Spacer-damper

A spacer-damper for maintaining the spacing between electrical transmission conductors or the like and for damping any vibratory motion of such conductors, said spacer-damp comprising:

• a rigid spacer means, said rigid spacer means being integral element having at least one elongated portion with a first end and a second end and a substantially spherical portion at said first end and at said second end, each said substantially spherical portion being connected to its respective end of said elongated portion by an arm extending therefrom, each said substantially spherical portion having a hole extending diametrically therethrough from a first opening to second opening, said hole narrowing in diameter from said first opening to the center of said substantially spherical portion and widening in diameter from the center to said second opening, said hole thereby being hourglass-shaped, said substantially spherical portion comprising a first hemispherical portion centered about said first opening of said hole and a second hemispherical portion centered about said second opening of said hole, each said hemispherical portion having at least one indented area on the surface thereof;
• a first and a second damping mechanisms for each said substantially spherical portion, each said damping mechanism being a substantially hemispherical shell of a resilient material having an inner surface, an outer surface and a rim, said first and second damping mechanisms being adapted to fit over said first and second hemispherical portions of said substantially spherical portion, respectively, to substantially cover said substantially spherical portion, said inner surface of said first and second damping mechanisms each having at least one protruding area corresponding to and mating with said indented areas on the surfaces of said first and second hemispherical portions, said outer surfaces of said first and second damping mechanisms each having at least one protruding area, said first and second damping mechanisms further having central hole passing therethrough and corresponding to and aligning with said hole through said substantially spherical portion of said rigid spacer means;
• a clamp body for each of said substantially spherical portions, said clamp body being an integral element having a substantially hemispherical concave portion with a rim and a clamp-half for holding a conductor, said substantially hemispherical concave portion having at least one indented area corresponding to and mating with said at least one protruding area on the outer surface of said first damping mechanism, and having a central hole passing therethrough and corresponding to and aligning with said hole through said substantially spherical portion of said rigid spacer means and said central hole of said first damping mechanism, when said substantially hemispherical concave portion of said clamp body is placed thereover;
• means for clamping a conductor within said clamp-half of said clamp body;
• a clamp body cover for each of said substantially spherical portions, said clamp body cover having a substantially hemispherical concave surface having at least one indented area corresponding to and mating with said at least one protruding area on the outer surface of said second damping mechanism, and a rim and central hole passing therethrough and corresponding to and aligning with said hole through said substantially spherical portion of said rigid spacer means and said central hole in said second damping mechanism, when said clamp body cover is placed thereover;
• and
• an elongated means for attaching said clamp body, said first and second damping mechanisms, and said clamp body cover to each of said substantially spherical portions, said elongated means sequentially passing through said central hole in said substantially hemispherical concave portion of said clamp body, said central hole in said first damping mechanism, said hole in said substantially spherical portion of said rigid spacer means, said central hole in said second damping mechanism and said central hole in said clamp body cover.