U.S. patent application number 16/227520 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for rotating conductor holder.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUANTA ASSOCIATES, LP. Invention is credited to Daniel Neil O'Connell, David Karl Wabnegger.
Application Number | 20190123525 16/227520 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54368630 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190123525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Connell; Daniel Neil ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
Rotating Conductor Holder
Abstract
A rotating conductor holder includes at least a first and second
conductor retainer, which are mounted to and spaced apart along a
rotating base member at a distance substantially corresponding to
the separation distance between the two or more existing
sub-conductors that are to be replaced during a restringing
procedure. The base member is rotatably attached to a support,
which may be mounted on at least one insulator. The at least one
insulator may be mounted on an arm on the end of a boom. An
actuator and linkage may be provided to rotate the base member
about its support.
Inventors: |
O'Connell; Daniel Neil;
(Oliver, CA) ; Wabnegger; David Karl; (Langley,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUANTA ASSOCIATES, LP |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54368630 |
Appl. No.: |
16/227520 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14706820 |
May 7, 2015 |
10177545 |
|
|
16227520 |
|
|
|
|
61990213 |
May 8, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 1/02 20130101; H02G
7/05 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02G 1/02 20060101
H02G001/02 |
Claims
1. A method for capturing and rotating the orientation of a
plurality of sub-conductors having a pre-determined spacing between
them, the method comprising: (a) providing a rotating conductor
holder which includes: (i) at least a first and second conductor
retainer mounted to and spaced apart along a base member at
substantially the pre-determined spacing therebetween, (ii) a
support adapted to be mountable atop at least one insulator, said
base member rotatably mounted on said support, (b) mounting the
rotating conductor holder on a distal end of at least one
insulator, (c) mounting an opposite end of the at least one
insulator onto a free end of a manipulatable boom.
2. The method of claim 1 further including capturing at least one
sub-conductor in a corresponding at least one conductor retainer of
said first and second conductor retainers.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first and second conductor
retainers are a plurality of conductor retainers and wherein said
at least one sub-conductor is a corresponding plurality of
sub-conductors, and wherein said capturing step captures one
sub-conductor per conductor retainer, and wherein the method
further comprises rotating the base member and said conductor
retainers between a substantially vertical orientation and a
substantially horizontal orientation.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing a remotely
actuated actuator cooperating with said base member whereby, upon
actuation of said actuator said base member is selectively
rotatable through an arc of rotation relative to said support, and
actuating said actuator.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said actuator includes a linkage
member having an insulator electrically insulating opposite ends of
said linkage member from each other.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein a range of motion of said arc of
rotation is governed by a corresponding range of actuation of said
actuator.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said base member is a cross-arm,
and wherein said support includes a pylon, and wherein said
cross-arm has at least one of said conductor retainers mounted on
each of opposite ends of said cross-arm and wherein said cross-arm
is pivotally mounted on one end of said pylon, an opposite end of
said pylon said adapted for mounting on said at least one
insulator.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said cross-arm is said pivotally
mounted on said pylon at substantially a mid-way long said
cross-arm.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said linkage member includes an
elongate electrically insulated rod between upper and lower driven
linkages.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower driven
linkages are driven by a linear actuator.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said rod is substantially
parallel to said at least one insulator, and wherein said pylon is
mounted at an upper end of said at least one insulator and wherein
a lower end of said at least one insulator is mounted on a
levelable lifter base adapted to be mounted onto the free end of
the boom.
12. The method of claim 11 including the step of mounting the
lifter base on the free end of the boom, levelling the lifter base,
then said step of capturing the sub-conductors in the conductor
retainers, and then said step of rotating said base member and said
conductor retainers between the vertical and horizontal.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said retainers include conductor
retention covers over said openings, and said retainers are
inclined substantially 45 degrees relative to said cross-arm.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein said base member is selectively
rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION(S)
[0001] This invention relates to the field of reconductoring or
restringing of energized, high voltage power lines without
interrupting the service provided by the existing lines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(S)
[0002] Applicant engages, amongst other activities, in the
reconductoring or restringing of energized, high voltage power
lines without interrupting the service provided by the existing
lines. During the execution of the restringing process, a new
conductor is often pulled into an occupied position on support
structures such as towers or poles supporting the existing
conductors.
