US 12,015,252 B2
Wireless control in a cable feeder and puller system
Daniel John Marben, Rockford, IL (US); Eric Williams, Rockford, IL (US); Satishkumar SivaSankaran, Rockford, IL (US); and Derald Damitric Woods, Rockford, IL (US)
Assigned to GREENLEE TOOLS, INC., Rockford, IL (US)
Filed by Greenlee Tools, Inc., Rockford, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/164,017.
Application 18/164,017 is a continuation of application No. 17/459,286, filed on Aug. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,575,250.
Application 17/459,286 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/005,885, filed on Aug. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,361,656, issued on Jun. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0178969 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02G 1/08 (2006.01); H04B 17/318 (2015.01)
CPC H02G 1/08 (2013.01) [H04B 17/318 (2015.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control arrangement for use in a cable installing system, the cable installing system including a first apparatus located at a first endpoint, and a second apparatus located at a second endpoint, the first and second apparatus together configured to install a cable through a conduit between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the control arrangement comprising:
a first control module located proximate to the first endpoint and operatively coupled to the first apparatus, the first apparatus having an electric motor coupled to a source of power;
a second control module located proximate to the second endpoint and operatively coupled to the second apparatus, the second apparatus having a electric motor coupled to a source of power;
each control module having a wireless communication interface to facilitate wireless communication between the first control module and the second control module;
each control module having a switch input configured to receive an input signal from an operator-activated switch, the input signal indicating either a ready state or a stop state;
each control module further having an apparatus output configured to provide a machine-activation signal or a machine-deactivation signal to the respective first or second apparatus;
wherein the machine-activation signal and the machine-deactivation signal are separate and independent form the source of power that drives the motors of the first second apparatus;
wherein when the first control module receives the input signal from the corresponding operator-activated switch indicating the ready state, the first control module wirelessly transmits a ready signal to the second control module; and
wherein upon receipt of the ready signal by the second control module, and if the second control module receives the input signal from the corresponding operator-activated switch, the second control module wirelessly transmits a start signal to the first control module, and thereafter, both control modules transmit the corresponding machine-activation signal to the correspondingly coupled first apparatus and second apparatus.