Patent Description:
With development of the modern society and explosive growth of information, people have an increasing requirement on a network throughput capability. Due to exclusive features such as an ultra-high bandwidth and low electromagnetic interference, optical transmission gradually becomes a mainstream solution of modern communication. Particularly, a network newly established at the present stage, for example, an access network represented by fiber to the home (Fiber To The Home, FTTH) is currently deployed on a large scale.

During construction of a fiber-to-the-home network, from an optical line terminal (Optical Line Terminal, OLT) to an access terminal box (Access terminal box, ATB) of a user, a feeder cable, a distribution cable, and a drop cable need to be passed through in sequence. The drop cable is configured to connect a fiber division box to the access terminal box (Access terminal box, ATB). In a construction manner, the drop cable is usually laid along an in-wall pipe. For mounting of a cable that passes a wall, a pull rope needs to be embedded in the pipe, and the cable is pulled during construction. Two persons are required in such an installation manner. One person pushes the cable inward at an inlet of the in-wall pipe, and the other person pulls the cable outward at an outlet of the in-wall pipe. Construction costs are relatively high, and currently, no pull rope is embedded in most in-wall pipes. In addition, in actual cases, most in-wall pipes have sharp angles and relatively long distances. Pipes in some houses may be occupied by other cables such as copper cables, and remaining space is narrow. It is difficult to mount a cable with a large outer diameter. <CIT> discloses a hauling shroud, a cable termination and methods of hauling a fibre optic cable with a pre-connected optic termination along a conduit. The hauling shroud protects the optic termination when being hauled along the conduit. The hauling shroud includes a first housing member and a second housing member such that the first housing member and the second housing member can be joined together to enclose the optic termination. <CIT> discloses oil and gas pipes returns and drags with optical cable and special-purpose construction draw-gear thereof with a hole. <CIT> discloses a method of introducing a fiber optic conduit into a pressurized gas pipeline that includes the step of introducing a translating member into the pressurized gas pipeline via an entry port in a first drilling nipple attached to the pressurized gas pipeline. Tools are deployed within a first pressure lock housing attached to the first drilling nipple by using a first manipulator located in the first air lock housing.

<CIT> discloses an end piece provided for guiding a needle intended to be inserted in a sheath occupied by at least one installed cable. The end piece includes: a free first end referred to as a head of a shape suited to slipping in between an internal wall of the sheath and the at least one installed cable; a second end fixed to the needle; and a part connecting the two ends and referred to as a shank. The shank has a flexibility that increases toward the head.

The present invention provides an assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration according to claim <NUM>. Embodiments of this application provide an assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration and a cable, by using which one person can lay a drop cable with low construction costs and the cable easily passes through a plurality of angles inside an in-wall pipe.

The following technical solutions are used in the embodiments of this application to achieve the foregoing objective:.

According to a first aspect, this application provides an assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration, including a traction member, and a guide pipe, where one end of the traction member is securely connected to the cable, a pipe hole of the guide pipe is used to allow the cable to pass therethrough, and a gap exists between an inner wall of the guide pipe and an outer wall of the cable.

According to the assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration provided in this embodiment of this application, when a drop cable is laid, the traction member may first pass into a wall, and then the cable sleeved with the guide pipe passes into an in-wall pipe, so that the guide pipe is laid on one or more angles close to an inlet of the in-wall pipe, the guide pipe is fastened, and the cable continues to be pushed inward to the wall. Due to the guide pipe, the cable can successfully pass through the one or more angles close to the inlet of the in-wall pipe. In addition, because the traction member can successfully and smoothly pass through the angles of the in-wall pipe, the cable may be guided to successfully pass through the angle of the in-wall pipe, so that the cable easily passes through the angle during laying construction, and one person can lay the drop cable with low construction costs.

According to a first aspect, the traction member includes a traction rod and a traction head fastened to a first end of the traction rod. The traction rod is made of an elastic material, the traction head has a smooth surface, and a second end of the traction rod is securely connected to one end of the cable. With a smooth surface, the traction head can successfully and smoothly pass through the angle of the in-wall pipe. After the traction head passes through the angle, the traction rod connected behind the traction head may enter the angle. Because the traction rod is made of an elastic material, the traction rod may have an elastic deformation. Therefore, the traction rod may experience a bending deformation having a radian similar to that of the angle, so that the traction rod successfully passes through the angle and guides the cable to pass through the angle along a same radian. Therefore, the cable easily passes through the angle during laying construction, and one person can lay a drop cable with low construction costs.

