Devices and Method for Cable Installation

The present invention relates to devices and a method for cable installation.

When cables are used to connect, for example, computers to a central hub, such as a server room, each cable must be allocated a unique identification label to ensure that correct connections are made. Structured cabling is often manufactured off site and transported to the site of installation where the cabling is labelled. It is common for there to be multiple cables and labelling is a complex and time-consuming process, which increases the cost and difficulty of installation. Human error is a significant problem in the labelling and installation of cabling. Alternatively, the cable may also be labelled off-site, for example, by printing a label on the outer sheath of the cable during cable manufacture. To make such a printing process cost and time effective, labelling of the outer sheath is only suitable for installations using a large quantity of cable. The type of cable used is often specific to an installation and cable labelled in this way is often wasted when used in smaller or specialised installations.

Cables are conventionally transported on a drum, around which a loom of cable is wound. When a loom of cable is taken from a central hub to a site of installation the cable has to be unreeled from the drum. Both the drum and cable are heavy and bulky and so movement of the cable to the site of installation is difficult, tiring and time consuming. Manual unreeling of the cable requires an installation engineer to walk with the cable to unwind it. For each new batch of cable the engineer has to return to the origin of the cable and retrace their steps back to the site of installation. Movement with the heavy cable is a strenuous task. As an alternative to manual movement of cable, it is known to support a loom of cable by placing the loom over a pair of rotating drums when the cable is unreeled. However, the loom of cable is often damaged during transportation from a

site of manufacture to a site of installation or whilst at the site of installation. If the outer surface of the cylindrical loom is dented the loom cannot be unreeled easily because the loom will not roll smoothly over the pair of rotating drums.

Conventionally each reel or loom of cable is individually transported to the site of installation and any means for unreeling the loom are provided for each loom. Most installation sites require multiple looms of cable to be installed, which is a time and labour-intensive process. The looms are often transported to the site in packaging such as boxes. If the cables are unlabelled and the packaging is used to identify the cable prior to labelling and installation, the packaging cannot be disposed off until after installation. The packaging is bulky, takes up space at the site of installation and has to be disposed of after installation. It is often difficult to dispose of the unwanted packaging in an environmentally friendly way.

The present invention sets out to provide a device and system for cable installation which alleviates the problems described above by providing a quicker, more accurate, economical and user-friendly alternative to existing systems.

In one aspect, the invention provides a labelling device comprising a plate member having at least one labelled aperture for receiving therethrough two or more lengths of cable.

A labelling device which can be fixed to multiple lengths of cable simultaneously allows bundles of cables to be labelled quickly, accurately and securely away from the site of installation and reduces the time at the site of installation.

Preferably at least two labelling devices are provided for each length of cable.

By providing each length of cable with a pair of labelling devices both ends of each length of cable are labelled and the cable can be correctly connected at both its input and output. Providing more than two labelling devices along each length of cable allows for the cable to be used for multiple connections because it can be severed at more than one point and still be labelled by at least a pair of labelling devices.

Preferably the or each labelling device is temporarily fixed to the or each respective length of cable.

By being temporarily fixed to the lengths of cable, the or each labelling device can be easily reused. Removing the labelling device from the cable after installation allows the completed installation to be kept free of unnecessary components.

Preferably, the or each aperture is labelled with a number.

Alternatively, the or each aperture is labelled with any one of a code, colour, letter or name or a combination of the same.

Preferably, the labelling device is made of a plastics material.

Preferably still, the labelling device is made of a flexible or semi-flexible material.

A flexible labelling device allows the device to be flexed to pass through confined spaces at the site of installation.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of labelling at least one length of cable wherein the or each length of cable is labelled by passing the cable through at least one device having labelled apertures.

By labelling a length of cable at the site of manufacture the time, complexity, risk of error and cost of installation is reduced.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a cable installation device comprising a base member on which is mounted a revolving means and a substantially perpendicular support member wherein the support member in use, extends through a central core of a loom of cable.

A revolving device to support a loom of cable allows the cable to be unreeled easily without having to move the drum supporting the cable. The cable can be unreeled without significant effort by the installer, which reduces the time and cost of installation. The cable can be easily unreeled irrespective of any damage to the outer surface of the cable loom.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a moveable device for housing at least one loom of cable wherein the device is separated into at least two compartments each for receiving a cable loom.

A device for simultaneously moving multiple looms of cable reduces the time, effort and cost of cable installation. By providing compartments, each loom of cable is housed separately from any other loom such that each loom can follow an identical or a different route to the other looms. The compartments allow the looms to be kept separately without requiring the need for separate packaging. This saves space at the site of installation and dispenses with the need to dispose of packaging after installation.

Preferably, each compartment is located one above the other.

