Live line insulation sampling

A sampling tool for obtaining a sample of material of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions, the sampling tool including

• a hot stick,
• a sampling head mounted to one end of the hot stick,
• a sampling device removably mounted to the sampling head, the sampling device having means thereon for collecting a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator,
• bias means on the sampling head for urging the sampling device against the surface of the insulator,
• whereby in use, by manipulation of the hot stick by the user, the sampling device can be moved across the surface of the insulator while being urged thereagainst by the bias means to thereby collect said sample of the insulator material, and
• wherein said insulator is a solid polymeric material.

A method of taking a sample of material of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions using apparatus including

• a sampling head mounted to one end of a hot stick, and
• a sampling device mounted to the sampling head for collecting a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator, upon manipulation of the hot stick by a user remote from the sampling device,
• the method including the step of manipulating the hot stick at a position remote from the sampling device to cause the sampling device mounted on the sampling head at the end of the hot stick to move across the surface of the insulator and collect a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator,
• wherein the sampling device includes a planing blade, and the sample is obtained in the form of a sliver from the surface of the insulator.

A method of taking a sample of material of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions using apparatus including

• a sampling head mounted to one end of a hot stick, and
• a sampling device mounted to the sampling head for collecting a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator, upon manipulation of the hot stick by a user remote from the sampling device,
• the method including the step of manipulating the hot stick at a position remote from the sampling device to cause the sampling device mounted on the sampling head at the end of the hot stick to move across the surface of the insulator and collect a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator,
• wherein the sampling device includes a swab impregnated with a polymer solvent, and the sample is obtained as a swab sample of the surface of the insulator.

A method of taking a sample of material of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions using apparatus including

• a sampling head mounted to one end of a hot stick, and
• a sampling device mounted to the sampling head for collecting a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator, upon manipulation of the hot stick by a user remote from the sampling device,
• the method including the step of manipulating the hot stick at a position remote from the sampling device to cause the sampling device mounted on the sampling head at the end of the hot stick to move across the surface of the insulator and collect a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator,
• wherein the sampling head has bias means for urging the sampling device against the surface of the insulator, the method including the step of actuating the bias means to urge the sampling device against the surface prior to collecting a sample therefrom.

A method of taking a sample of material of an insulator in a high voltage installation during live line conditions using apparatus including

• a sampling head mounted to one end of a hot stick, and
• a sampling device mounted to the sampling head for collecting a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator, upon manipulation of the hot stick by a user remote from the sampling device,
• the method including the step of manipulating the hot stick at a position remote from the sampling device to cause the sampling device mounted on the sampling head at the end of the hot stick to move across the surface of the insulator and collect a sample of the insulator material at the surface of the insulator,
• wherein said insulator material is a solid polymeric material.