THE SUPPORTING SYSTEM AND THE METHOD OF ITS LAYING.

Field of technology

The present invention falls within the field of the installation of cables and lines in pipes and relates to the optical cable protector for installation in pipes with a small diameter, i.e. a diameter where no human can enter and it is necessary to use a robot to lay the cable. The invention further relates to the support system carrying a cable protector in small diameter pipes. The invention also relates to the method (technological procedure) for accommodating the support system for the cable protector in pipes and small diameter pipe bends.

Current state of technology

A number of solutions are known for installing optical cables in sewer networks, for example the JPH05272664 file discloses the fixing of cables in pipes by means of pre-sprung horseshoe-shaped brackets made of flat material and fixed along the pipe walls with the open part facing downwards. These brackets abut on the inner walls of the pipe only by the force of their pre-springing and are set into the pipe by means of inverted T-shaped segments detachably attached by means of locks to the brackets at the ends of their arms which enclose the horseshoe shape to a smaller diameter than the pipe diameter and which are interconnected with a pulling cord. After transporting the brackets to the place of destination in the pipeline, the T-segments are disconnected from the brackets by pulling them in one direction by means of a pulling cord. The method of fastening the brackets is very complicated and the reliability of their fastening at a specific place is quite problematic, also due to the obviously weak expansion force of the brackets given only by the prestressing of the material used. Another design of a fastening element by means of which optical cables can be held in a waste water pipe is known, for example, from the EP953162 file. This fastening element consists of a flexibly prestressed closed stainless steel ring, which presses against the inner wall of the waste water pipe, and which is transported and fixed to the designated place by a remote-controlled robot. However, this solution cannot be used for pipes with a diameter of less than 200 mm. The EP1271728 file describes a similar fastening element, but made of a flexibly expandable thermoplastic material, which is expanded with hot water or steam. The magnitude of the pressing force holding the fastening element in place is debatable; furthermore this design considerably reduces the inner diameter of the pipe and its disassembly or the re- installation of cables is practically impossible. A similar cable fastening system is published in the JP2002250849, JPH06339216 and GB2345388 files, where the cable fastening is achieved with special foam in either the upper or lower part of the pipe. These solutions are unsuitable for small pipe diameters, as they greatly reduce its useful diameter and in these cases it is very problematic to add another cable or to uninstall or reinstall the same, because the foam deposit must first be removed and only then can these tasks be performed, which basically means a complete reinstallation. Another possible solution described in the JPH10110464 file is the use of a special pipe with an integrated bracket installed directly within during the production phase. However, such a solution is applicable and feasible only when new buildings are founded with a newly laid pipeline network and is therefore not applicable to the existing conventional pipelines already installed. There are also known solutions for laying cables with special attachment brackets fixed to the inner wall of the pipe by drilling it, which can result in damage to the pipe material and a risk of damage or rupture. The DE19825325 file describes a solution for laying optical cables by means of a longitudinally folded hose made of fabric or gel material, on the outer surface of which the optical cables are fixed. The hose material is impregnated with a thermosetting or UV curable resin. After it is inserted into the pipe, the hose is stretched and pressed against the inner surface of the pipe with pressurized air and subsequently it is cured by heat or UV radiation. Any inspection of installation (lying) of optical cables, or their replacement or addition of another cable is impossible. The resistance of the material of the hose inserted to the pipe to the mechanical or chemical influences given by the internal environment of the waste pipe also appears to be problematic. The documents US2017299837 (A1 ), US2015153533 (A1 ) NL2009655 and US201 1309314 (A1 describe the solution of routing the optical cable loosely in the bottom part of the pipe and the branching is addressed by means of an insert that greatly reduces the useful diameter. These solutions are used for pressure sewers, not for conventional inclined sewerage. In addition, these solutions are associated with problems during cleaning of the sewer and especially when adding new cables to the original one.

A common feature of these designs is the possibility of their use only in the backbone waste pipes with pipe diameters in the range of 200 to 800 mm, which is provided in the points of "bends" and in straight sections after a certain distance accessible through inspection shafts. The fasteners are installed in such a way that an assembly car arrives above the shaft, the operator descends and inserts an installation robot into the pipes, which transports the clamps or other fastening element in place, always only in straight sections.

Essence of the invention

The disadvantages of the known designs and solutions are eliminated by the optical cable protector for installation in small-diameter pipes that contains a rigid outer protector in the shape of the pipe. The essence of the invention lies in that the rigid outer protector consists of separate segments, the length of which depends on the site of their placement in the pipes, while at least one inner flexible tube (in which the optical cable is guided) is routed through the inner diameter of the segments. The segments cover the inner flexible tube and the optical cable in straight sections of the pipes, while in the bends of the pipes the optical cable is covered by the inner flexible tube. It is advantageous when the inner flexible tube consists of an inner flexible safety tube in which the inner flexible active tube is housed.

