WO2012160552A1

WO2012160552A1 - Apparatus and method for pushing and pulling of cables

Info

Publication number: WO2012160552A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avraham HALIF; Shay NAMDAR
Original assignee: Goldschmidt, Emmanuel
Priority date: 2011-05-24
Filing date: 2012-05-24
Publication date: 2012-11-29
Also published as: IL213079A0; IL213079A

Abstract

An apparatus for pushing and pulling of cables including an actuator; a piston operatively connected to the actuator; a cable-locking mechanism, which is operated by the piston for grabbing and releasing a cable inserted therethrough, where the cable-locking mechanism includes a swinging member rotatable by the piston that allows grabbing and releasing the cable in response to lateral movement of the piston; and a sliding mechanism connected to the cable-locking mechanism. The actuator enables laterally sliding the sliding mechanism back and forth repeatedly for sliding the cable-locking mechanism connected thereto. The sliding mechanism and the cable-locking mechanism, connected thereto, are actuated simultaneously by the actuator for coordinating the lock and release of the cable with the pushing/ pulling and releasing thereof

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PUSHING AND PULLING OF

CABLES

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Israeli patent application No. 213079 filed on May 24, 201 1 , which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to systems, devices or apparatuses for threading or pulling of wires or cables through conduits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Electrical wiring in buildings and other structures (often called "building wiring") often requires placing guiding tube conduits inserted through open channels that are curved inside the building's walls for allowing inserting electric wires through the conduits to reach various inlets and outlets of the guiding conduits. The guiding tubes can extend between very distant outlets and can be divided to a multiplicity of tubes and/or be bent according to contours of the walling they are inserted through. This makes threading or pulling of the wires there-through/from extremely time consuming since the wires often get stuck in the curves of may strand with other wires in the guiding tubes.

[0004] Two people are often required to thread/pull each wire if the distance between the outlets of the guiding tube is large, to make sure that one person holds the wired edge once it comes out the other outlet. Electric wires are often bent in attempts to pass a bent curve of the guiding tube or when the part of the wire that is already inserted through the tube is too long making it difficult for the technician to control the wire when threading it into the guiding tube.

[0005] A patent No. GB1388765A teaches a machine for propelling flexible rods through duets preparatory to drawing cables therethrough that includes a carriage upon which are mounted rod clamps which are applied and relaxed by a clamping cylinder containing a piston, and a fluid operated drive arranged to reciprocate the carriage; a mechanism, such as a system of valves that co-ordinates the clamp piston and the drive piston such that the clamps are applied during movement of the carriage in one direction and relaxed during movement of the carriage in the other direction; a manually operated control enables the drive direction of the machine to be reversed; and means for anchoring the machine to a duct.

[0006] A patent application No. WOO 165654 (A2) discloses an apparatus for laying cables into a corresponding pipe. The apparatus is fit to insert and/or extract a flexible probe into/from a corresponding pipe. The apparatus includes a traction assembly, for engaging the probe and applying to said probe a dragging force directed axially with respect to the probe axis. A motor assembly is moreover provided, which is mechanically coupled to the traction assembly by means of a reduction gear. A remote control box, linked to the motor assembly by means of electric cables or via a wireless link, allows an installer to remotely operate said apparatus. In the front side of the apparatus there is provided a fitting assembly, fit to lock the apparatus to the pipe mouth.

[0007] Patent application No. US2010044658 (Al) teaches a device for introducing a draw wire or element into tubes. The device includes: (a) a first actuation body into which the draw wire is slidingly guided; (b) a first clamping device that is arranged in the first actuating body and that blocks and releases the movement of the draw wire or element; (c) a second actuating body into which the draw wire or element is slidingly guided, (d) a second clamping device that is arranged, preferably, in the second actuating body and that blocks and releases the movement of the draw wire or element, (e) a telescopic tube that joins the first clamping device and the second clamping device. The telescopic tube is rotationally fixed and therefore permits a problem-free introduction, even in difficult situations.

[0008] . A patent No. US7712726 (Bl) teaches a device for pulling wire through a conduit with sheave head, sheave head support boom, wire puller frame, conduit interface, and wire pull assembly. The wire pull assembly further comprises a capstan, a gear box having an input axle and an output axle, and a means to interface a power source to impart rotating force to the capstan.

[0009] A patent application no. EP0431303 (Al) teaches a device enabling one operator, alone, to pass conductors or cables into a routed conduit for electrical ducting. This wire-pulling device is equipped with a "stop-go" mechanism actuated directly

(that is to say without remote control) due to the thrust of the conductors in the conduit and stopped (still without remote control) as a function of the magnitude of the tension of the conductors engaged in the conduit. As the conductors exit the conduit, the device stops immediately, without intervention of the operator.

