Condux Deluxe Blower - Manual (Page 4)

4
General Information
The operating instructions contain a full description of the Deluxe Blower, which has
been designed for the purpose of feeding fiber optic cable through round conduits of
uniform cross section. The conduit must previously have been installed underground
or overhead to receive the fiber optic cable and must be of sufficient length on exit to
be received by the machine. The conduit must be made of material with sufficient
compression strength for it to be adequately sealed in the exit of a machine. The
conduit must be airtight up to a pressure of 175 psi (12 bar). For this purpose,
connectors of screw, compression or fusion type must be used. Conduits from
(10 mm) to 1.97" (50.00 mm) and fiber optic cables from 1/4" (6 mm) to 1.13"
(28.7 mm) diameter can be accepted by the machine.
Fiber optic cable is fed into the conduit by combining pulling and pushing forces,
which draw the fiber optic cable through the conduit. The pulling force is achieved
by connecting the leading end of the fiber optic cable to a piston or carrier, which
fits exactly into the conduit to make an airtight seal. Air under pressure is fed in
behind the carrier causing it to be forced through the conduit. As the carrier moves
through the conduit, it pulls the fiber optic cable behind it. The fiber optic cable is
continuously pushed into the conduit by a tractor drive. This consists of two
caterpillar tracks, which grip the top and bottom of the fiber optic cable moving it into
the conduit. This ensures the fiber optic cable is always free as it moves into the
conduit and reduces the magnitude of the pulling forces needed to carry the leading
end through. Special lubricants are used to make it easier for the carrier to pass
through the conduit.
The exit of the machine consists of an air box that is made in two halves that clamp
together. The air box contains special removable seals on entry and exit, which
clamp around either the end of the conduit or the fiber optic cable to be fed into the
conduit. The seals can be changed to accommodate different conduit and fiber optic
cable sizes. The conduit is clamped between a pair of seals at the entrance to the
air block. A clamp located in front of the entrance to the air block holds the conduit
mechanically to prevent it from moving axially. The fiber optic cable enters through
two seals located in an aluminum nozzle that splits in half. The aluminum nozzle is
located in the entrance to the air box and is shaped to ensure an airtight seal around
the fiber optic cable. When the two halves of the air box are closed, air pressure is
admitted into the space between the seals on entry and exit.
The use of the Deluxe Blower for operations different from those discussed in this
manual are considered extremely dangerous and thus forbidden. The non-respect for
the
prescribed restraints of the machine causes a situation of improper use and relieves
the manufacturer from any responsibility, civil or penal. The manufacturer’s
responsibility declines even when one of the following happens:
a. The consequences caused by tampering and/or modifications carried out
without the manufacturer’s written acceptance.
b. The use of imitative spare parts.
c. Bad maintenance.
d. Use with disconnected safety devices.
e. The connection to machine and/or parts not produced and not directly
authorized by the manufacturer in a written acceptance.
The Deluxe Blower is a unique device for inserting fiber optic cable directly into
conduit. The Deluxe Blower is comprised of an air block and a tractor drive that,
when combined with an air compressor and a hydraulic power unit, will propel fiber
1.