The support system for mounting the cable protector in small diameter pipes includes fastening components. On the straight sections of pipes, segments of the rigid outer protector are fastened to the fastening components from the adjoining straight sections of the pipe or from the pipe inlet or from the outlet opening of the cable protector. At the end of the straight section and closely before the start of the bend of the pipe, the first bending fastening component is attached, into which the first segment of the rigid outer protector is fastened and terminated from the adjoining straight section of the pipe. At the beginning of the straight section and closely behind the end of the bend of the pipe, the second bending fastening component is attached, into which the second segment of the rigid outer protector is fastened and terminated from the adjoining straight section of the pipe. The other end of the second segment faces the further fastening component on a straight section of pipe or is outlet from the pipe to the outside. An inner flexible tube is routed in the bend of the pipe between the first bending fastening component and the second bending fastening component. The cable protector segments are not routed or laid in the pipe bends. The above-mentioned placement and routing of the cable protector in small-diameter pipes is achieved in a manner that comprises the following steps:

Fastening components are fastened to the inner diameter of the pipe by attaching in straight sections of the pipe at a distance from each other to prevent the sagging of the cable protector and by attaching in the bends of the pipes by tightly fastening to the straight section of the pipe at the beginning of the pipe bend before the start of the pipe bend, and at the end of the pipe bend, it is fastened just behind the end of the pipe bend to the beginning straight section of the pipe.

Subsequently, a cable protector is freely inserted into the inner diameter of the pipe. Then, on the straight section of the pipe, the rigid outer protector of the cable protector is snapped into the fastening component.

Subsequently, at the beginning of the bend of the pipe, the rigid outer protector coming from the fastening component on the straight section of pipe is separated from the rigid outer protector directed to the bend of the pipe without breaking the inner flexible tube, thus forming the first segment of the rigid outer protector.

Subsequently, the first segment snaps into the fastening component, which is called the first bending fastening component, in which the first segment is terminated.

The second segment is formed from the cut-off part of the rigid outer protector, followed by its displacement along the inner flexible tube by the length of the bend of the pipe to another fastening component, which is called the second bending fastening component.

This is followed by the snapping of the second segment into the second bending fastening component, while the second part of the second segment faces another fastening component along the straight section of pipe or is outlet from the pipe to the outside.

An advantage of the invention is that the optical cable can be installed in the existing sewer connections without the need for excavation work. Along with the placement of the cable in the sewer, the builder also avoids the complex administrative process of obtaining a building permit, which is preceded by negotiations on the location of the future optical cable in protection zones, which is currently probably the biggest benefit today, when these negotiations last several years and quite often lead to the failure and abandonment of the intention on account of the disagreement of the protection zone administrator.

Explanation of drawings

The invention is further clarified in the accompanying drawings, which show:

FIG. 1 - cable protector with single inner flexible tube

FIG. 2 - cable protector with two inner flexible tubes

FIG. 3 - supporting system for attaching the cable protector to the pipe

FIG. 4 - attachment of fastening components to the pipe (hereinafter the sewer pipe)

FIG. 5 - insertion of the cable protector into the sewer pipe

FIG. 6 - attachment of the cable protector to the fastening component in a straight section of the sewer pipe

FIG. 7 - separation of the cable protector at the beginning of the pipe bend from the cable protector behind the pipe bend, formation of the first segment from the rigid cable protector and extension of the cable protector (second segment) along the inner flexible protective cable to the end of the pipe bend

FIG. 8 - attachment (snapping) of the first segment to the bracket of the first bending fastening component attached at the beginning of the pipe bend

FIG. 9 - attachment of the second segment to the fastening component at the end of the pipe bend

FIG. 10 - situation after attaching the remaining segments of the cable protector to other fastening components and after the lead out of the inner flexible tube with the optical cable from the pipe

Example

The cable protector (20) for routing the optical cable (1 ) for insertion into the small diameter pipes (2) shown in Fig. 1 consists of separate tubular segments, (4.1 ) which are formed by a rigid outer protector (4) when installing the cable protector (4) in the pipes (2). The length of the segments (4.1 ) depends on where they are laid in the pipes. The rigid outer protector (4) and thus the segments (4.1 ) are made of rigid heat-bendable plastic. An inner flexible tube (5) is routed through the inner diameter (4.3) of the segments (4.1 ), where this tube (5) is formed by an inner flexible active tube,