[0010] A patent No. US 4490084 discloses a wire transfer mechanism for transporting a length of wire conductor from a feed location to a terminating location and then depositing the length of wire at a collection location is disclosed. The mechanism includes at least one transfer arm mounted for pivotable motion back and forth; a releasable gripper mechanism positioned at the end of each transfer arm for gripping a length of wire to inhibit relative motion in a direction normal to the axis of the wire, and an actuator mechanism for releasing the gripper mechanism while the transfer arms move from a wire terminating position to a wire pickup position at a finite velocity and for decelerating the transfer arms, so that the momentum of a wire gripped in the gripper mechanism will carry it away from the transfer arms in a direction normal to the axis of the wire. This wire transfer mechanism is designed for cutting/stripping of wires.

[0011] A patent application No. EP2373866 discloses an apparatus for ducting by moving an elongate component within or through a sidewall of a pit. The apparatus includes; a frame; a lever arm pivotally attached to the frame and comprising a handle at a first end, a gripping arrangement pivotally attached to the lever arm at a second end at a gripping pivot point, allowing the gripping arrangement to pivot about the gripping pivot point to assume a first and a second installation position, wherein in a first installation position during use the gripping arrangement grips the elongate component as the lever arm pivots in a first direction and releases the elongate component as the lever arm pivots in a second, opposite, direction, and wherein in a second installation position during use the gripping arrangement releases the elongate component as the lever arm pivots in a first direction and grips the elongate component as the lever arm pivots in a second, opposite, direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] According to some aspects of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pushing of cables that comprises: (a) at least one actuator;(b) at least one piston operated by the actuator; (c) at least one cable-locking mechanism, which connects to the piston for grabbing and releasing a cable inserted therethrough, the cable-locking mechanism comprises a swinging member rotatable by the piston, where the swinging member allows grabbing and releasing the cable in response to back and forth lateral movement of the piston; and (d) a sliding mechanism connected to the cable-locking mechanism, which is operated by the actuator, where the actuator enables laterally sliding the sliding mechanism back and forth repeatedly for respectively laterally sliding the cable-locking mechanism connected thereto, wherein the sliding mechanism and the cable-lock mechanism, connected thereto, are actuated substantially simultaneously by the actuator for coordinating the lock and release of the cable with the moving of the cable for pushing and releasing thereof.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the swinging member grabs the cable for locking thereof by clutching the cable to a platform located thereunder. When the swinging member is rotated by the piston to a first rotational direction within a predefined first rotation span it locks the cable and when the swinging member retrieves to a vertical neutral position it releases the cable. The grabbing and releasing of the cable by the cable-locking mechanism can be coordinated and synchronized with the back and forth movements of the sliding mechanism for allowing grabbing the cable when the sliding is in a pushing lateral direction and releasing the cable when the sliding is in an opposite retrieval lateral direction.

[0014] Optionally, the cable-locking mechanism further enables converting the apparatus to a pulling apparatus for pulling of cables by mechanically changing the rotation direction and span of the swing member wherein the swinging member can swing within a predefined second rotation span for grabbing and releasing the cable in a reversed manner for pulling of the cable.

[0015] The cable-locking mechanism may comprise at least two stoppers allowing setting the operation of the apparatus to a pulling or pushing device by setting the positioning of one of the stoppers in relation to the other, wherein the stoppers allow limiting the rotational span of the swinging member according to the desired functioning of the apparatus (i.e. as a cable pushing device or a cable pulling device).

[0016] The apparatus may further comprise a handle and a controller, where the handle allows a user to hold and direct the apparatus and the controller enables controlling operations of the actuator. The apparatus may additionally comprise a crank shaft, which operatively connects to the actuator at one end and to the piston at another end through at least one connecting element. The crank shaft can rotate the connecting element(s), which converts torque of the actuator through the crank shaft into lateral movement of the piston.

[0017] Optionally, the controller further enables controlling the speed of the actuator, wherein the actuator is a variable speed actuator.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises an extension guiding tube; a remote unit and a remote controller, wherein the extension guiding tube connects to an outlet of the of the cable-locking mechanism for guiding the cable therefrom to a distant edge, and also connects to the remote controller and remote unit at its other end for allowing a user to control push/pull operation of the apparatus from a distance.

[0019] The apparatus may optionally also comprise a cable holder such as a spring drum cable holder for allowing to hold and direct the cable into the cable-locking mechanism thereby.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus comprises a cable guide connecting to the cable holder at an inlet end thereof and to the cable-locking mechanism and another outlet end thereof for guiding the cable from the holder to the cable-locking mechanism.