In a possible implementation, the second end of the traction rod is provided with a mounting hole, the mounting hole extends in a length direction of the traction rod, and the cable passes through the mounting hole and is adhesively fastened to the mounting hole. In this way, the cable is conveniently mounted and stably connected.

In a possible implementation, the traction head is of a spherical structure, an ellipsoidal structure, or a pyramid structure.

In a possible implementation, the traction head is provided with a through hole. In this way, a mounting manner of a pull cable may be compatible, and a weight of the traction head may be reduced by using the through hole, thereby reducing a force of friction between the traction head and the in-wall pipe.

The traction rod is a flat rod. Therefore, the traction rod conveniently passes through the in-wall pipe of narrow space.

In a possible implementation, an inner wall of the pipe hole of the guide pipe is coated with a smooth coating. Therefore, a friction resistance of the cable passing through the guide pipe is reduced.

In a possible implementation, a material of the guide pipe is a low smoke zero halogen (Low Smoke Zero Halogen, LSZH) material composed of polyolefin.

In a possible implementation, the cable includes a cable core, the cable core is wrapped with an insulating sheath, an outer side of the insulating sheath is wrapped with an outer jacket, a reinforcing core wire passes through the outer jacket in an extension direction of the cable core, and the insulating sheath and the outer jacket are not adhered to each other when the insulating sheath and the outer jacket are in close contact with each other. The reinforcing core wire may improve strength and toughness of the cable, so that the cable easily passes through the pipe. In addition, when the outer jacket is stripped off, difficult separation caused by adhesion of the outer jacket to the insulating sheath can be avoided.

In a possible implementation, a material of the insulating sheath is an LSZH material composed of polyolefin, and a material of the outer jacket is an LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin; or a material of the insulating sheath is an LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin, and a material of the outer jacket is an LSZH material composed of polyolefin. The LSZH material composed of polyolefin and the LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin are not easily adhered, so that difficult separation of the outer jacket from the insulating sheath can be avoided.

In a possible implementation, the material of the outer jacket includes a slipping agent. In this way, a friction factor of a surface of the cable can be reduced, thereby reducing a force of friction between the cable and the pipe.

In a possible implementation, an optical fiber connector is prefabricated on one end that is of the cable and that is away from the traction member. In this way, the second end of the cable may be plugged in an ATB by using the optical fiber connector. The connection is convenient, and plug-and-play is implemented.

According to the cable provided in this application, the reinforcing core wire may improve the strength and toughness of the cable, so that the cable easily passes through a pipe. In addition, when the outer jacket is stripped off, difficult separation caused by adhesion of the outer jacket to the insulating sheath can be avoided.

According to the auxiliary tool for wall penetration of a cable provided in the embodiments of this application, when a drop cable is laid, the cable may be fastened to the second end of the traction rod, then the traction head of the traction member passes into an in-wall pipe, and the cable continues to be pushed. Because the traction head has a smooth surface, the traction head can successfully and smoothly pass through an angle of the in-wall pipe. After the traction head passes through the angle, the traction rod connected behind the traction head may enter the angle. Because the traction rod is made of an elastic material, the traction rod may have an elastic deformation. Therefore, the traction rod may experience a bending deformation having a radian similar to that of the angle, so that the traction rod successfully passes through the angle and guides the cable fastened to the second end of the traction rod to pass through the angle along a same radian. Therefore, the cable easily passes through the angle during laying construction, and one person can lay the drop cable with low construction costs.

In a possible implementation, the traction head is provided with a through hole. In this way, a mounting manner of a pull cable may be compatible, and a weight of a puller may be reduced by using the through hole, thereby reducing a force of friction between the traction head and the in-wall pipe.

The auxiliary tool further includes a guide pipe, where a pipe hole of the guide pipe is used to allow the cable to pass therethrough, and a gap exists between an inner wall of the guide pipe and an outer wall of the cable. In this way, the cable may conveniently pass through one or more angles at an inlet of the in-wall pipe, so that construction is more convenient and efficiency is higher.

In a possible implementation, the foregoing smooth coating may be a silicon core layer.

In a possible implementation, the guide pipe may be made of a flame retardant material.

In a possible implementation, the guide pipe may be made of a low smoke zero halogen material.

Embodiments of this application relate to an auxiliary tool for wall penetration of a cable, a cable, and an assembled structure thereof. Concepts in the foregoing embodiments are simply described below:.