(5.2) , in which the optical cable (1 ) is routed. The segments (4.1 ) cover the inner flexible tube (5) and the optical cable (1 ) in straight sections (2.5) of the pipes (2), while in the bends (2.4) of the pipes (2) the optical cable is covered by the inner flexible tube (5) - Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 shows the cable protector (20) of the same design as the protector in Fig. 1. In contrast to the protector of Fig. 1 , an inner flexible safety tube (5.1 ) is routed through the inner diameter (4.3) of the segments (4.1 ), while the inner flexible active tube (5.2) is routed through its inner diameter. An optical cable (1 ) is placed in the inner flexible active tube (5.2). The choice of two internal flexible tubes (5.1 , 5.2) is due to the technological procedure of installing the cable protector (20) in the pipe, where the cutting mechanism with a rotating cutting disc for cutting segments (4.1 ) in the pipe (2) (as will be shown in the part of the example showing the method of placing the cable protector) shows certain inaccuracies, therefore when cutting the segments (4.1 ), the inner flexible tube (5) placed below it may also be damaged. If the cable protector (20) contains only one inner flexible tube (5), then, if this inner flexible tube (5) is damaged, water and dirt will also ingress into the optical cable (1 ) and it is subject to damage. For this reason, it is advantageous to choose two inner flexible tubes (5), where if the inner flexible safety tube (5.1 ) is damaged, the inner flexible active tube (5.2) will remain undamaged (and will be“actively”, being intact throughout the installation, protecting the optical cable). As with the protector in Fig. 1 , the segments (4.1 ) cover the inner flexible safety tube (5.1 ), the inner flexible active tube (5.2) and the optical cable (1 ) in the straight sections (2.5) of the pipes (2), while in the bends (2.4) of the pipes (2) the optical cable (1 ) is covered only by the inner flexible safety tube (5.1 ) and the inner flexible active tube (5.2) - Fig. 3.

The support system (30) for attaching the cable protector (20) to the small diameter pipes (2) (Fig. 3) comprises fastening components (6). The fastening components (6) consist of clamps (3), which comprise a flat clamping strap, for their attaching to the inner diameter (2.1 ) of the pipe (2). Cable brackets (8) are mounted on the clamp (3), in which segments (4.1 ) formed of the rigid outer protector (4) during installation of the cable protector (20) into the pipes (2) are fastened and routed. Fastening components (6) with brackets (8) are fastened:

- in straight sections (2.5) of pipes (2) at reasonable distances from each other to prevent sagging of the cable protector (20) and its damage due to physical and chemical conditions in the pipes

- at the end of the straight section (2.2) just before the start of the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2)

- at the beginning of the straight section (2.3) just behind the end of the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2)

Each segment (4.1 ) formed of a rigid outer protector (4) is fixed to at least one bracket (8). In the bracket (8) placed at the end (2.2) of the straight section of pipe (2), just before the start of the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2) and in the bracket (8) at the beginning of the straight section (2.3), just behind the end of the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2), the segments (4.1 ) are terminated and only the inner flexible tube (5) containing only the inner flexible active tube (5.2) is routed between these brackets (8) in the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2), as shown in Fig. 1 , or the inner flexible safety tube (5.1 ) and the inner flexible active tube (5.2), as shown in Fig.2. An optical cable (1 ) is placed in the inner flexible active tube. Due to its strength, there is no rigid outer protector (4) or segments (4.1 ) in the bends (2.4) of the pipes (2). The segments (4.1 ) coming out from the bracket (8) mounted in the straight section (2.5) of the pipe (2) point to another bracket (8) on the straight section (2.5) of the pipe (2), or to the bracket (8) at the beginning or the end of the bend of the pipe, or they are outlet from the pipe (2).

A method of placing the cable protector (20) of an optical cable (1 ) in a pipe, e.g. in a sewer pipe (2), directed from the main sewer system to a certain building facility, e.g. a house (hereinafter, the term“piping” will be used instead of the term“pipe”). In this method of installation, robots are used to perform specific tasks, in particular:

- an installation robot that installs fastening components in the pipe

- the fastening robot (1 1 ), is a robot which comprises a snap-in part (1 1.1 ), by means of which it fastens (snaps) the segments of the cable protector to the fastening component) and further comprises a dividing part (1 1.2), by means of which it forms the segments by dividing the rigid outer protector The installation (laving) method includes the following steps:

Step 1 (fig. 4)