[0021] Optionally, the swinging member comprises a swinging arm having an opening through which it hangs over the piston and a gripping member connected at a lower end of the swinging arm, wherein the gripping member swings through the rotation span for grabbing and releasing of the cable by clutching the cable to a platform located thereunder.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the gripping member includes protrusions for enhancing the grip thereof to the cable. Each protrusion may be covered by an elastic covering for enhancing the grip of the gripping member of the swinging member .to the cable when clutching the cable to the platform thereunder.

[0023] The actuator may be a manual actuator or an electric actuator. In case of an electric actuator, it can be a chargeable actuator that optionally also enables converting into a wireless mobile/portable appliance that can also connect to a wired electricity inlet for operating as well as operating wirelessly through a chargeable battery.

[0024] Optionally, the apparatus allows pushing and/or pulling of cables of a predefined diameter span defined by the dimensions of the swinging member, the cable diameter span can be adjusted and changed by replacing the swinging member with a swinging member of different dimensions for allowing pushing/pulling cables having diameters within a different diameter span.

[0025] Optionally, in the case of push and pull apparatus, the cable-locking mechanism enables setting the apparatus in three optional positions: a push position, in which the apparatus allows using thereof for pushing of cables; : a pull position, in which the apparatus allows using thereof for pulling of cables; and a neutral position for neutralizing the apparatus, the neutralized state is enabled by one of; preventing said swinging member from swinging; or allowing the cable-locking mechanism to both push and pull the cable back and forth upon each back and forth movement of the sliding mechanism connected thereto.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a conduit connector that allows connecting the apparatus to a respective designated conduit to which the cable is to be inserted.

[0027] According to other aspects of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pushing and pulling of cables, the apparatus comprising: (a) at least one actuator;(b) at least one piston operated by the actuator ;(c) at least one cable-locking mechanism, which connects to the piston, for grabbing and releasing a cable thereby, the cable-locking mechanism comprises a swinging member rotatable by the piston that allows grabbing and releasing the cable upon lateral movement of the piston; (d) a sliding mechanism, which is operated by the actuator, the actuator enables laterally sliding the sliding mechanism back and forth repeatedly for sliding the cable-locking mechanism connected thereto; and (e) at least two stoppers for allowing setting the cable-locking mechanism in a push or a pull positioning for allowing the apparatus to push or pull the cable respectively according to the desired operation, wherein the sliding mechanism and the cable-lock mechanism, connected thereto, are actuated substantially simultaneously for coordinating the lock and release of the cable with the moving of the cable for pushing or pulling and then releasing thereof.

[0028] This apparatus may further comprise at least two stoppers designed to allow mechanical adjustment of their respective positioning for adjusting the pull or push position of the apparatus by limiting the rotational movement of the swinging member to a respective first and second rotational movement spans. [0029] The apparatus may further comprise a controller for electronically controlling the actuator and the stoppers, wherein the actuator is an electrical motor actuator, and wherein the stoppers are electronically controllable by the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an elevated view of an apparatus for pushing and pulling of cables, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus for pushing and pulling of cables, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 3 A shows an isometric view of a cable-locking mechanism of the apparatus set as a push mechanism in a pushing position in which the cable is locked (clamped) and pushed forward towards an outlet of the apparatus, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0033] Fig. 3B shows a side view of the cable-locking mechanism in the pushing position, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Fig. 4A shows an isometric view of the cable-locking mechanism of the apparatus set as a pull mechanism in a pulling position in which the cable is locked (clamped) and pulled backward from the outlet of the apparatus, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 4B shows a side view of the cable-locking mechanism in the pulling position, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] Fig. 5 A shows an isometric view of the cable-locking mechanism of the apparatus set in a neutral position, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 5B shows a side view of the cable-locking mechanism in the neutral position, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In the following detailed description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0039] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides apparatuses, and methods for automotive and easy pushing (threading) and pulling of cables into/out of guide conduits such as walled guiding tubes, plumbing piping and the like.

[0040] The term "cable" refers to any type of substantially flexible threadable wires such as electricity or communication wires, tubes, spring-tubes (e.g. such as spring- tubes that are used to open plumbing plugs), flexible pipes and the like for any purpose or non-flexible pipes, tubes, rods and the like. The cables can be inserted or removed by the apparatus to or from any type of guide conduits such as through tubes or pipes embedded in a building wall or through any other environment such as through the ground or through underwater conduits for directing electrical and/or communication cables therefrom or plumbing piping, where the apparatus is used for clearing plumbing plugs and/or for installing new plumbing through carved channels and the like.

[0041] The present invention may allow using any one or more types of cables of any one or more design, shape and/or dimensions, for example, one set of embodiments of the present invention may be designed so as to allow pulling/pushing of cables having a circular cross-section. Other embodiments may be designed for elliptic cables and/or a flattened rectangular cross-section and the like.

