US 12,272,934 B2
Integrated transmission line installation system
Bradley Paul Radichel, Mankato, MN (US); Eric Lakin Cope, Mankato, MN (US); Heinz Ulrich Wortmann, Mankato, MN (US); Michael Robert Johnson, Mankato, MN (US); David Jon Hassing, Mankato, MN (US); and Santosh Saride, Mankato, MN (US)
Assigned to Condux International, Inc., Mankato, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/761,962
Filed by CONDUX INTERNATIONAL, INC., Mankato, MN (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 18, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/051618
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/055839, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/903,584, filed on Sep. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0393444 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H02G 1/08 (2006.01); G02B 6/52 (2006.01); H02G 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC H02G 1/086 (2013.01) [G02B 6/52 (2013.01); H02G 9/06 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transmission line installation system comprising:
a control unit comprising a processing device, a computer-readable storage device, a communication device, a display device, and at least one input device, the control unit being configured to display status information and to receive input from a user; and
at least two transmission line conveying apparatuses configured to be arranged in series along a duct having at least a first segment and a second segment and operable to cooperate to advance a transmission line through the duct, the transmission line conveying apparatuses comprising a plurality of components each including a local controller operable to locally control an associated component, the local controllers of the associated components comprising a processing device, a computer-readable storage device, and a communication device, wherein the communication devices of the local controllers are configured to communicate with at least one of the control unit and at least one other local controller to synchronize operation of the associated components during installation of the transmission line;
wherein the at least two transmission line conveying apparatuses comprise a first line blower and a second line blower;
wherein the second line blower is configured to be arranged between the first and the second segments of the duct and is controlled to synchronize the operation of the second line blower with the operation of the first line blower and to receive the transmission line from an end of the first segment and to advance the transmission line into the second segment; and
wherein at least one of the first line blower or the second line blower further comprises a guide system including a lead in guide structure having a tapered configuration to guide a leading end of the transmission line.