US 5,315,064 AGranted

Suspended line breakaway device

AssigneeWilliam D. Piper

InventorDean D. Andrews

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Abstract

An improved suspended line cable breakaway device includes a first body portion for connecting to a first end of a support cable and a second body portion for connecting to a second end of the support cable. The first body portion includes resilient fingers having nubs, which are releasably received by slots contained in a cavity wall of the second body portion. A biased spreader, slidably contained in a cavity in the second body portion, is displacable axially along the cavity by an external force along the support cable to urge the nubs outwardly such that the second body portion is disengaged from the first body portion, simultaneously disconnecting component lines of a first end of a suspended line from corresponding component lines of a second end of the suspended line. A shield protects the component line connections, which are spaced internal to the device, from the elements. One embodiment provides a breakaway device for a three-component line and a first modified embodiment provides a breakaway device for a four-component line. A second modified embodiment provides a breakaway device without internal component line connections.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A breakaway device for use with a suspended line supported by a support cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, comprising:

(a) a first body portion having first connecting means for connecting to the first cable end;
(b) a second body portion having second connecting means for connecting to the second cable end;
(c) latching means for engaging said first body portion to said second body portion in a latching engagement;
(d) disengaging means for disengaging said latching means;
(e) a plurality of first component lines, each having a first end embedded in said first body portion;
(f) a plurality of second component lines, each having a second end embedded in said second body portion;
each of said first component lines adapted to establish disengageable connection with a respective one of said second component lines as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement;
(g) a plurality of connector cavities, one for each of said first component lines;
(h) a plurality of connector blocks, one disposed in each of said connector cavities;
each said connector block slidable axially along respective said conductor cavity;
each said connector block connected to a respective one of said component lines embedded in said first body portion;
and
(i) a plurality of connector springs, one disposed in each of said connector cavities such that respective said connector block is biased toward said second body portion as said first body portion and said second body portion are in said latching engagement.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/789,581Filed 8 Nov 1991
Granted: 24 May 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H02G 7/04
Overhead installations of electric lines or cables: arrangements or devices for relieving mechanical tension
H01R 13/633
Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical…:…
H02G 7/18
Overhead installations of electric lines or cables: devices affording mechanical protection in the event of breakage of a line or cable, e.g. net…
H01R 13/635
For disengagement only: by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force