[0042] According To some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an electrical apparatus for pulling and/or pushing of cables for allowing easy and automatic pushing and/or pulling of cables such as wires, tubes and the like, into/out of guiding/ piping conduits. For example, for threading and/or pulling electric or communication wires into/out of guiding conduits that are installed and hidden in walls of a building/construction or laid in the ground or underwater, for instance.

[0043] , The apparatus, according to some embodiments, includes an actuator operatively connected to a piston, a cable-locking mechanism that can grab a cable inserted therethrough to allow pushing/puling thereof in a grabbed position, and a sliding mechanism for sliding the cable-lock mechanism for pushing/pulling the grabbed (locked) cable therein. The piston connects to the cable-locking mechanism and operable by the actuator, where the actuator also connects to the sliding mechanism for sliding thereof allowing thereby actuating the sliding mechanism and the cable-lock mechanism, connected thereto, substantially simultaneously for coordinating and synchronizing the lock and release of the cable with the moving of the cable for pushing /pulling and then releasing thereof at each actuation of the piston.

[0044] The apparatus may allow the user to manually and/or electronically adjust the apparatus operation features such as push/pull state, speed and the like. When the apparatus is adjusted to a pushing position the direction of pushing allows threading the cable to insert it through the guiding conduit and in the pulling position the cable is pulled out of the guiding conduit. This means that in the pushing position, the apparatus, is required to propel the cable towards an outlet thereof for inserting it into the conduit and in the pull position the cable is drawn backwards in the opposite direction.

[0045] The cable-locking mechanism allows clamping and grabbing the cable and releasing the grab once finishing a push pull of the particular cable portion for allowing retracting the mechanism for grabbing the cable in a new location for allowing pushing/pulling a new portion thereof. The sliding mechanism can move laterally along predefined one or more tracks for a limited distance that is either adjustable (having maximum and minimum distance limits) or be predefined to a single distance span. This defines the length of the cable portion that can be pushed or pulled, depending on apparatus definitions and design.

[0046] This means that the apparatus pushes/pulls a portion of the cable at each operation of the mechanism to a length that is limited to the dimensions and configuration of the sliding mechanism (e.g. the length of the track(s) and locations of limiting stoppers. The grabbing and pulling and then retracting back to grab a new cable portion is done in a rapid manner allowing quick and efficient pushing/pulling of long and rather flexible cables.

[0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the actuator allows pushing a piston back and forth in two lateral opposite directions for grabbing and releasing the cable by swinging a locking member that can grab (lock) the cable passing therethrough to allow the cable then to be pushed by the sliding mechanism (by sliding the entire set of cable-locking mechanism with the cable locked therein) for inserting the cable through the designated conduit. The swinging locking member can move between two limiting stoppers allowing the locking member to swing between those two borders as a pendulum. Since the cable-lock mechanism and the sliding mechanism are both connected to the same actuator the grabbing and releasing of the cable is coordinated with the push/pull and retrieve movement of the sliding mechanism, where the push/pull is when the sliding mechanism slides towards a first direction for pushing/pulling (depending on the apparatus set position) and the retrieval is when the sliding mechanism slides to a second opposite direction to retrieve the apparatus for grabbing the cable at a new location for respectively pushing or pulling thereof.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the push or pull position of the apparatus is not adjusted by adjusting the rotation direction of the actuator and/or of the piston, but through simply defining the grab and release directions of the push/pull movement by mechanically adjusting the positioning of the cable-lock mechanism either manually and/or electronically. This means that if the grabbing is done at one side of a cable portion and the releasing is done at the opposite side thereto in the pushing position, all that will be required is to switch those grab and release sides to set the apparatus as a pulling device.

[0049] Reference is now made to Figures 1-2, schematically illustrating an apparatus 100 for pushing (threading) and pulling of cables such as electric or communication cable 50 into or out of guiding conduits, underground tubes and the like (Not Shown), according to some embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus 100 includes: (i) an actuator 107, which may include an automotive electric actuator or a manual actuator; (ii) a piston 101 ; (iii) a cable-locking mechanism 200; and (vi) a sliding mechanism 400.

