a messenger wire in such a way that the reverse portion is fitted on the messenger wire; the spiral support is rotated counterclockwise or clockwise; and these steps are repeated.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

Abstract: A cable puller assembly includes a housing assembly, a motor assembly and an anti-fouling device. The motor assembly is secured to the housing assembly and has an output shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The output shaft is rotated about an axis of rotation by the motor assembly. The anti-fouling device has a capstan and a body. The output shaft is operatively associated with the capstan in order to rotate the capstan about the axis of rotation. The body is positioned around an end portion of the capstan proximate to the housing assembly. The body defines a sloped surface that biases incoming rope that wraps around the sloped surface down onto the capstan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including an easily installed spiral support useful laying a cable. The spiral support is composed of a counterclockwise spiral portion and a clockwise spiral portion, both of which are connected to each other with a reverse portion therebetween. The spiral support is installed on a messenger wire in such a way that the reverse portion is fitted on the messenger wire; the spiral support is rotated counterclockwise or clockwise; and these steps are repeated.

Abstract: A cable lasher is provided for securing a utility cable, such as a telephone or transmission cable, to a support strand strung in the air between adjacent utility poles. The lasher is pulled forwardly along the support strand and releases lashing wire from a drum at the rear of the lasher. The lasher has a pair of drive wheels that rotate on the support strand. The drive wheels translate linear motion of the lasher into rotational motion of the drum as the lasher moves forwardly. Lashing wire is released from the rotating drum and helically wrapped around the cable and the strand. Tension in the lashed wire is maintained by an adjustable latch assembly which prevents the lasher from moving rearwardly to unwind the wire.

Abstract: A cable lasher is provided for securing a utility cable, such as a telephone or transmission cable, to a support strand strung in the air between adjacent utility poles. The lasher is pulled forwardly along the support strand and releases lashing wire from a drum at the rear of the lasher. The lasher has a pair of drive wheels that rotate on the support strand. The drive wheels translate linear motion of the lasher into rotational motion of the drum as the lasher moves forwardly. Lashing wire is released from the rotating drum and helically wrapped around the cable and the strand. Tension in the lashed wire is maintained by an adjustable latch assembly which prevents the lasher from moving rearwardly to unwind the wire.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cable erection technique using a plastically deformable coil comprising a metal wire formed in a spiral shape and synthetic resin coated on a surface of the metal wire, wherein said coil is inserted outside around a tensile line drawn between utility poles, the coil is elongated until its plastic deformation for forming a series of cable arrangement spaces inside the spiral, and a cable is extended, added or extracted through the cable arrangement space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for building an overhead infrastructure capable of minimizing loads to utility poles, increasing suspension spaces on the utility poles, decreasing costs for constructing the overhead infrastructure, and improving an appearance and maintenance workability thereof. The method comprises a step of drawing a tensile line between utility poles, a step of putting around the tensile line a plastically deformable coil having a metal wire formed in a spiral shape and synthetic resin coated on a surface of the metal wire, a step of elongating the coil until its plastic deformation so as to form a basic construction with a series of overhead cableway capable of holding a plurality of overhead lines inside the spiral of the coil, and a step of extending an overhead line in an empty space of the overhead cableway on demand.

Abstract: A cable lasher is provided for securing a telephone or transmission cable to a support strand strung in the air between adjacent utility poles to prevent sagging of the transmission cable. As the cable lasher traverses a span of the support strand, the lasher pays out a line of lashing wire that is helically wrapped around the cable and the strand to bind them together. A series of tensioning rollers maintains constant tension in the lashing wire at all times to ensure a tight uniform wind. A gearbox translates linear motion of the lasher along the guide wire into rotational motion of a drum portion of the lasher. The rotation of the drum causes the wrapping of the lashing wire about the cable and the strand. A one-way clutch allows the drum to rotate only in one direction when the clutch is engaged in order to prevent any slacking in the wound lashing wire.