Motor vehicle mounted apparatus for pulling optical fiber cable

摘要

The apparatus is slide mounted on elongated bumper support members between the grill and front bumper of a pickup truck. The apparatus is powered by a hydraulic power take-off unit which is selectively connected through a selector valve assembly to a hydraulic tool circuit, and to a series connected tension control unit and speed control valve which feed hydraulic fluid to and return it from a motor that supports a capstan. The control unit bypasses fluid away from the pump when the hydraulic pressure exceeds a maximum allowable value which corresponds to a maximum allowable pull force on the cable. The control unit includes a valve that can be manually actuated for bypassing hydraulic fluid back to the power take-off unit when the speed control valve is closed and/or it is desired to manually terminate a cable pull. Only when it is desired to pull cable is the capstan extended beyond a fender and connected to a take-up reel, with an idler pulley being raised above the reel. Cable is pulled by making several nonoverlapping wraps of a polyethylene pulling rope around the capstan, extending the rope over the idler pulley, wrapping the rope around the reel, and engaging the function selector and speed control valves for causing rotation of the capstan and take-up reel.