WO2007071065A1 - Repère pour câble enfoui dans une surface dure ou tassée - Google Patents

Repère pour câble enfoui dans une surface dure ou tassée Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007071065A1
WO2007071065A1 PCT/CA2006/002119 CA2006002119W WO2007071065A1 WO 2007071065 A1 WO2007071065 A1 WO 2007071065A1 CA 2006002119 W CA2006002119 W CA 2006002119W WO 2007071065 A1 WO2007071065 A1 WO 2007071065A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
marker
prongs
cut
settable
plastic
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2006/002119
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Darren Dofher
Original Assignee
Teraspan Networks Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Teraspan Networks Inc. filed Critical Teraspan Networks Inc.
Publication of WO2007071065A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007071065A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4439—Auxiliary devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4479—Manufacturing methods of optical cables
    • G02B6/4482—Code or colour marking
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • H02G9/02—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • H02G9/02—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile
    • H02G9/025—Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Definitions

  • the invention relates to cable installations within hard surfaces such as pavement and specifically cable buried within joints between hard surfaces such as a road and sidewalk curb, and more specifically to markers for indicating the presence of such cables.
  • Cable installations within urban areas, and specifically fibre optic communications cables may be installed within narrow trenches cut into hard surfaces such as sidewalks, road surfaces, and the joints between sidewalks and roads.
  • An example of such a system is described in the present inventor's published United States patent application no. 20050031287, which describes methods and apparatus for installing a network of cables within a hard surface such as roads, sidewalks, etc.
  • such cables are set into the surface within a narrow trench or cut at a relatively shallow depth, often in the range of several inches. The surface is then typically restored, for example by filling with concrete, asphalt, or a joint sealant.
  • Patent 6,425,212 to Lovanzzano which discloses a marker for setting into concrete.
  • the marker comprises flat plat with downwardly-extending retainers that become fixedly incorporated within the concrete when set.
  • the retainers include horizontally-protruding feet for engaging the concrete slab.
  • a generally similar marking device was disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,166,669 to Farrell, although for the intended use of installation on an asphalt road surface, in which case installation is carried out on an existing road surface.
  • Markers of this nature are also useful for use with packed material such as coldpatch asphalt or packed crushed stone such as crushed limestone.
  • packed material such as coldpatch asphalt or packed crushed stone such as crushed limestone.
  • hard surface includes packed loose material of this nature.
  • the present invention has as an object the provision of an improved cable marker suitable for use in installing within a soft settable material, such as a joint filler used to fill a road or sidewalk joint, for indicating the presence of a buried cable.
  • the invention comprises a marker for indicating the presence of a buried fibre optic or other cable.
  • the marker includes a marker body which may be elongate, having a flat upper surface suitable for flush- mounting within a settable material, such as concrete, asphalt, or joint filler.
  • the material may also comprise a packable material such coldpatch asphalt or crushed stone.
  • the body defines a front-to back axis; preferably the body is elongate, such as rectangular, although the precise shape is not significant.
  • the material is generally plastic or flowable in nature in one phase, such as concrete or asphalt which has a soft and flowable phase, or uncompacted loose material, in order to flow around a portion of the marker while in the flowable phase, and which subsequently sets, hardens or is packed so as to grip the marker and prevent its removal.
  • the exposed upper surface of the body may be marked with suitable language such as "cable in joint" to indicate the presence of the buried cable.
  • the warning indication is engraved within the upper surface of the body.
  • the body is preferably elongate to fit within a narrow cut; for example if may comprise an elongate rectangular plate, although it may take on any suitable shape.
  • the marker is retained within the settable surface by one or more downwardly-depending members such as prongs that engage with the surface material, if installed while the surface material is still in a flowable state.
  • the retainer member or members are shaped or oriented to engage the soft material such that when the material hardens the retainer members are fixed in position without the use of glue or cement. This is achieved by shaping or orienting the member such that the flowable material may flow over a portion of the retainer member. When hardened, the material which overlies the retainer member fixes it in position.
  • the members comprise prongs
  • these may include fore and aft prongs that join with the marker body at or adjacent to the forward and rearward ends of the body, and protrude outwardly away from the body in the fore and aft direction.
  • the prongs are vertical in the side-to-side direction for installation within a narrow cut.
  • the forward prongs preferably extend downwardly and forwardly at about a 45 degree angle and the rearward prongs are a mirror image extending downwardly and rearwardly at the same angle, such that when viewed from the side the marker, including the prongs, tapers outwardly and downwardly to form a shape resembling a truncated triangle.
  • the outward projection of the prongs permits the flowable or loose material to flow over and overlie at least a portion of the prongs.
  • These prongs may terminate at their downward ends in generally horizontal outwardly- protruding feet for additional engagement with the settable material.
  • opposing pairs of such prongs are provided, comprising paired and parallel spaced apart plate-like members having vertical exterior sidewalls.
  • a further pair of opposed and paired prongs may be provided at about the midpoint of the marker between the fore and aft prongs to provide additional lateral stability.
  • the marker plate is generally elongate and substantially rectangular, having opposing narrow ends and broad opposing sides. The width of the marker plate approximates the width of the typical cut for cable installation, and is elongate in order to indicate visually the width of the cable cut and its orientation.
  • the invention comprises a method for marking the presence of a cable buried within a hard surface such as a paved roadway or sidewalk, comprising the steps of providing a cable installed within a cut within the paved surface, the cut defined by spaced apart sidewalls, and providing a marker as defined above.
