초록 ▼

A cable following apparatus especially suitable for replacing existing underground cable is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a tubular main body disposed around and movable along a particular cable in a forward direction while an arrangement of water jets are used to cut through the soil su

A cable following apparatus especially suitable for replacing existing underground cable is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a tubular main body disposed around and movable along a particular cable in a forward direction while an arrangement of water jets are used to cut through the soil surrounding the cable in front of the forwardly moving main body. At the same time, a high pressure stream of air or similar gas is directed into a circumferential area between the front end of the main body and the cable in a way which is intended to prevent particulate material from passing therebetween and damaging or otherwise disrupting operation of the apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for cutting through the soil around and along the length of an underground cable for removing the latter, said apparatus comprising: a tubular main body adapted for positioning around said cable, said main body including a front end and a back end; means for causing said main body to mo

An apparatus for cutting through the soil around and along the length of an underground cable for removing the latter, said apparatus comprising: a tubular main body adapted for positioning around said cable, said main body including a front end and a back end; means for causing said main body to move in a forward direction along the length of said cable after said main body has been placed around the latter; means for cutting through the soil surrounding said cable in front of said main body as the latter moves along said cable; and means for directing a plurality of streams of gas toward said cable from points spaced circumferentially around the cable and radially outward therefrom and at sufficient pressure to substantially reduce the entry of particulate material into said circumferential area and possibly lodging between the cable and main body in a way which would prevent the latter from moving along the cable or otherwise damaging the cable and/or apparatus.