Drill-operated tool to assist in the opening of fiber-optic cables

1. A tool for opening a cable having a length of filament disposed within a sheath, the tool comprising:

a proximal portion having a shaft and a first flange, wherein the shaft is fixedly coupled with the first flange and is configured to be engaged with a powered mechanical rotation device comprising a chuck, wherein the shaft comprises a flat surface configured to be inserted and secured into the chuck; and

a distal portion having a second flange comprising a cap configured to be turned with another tool; and

a column coupled with the distal portion and fixedly coupled with the cap, the column mechanically and detachably engaged with the proximal portion and including a cavity adapted to grip the filament and disposed such that the cavity is between the first and second flanges when the column is engaged with the proximal portion.

2. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein:

the column comprises a hollow interior; and

the cavity comprises a hole extending through a surface of the column to the hollow interior.

3. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein cavity comprises a plurality of cavities, each such cavity being adapted to grip the filament.

4. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein the powered mechanical rotation device is a hand-held drill.

5. The tool recited in claim 1 wherein:

the first flange comprises a threaded hole; and

the column is threaded at a proximal end for threading into the threaded hole,

whereby the column is detachably engaged with the proximal portion and coupled with the distal portion.

6. A method for opening a cable having a length of filament disposed within a sheath, the method comprising:

attaching an end of the filament to a tool having a column fixedly coupled with a distal flange, wherein the distal flange is fixedly coupled with a cap configured to be turned with another tool, and wherein the column is mechanically and detachably engaged with a proximal flange having a shaft comprising a flat surface configured to be inserted and secured into a chuck of a powered mechanical rotation device, and the column includes a cavity adapted to grip the filament;

inserting and securing the shaft into the chuck of the powered mechanical rotation device;

thereafter, rotating the shaft with the powered mechanical rotation device to pull the filament from the sheath and to spool the filament about the column; and

thereafter, separating the proximal flange from the column to release the spooled filament.

7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein the powered mechanical rotation device is a hand-held drill.

8. The method recited in claim 6 wherein:

the proximal flange comprises a threaded hole into which a threaded end of the column is screwed; and

separating the one of the flanges from the column comprises unscrewing the colunm relative to the proximal flange.

9. The method recited in claim 6 wherein the filament comprises a strength member of an optical-fiber cable.

10. A tool for opening a cable having a length of filament disposed within a sheath, the tool comprising:

a powered mechanical rotation device comprising a chuck;

a proximal portion having a shaft and a first flange, wherein the shaft is fixedly coupled with the first flange and is engaged with the powered mechanical rotation device, wherein the first flange comprises a threaded hole and the shaft comprises a flat surface configured to be inserted and secured into the chuck;

a distal portion having a second flange comprising a hex cap configured to be turned with a wrench; and

a column coupled with the distal portion and fixedly coupled with the hex cap, wherein the column is threaded at a proximal end for threading into the threaded hole, the column mechanically and detachably engaged with the proximal portion and including a cavity adapted to grip the filament and disposed such that the cavity is between the first and second flanges when the colunm is engaged with the proximal portion.