US 2013/0152388 A1 · METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPLACING INSULATORS ON ENERGIZED POWER LINES

Abstract

Apparatus for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including a non-conductive board longer than and mounted to the tower below the davit arm, struts extending between the board and the tower, and a movable slider mounted on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack. Without contacting any energized components, a lineman moves the slider and operates the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaches the shoe from the insulator, moves the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaches and replaces the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, moves the slider and operates the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaches the shoe to the insulator.

A method for replacing an electrical suspension insulator on a tower having insulator-supporting, and high voltage energized electrical conductor-supporting, davit arms using a helicopter and at least one lineman, said insulators being supported by insulator support plates attached to said davit arms and said conductors being supported in conductor shoes attached to the lower ends of said suspension insulators, comprising the steps of:

mounting an elongate, non-conductive board having inner and outer ends to said tower with said inner end adjacent said tower, said board being mounted sufficiently below the davit arm supporting the insulator to be replaced to allow a lineman standing on said board to reach said davit arm, said board including upstanding elongate side panels for defining therebetween and with the upper surface of said board a generally U-shaped track, said board having a length at least one foot longer than said davit arm;
mounting elongate, non-conductive, length-adjustable strut means having inner and outer ends to said tower with said inner ends of said strut means adjacent said tower and the outer ends of said strut means attached near the outer end of said board, said strut means being mounted sufficiently below the board for providing diagonal bracing support therefor;
operating said length-adjustable strut means for positioning said board horizontally and for maintaining said board horizontally positioned on said tower;
supporting an elongate, non-conductive slider in said track for movement between inner and outer ends of said board, said slider including a planar surface parallel to said upper surface of said board and slider or roller means for facilitating movement of said slider along said track, the upper side of said planar surface including jack means rigidly mounted thereon, said jack means including a piston means vertically reciprocally movable therewithin, and conductor lifting means rigidly connected to said piston means for engaging said conductor;
using a non-conductive stick,
pushing said slider along said board until said jack means and said conductor lifting means are positioned directly underneath the conductor shoe and said conductor lifting means is oriented to engage said conductor;
operating said jack means to raise said conductor lifting means until it engages with and lifts said conductor and said conductor shoe, whereby said conductor and conductor shoe is supported only by said jack means and not by said suspension insulator;
detaching the suspension insulator from the conductor shoe and operating said jack means to lower saidconductor lifting means for separating said insulator from said conductor and conductor shoe;
pushing said slider toward the outer end of the board and away from said insulator a sufficient distance to allow a lineman access to said suspension insulator without contacting the energized conductor or conductor shoe;
attaching said suspension insulator to a hovering helicopter, detaching the suspension insulator from said insulator support plate and removing the suspension insulator from said tower via helicopter;
delivering a replacement insulator via helicopter to said tower, attaching said replacement insulator to said insulator support plate and detaching said replacement insulator from said helicopter;
using a non-conductive stick,
moving said slider along the board from the outer end of the board until the conductor lifting means, which is supporting the conductor and conductor shoe, is positioned directly underneath the lower end of the replacement insulator;
operating said jack means to raise conductor lifting means until the conductor shoe is aligned with the lower end of said replacement insulator;
and
attaching the conductor shoe to the lower end of said replacement insulator, operating said jack means to lower conductor lifting means for separating it from said conductor and conductor shoe and moving said slider along said board away from said insulator and energized conductor.

13 more elements

Method and apparatus for replacing insulators on energized power lines

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for replacing insulators on energized power lines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48