Tension stringing apparatus and process

A process for tension stringing a conductor through supports using a pulling machine and a tensioning machine, said pulling machine controlling said pulling machine and said tensioning machine, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a rope to said conductor, said conductor initially wound on a reel of said tensioning machine;
• establishing and verifying wireless communication between a control system of said pulling machine and a control system of said tensioning machine during said tension stringing said conductor;
• applying a driveline brake on said pulling machine if wireless communication between said pulling machine and said tensioning machine is not verified;
• applying a driveline brake on said tensioning machine if wireless communication between said pulling machine and said tensioning machine is not verified;
• said pulling machine includes a motor, a motor controller, and a reel and said tensioning machine includes a motor and a motor controller, and a reel;
• checking said driveline brakes by applying torque and speed commands to said motor controllers which drive said reel on said pulling machine and said reel on said tensioning machine;
• monitoring said pulling machine and said tensioning machine for movement of said reels during said checking of said driveline brakes;
• inputting a desired maximum line pull force on said pulling machine control system;
• inputting a desired tension force on said pulling machine control system;
• communicating said desired tension force on said pulling machine control system to said tensioning machine control system on said tensioning machine;
• said tensioning machine generating a tensioning force based on said desired tension force of said pulling machine using a regenerative brake of said tensioning machine;
• and,
• pulling said rope and said conductor through said supports with said pulling machine.

A process for tension stringing a conductor through supports, comprising the steps of:

• affixing a length of rope to said conductor;
• positioning a first stringing apparatus near a first end of said supports;
• positioning a second stringing apparatus near a second end of said supports;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses are powered by sources selected from the group consisting of electric batteries, diesel powered electric over hydraulic system, and electric over hydraulic system;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes an onboard control system which controls each of said first and second stringing apparatuses in pulling mode or in tensioning mode;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a brake selected from the group consisting of a motor and a regenerative brake, a hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulically applied brake;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a wireless transceiver which is hard-wired to said onboard control system;
• establishing and verifying wireless communication between said first and second stringing apparatuses;
• initiating operation of said onboard control systems of each of said first and second stringing apparatuses wherein each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a display enabling activation of an “In-Command” operating system wherein one of said first and second apparatuses is exclusively selected to operate-in-said pulling mode and the apparatus not selected to operate in said pulling mode is in said tensioning mode;
• said one of said apparatuses selected to operate in said pulling mode is a pulling machine and the apparatus not selected to operate in said pulling mode is in said tensioning mode and is a tensioning machine;
• each of said wireless transceivers communicating with the other wireless transceiver enabling control of both said pulling machine and said tensioning machine by said onboard control system of said pulling machine;
• verifying said wireless communications sent from said transceiver of said pulling machine were received by said transceiver of said tensioning machine and said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
• selecting and commanding said tensioning machine from said tensioning machine to operate as said tensioning machine in tensioning mode, said pulling machine being, thereafter, in command of said tensioning machine wirelessly communicating with said transceiver of said tensioning machine and controlling said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
• said pulling machine in pulling mode for pulling in said rope affixed to said conductor and said tensioning machine being in said tensioning mode operating said regenerative brake of said tensioning machine for tensioning out said conductor from a reel of said tensioning machine reel;
• performing a driveline brake check on said pulling machine and said tensioning machine;
• providing said driveline brake check on said pulling machine and said tensioning machine are satisfactory such that there is no rotation of reel a pulling machine reel and said tensioning machine reel, an input maximum line pull value in pounds-force is input into said onboard control system of said pulling machine, a desired tension value in pounds-force is input into said onboard control system and is communicated wirelessly to said tensioning machine;
• said tensioning machine operating in tensioning mode returning and acknowledging said input desired tension value from said pulling machine operating in said pulling mode;
• setting a tensioning machine motor speed to zero;
• releasing said driveline brakes on said pulling machine and said tensioning machine;
• selecting a desired reel speed of said pulling machine;
• pulling said rope and said conductor until said conductor is completely pulled through said supports;
• and,
• if said conductor is completely pulled through said supports, simultaneously applying said driveline brakes on said pulling machine and said tensioning machine as commanded by said-pulling machine onboard control system on said pulling machine.