[0003] In some circumstances, two, three or more sub-conductors may
need to be replaced during the same reconductoring project. In a
high voltage (for example, greater than or equal to 69 kV)
alternating current transmission system, multiple sub-conductors
may be utilized to carry each phase of the alternating current
system. Typically, alternating current is generated in a
three-phase configuration, where, respectively, phases A, B and C
are each transported on a separate conductor, where, commonly, each
separate single phase conductor is referred to as a "phase". Since
all three phase conductors are strung on and occupy the same
support structures, it is necessary to configure the phases so that
they do not touch each other. The three phases may be arranged in a
vertical configuration along a pole or tower, with a pre-determined
separation distance between each of the phases. The greater the
voltage, the greater the phase separation distance. Another
configuration is to arrange the three phase conductors in a
horizontal configuration, typically spaced apart by the
pre-determined separation distance along a cross arm.
[0004] Often, more than one electrical conductor (referred to
herein as sub-conductors) carries the power load for a particular
phase. This may be done in circumstances where the load is greater
than what a single conductor can accommodate. Where more than one
sub-conductor is used, it is referred to as bundle conductor i.e.:
two bundle or three bundle. In such cases, sub-conductors may be
positioned next to each other in what is referred to as horizontal
configuration or may hang in a vertical orientation from the same
insulator, separated from each other by electrically conductive
spacers.
[0005] During a reconductoring or restringing procedure involving
more than one sub-conductor, in order to remove the existing
sub-conductors, each of the sub-conductors are positioned in
dollies, otherwise known as travelers, and each sub-conductor may
also be secured end-to-end to the replacement sub-conductor and the
existing sub-conductor pulled out, using a v-groove puller or
similar machine, so as to pull the replacement sub-conductor into
position. To avoid the entanglement of the sub-conductors as they
are being removed or restrung into place, the sub-conductors being
removed from the system must be placed in travelers, spaced apart
and in for example a substantially horizontal relationship relative
to one another. However, this process of moving the sub-conductors
into the travelers is cumbersome and time-consuming when the
sub-conductors being worked on are secured on the support structure
in a vertical relationship with respect to each other, as the
sub-conductors must each be rotated and placed in the travelers in
a horizontal position. In addition, each of the sub-conductors are
typically large and heavy. Each phase conductor, may for example,
weigh 1000 lbs. or more, which further adds to the burden of
lifting and positioning each of the sub-conductors in the
travelers. Because the sub-conductors are heavy, linemen cannot
simply move them into position in the travelers using hot sticks.
Typically, a heavy mechanical lifting device must be used to move
each of the sub-conductors, for example using a boom mountable
robotic arm or single point lifter.
[0006] After the old sub-conductors have been removed and the new
sub-conductors have been strung through the travelers, each new
sub-conductor must be carefully moved from the traveler and secured
to the support structure, which process must again rotate the
sub-conductors from a horizontal position to a vertical
position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION(S)
[0007] The present invention is a rotating conductor holder which
holds two or more live sub-conductors for rotation of the
sub-conductors through an approximately 90 degree rotational arc,
for example such that the sub-conductors are rotated relative to
one another in the conductor holder between a vertical and a
horizontal orientation. The present invention also includes a
method for employing the rotating conductor holder to reposition
two or more sub-conductors, for example during a restringing
procedure.
[0008] The rotating conductor holder includes at least a first and
second conductor retainer, which are mounted to and spaced apart
along a rotating base member at a distance substantially
corresponding to the separation distance between the two or more
existing sub-conductors that are to be replaced during, for
example, a restringing procedure. The separation distance may be
for example 18 inches. The base member is rotatably attached to a
support, which may be for example a vertical support member such as
a pylon. In one embodiment not intended to be limiting, the
vertical support member may be reinforced by a side gusset.
[0009] The rotating conductor holder may also include vertical and
horizontal stops, so as to limit the angular or rotational
displacement of the base member to the desired angular or
rotational displacement. The angular displacement of the rotational
arc may advantageously be approximately 90 degrees for the purpose
of changing the relative positioning of multiple sub-conductors
from a vertical position to a horizontal position or vice versa.
However, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that
other angular displacements may work and be useful, and that the
invention described herein is not limited to the aforesaid 90
degrees for the rotation of the base member relative to its
vertical support member. The support member may be mounted on a
support plate, or may be otherwise adapted for mounting to for
example a single point lifting apparatus or other robotic arm or
mechanical device on the end of a boom arm that provides for
positioning and manipulation of the rotating conductor holder.