Attaching of the fastening components (6) comprising a clamp (3) carrying a bracket (8) by an installation robot (not shown) to the inner diameter (2.1 ) of the piping (2). This installation proceeds from the pipe inlet (9) towards the outlet opening (10) of the optical cable (1 ) to a house. On the straight sections (2.5) of the piping, the fastening components (6) are fastened at such a distance from each other that the cable protector (20) does not sag. The fastening components (6) in the bends (2.4) of the piping (2) are fastened so that at the beginning of the bend of the piping (2) they are fastened to the straight section of the piping (2) just before the beginning (2.2) of the piping bend, and at the end of the piping (2) bend they are fastened behind the end (2.3) of the piping (2) bend to the beginning straight section of the pipe. If the fastening components (6) were installed on the piping (2.4) bend, the fastening components (6) would disproportionately reduce the flow rate of the piping (2) and create places where the pipe could become clogged. Because the fastening components (6) are laid by an installation robot that detects pipe bending by means of sensors, thereby creating inaccuracies, it is advisable to install the fastening components (6) at a distance of 0-100 mm in front of the site which the robot marks as a pipe bending depending on robot accuracy and pipe diameter. It is also advisable to place the brackets (8) of the fastening components (6) in the upper third of the piping, but situations may occur - for example if the piping is significantly oversized, that upper half may be used, or on the contrary, if the piping is significantly undersized, the upper fifths may, for example, be used. Generally speaking, it is advisable to place the installation as high as possible.

Step 2 (fig. 5)

free insertion of the cable protector (20) into the inner diameter (2.1 ) of the piping (2). When freely inserting the cable protector (20), for example, the procedure is that after the installation of the last fastening component (6), the inner flexible tube (5) is placed on the installation robot through the outlet opening (10) and the installation robot, which will return through the piping (2) back to the pipe inlet (9), will introduce the inner flexible tube (5) freely into the pipe. When the installation robot returns to the pipe inlet (9), the inner flexible tube (5) is retracted to the surface, while this inner flexible tube (5) is extended by the length of the entire installation, i.e. by the length from the pipe inlet (9) up to the outlet opening (10) plus the length of the operating reserve, e.g. 1 - 2 m to the surface above the pipe inlet (9). An outer rigid protector (4) is slid onto the inner flexible tube (5) on the surface and then the rigid outer protector (4) with the inner flexible tube (5) are pulled together back into the piping (2).

Step 3 (fig. 6)

On the straight section (2.5) of the piping (2), the fastening robot (1 1 ) snaps the rigid outer protector (4) of the cable protector (20) into the bracket (8) of the fastening component (6) by means of the snap-in part (1 1.1 ).

Step 4 (fig. 7)

At the beginning (2.2) of the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2), the fastening robot (1 1 ) separates, with its dividing part (11.2), the rigid outer protector (4) coming from the fastening component (6) on the straight section (2.5) of the pipe (2) from the rigid outer protector (4) directed into the bend (2.4) of the pipe (2) with the inner flexible tube (5) being intact, when the part coming from the fastening component (6) is the first segment (4.1 , 4.1.1 ) and the second part is the second segment (4.1 ) , 4.1.2). The operator manually shifts the second segment (4.1 , 4.1.2) from the outlet opening (10) site of the cable protector by a length corresponding to the bending length of the pipe (2.4) bend.

Step 5 (fig. 8)

The first segment (4.1.1 ) is snapped into the bracket (8) of the first bending fastening component (6.1 ), in which the first segment (4.1.1 ) is terminated, by means of the fastening part (1 1.1 ) of the fastening robot (1 1 ).

Step 7 (fig. 9)

The fastening robot (1 1 ) snaps the second segment (4.1.2) into the bracket (8) of the second bending fastening component (6.2) by the snap-in part (1.1 ).

Step 8 (fig. 10)

Attaching the second segment (4.1.2) by the fastening robot (11 ) (not shown) to another fastening component (6) in a straight section (2.5) of the pipe (2) or to the fastening components (6) in the bend (2.4) of the piping pipe (2) or its outlet through the outlet opening (10) outside the piping (2).

Step 9 (fig. 10)

At the end of the installation, the inner flexible tube (5) is led out through the outlet opening (10) of the cable protector (20) out of the piping (2) and at the very end the optical cable (1 ) is inserted into the inner flexible tube (5). The individual steps of the installation method are repeated depending on whether the cable protector segments are installed in a straight section of pipe or in the bends of the pipe. After installation, no rigid outer protector or composed segments are routed in the pipe bends, while the optical cable is protected in the pipe bends only by an inner flexible tube.