Preferably each compartment comprises a base member on which is mounted a revolving means and a substantially perpendicular support member wherein the support member in use, extends through a central core of a loom of cable.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which : -

Figures Ia, Ib, Ic and Id are plan views of a labelling device constructed in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a perspective view of an installation device in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2b is a cross-sectional view of the installation device of Figure 2a;

Figure 2c is a view from above of the installation device of Figures 2a and 2b;

Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of a storage device in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention; and

Figure 3b is a perspective view of a compartment of the storage device of Figure 3a.

Referring to Figures Ia to Id, a labelling device 1 comprises a plastic plate 2 with apertures 3 formed therein. The device is made of a plastics material such as Perspex™. Figure Ia shows four apertures 3 positioned in a square formation with each aperture at a corner of the square. Figure Ib shows six apertures 3 positioned at uniform intervals in a circular formation. Figure Ic shows twelve apertures positioned in two groups of six, with each of the group of apertures positioned at uniform intervals in a circular formation. Figure Id shows twenty-four apertures 3 positioned in two groups in a formation of concentric circles, with an inner group 5 of eight apertures and an outer group 7 of sixteen apertures.

It is clearly envisaged that the labelling device can have any number of apertures 3 positioned in any suitable formation.

Each aperture 3 is allocated a label. In Figures Ia to Id the label is a number. In alternative embodiments the label can be a symbol, letter, colour or name. The labelling device is made by injection moulding. All the apertures 3, or a proportion thereof receive, in use a length of cable (not shown). The diameter of the apertures is determined by the diameter of cable which is to be passed through the aperture 3. In use, the diameter of each aperture 3 is typically 1-2 mm greater than the outer diameter of the cable. This space between the cable and the walls of the associated aperture allows for ease of insertion whilst ensuring that the labelling device remains fixed to the cables during installation.

In use, the apertures 3 of a pair of labelling devices 1 are fitted over multiple lengths of cable at the site of manufacture. Each length of cable passes through the labelled aperture 3 of the first device 1 and a correspondingly labelled aperture 3 of the second device 1. The labelling devices 1 are selected from a group having differing numbers of apertures 3 depending on the number of cables in the cable bundle and the diameter of the cables. Slots on two opposing sides of the labelling device 1 enable plates to be tied together for ease of storage prior to fitting to and after removal from the cables. The labelling devices 1 remain attached to the bundle of cables during transportation to the installation site. By labelling the length of cable with a pair of labelling devices 1 both ends of each length of cable are labelled in the same manner.

At the site of installation, a first end of each length of cable is fitted according to its label, for example to a computer server. Once fitted the first labelling device 1 of the pair is removed. A second end of each length of cable is transported to a second connection site, for example, a network of computers. Each second end is fitted according to the label on

the second labelling device 1 of the pair. Once fitted the labelling device 1 is also removed.

Conventionally, cables are transported from a site of manufacture to a site of installation in looms. Referring to Figure 2a to 2c, a second aspect of the present invention comprises an installation device 9. The installation device 9 comprises a base plate having mounted thereon a support member 11 and a revolving platform 13. The support member 11 is a "top hat" shape configured to fit through the central axis of a loom or reel of cable. The upper plate of the support member 11 tapers downwardly to meet the cylindrical face of the support member 11 to allow for ease of movement when a loom of cable is unreeled. The revolving platform 13 revolves over wheels 15 placed at regular intervals under the platform 13. The wheels 15 are rotatably fixed to the base plate 17. The base plate 17 is dimensioned to be of the same shape and size as a standard flooring tile. For example, the base plate is typically 600 mm by 600 mm.

Referring to Figure 2b, in use, a flooring tile (not shown) at the site of installation is removed and the base plate 17 of the installation device 9 is fitted into an aperture previously occupied by the tile. A loom of cable 19 is placed over the support member 11 such that the support member 11 passes through the core of the loom 19. As the cable is unreeled from the loom 19, at the site of installation, the platform 13 revolves and the cable is unreeled whilst the central axis of the loom 19 remains supported in place by a hood placed over the support member to prevent the loom becoming dislodged from the support member.

Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, a storage device 21 comprises compartments 23 arranged in a stack 25. Each compartment 23 is made of a plastics material and is transparent. The storage device 21 comprises wheels 27 attached to the base of the lowermost compartment 23 in the stack 25. The forward face 29 of each compartment 23 is open to allow for removal of cable from a loom 31.

In use, each compartment 23 houses a loom of cable 31. When the loom/s of cable 31 are simultaneously transported to the site of installation each cable is unreeled whilst the loom/s 31 are kept separately in their respective compartments 23.

In an alterative embodiment, each compartment 21 of the stack 23 could contain an installation device 9 as shown in Figures 2a to 2c.

The above described embodiment has been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.