Optical fiber: An optical fiber has a full name of a light-guide fiber, which is a fiber made of glass or plastic, and may be used as an optical conduction tool.

Cable: A cable includes a cable core including a quantity of optical fibers arranged in a particular manner. The cable core is wrapped with a sheath, and some cable cores are further wrapped with outer jackets. The cable is a communications line used to implement optical signal transmission.

Access terminal box: An access terminal box is an end connector of a cable. One end of the access terminal box is the cable, and the other end is a pigtail. The access terminal box is equivalent to a device dividing a cable into single optical fibers.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of this application provides an auxiliary tool for wall penetration of a cable, including a traction member <NUM>, where the traction member <NUM> includes a traction rod <NUM> and a traction head <NUM> fastened to a first end of the traction rod <NUM>, the traction rod <NUM> is made of an elastic material, the traction head <NUM> has a smooth surface, and a second end of the traction rod <NUM> is used to fasten a cable <NUM>.

According to the auxiliary tool for wall penetration of a cable provided in this embodiment of this application, when a drop cable <NUM> is laid, the cable <NUM> may be fastened to the second end of the traction rod <NUM>, then the traction head <NUM> of the traction member <NUM> passes into an in-wall pipe, and the cable <NUM> continues to be pushed. Because the traction head <NUM> has a smooth surface, the traction head <NUM> can successfully and smoothly pass through an angle of the in-wall pipe. After the traction head <NUM> passes through the angle, the traction rod <NUM> connected behind the traction head may enter the angle. Because the traction rod <NUM> is made of an elastic material, the traction rod <NUM> may have an elastic deformation. Therefore, the traction rod <NUM> may experience a bending deformation having a radian similar to that of the angle, so that the traction rod <NUM> successfully passes through the angle and guides the cable <NUM> fastened to the second end of the traction rod <NUM> to pass through the angle along a same radian. Therefore, the cable <NUM> easily passes through the angle during laying construction, and one person can lay the drop cable <NUM> with low construction costs.

To conveniently fasten the cable <NUM> to the traction rod <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the second end of the traction rod <NUM> may be provided with a mounting hole <NUM>, the mounting hole <NUM> extends in a length direction of the traction rod <NUM>, and then the cable <NUM> passes through the mounting hole <NUM> and is adhesively fastened to the mounting hole <NUM>. The structure is conveniently mounted and stably connected.

The traction head <NUM> may have a plurality of options in terms of its shape, provided that the traction head <NUM> has a smooth guide face which helps the traction head <NUM> easily pass through the angle. For example, the traction head <NUM> may be a spherical structure, an ellipsoidal structure, a pyramid structure, or the like. When the spherical structure, the ellipsoidal structure, or the pyramid structure passes through the angle, an outer surface of each of the structures may guide the traction head <NUM>, so that the traction head <NUM> conveniently passes through the angle, and the traction head <NUM> is not blocked at the angle.

To make the auxiliary tool compatible with a mounting manner of a pull cable, as shown in <NUM>, the traction head <NUM> may be provided with a through hole <NUM>. When a pull rope is embedded in the in-wall pipe, the pull rope may be tied at the through hole <NUM>, and the pull rope is pulled at an outlet of the in-wall pipe to enable the cable <NUM> to pass through the in-wall pipe. In addition, a weight of a puller may be reduced by using the through hole <NUM>, thereby reducing a force of friction between the traction head <NUM> and the in-wall pipe.

To reduce a sectional area of the traction rod <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the traction rod <NUM> is manufactured as a flat rod. When a sectional diameter of the cylindrical rod is equal to a width of the flat rod, because the flat rod has a relatively small thickness, the flat rod occupies smaller space, so that the flat rod more easily passes through the in-wall pipe of narrow space.

Specifically, a material of the traction rod <NUM> may use thermoplastic urethane (Thermoplastic Urethane, TPU) material with good elasticity, a bending modulus of the traction rod <NUM> is approximately <NUM> MPa, and hardness of the traction rod <NUM> is approximately <NUM> D, so that the traction rod <NUM> has appropriate toughness.

To facilitate the cable <NUM> passing through an angle close to an inlet of the in-wall pipe, as shown in <FIG>, a guide pipe <NUM> may be sleeved on the cable <NUM>, and a gap exists between an inner wall of the guide pipe <NUM> and an outer wall of the cable <NUM>. When the cable <NUM> is laid, the traction member <NUM> passes into the in-wall pipe, and then the cable <NUM> sleeved with the guide pipe <NUM> passes into the in-wall pipe, so that the guide pipe <NUM> is laid on one or more angles close to the inlet of the in-wall pipe, the guide pipe <NUM> is fastened, and the cable <NUM> continues to be pushed. Due to the guide pipe <NUM>, the cable <NUM> can successfully pass through the one or more angles close to the inlet of the in-wall pipe, so that construction is more convenient and efficiency is higher.