[0050] The cable-locking mechanism 200 connects to the sliding mechanism 400 to allow sliding thereof through tracks 401a and 401b of the sliding mechanism 400. The actuator 107 simultaneously operates both the piston 101 , which operates the cable locking mechanism 200 and the sliding mechanism 400 for allowing coordinating and synchronizing the locking and unlocking of the cable with the pushing /puling and retrieving thereof by sliding the cable 50 in a locked position towards the desired push/pull direction and then releasing it when sliding towards the other direction for retracting the cable-locking mechanism 200 and the sliding mechanism 400 for pushing/pulling another portion of the cable 50.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the sliding mechanism 400 includes two tracks 401 and 401b and two slidable members 402a and 402b. Each slidable member 402a/402b laterally slides over a respective track 401 a/40 lb defining a lateral path through which the slidable member 402a/402b can slide back and forth. In the configuration shown in Fig. 1 , the slidable members 402a and 402b are ring shaped for sliding along cylindrical tracks 401a and 401b inserted therethrough.

[0052] As illustrated in Figures 1-5B, the cable-locking mechanism 200 includes a swinging member 205 that is rotated by the lateral movement of the piston 101 , where the cable 50 can be grabbed thereby in a releasable manner when the swinging member 205 is rotated.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1-2, the actuator 107 connects to the mechanical piston 101 through a crank shaft 102 and through other one or more connecting elements such as element 131 which may serve as an extension arm for allowing converting a torque of the rotational movement of the actuator 107 into a lateral movement of the piston 101. The lateral movement of the mechanical piston 101 operates the cable-locking mechanism 200 that can lock and unlock (grab and release) the cable, by rotating the swinging member 205. The locking cable-locking mechanism 200 connects to a sliding mechanism 400 through a connecting platform 374. The sliding mechanism 400 can slide to one direction over a predefined (adjustable or non-adjustable) lateral movement span of a predefined length for pulling or pushing a corresponding (and optionally similar) length of the cable 50 when it is grabbed/locked and then releasing the cable 50 when switching the sliding direction to retrieve, for grabbing the cable 50 at a new location thereof for pushing/pulling thereof.

[0054] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-2, the actuator 107 movably connects to the crank shaft 102 through a rotatable connector 108 (e.g. gear) transmitting the actuator 107 torque to the crank shaft 102, and the crank shaft 102 connects to the piston 101 through a set of arms connecting elements 131 having one or more bearings such as bearing 306 for pivotally connecting them to one another.

[0055] According to additional or alternative embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-2, the apparatus 100 further includes (i) a handle 1 17 allowing a user to easily and comfortably hold the apparatus 100 for operating thereof; (ii) a control unit 1 16 having one or more operation input options such as an operation switch 112 for switching the actuator 107 on/off and a speed regulator 14 for controlling/setting the rotational speed of the actuator 107 and thereby the speed of the lateral back and forth movement of the piston 101 and the sliding and cable-locking mechanisms 400 and 200 they operate; (iii) a cable holder 105 for holding the cable 50 in a coiled position therein; and (ii) a cable guiding tube 109 for guiding the cable 50 from the cable holder 105 towards an inlet opening 209 he cable-locking mechanism 200.

[0056] According to some embodiments, the cable holder 105 includes a holding spring 110 where the cable 50 is held at one end thereof by a cable connector 1 11 of the holding spring 1 10. In this way, the cable 50 is held at a slight tension when pushed/pulled, which prevents the cable 50 from deforming or entangling in a manner that may disturb the smooth and continuous manner in which it is pushed or pulled.

[0057] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1-2, the apparatus 100 can be extended in length for allowing various additional or alternative implementations such as for allowing installing/pulling of cables into/out of grounded guiding conduits. The extension can be detachable or fixated to the apparatus 100 depending on embodiments thereof, wherein in the embodiments in which the extension is detachable the apparatus 100 can be used both as an extended device (having the extension attached thereto) as well as the non- extendible one.

[0058] As shown in Figures 1-2, the extension includes an extension guiding tube 63 and a remote unit 61. The extension guiding tube 63 allows guiding the cable outputted from an outlet 207 of the cable-locking mechanism 200 to the remote unit 61 , which also serves as a handle allowing the user to grab onto it for directing the outlet thereof towards an opening inlet of the guiding conduit, for example. The remote unit 61 includes a remote controller 60 that may allow controlling all or some of the operational features of the actuator such as turning it on/off and/or controlling its rotational speed and/or controlling other electronically operated components of the apparatus 100.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the remote controller 60 may communicate with the main control unit 1 16 through signaling such as through radio frequency or infrared based signaling for remotely operating and controlling thereof. To do so the apparatus 100 may include a transceiver (Not Shown) connected to the main part thereof (e.g. in the area of the handle 117) and the remote controller 60 may include a transceiver (Not Shown) for allowing the controller 60 to communicate with the control unit 116 for controlling thereof.