Typically, insulators are provided between the support plate and
the boom.
[0010] Thus, in summary, the rotating conductor holder described
herein may be characterized in one aspect as including at least a
first and second conductor retainer mounted to and spaced apart
along a base member at substantially a pre-determined spacing
therebetween corresponding to the spacing between the
sub-conductors, a support adapted to be mountable atop at least one
insulator, wherein the base member is rotatably mounted on the
support. A remotely actuated actuator, for example manually
actuated, hydraulically actuated, electrically actuated,
pneumatically actuated, etc., as would be known to one skilled in
the art, may be provided cooperating with the base member whereby,
upon actuation of the actuator, the base member is selectively
rotatable through an arc of rotation relative to the support. In a
preferred embodiment the actuator or its actuating linkage includes
an insulator electrically insulating opposite ends of the actuator
or opposite ends of the linkage from each other. In that embodiment
the angular displacement or range of motion of the arc of rotation
is governed by a corresponding range of actuation of the actuator
or by the range of motion of the mechanical linkage.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, not intended to be limiting, the
base member is a cross-arm, and the support includes a pylon,
wherein the cross-arm has at least one of the conductor retainers
mounted on each of opposite ends of the cross-arm, and wherein the
cross-arm is pivotally mounted on one end of the pylon, preferably
the upper end, and an opposite end of the pylon is adapted for
mounting on the at least one insulator. Advantageously, the
cross-arm is pivotally mounted on the pylon at substantially a
mid-way along the cross-arm.
[0012] In one embodiment, the conductor retainers each include
u-shaped conductor retainers or wire cages having openings into the
conductor retainers or wire cages. The range of motion of the
cross-arm may be substantially 90 degrees between a vertical
position wherein the cross-arm is substantially vertical and a
horizontal position wherein the cross arm is substantially
horizontal. The conductor retainers or wire cages are oriented on
the cross-arm at 45 degrees, relative to the cross-arm so that the
openings are open upwardly when the cross-arm is in both the
vertical and horizontal positions and across the entire range of
motion of the cross-arm.
[0013] In embodiments employing an actuator, the actuator and its
actuating linkage may include an elongate electrically insulated
rod between upper and lower driven linkages. The upper and lower
driven linkages may be for example upper and/or lower linkages
driven by a linear actuator such as for example a hydraulic
cylinder or other type of actuator such as for example a screw
drive driven by an electric motor. Advantageously the insulated rod
may be substantially parallel to the at least one insulator, and
the pylon is mounted at an upper end thereof. A lower end of the at
least one insulator may be mounted on a levelable lifter base
adapted to be mounted onto an end of a boom.
[0014] The conductor retainers or wire cages may have conductor
retention covers or other forms of closures over the openings.
[0015] The rotating conductor holder according to the present
invention may also be used in a method which also forms part of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is, in front elevation view, a rotating conductor
holder according to a first embodiment, shown holding two
sub-conductors held spaced apart in their respective conductor
retainers, rotated so as to be positioned in a vertical
relationship with respect to each other.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the rotating conductor holder of FIG. 1,
showing the relative positions of each of the sub-conductors after
the conductor retainers have been rotated through a 45 degree
angular displacement relative to the vertical support.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates the rotating conductor holder of FIG. 1,
showing the relative positions of each of the sub-conductors after
the holder has rotated through a 90 degree angle.
[0019] FIG. 4 is, in front elevation view, a further embodiment of
the rotating conductor holder, wherein the cross-arm of the
rotating conductor holder is in a vertical orientation and has an
actuator and actuating linkage, and wherein the rotating conductor
holder is shown mounted on top of station class insulators,
themselves mounted on top of a boom adaptor, wherein the conductor
retainers on the cross-arm are open.
[0020] FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4 wherein the conductor retainers
contain sub-conductors and are closed.
[0021] FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5 with the cross-arm rotated 45
degrees from the vertical.
