Patent ID: 8037599

Claim:
A method for removing a cable core from a cable sheath, comprising the steps of: identifying a pre-existing, previously installed transmission cable located in an original cable location, the transmission cable comprising a cable core assembled tightly within a cable sheath, the cable core comprising at least one conductive lead substantially along the length of the cable core, the cable core also comprising an envelope having an outer surface, the envelope formed around the length, but not the ends of the at least one lead and the cable sheath having an inner surface facing the outer surface of the envelope, with the outer surface of the envelope and the inner surface of the cable sheath defining the boundary of an interface region between the cable sheath and the envelope; isolating a proximal end and a distal end of the cable; selectively directing a flowable medium into the proximal end of the interface region and not directing the flowable medium into the proximal end of the cable core; causing the flowable medium to increase the volume of the interface region by compressing the cable core and/or expanding the cable sheath and reduce the friction between the envelope and the sheath; moving the cable core, including the envelope and the at least one conductive lead, in the longitudinal direction with respect to the sheath; and removing the core from the sheath, while leaving the sheath behind.