[0060] Reference is now made to Figures 3A-3B, 4A-4B and 5A-5B, which illustrate the cable-locking mechanism 200 of the apparatus 100 set in respective push, pull and neutral positions, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The cable-locking mechanism 200 includes the swinging member 205, a first stopper 203a; a second stopper 203b; and a blocking member 204. The swinging member 205 is constructed of two parts: a swinging arm 371 having an opening 372 through which it hangs over the piston 101 ; and a gripping 373 connected at a lower end of the swinging arm 371. Blocking member 204 includes an opening for allowing the cable 50 to pass therethrough.

[0061] The gripping member 373 can only swings through one of two predefined first or second rotation spans "al " or "a2" for grabbing and releasing of the cable in the push or pull position, respectively. Once the gripping member gripping member 373 reaches the span limit of the respective push/pull configuration, it clutches the cable 50 to the platform 374 located thereunder thereby grabbing the cable 50. The stoppers 203a and 203b can be adjusted according to the desired apparatus 100 functioning i.e. pushing or pulling and the stoppers' configuration defines the rotational span limits "al " or "a2" and thereby the push or pull positions of the apparatus 100.

[0062] According to some embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. l, the apparatus 100 further includes an extendible guide 80 that can extend and contract to a shorter length. The extendible guide 80 covers and guides the cable 50 section that exits the cable- locking mechanism 200 between the blocking member 204 and the outlet and according to the push/pull or retraction positioning and movement of the cable-locking mechanism 200. For example the guide 80 may be telescopic and when pushed by the cable-locking mechanism 200 towards the outlet 207 it automatically decreases in length by collapsing and increasing in length when the mechanism 200 is retracted away from the outlet 207.

[0063] Optionally, the remote unit 61 also includes or attaches to a conduit connector 65 that allows connecting to the designated conduit to/from which the cable 50 is to be inserted/pulled. [0064] Figures 3 A and 3B show the cable-locking mechanism 200 in a push and grabbed position, in which the cable 50 is locked (clamped) and the stoppers 203a and 203b are configured to limit the swinging span of the swinging member 205 to the first span "al " thereby defining the apparatus 100 functioning to only allow pushing of the cable 50. The first span "al " is defined between a horizontal axis "x" defined by the lateral trajectory of the piston 101 and a vertical axis "y" perpendicular to axis "x".

[0065] In a case in which the apparatus 100 is held such that the trajectory of the piston 101 is perpendicular to gravitational axis - axis "y" is then aligned with the gravitational axis.

[0066] According to some embodiments, in the push position, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the first stopper 203a protrudes in a manner that limits the rotational movement of the swinging member's 205 arm 371 from one side thereof, where the rotational movement span to the other side is only limited by the piston 101 as the second stopper 203b is in an intruded position and does not disturb the rotational movement of the swinging member 205. This stoppers 203 a and 203b positioning, in which the first stopper 203a is in a protruding position and the second stopper 203b is in a non-protruding position defines the rotational span angle "al " approximately as the angle between the vertical axis "y" and the horizontal axis "x", which is about 90°.

[0067] The swinging member 205 grabs the cable 50 by clutching it to the connecting platform 374 when rotated to a tilted position in respect to the vertical axis "y". According to some embodiments, as illustrated in figures 3A-5B, the gripping member 373 has protrusions 375 that may improve the grab by improving the appliance of force by the gripping member 373 towards the cable 50 and against the connecting platform 374. According to some embodiments, the protrusions 375 have elastic coverings connected thereto (Not Shown) for enhancing the grip of the gripping member 373 to the cable 50 when clutching it to the platform 375. For example each protrusion 375 may have a rubber covering attached thereto at the outer protruding surface thereof.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the swinging member 205 is in a released position, in which it does not clutch the cable 50 to the platform 204 when its swinging axis is aligned with axis "y" which happens when al=90° meaning that the swinging member 205 is perpendicular to the axis "x" defined by the lateral trajectory of the piston 101. In this position, an upper surface 378 of the gripping member 373 is parallel to the axis "x". this neutral position is enabled when the stopper 203a is in a protruded position in which it forces the surface 378 to be parallel with axis "x" whenever it reaches it and therefor releases the grip of the gripping member 373 whenever the swinging member 205 reaches this side in its rotation coordinated by the retraction of the sliding mechanism 400.

[0069] According to some embodiment of the present invention, the swinging member 205 may further include a swing bolt 302 pivotally connecting to the gripping member 373.

[0070] Similarly, as illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, when the first stopper 203a is in a non-protruding position and the second stopper 203b is in a protruding position the apparatus 100 is set as a ling apparatus, where the rotational span of the swinging member 205 in the pull position "oc2" is defined by the limitation of the rotation of the arm 371 between the vertical axis "y" and the horizontal axis "x" within an opposite side of the vertical axis "y". According to these embodiments, in the pull position, the rotation of the swinging member 205 is limited by the second stopper 203b, which is in a protruding position as well as by the blocking member 204, in which case the angle "a2" may be defined by the location of the blocking member 204 (in the illustrated case may be less than 90°.