As shown in <FIG>, to reduce a force of friction between the guide pipe <NUM> and the cable <NUM>, an inner wall of the pipe hole of the guide pipe <NUM> may be coated with a smooth coating <NUM>. Therefore, a friction resistance of the cable <NUM> passing through the guide pipe <NUM> is reduced. Specifically, the inner wall of the pipe hole of the guide pipe <NUM> may be coated with a silicon core layer, so that a friction factor of the inner wall of the pipe hole of the guide pipe <NUM> is less than or equal to <NUM>.

The guide pipe <NUM> may be made of a flame retardant material, for example, may be made of polyvinyl chloride (Polyvinyl chloride, PVC), or may be made of a low smoke zero halogen (Low Smoke Zero Halogen, LSZH) material. The LSZH material has relatively good flame resistance, and releases a small smoke and carcinogen in combustion, facilitating indoor environmental protection.

Under assistance of the foregoing auxiliary tool, the cable <NUM> can relatively conveniently pass through the in-wall pipe. However, a structural feature of the cable <NUM> also affects convenience of passing through the pipe by the cable <NUM>. In a possible implementation, the cable <NUM> may use a round structure shown in <FIG> as a sectional structure, including a cable core <NUM>', a reinforcing layer <NUM>' wrapping the cable core <NUM>', and an outer jacket <NUM>' wrapping the reinforcing layer <NUM>'. The reinforcing layer <NUM>' may use aramid yarn or glass yarn. The structure can improve toughness of the cable <NUM>, so that the cable <NUM> easily passes through the pipe.

In addition, the cable <NUM> may use a structure shown in <FIG> as a sectional structure, including a cable core <NUM>. The cable core <NUM> is wrapped with an outer jacket <NUM>. A reinforcing core wire <NUM> passes through the outer jacket <NUM> in an extension direction of the cable core <NUM>. There may be one or more reinforcing core wires <NUM>. In the structure shown in <FIG>, there are two reinforcing core wires <NUM>, and the two reinforcing core wires <NUM> are symmetrically disposed on two sides of the cable core <NUM>. The reinforcing core wire <NUM> may improve strength and toughness of the cable <NUM>, so that the cable <NUM> easily passes through the pipe.

In the foregoing embodiment, the cable core <NUM> may be a bare fiber or may be an optical fiber wrapped with an insulating sheath <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the cable core <NUM> is a bare fiber, after the outer jacket is stripped off from the cable <NUM> passing through a wall, the cable <NUM> supports only fiber splicing and does not support direct coiling and storage. When the cable core <NUM> is an optical fiber wrapped with an insulating sheath <NUM>, after the outer jacket is stripped off from the cable <NUM> passing through a wall, the cable <NUM> supports both fiber splicing and direct coiling and storage. However, to avoid adhesion of the insulating sheath <NUM> of the cable core <NUM> to the outer jacket <NUM>, materials that are not easily adhered to each other may be selected for the insulating sheath <NUM> and the outer jacket <NUM>, so that the insulating sheath <NUM> and the outer jacket <NUM> are not adhered to each other when the insulating sheath <NUM> and the outer jacket <NUM> are in close contact with each other.

Therefore, the cable has particular strength or hardness, and, during a wall penetration operation, the cable does not easily bend, and the insulating sheath <NUM> and the outer jacket <NUM> are not adhered. Therefore, the outer jacket <NUM> is more easily stripped off from the insulating sheath <NUM>, and difficult separation caused by adhesion of the outer jacket <NUM> to the insulating sheath <NUM> can be avoided.

Specifically, because the LSZH material has desirable environmental performance and flame resistance, both the insulating sheath <NUM> and the outer jacket <NUM> may be made of the LSZH material. However, to avoid adhesion of the outer jacket <NUM> to the insulating sheath <NUM>, an LSZH material composed of polyolefin may be selected as a material of the insulating sheath <NUM>, and an LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin may be selected as a material of the outer jacket <NUM>. Alternatively, an LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin is selected as a material of the insulating sheath <NUM>, and an LSZH material composed of polyolefin is selected as a material of the outer jacket <NUM>. The LSZH material composed of polyolefin and the LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin are not easily adhered, so that difficult separation of the outer jacket <NUM> from the insulating sheath <NUM> can be avoided. Hardness of the outer jacket <NUM> may be selected as at least <NUM> Shore D.

