Method and apparatus for continuously processing conductor cable for disposal or recycling

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for continuous processing of a cable-to-be-recycled simultaneously with being pulled from a pull zone during reconductoring or restringing so as to avoid storing the cable-to-be-recycled on a reel, wherein said cable-to-be-recycled has a cable length equal to a length of the pull zone, wherein the cable-to-be-recycled has aluminum strands surrounding a core, and wherein the cable-to-be-recycled is pulled during a pull from the pull zone by a first puller, the apparatus including: a strand cutter adapted to be used in proximity to the puller and adapted to continuously receive the cable-to-be-recycled and to cut through the aluminum strands of the cable-to-be-recycled, while in proximity to the puller, so as to remove segments of the aluminum strands from the core of the cable-to-be-recycled, for recycling of the segments of the aluminum strands, while leaving the core intact as the cable-to-be-recycled passes through the strand cutter during the pull from the pull zone of the cable-to-be-recycled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for continuous processing of a cable-to-be-recycled simultaneously with being pulled from a pull zone during reconductoring or restringing so as to avoid storing the cable-to-be-recycled on a reel, wherein said cable-to-be-recycled has a cable length equal to a length of the pull zone, wherein the cable-to-be-recycled has aluminum strands surrounding a core, and wherein the cable-to-be-recycled is pulled during a pull from the pull zone by a first puller, the apparatus comprising:
 a strand cutter adapted to be used in proximity to the puller and adapted to continuously receive the cable-to-be-recycled and to cut through the aluminum strands of the cable-to-be-recycled, while in proximity to the puller, so as to remove segments of the aluminum strands from the core of the cable-to-be-recycled, for recycling of the segments of the aluminum strands, while leaving the core intact as the cable-to-be-recycled passes through the strand cutter during the pull from the pull zone of the cable-to-be-recycled.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a downstream core processor, downstream of the strand cutter, the core processor adapted to continuously process the core received from the strand cutter into core segments simultaneously during the pull of the cable-to-be-recycled from the pull zone for disposal or recycling of the core. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the downstream core processor includes a core cutter adapted to receive the core and to cut the core into segments. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a passive splitter head adapted to receive the core from the strand cutter so as to remove any of the segments of the aluminum strands from the core which remain adhered to the core after passing through the strand cutter. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the passive splitter head has a shape selected from a group comprising: wedge-shaped, frusto-conical. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the passive splitter head is hollow so as to form a bore sized to be snug around the core at an upstream opening into the bore when the core is received in the bore. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a tensioner to keep the cable-to-be-recycled taut as the cable-to-be-recycled is fed into the strand cutter. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the tensioner includes at least one non-contact sensor cooperating with the cable-to-be-recycled or the core therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the tensioner further comprises a second puller immediately upstream of the strand cutter, upstream relative to a pull direction of the pulled cable-to-be-recycled. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first trailer having a frame, and wherein the strand cutter is mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising at least one salvage container mounted under the strand cutter when the strand cutter is mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the at least on salvage container is chosen from the group comprising: removable bins, removable bags, a hopper. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the salvage container is a bin having a positionable wall. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the at least one salvage container is mounted on a second trailer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first puller is mounted on the first trailer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the tensioner includes a second puller mounted on the first trailer.