[0071] Figures 5 A and 5B show the cable-locking mechanism 200 in a neutral position, in which the stoppers 203a and 203b are set in a third position in which they both protrude and therefore, both of them limit the rotation of the swinging member 205, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0072] Alternatively, the swinging member 205 can be unlimited in which case the stoppers 203a and 203b can both be removed or set to not protrude. In this

configuration, the swinging member 205 is rotatable back and forth by the piston 101, where the cable 50 is pushed and pulled such that no real propelling or pulling is carried out thereby neutralizing the apparatus 100 operation.

[0073]

[0074] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the stoppers 203a and 203b may be electronically controlled by the controller 116 and by the remote controller 60, where their mechanical operation is controlled by the user from a control panel or switches in the controller 116. For this purpose, the stoppers 203a and 203b may include an electronic system that can communicate with the controller 1 16 and that can mechanically operate (move) the stoppers 203a and 203b (e.g. by pushing and pulling them to the protruding / non-protruding positions) upon receiving signals (such as electric signals, optical signals and the like) from the controller 1 16.

[0075] For example, each stopper 203a/203b may be associated with a

piezoelectric transducer that electrically connects to the controller 1 16, where the transducer can produce a mechanical vibration or movement upon receiving a direct current pulse from the controller.

[0076] According to additional or alternative embodiments of the present invention, the actuator 107 can be electric or manual and in the case of an electric actuator it may also enable connecting to a chargeable battery as well as to a continuous electric current, where the chargeable battery allows using the apparatus 100 as a mobile wireless apparatus 100 for comfortable use thereof to allow using it in locations that are distant from a steady power supply (e.g. far from an electric socket connecting to the electricity supply).

[0077] The swinging member 205 may be made of solid materials and may optionally have an elasticity or flexibility level that enhances its grab to the cable.

[0078] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may also include a housing (Not Shown) for safely and comfortably cover some of the components of the apparatus 100 such as the cable-locking mechanism 200. the sliding mechanism 400 and the like.

[0079] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments and/or by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention.

[0080] The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

[0081] The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a subcombination.

[0082] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0083] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

[0084] Although the invention has been described in detail, nevertheless changes and modifications, which do not depart from the teachings of the present invention, will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to come within the purview of the present invention and the appended claims.

Claims

is claimed is:

An apparatus (100) for pushing of cables, said apparatus (100) comprising: a) at least one actuator ( 107);

b) at least one piston (101) operated by said actuator ( 107);

c) at least one cable-locking mechanism (200), which connects to said piston (101) for grabbing and releasing a cable inserted therethrough, said cable- locking mechanism (200) comprises a swinging member (205) rotatable by said piston (101), said swinging member (205) allows grabbing and releasing said cable in response to back and forth lateral movement of said piston (101); and

d) a sliding mechanism (400) connected to said cable-locking mechanism (200), which is operated by said actuator (107), said actuator enables

, laterally sliding said sliding mechanism (400) back and forth repeatedly for respectively laterally sliding said cable-locking mechanism (200) connected thereto,

wherein the sliding mechanism and said cable-lock mechanism, connected thereto, are actuated substantially simultaneously by said actuator for coordinating the lock and release of the cable with the moving of the cable for pushing and releasing thereof.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein when said swinging member (205) is rotated by said piston (101) to a first rotational direction within a predefined first rotation span it grabs the cable for locking thereof and when said swinging member (205) retrieves to a vertical neutral position it releases the cable, and wherein the grabbing and releasing of the cable by said cable-locking mechanism (200) is coordinated and synchronized with the back and forth movements of said sliding mechanism (400) for allowing grabbing the cable when the sliding is in a pushing lateral direction and releasing the cable when the sliding is in an opposite retrieval lateral direction, wherein said swinging member (205) enables gripping of the cable for locking therefor by clutching it to a platform (374) of the apparatus located thereunder. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said cable-locking mechanism (200) further enables converting the apparatus (100) to a pulling apparatus for pulling of cables by mechanically changing the rotation direction and span of the swing member (205) wherein said swinging member (205) can swing within a predefined second rotation span for grabbing and releasing the cable in a reversed manner for pulling of the cable.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 3, wherein said cable-locking mechanism (200) further comprises at least two stoppers (203a-203b) allowing setting the operation of the apparatus to a pulling or pushing device by setting the positioning of one of said stoppers in relation to the other, wherein said stoppers allow limiting the rotational span of said swinging member (205) according to the desired functioning of the apparatus.