[0022] FIG. 7 is the view of FIG. 6 with the cross-arm rotated to
the horizontal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION(S)
[0023] As seen in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 and the
further exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4-7, a rotating conductor
holder is provided to hold two or more sub-conductors that are
positioned in a vertical relationship with respect to one another
and to rotate those sub-conductors such that they are in a
horizontal position with respect to each other, and vice-versa,
while maintaining the desired or required separation distance
between the sub-conductors. Thus, the rotating conductor holder may
be used to simultaneously hold two or more sub-conductors that are
positioned in a horizontal relationship relative to each other and
rotate those sub-conductors into a vertical relationship relative
to each other, or to intermediate positions therebetween. In this
manner, the sub-conductors may be simultaneously moved from their
vertically spaced apart positions on a support structure and
positioned in or near horizontally spaced apart travelers without
allowing the sub-conductors to come into contact with each other,
thereby reducing the amount of time and labor required to safely
position the sub-conductors onto their respective travelers during
a restringing procedure.
[0024] The rotating conductor holder may be mounted to the support
plate of a device adapted for manipulating live conductors. By way
of an example, without intending to be limiting, as seen in FIG. 4,
a single point lifter such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,671,
may be used to support a rotating conductor holder. When mounted to
a single point lifter of the kind illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
6,837,671, one of the hydraulic actuators of the single point
lifter may be used to lift a sub-conductor out of its existing
support and manipulate it into one of the conductor retainers of
the present invention. The leveling actuator of the single point
lifter may be used to orient the support plate into the horizontal
and thus to also orient the support member or pylon into the
vertical.
[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may
include an independent actuator, such as for example a hydraulic
cylinder or screw drive driven by an electric motor cooperating
between a vertical support member or base plate and the rotating
base member of the rotating conductor holder, wherein the actuator
may be remotely controlled to rotate the rotating base member.
[0026] Reviewing the Figures in more detail, in one embodiment a
rotating conductor holder 10 is supported on insulators 12, for
example mounted on a single point lifter 12a, itself adapted for
mounting on the end of a boom (not shown). The upper ends of
insulators 12 are secured to a support plate 14 by fasteners 12b.
Support plate 16 is mounted down onto support plate 14. Fasteners
12b may include, but are not limited to, bolts, screws, rivets,
pins, welds or other fasteners known to those skilled in the
art.
[0027] A vertical support, for example, pylon 18, is mounted on
support plate 16. Pylon 18 may be for example braced by a side
gusset 18a. Side gusset 18a provides additional strength to pylon
18 and may for example act as a stop to arrest the rotation of
rotating base member 20 as it rotates from vertical to
horizontal.
[0028] Rotating base member 20 is rotatably mounted to pylon 18 for
example by means of a hinge or shaft or pivot pin 22 (collectively
referred to herein as a pivot or pin). Base member 20 includes a
flange 20a mounted on a cross member 20b. First and second
conductor retainers 24a and 24b are mounted on flange 20a at an
angle .alpha. relative to the surface of flange 20a by means of
brackets 26. Preferably, angle .alpha. is approximately 45 degrees.
The surface of flange 20a may, as illustrated, be planar.
[0029] Conductors 28a and 28b are secured within their
corresponding conductor retainers 24a and 24b by selectively
closeable latches, doors, covers or other closures 30. With the
conductors 28a, 28b held in their respective conductor retainers
24a, 24b, sub-conductors 28a, 28b may be rotated through a 90
degree angular displacement A so as to maintain their separation
distance during angular displacement A by rotation of base member
20 about pivot 22. Due to the angular orientation .alpha. of
conductor retainers 24a, 24b, as base member 20 rotates about pivot
22 across its angular displacement A, sub-conductors 28a, 28b
remain held by gravity against floors 24c. As illustrated, as base
member 20 pivots, the sub-conductors merely slide in directions B
across the floors 24c of the conductor retainers. Consequently, the
sub-conductors do not contact closures 30, thereby minimizing the
risk of the loss of a sub-conductor from within its conductor
retainer during angular displacement A of base member 20 about
pivot 22.
[0030] In the orientation of FIG. 1, where sub-conductors 28a, 28b
are strung between a pair of support structures such as poles or
towers (not shown) so that the sub-conductors hang vertical,
suspended, stacked one over another, using rotating conductor
holder 10 the sub-conductors 28a, 28b may be captured and secured
within their respective conductor retainers 24a, 24b. Rotating base
member 20 is then actuated so as to begin rotating through an angle
.beta.. In FIG. 2, the rotating base member 20 has completed
approximately half of its rotation; that is, .beta. is about half
of angular displacement A. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each of the
sub-conductors 28a, 28b remain safely secured in their conductor
retainers 24a, 24b during the rotation across angular displacement
A of rotating base member 20. With reference to FIG. 3, once the
rotating base member 20 has completed its full angular displacement
A and thus angle .beta. is substantially 90 degrees, rotating base
member 20 is in a substantially horizontal position rather than in
its original vertical position. Each of the sub-conductors 28a, 28b
remain securely in place against floors 24c within their conductor
retainers.