A process for tension stringing a conductor through supports using a pulling machine and a tensioning machine, said pulling machine controlling said pulling machine and said tensioning machine, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a rope to said conductor, said conductor initially wound on a reel of said tensioning machine;
• establishing and verifying wireless communication between a control system of said pulling machine and a control system of said tensioning machine during said tension stringing of said conductor;
• applying a driveline brake on said pulling machine if wireless communication between said pulling machine and said tensioning machine is not verified;
• applying a driveline brake on said tensioning machine if wireless communication between said pulling machine and said tensioning machine is not verified;
• checking said driveline brakes by applying torque and speed commands to:
• a motor controller of said tensioning machine and to a motor controller of said pulling machine said motor controller of said pulling machine drives a respective reel on said pulling machine and said motor controller of said tensioning machine drives said respective reel on said tensioning machine;
• monitoring said pulling machine and said tensioning machine for movement of said reels during said checking of said driveline brakes;
• inputting a desired maximum line pull force on said pulling machine control system;
• inputting a desired tension force on said pulling machine control system;
• communicating said desired tension force on said pulling control system to said tensioning machine control system on said tensioning machine;
• said tensioning machine generating a tensioning force based on said desired tension force of said pulling machine using a brake selected from the group consisting of a regenerative brake, hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulic brake of said tensioning machine;
• and,
• pulling said rope and said conductor through said supports with said pulling machine.

A process for tension stringing a conductor through supports using a pulling machine and a tensioning machine, said pulling machine controlling said pulling machine and said ten sioning machine, comprising the steps of:

• affixing a length of rope to said conductor;
• positioning a first stringing apparatus near a first end of said supports;
• positioning a second stringing apparatus near a second end of said supports;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses are powered by sources selected from the group consisting of electric batteries, diesel powered electric over hydraulic system, and electric over hydraulic system;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes an onboard control system which controls each of said first and second stringing apparatuses in pulling mode or in tensioning mode;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a brake selected from the group of a regenerative brake, hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulically operated brake;
• each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a wireless transceiver which is hard-wired to said onboard control system;
• establishing and verifying, using said wireless transceivers, wireless communication between said first and second stringing apparatuses;
• initiating operation of said onboard control systems of each of said first and second stringing apparatuses wherein each of said first and second stringing includes a display enabling activation of an “In-Command” operating system wherein one of said first and second apparatuses exclusively selected to operate said pulling mode and the apparatus not selected to operate in said pulling mode is in said tensioning mode;
• each of said wireless transceivers communicating with the other wireless transceiver enabling control of both said pulling machine and said tensioning machine machines by said onboard control system of said puller pulling machine;
• verifying, using said wireless transceivers, that said wireless communications sent from said wireless transceiver of said pulling machine were received by said wireless transceiver of said tensioning machine and said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
• selecting and commanding said tensioning machine from said tensioning machine to operate as said tensioning machine in tensioning mode, said puller machine being, thereafter, in command of said tensioning machine wirelessly communicating with said transceiver of said tensioning machine and controlling said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
• said pulling machine in pulling mode for pulling in said rope affixed to said conductor and a tensioning machine being in said tensioning mode operating said brake selected from the group of a regenerative brake, a hydraulic circuit, and a hydraulic brake of said tension machine for tensioning out said conductor a reel of said tensioning machine;
• inputting a desired maximum line pull force on said pulling machine control system;
• inputting a desired tension force on said pulling machine control system;
• communicating said desired tension force on said pulling control system to said tensioning machine control system on said tensioning machine;
• said tensioning machine generating a tensioning force based on said desired tension force of said pulling machine using said brake;
• and, pulling said rope and said conductor through said supports with said pulling machine.