Specifically, the LSZH material composed of polyolefin may be a material including polyethylene (polyethylene, PE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, EVA), and the LSZH material composed of non-polyolefin be a thermoplastic material including polyolefin elastomer (Polyolefin elastomer, POE), thermoplastic polyolefin (Thermoplastic Polyolefin, TPO), styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, and the like.

To reduce a force of friction between the cable <NUM> and the pipe, a modifier, such as a slipping agent, may be added to the material of the outer jacket <NUM> to reduce a friction factor of a surface of the cable <NUM>. Meanwhile, smoothness of the surface of the cable <NUM> may be improved by adjusting a processing temperature of the outer jacket <NUM>, thereby further reducing the friction coefficient. The friction factor may be controlled within <NUM>.

A material of the reinforcing core wire <NUM> may be a metal material or may be a non-metal material. The reinforcing core wire <NUM> made of a metal material has greater rigidity, and more easily passes through the pipe. The reinforcing core wire <NUM> made of a non-metal material can avoid safety risks such as electric conduction and lightning conduction, so that the reinforcing core wire is more suitable for indoor use. Specifically, the material of the reinforcing core wire <NUM> may use fiber reinforced polymer/plastic (Fiber Reinforced Polymer/Plastic, FRP).

This application further provides an assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration, including the auxiliary tool according to any one of the foregoing embodiments of the auxiliary tool and the cable according to any one of the foregoing embodiments of the cable. A first end of the cable is connected to a second end of the traction rod <NUM> of the auxiliary tool.

According to the assembled structure of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration provided in the embodiments of this application, when a drop cable <NUM> is laid, the cable <NUM> may be fastened to the second end of the traction rod <NUM>, then the traction head <NUM> of the traction member <NUM> passes into an in-wall pipe, and the cable <NUM> continues to be pushed. Because the traction head <NUM> has a smooth surface, the traction head <NUM> can successfully and smoothly pass through an angle of the in-wall pipe. After the traction head <NUM> passes through the angle, the traction rod <NUM> connected behind the traction head may enter the angle. Because the traction rod <NUM> is made of an elastic material, the traction rod <NUM> may have an elastic deformation. Therefore, the traction rod <NUM> may experience a bending deformation having a radian similar to that of the angle, so that the traction rod <NUM> successfully passes through the angle and guides the cable <NUM> fastened to the second end of the traction rod <NUM> to pass through the angle along a same radian. Therefore, the cable <NUM> easily passes through the angle during laying construction, and one person can lay the drop cable <NUM> with low construction costs.

As shown in <FIG>, when the auxiliary tool includes a guide pipe <NUM>, the cable <NUM> passes through the guide pipe <NUM>, and a gap exists between an inner wall of the guide pipe <NUM> and an outer wall of the cable <NUM>. The guide pipe <NUM> may help the cable <NUM> successfully pass through one or more angles at an inlet of the in-wall pipe, so that construction is more convenient and efficiency is higher.

<FIG> is a schematic structure diagram of a cable and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration when passing into an in-wall pipe <NUM>. Even if another cable <NUM> is laid in the in-wall pipe <NUM>, the cable <NUM> can still successfully pass through the in-wall pipe <NUM> under assistance of the auxiliary tool for wall penetration.

To facilitate connection of a drop cable to an ATB, an optical fiber connector may be prefabricated on a second end of the cable <NUM>, so that the second end of the cable <NUM> may be plugged in the ATB by using the optical fiber connector. The connection and disassembly are convenient, and plug-and-play is implemented.

In the descriptions of this specification, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in a proper manner in any one or more of the embodiments or examples.

Claim 1:
An assembled structure of a cable (<NUM>) and an auxiliary tool for wall penetration when passing into an in-wall pipe (<NUM>), said auxiliary tool comprising a traction member (<NUM>), wherein the traction member (<NUM>) comprises a flat traction rod (<NUM>) and a traction head (<NUM>) fastened to a first end of the traction rod, the traction rod is made of an elastic material, the traction head has a smooth surface, and a second end of the traction rod is securely connected to one end of the cable (<NUM>), characterised in that
the auxiliary tool further comprises a guide pipe, wherein a pipe hole of the guide pipe is used to allow the cable to pass therethrough, and a gap exists between an inner wall of the guide pipe and an outer wall of the cable.