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a handle (1 17) and a controller (113/114), said handle allows a user to hold and direct said apparatus and said controller enables controlling operations of said actuator (107).

The apparatus (100) according to claim 5 further comprising a crank shaft (102), which operatively connects to said actuator (107) at one end and to said piston at another end through at least one connecting element, said crank shaft (102) rotates said at least one connecting elements, which converts torque of said actuator (107) through said crank shaft (102) into lateral movement of said piston (101).

The apparatus (100) according to claim 6, wherein said controller (1 13) further enables controlling the speed of said actuator (107), wherein said actuator (107) is a variable speed actuator.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 3 further comprising an extension guiding tube (63); a remote unit (61) and a remote controller (60), wherein said extension guiding tube connects to an outlet (206) of said of said cable- locking mechanism (200) for guiding the cable therefrom to a distant edge, and also connects to said remote controller (60) and remote unit (61) at its other end for allowing a user to control push/pull operation of said apparatus from a distance.

9. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 further comprising a cable holder (105) for allowing to hold and direct the cable into said cable-locking mechanism (200) thereby.

10. The apparatus (100) according to claim 9, wherein said cable holder (105) includes a spring drum allowing holding the cable wrapped therethrough in a substantially tense position.

1 1. The apparatus (100) according to claim 10 further comprising a cable guide (109) connecting to said cable holder (105) at an inlet end thereof and to said cable-locking mechanism (200) and another outlet end thereof for guiding the cable from said holder to said cable-locking mechanism.

12. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said swinging member (205) comprises a swinging arm (371) having an opening (372) through which it hangs over said piston (101) and a gripping member (373) connected at a lower end of said swinging arm (371), wherein said gripping member (373) swings through said rotation span for grabbing and releasing of the cable by clutching the cable to the platform (374) located thereunder.

13. The apparatus (100) according to claim 12, wherein said gripping member (373) includes protrusions (375) for enhancing the grip thereof to the cable.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each said protrusion is covered by an elastic covering.

15. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said cable-locking

mechanism (200) further comprises a swing bolt (302).

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a manual

actuator.

17. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is an electric actuator.

18. The apparatus (100) according to claim 17, wherein said electric actuator is chargeable enabling to convert into a wireless mobile appliance and can also connect to a wired electricity inlet for operating.

19. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus allows pushing and/or pulling of cables of a predefined diameter span defined by the dimensions of said swinging member (205), said cable diameter span can be adjusted and changed by replacing the swinging member (205) with a swinging member of different dimensions for allowing pushing/pulling cables having diameters within a different diameter span.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 3, wherein said cable-locking mechanism (200) configuration enables setting the apparatus in three optional positions: a push position, in which the apparatus allows using thereof for pushing of cables; : a pull position, in which the apparatus allows using thereof for pulling of cables; and a neutral position for neutralizing said apparatus, said neutralized state is enabled by one of: preventing said swinging member from swinging; or allowing said cable-locking mechanism to both push and pull the cable back and forth upon each back and forth movement of said sliding mechanism connected thereto.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 1 further comprising a conduit connector (65) that allows connecting said apparatus (100) to a respective designated conduit to which the cable (50) is to be inserted.

An apparatus (100) for pushing and pulling of cables, said apparatus (100) comprising:

a) at least one actuator (107);

b) at least one piston (101) operated by said actuator (107);

c) at least one cable-locking mechanism (200), which connects to said piston (101), for grabbing and releasing a cable thereby, said cable-locking mechanism (200) comprises a swinging member (205) rotatable by said piston (101) that allows grabbing and releasing said cable upon lateral movement of said piston (101);

d) a sliding mechanism (400), which is operated by said actuator (107), said actuator enables laterally sliding said sliding mechanism back and forth repeatedly for sliding said cable-locking mechanism (200) connected thereto; and

e) at least two stoppers for allowing setting the cable-locking mechanism (200) in a push or a pull positioning for allowing said apparatus to push or pull the cable respectively according to the desired operation,

wherein the sliding mechanism (400) and the cable-lock mechanism (200), connected thereto, are actuated substantially simultaneously for coordinating the lock and release of the cable with the moving of the cable for pushing or pulling and then releasing thereof.

The apparatus (100) according to claim 22 further comprising at least two stoppers (203a-203b) designed to allow mechanical adjustment of their respective positioning for adjusting the pull or push position of the apparatus by limiting the rotational movement of said swinging member 205 to a respective first and second rotational movement spans (al and a2).

The apparatus (100) according to claim 23 further comprising a controller (113) for electronically controlling said actuator (107), wherein said actuator (107) is an electrical motor actuator, and wherein said stoppers (203a-203b) are electronically controllable by said controller (1 13).