  • the marker and cut are sized such that the marker when positioned within the cut does not contact the sidewalls of the cut but permits sufficient clearance to permit fill material to flow between the marker prongs and the sidewalls of the cut.
  • the cut is filled or substantially filled with a settable material such as hot asphalt tar, and the marker pressed into the material while still soft such that the upper surface of the marker is generally flush with the material, which is then permitted to harden.
  • the clearance between the marker prongs and sidewall permits sufficient settable material to flow into this space to minimize any interference with the adhesion of the material to the sidewalls of the cut.
  • the openings may comprise a mesh structure or alternatively other arrays of apertures.
  • the prongs are replaced by one or more downwardly-depending fins that extend vertically downwardly from the upper plate.
  • the fin or fins are perforated to permit the settable material to engage the marker and prevent removal after the settable material has hardened.
  • the perforations are sufficiently large to permit the plastic material to flow through them when the device is pressed into position, such that the material penetrates the fin through the perforations, thereby overlying a portion of the fin (namely within the interior of the perforations) to engage the device when the material sets.
  • the perforations may extend fully or partway through the fin so as to permit the plastic material to at least partly penetrate the fin
  • the invention relates to a marker for indicating the presence of an object buried within a settable or packable surface, for engaging a plastic settable or a loose packable material without the use of cement, said material comprising a first plastic state and a second hardened or packed state, said marker comprising an body having a generally flat upper surface and defining a front to rear axis, front and rear ends and lateral sides, and at least one member extending downwardly from said body to engage said settable or packable material comprising a shape suitable for permitting said material to flow around and overlie at least a portion of said member to engage said member when hardened or packed.
  • the marker includes a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from said plate, the prongs including at least one first prong extending downwardly and forwardly from the front end of the plate and at least one second prong opposed to said first prong extending downwardly and rearwardly from the rearward end of said plate, said first and second prongs extending axially parallel to said front to rear axis and not extending laterally substantially beyond the sides of said plate.
  • the first and second prongs each terminate at their lower ends in a generally horizontal foot for engaging said plastic material and preventing removal therefrom when fully set or packed.
  • the first and second prongs may comprise generally platelike members having flat sidewalls and an elongate shape when viewed in horizontal cross section, said sidewalls of said prongs aligned with said front to rear axis of said marker plate.
  • the first and second prongs may each comprise a pair of opposed spaced apart members aligned with opposing sidewalls of said plate.
  • the upper surface of the marker may include a written or graphic sign to indicate the presence of said buried cable.
  • the marker may include at least one intermediate prong between said first and second prongs extending downwardly from said body.
  • the prongs may include a downwardly-facing tapered ridge extending along the downwardly- exposed faces thereof to permit said marker to slice into said material.
  • the marker prong may comrpise at least one fin having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough having a diameter sufficiently large to permit said plastic material to flow therethrough so as to at least partly penetrate said fin.
  • This may consist of a single fin extending substantially vertically and aligned with the front to rear axis of said body, for example extending generally along midline of said body.
  • there may be provided a pair of opposing fins on either side of said body aligned with the lateral sides thereof. These fins may flare outwardly and downwardly.
  • the invention relates to a method for installing a marker within a settable or packable surface without the use of a cement, for engaging a plastic settable material without the use of cement, said material comprising a first plastic state and a second hardened or packed state, to indicate the presence of an object buried beneath said marker.
  • the method includes the steps of:
  • the settable material may be a joint filling compound.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a marker according to the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a further perspective view of the embodiment of Figure
  • FIGURE 3 is a further perspective view of the embodiment, shown in an inverted position
  • FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
  • FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the marker
  • FIGURE 6 is a photograph showing segments of pavement and pavement joints with a marker according to the present invention installed therein;
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention and [0026] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the invention.
  • a cable marker comprising an embodiment of the present invention includes an elongate plate-like body 10, having in plan view a generally rectangular shape defined by broad opposing sides 12 and relatively narrow opposing ends 14.
  • the elongate dimension of the body 10 defines an elongate axis.
  • the upper surface of the body optionally includes a written or graphic message 16 that may be printed or engraved into the surface, with the example herein engraved with "cable in joint".
  • the marker is intended for installation within a roadway joint, for example a joint between a roadway surface and a sidewalk curb.
  • the prongs comprise opposing pairs of fore and aft prongs 20(a) and 20(b) adjacent to the narrow ends of the marker body. It will be seen that depending on the application, one or more of the individual prongs or paired sets thereof may be dispensed with, for example the fore or aft prongs 20(1) or 20(b) may be omitted for economy or to provide a more easily removed temporary marker. However, the structure illustrated herein is preferable for most applications.
  • the prongs comprise plate-like members, each pair of prongs being opposed and parallel to each other, joining with the marker body at the side edges thereof.
  • Each prong extends downwardly and outwardly in the fore or aft direction at approximately a 45 degree angle. The preferred range of angles is between 35 and 55 degrees.
  • Each prong 20(a) and (b) terminates at its lower end in a generally horizontal foot region 24.
  • the overall shape of the marker when viewed from the side is thus a truncated triangle, tapering inwardly and upwardly. This shape permits the marker to be fixedly engaged after the settable surface has fully set.
  • the length of the prongs, and accordingly their protrusion may vary depending on the intended application. For example, for use in loose material such as crushed stone or coldpack asphalt, it may be desirable for the prongs to be somewhat longer than for use with concrete or conventional asphalt, in order to provide more surface area for gripping the marker within the material.
  • An additional pair of prongs 20(c) is provided at approximately the mid-point of the body.
  • This third pair of prongs comprises opposing substantially flat prongs depending approximately straight downwardly, and comprising a pair of spaced apart plate-like members of a similar structure to the end prongs.
  • the marker may comprise any suitable size or relative dimensions.
  • a suitable size is to provide a body about 60 mm long and 10-12 mm wide, when viewed in plan, with an overall length including prongs of about 85 mm.
  • the overall height of the prongs from lower edge to marker body may be about 20-25 mm. It has been found that a device having these dimensions is well suited for providing a visible notification to the public, while still being small enough to easily fit in a typical roadway joint. This size also provides good retention qualities when installed within a settable roadway surface.
  • the width of the marker is defined by the width of the desired cut within which the marker is to be installed, such that when within the cut, there is a gap between the sidewalls of the cut and the marker prongs sufficient to permit the joint filler material to flow reasonably freely. This permits the material to adhere to the sidewalls of the cut with minimal interference from the marker prongs.
  • the prongs are replaced by a central fin 50 extending vertically downwardly from the body 10.
  • the fin 50 is generally centrally disposed and is parallel to the central elongate axis of the body 10.
  • a plurality of apertures 52 extend through the fin, to permit the fin to engage a flowable or plastic settable material. This is accomplished by providing the apertures of a suitable size to permit the material to flow through the apertures after the marker has been pressed into the material while soft. When the material hardens, the portion of material that extends through the apertures firmly grips the marker.
  • FIG 8. A still further embodiment is shown in Figure 8.
  • the fins 50 of the embodiment shown in Figure 7 are replaced by paired fins 50 which depend downwardly from each lateral side of the marker.
  • the fins 50 may flare out slightly, as seen in Figure 8.
  • Each fin 50 includes multiple apertures 52, so as to engage the material within which the marker is installed. This embodiment has the added advantage that the additional fin provides improved retention.
  • a preferred material for the marker is a rigid plastic material such as acetal. It will be seen that any suitable rigid non-corroding material may be used, including stainless steel as well as other plastic materials.
  • the marker comprises a one-piece rigid molding comprising plastic or other suitable moldable material. Persons skilled in the art will recognize suitable materials for the marker; such material is preferably one which is rigid, non-brittle and strongly resists corrosion.
  • a cable such as a fibre optic cable (not shown) is installed within a narrow trench or cut 30, in a known fashion. Typically, the cut is in the range of several inches in depth, although there is no particular limit to the depth of the cut.
  • the surface is restored with a soft settable substance such as concrete or joint filler 32.
  • the substance is flowable while in a first phase, in that it is sufficiently plastic to flow around the retainer member, namely the prongs 20 or through the openings 52 of the retainer fin 50. In this manner, the substance comes to overlie a portion of the retainer, and when in its second phase the substance hardens or is compacted this overlying portion prevents removal of the marker without the need for glue or cement.
  • the lower edge 54 of the fin 50 is tapered towards a knife edge to permit the fin to more easily be pressed into the plastic joint filler material.
  • the body 10 and fin 50 are injection molded as a one-piece unit.
  • the plastic joint filler material is still soft, at least one and preferably a plurality of markers are installed at regular intervals within the restored surface. Each marker is simply pressed into the surface 32 while still soft, to the point where the surface of the body is generally flush. Upon hardening of the settable material, the marker will be permanently installed, with the fore and aft prongs preventing removal thereof except by breaking up the settable material.
  • the graphic or written text on the surface of the marker is engraved, such that the text remains visible even when covered with a layer of grime or dirt.
  • the markers are installed such that their elongate axes substantially align with the buried cables, in order to provide a visual queue as to the location of the buried cables.
  • a similar installation process may be used to install the markers in loose packable material such as coldpack asphalt or crushed stone, the markers may be pressed into this material while the material is loose and unpacked, following which the material is packed and compressed so as to cause the material to flow around the marker prongs or fins and thereby retain the marker firmly within the packed surface.
  • loose packable material such as coldpack asphalt or crushed stone
  • the markers may be pressed into this material while the material is loose and unpacked, following which the material is packed and compressed so as to cause the material to flow around the marker prongs or fins and thereby retain the marker firmly within the packed surface.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un repère servant à indiquer la présence d’un câble en fibre optique (ou autre) enfoui. Le repère ci-décrit comprend un corps de repère possédant une surface supérieure plate convenant à un moulage à ras à l’intérieur d’un matériau qui durcit comme le béton, l’asphalte ou la pâte à joint et qui présente une phase généralement plastique ou fluide au cours de laquelle ledit matériau peut couler autour d’une partie du repère, et qui, par la suite, durcit, se solidifie ou se tasse afin de saisir le repère et d’empêcher son retrait. Le corps ci-décrit est de préférence allongé pour tenir dans une découpe étroite ; il peut par exemple se composer d’une plaque rectangulaire allongée, bien qu’il puisse prendre n’importe quelle forme adéquate. Des fourches ou ailettes dépassent du corps vers le bas pour venir en prise avec le matériau une fois qu’il s’est solidifié ou tassé.
PCT/CA2006/002119 2005-12-22 2006-12-22 Repère pour câble enfoui dans une surface dure ou tassée WO2007071065A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75320305P 2005-12-22 2005-12-22
US60/753,203 2005-12-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007071065A1 true WO2007071065A1 (fr) 2007-06-28

Family

ID=38188242

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2006/002119 WO2007071065A1 (fr) 2005-12-22 2006-12-22 Repère pour câble enfoui dans une surface dure ou tassée

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2007071065A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130220671A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2013-08-29 Justin Fischbach Wire guard
CN103996354A (zh) * 2014-05-16 2014-08-20 国网河南省电力公司漯河供电公司 一种光缆标示签
US10358791B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2019-07-23 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine
CN112796194A (zh) * 2020-12-30 2021-05-14 武汉四方捷通交通工程有限公司 一种路面标识标线的施工工艺

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2166669A (en) * 1937-07-30 1939-07-18 Farrell Safety Road Marker Inc Road marker
CA2196427A1 (fr) * 1994-08-15 1996-02-22 Peter Hedgewick Panneau de signalisation routiere resistant au passage d'un chasse-neige
US6061940A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-05-16 Rice; Lawrence William Road utility marker
US6425212B1 (en) * 1999-05-12 2002-07-30 Gary Lovazzano Stress-tension hazard concrete slab indicating device and system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2166669A (en) * 1937-07-30 1939-07-18 Farrell Safety Road Marker Inc Road marker
CA2196427A1 (fr) * 1994-08-15 1996-02-22 Peter Hedgewick Panneau de signalisation routiere resistant au passage d'un chasse-neige
US6061940A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-05-16 Rice; Lawrence William Road utility marker
US6425212B1 (en) * 1999-05-12 2002-07-30 Gary Lovazzano Stress-tension hazard concrete slab indicating device and system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10358791B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2019-07-23 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine
US10370820B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2019-08-06 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine and a blade assembly
US11280061B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2022-03-22 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine
US11280060B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2022-03-22 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine and a blade assembly
US11788252B2 (en) 2010-01-26 2023-10-17 Husqvarna Ab Laying machine and a blade assembly
US20130220671A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2013-08-29 Justin Fischbach Wire guard
CN103996354A (zh) * 2014-05-16 2014-08-20 国网河南省电力公司漯河供电公司 一种光缆标示签
CN112796194A (zh) * 2020-12-30 2021-05-14 武汉四方捷通交通工程有限公司 一种路面标识标线的施工工艺

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