GB2462430A

GB2462430A - Cable retention unit

Info

Publication number: GB2462430A
Application number: GB0814292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Thomas Ellis
Original assignee: WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE Ltd
Current assignee: WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-05
Filing date: 2008-08-05
Publication date: 2010-02-10
Also published as: GB0814292D0

Abstract

A cable retention unit is designed to assist in the prevention of cable theft from the rail industry and to assist in improving the cable maintenance activity. The cable retention unit formed from a pair of rubber faced plates between which a cable may be positioned. The rubber faced plates grip and hold the outer surface of the cable and preventing the cable from being pulled out of the retention unit in a direction along which the cable lies in the trunk. Cables are placed into, and removed from, the retention unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction along which the cable lies. A side trap is also located at each end to prevent the cable moving in outward directions. The unit is covered by a security cover, which once removed gives access to the cable inside. The unit can hold up to 3 cables of either the same or differing sizes.

Description

DESCRIPTION:

TITLE -CABLE RETENTION UNIT

BACKGROUND:

Throughout the railway network, the theft of power cable has escalated to alarming levels, especially as the price of steel and copper rise. The consequence of the thefts and the risks are enormous: * There is a high risk of electrocution and death to the perpetrators * The cost to the train operators in loss of revenue * The costs to the industry due to late delivery and passenger delays This is because each time there is a cable theft, the section of line served by the cable is closed until it can be replaced and therefore it has a knock on effect throughout that region / area.

The position of the cables being stolen are either laid in a troughing route or alternatively buried below ground; the cables being connected to Location Cabinets positioned approximately 600m apart. (See Drawing No 1/6). The most common method of theft is to expose the cable where it enters the Location Cabinets and is achieved through securing the cable to a motor vehicle or winch and pulling the cable out of the troughing route or from below ground.

There have been numerous ideas put forward to reduce the amount of thefts to no avail, with the exception of the method that is being implemented at present. This is to excavate a trench I m in depth 500mm wide, lay the cable in the trench and fill the trench with concrete. While this method stops the cable from being stolen the benefits end there, with drawbacks including: * It is impossible to maintain the cable * If a problem occurs with the cable once encased in concrete the problem cannot be rectified, the cable therefore is redundant, with a new trench / cable I concrete encasement required (this is achieved at a substantial cost) The Cable Retention Unit is designed to address both the theft problem and the maintenance issue.

KEY FEATURES: * Accessible Steel Framed Unit * A rubber membrane clamped between two steel plates welded to the frame of the Cable Retention Unit at both ends of the unit * A side trap is also located at each end to prevent the cable moving in outward directions * A Cable Retention Unit can hold up to 3 cables of either the same or differing sizes * The unit is covered by the security cover, which once removed gives access to the cable inside * The Cable Retention Unit is designed to enable the cables to be lifted out of the unit in a vertical direction to provide an access route for maintenance of the cable to be carried out