[0031] Although angle .alpha. is preferably substantially 45
degrees, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that
the conductor retainers 24a, 24b may be mounted at an angle .alpha.
that is less or greater than 45 degrees, so long as the
sub-conductors remain within their conductor retainers, preferably
lying against floors 24c during the entire angular displacement A
to thereby avoid contacting closures 30 and inadvertently releasing
the closures 30 and thereby releasing the sub-conductors.
[0032] In a further embodiment, a swivel plate 32 is mounted
between plates 14 and 16. Bolt 34 is mounted to the underside of
the plate 16 so as to protrude orthogonally downwardly therefrom
through corresponding aperture (not shown) in swivel plate 32 and
plate 14. Bolt 34 is secured under plate 14 by nut 36. When nut 36
is loosened, conductor holder 10 may be rotated into a desired
alignment about vertical axis of rotation C. Nut 36 is tightened to
anchor the desired alignment. Nut 36 may also be left somewhat
loose so as to allow continuous rotational alignment.
[0033] In FIGS. 4-7 a rotating conductor holder 10 is shown
mounted, via insulators 12, onto a single point lifter 12a. Single
point lifter 12a includes a lifter base 38 pivotally mounted onto a
truck boom adapter 40. The truck boom adapter mounts onto the end
of a truck-mounted boom (not shown). A levelling cylinder 42 is
mounted between lifter base 38 and truck boom adapter 40. Actuation
of levelling cylinder 42 allows an operator to remotely level
lifter base 38, thereby bringing insulators 12 and pylon 18 to the
vertical.
[0034] As described above, insulators 12, which may be station
class insulators as required and as would be known to one skilled
in the art, support rotating conductor holder 10 thereon. Pylon 18
is advantageously mounted so as to distribute the downward load of
the weight of the conductor holder 10 and the sub-conductors held
therein onto insulators 12. Thus pylon 18 may as illustrated be
mounted on plates 14 and 16 so as be between the upper ends of the
insulators 12. Pylon 18 supports pivot 22 at sufficient elevation
above plate 16 so that rotating base member 20 has clearance above
plate 16 when base member 20 is oriented vertically as seen in
FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-7 a linkage such as
for example an actuating rod 44 extends between rotating base
member 20 and lifter base 38. Rod 44 is electrically insulated. For
example, rod 44 may be a polymer insulator. In one example of an
actuating linkage which includes rod 44, and not intending to be
limiting, an actuator cylinder 46 mounted to lifter base 38 drives
a triangular linkage 48 which is pivotally mounted at pivot 48a to
lifter base 38. The lower end of rod 44 is pivotally mounted to
triangular linkage 48 so that, upon actuation of cylinder 46,
triangular linkage 48 rotates about pivot 48a thereby driving rod
44 substantially vertically upwards, upon extension of cylinder 46,
or downwards, upon retraction of cylinder 46.
[0035] The upper end of rod 44 is pivotally mounted to lobe 20c of
rotating base member 20, so that upwards displacement of rod 44
rotates base member 20 clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 to
thereby rotate base member 20 to the vertical. Downwards
displacement of rod 44 rotates base member 20 to the horizontal.
Stops such as found in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 may not be
needed as the range of the angular displacement of base member 20
about pivot 22 is governed by the length of the stroke of cylinder
46.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows sub-conductors 28a, 28b captured in conductor
retainers 24a, 24b respectively, with closures 30 in their closed
positions latching closed over the upwardly inclined openings 24d,
24e of conductor retainers 24a, 24b respectively. As noted above,
upwardly inclined openings 24d, 24e remain upwardly inclined as
rotating base member 20 rotationally traverses the entire range of
angular displacement A so that at no time do the sub-conductors
push against the undersides of closures 30. This minimizes the risk
of escape of the sub-conductors from their conductor retainers.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show base member 20 rotated to a 45 degree
orientation and into a horizontal orientation respectively.
[0037] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *