Cable blowing apparatus and method
A method and reel design enables blowing cable from a reel into a mid-span access point within a cable conduit. The cable reel includes a central hub, a first flange located proximate one edge of the central hub, a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of the hub, and a third flange located between the first and second flanges. A continuous communications cable has first and second portions spooled on first and second reel sections. The technician inserts a first end of the communications cable into a mid-span opening in the conduit, so that the first end of the communications cable is directed toward the first end of the conduit. The first portion of cable is blown off of the first reel section. The technician inserts a second end of the communications cable into the opening in the conduit so that the second end of the communications cable is directed toward the second end of the conduit. The second portion of cable is blown off of the second reel section. Then, a mid-portion of the communications cable is separated from the third flange of the cable reel and resides proximate the opening in the conduit.
1. A cable reel comprising:
a central hub;
a first flange located proximate one edge of said central hub;
a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of said central hub;
a third flange located between said first flange and said second flange, forming a first reel section between said first flange and said third flange, and forming a second reel section between said second flange and said third flange; and
an over-the-flange guide, wherein said over-the-flange guide is removably connected to, and can move around, an outer periphery of said first flange.
2. The cable reel of claim 1 , wherein an outer edge of said first flange includes a first track feature, and wherein said over-the-flange guide includes at least one roller which rolls along a surface proximate said outer periphery of said first flange and further includes at least one projecting feature which extends into said first track feature.
3. The cable reel of claim 2 , wherein said first track feature is a first groove concentrically formed just inside an outer periphery of said first flange on a first side of said first flange and a second groove concentrically formed just inside said outer periphery of said first flange on a second side of said first flange, wherein said at least one roller includes first and second rollers engaging said first and second sides of said first flange, and wherein said at least one projecting feature includes first and second projecting features which extend into said first and second grooves.
4. The cable reel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a continuous communications cable having a first portion spooled on said first reel section and a second portion spooled on said second reel section.
5. The cable reel of claim 4 , further comprising:
a passageway formed in said third flange and a segment of said continuous cable passing through said passageway.
6. The cable reel of claim 5 , wherein said passageway is formed as a slot extending from a portion of said third flange adjacent to said central hub to an opening in an outer periphery of said third flange.
7. The cable reel of claim 6 , wherein said segment of said continuous cable is located proximate a mid-portion of a length of said continuous cable.
8. The cable reel of claim 4 , wherein said over-the-flange guide includes at least one wheel over which said continuous communications cable passes.
9. The cable reel of claim 8 , wherein said at least one wheel includes a first wheel facing to a second wheel, and wherein said continuous communications cable passes between said first and second wheels.
10. A cable reel comprising:
a central hub;
a first flange located proximate one edge of said central hub;
a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of said central hub; and
a third flange located between said first flange and said second flange, forming a first reel section between said first flange and said third flange, and forming a second reel section between said second flange and said third flange, wherein an outer edge of said first flange includes a first track feature, and wherein said first track feature is a first surface feature concentrically formed just inside an outer periphery of said first flange on a first side of said first flange and a second surface feature concentrically formed just inside said outer periphery of said first flange on a second side of said first flange.
11. The cable reel of claim 10 , wherein an outer edge of said second flange includes a second track feature.
12. The cable reel of claim 11 , wherein said second track feature is a third surface feature concentrically formed just inside an outer periphery of said second flange on a first side of said second flange and a fourth surface feature concentrically formed just inside said outer periphery of said second flange on a second side of said second flange.
13. The cable reel of claim 10 , further comprising:
a continuous communications cable having a first portion spooled on said first reel section and a second portion spooled on said second reel section.
14. A cable reel comprising:
a central hub;
a first flange located proximate one edge of said central hub;
a second flange located proximate an opposite, second edge of said central hub;
a third flange located between said first flange and said second flange, forming a first reel section between said first flange and said third flange, and forming a second reel section between said second flange and said third flange; and
a passageway formed in said third flange and creating an opening between a first side of said third flange and a second side of said third flange, wherein a first side of said third flange includes a first bulbous curved portion, extending away from a plane of said first side of said third flange in a direction away from said second side of said third flange and being located adjacent to a first side edge of said passageway.
15. The cable reel of claim 14 , wherein said second side of said third flange includes a second bulbous curved portion, extending away from a plane of said second side of said third flange in a direction away from said first side of said third flange and being located adjacent to a second side edge of said passageway.
16. The cable reel of claim 14 , further comprising:
a continuous communications cable having a first portion spooled on said first reel section and a second portion spooled on said second reel section, wherein a segment of said continuous cable passes through said passageway.
17. The cable reel of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second bulbous curved portion extending away from said plane of said first side of said third flange in a direction away from said second side of said third flange and being located adjacent to a second side edge of said passageway.
18. The cable reel of claim 17 , further comprising:
a third bulbous curved portion extending away from a plane of said second side of said third flange in a direction away from said first side of said third flange and being located adjacent to said first side edge of said passageway.
19. The cable reel of claim 18 , further comprising:
a fourth bulbous curved portion extending away from said plane of said second side of said third flange in a direction away from said first side of said third flange and being located adjacent to said second side edge of said passageway.