US 12,291,842 B2
Top loading cable plough
Harald Solheim, Oslo (NO); and Tom Thorjussen, Fjellhamar (NO)
Assigned to NEXANS, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed by NEXANS, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,751.
Claims priority of application No. 21305213 (EP), filed on Feb. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0333340 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. E02F 5/14 (2006.01); E02F 5/10 (2006.01); H02G 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 5/106 (2013.01) [E02F 5/145 (2013.01); H02G 1/10 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A top loading plough for burying a cable, the plough comprises:
a two part frame including a base frame, and an upper frame member movably connected thereto;
a ploughshare support;
a topside of the ploughshare support features a cable trough; and
a cable guiding path extends from a front end to a rear end of the plough, the cable guiding path is arranged between the base frame and the upper frame member and along the cable trough;
wherein the upper frame member is articulated relative to the base frame parallel to said cable guiding path, such that the upper frame member may move between a first position, wherein the upper frame member is arranged covering the cable guiding path, and a second position wherein the upper frame member is displaced away from the cable guiding path;
wherein the whole extent of the cable guiding path is accessible from above when the upper frame member is in the second position, such that a cable may be lowered onto the cable guiding path,
said top loading plough further comprising a cable depressor that may be positioned above the cable trough to hold a cable in place during use, the cable depressor is movably connected relative to the cable trough, such that the cable depressor may move between a first position, wherein the cable depressor is arranged above the cable trough and the cable guiding path, and a second position, wherein the cable depressor is displaced away from the cable guiding path,
wherein the cable depressor is pivotably connected relative to the cable trough by a double-axis pivot connection, the double-axis pivot connection arranged to move the cable depressor away from the cable trough in an upwards direction and in a lateral direction relative to the cable trough,
wherein a bellmouth is arranged at the front end, the bellmouth comprises an upper section and a lower section, the upper section is movably connected relative to the lower section, such that the upper section may move between a first position, wherein the bellmouth surrounds the cable guiding path, and a second position wherein the upper section is displaced away from the cable guiding path, wherein the upper section of the bellmouth is a separate element included on said upper frame member.