Separable loadbreak connector flashover inhibiting cuff venting tool

A separable loadbreak connector cuff venting tool, comprising:

• (a) a handle formed of an electrical insulator material;
• (b) a head fixed on a forward end of said handle, said head formed of an electrical insulator material, said head sized and shaped for mating engagement of said head with a cuff portion of said separable loadbreak connector whereby a force applied along a longitudinal axis of said handle gradually slides said head within said cuff portion thereby venting partial vacua within said cuff portion to the atmosphere surrounding said separable loadbreak connector, said head further comprising:
• (i) opposed first and second rearwardly projecting wedges sized and shaped for slidable insertion of said wedges within said cuff;
• and,
• (ii) an arcuate forwardly recessed lip having a lower circumferential edge;
• wherein said first and second wedges are arcuate and are formed along opposed outward ends of said edge.

A separable loadbreak connector cuff venting tool, comprising:

• (a) a handle formed of an electrical insulator material;
• (b) a head fixed on a forward end of said handle, said head formed of an electrical insulator material, said head sized and shaped for mating engagement of said head with a cuff portion of said separable loadbreak connector whereby a force applied along a longitudinal axis of said handle gradually slides said head within said cuff portion thereby venting partial vacua within said cuff portion to the atmosphere surrounding said separable loadbreak connector, said head further comprising opposed first and second rearwardly projecting wedges sized and shaped for slidable insertion of said wedges within said cuff;
• (c) a clamp on said cuff venting tool handle for clamping said cuff venting tool handle to a hotstick handle;
• and,
• (d) a pivot fulcrum on said rearward portion of said cuff venting tool handle for unclamping said cuff venting tool handle from said hotstick handle by pivoting said cuff venting tool handle about said pivot fulcrum while forcing said pivot fulcrum against said hotstick handle.

A method of venting a cuff portion of a loadbreak connector during separation of said connector, said method comprising:

• (a) sizing and shaping an electrically insulating member for slidable mating engagement of said member with said cuff portion;
• (b) fixing said member on a forward end of an electrically insulating handle;
• (c) manipulating said handle to align said member in front of said cuff portion;
• (d) drawing said handle rearwardly to slidably insert said member within said cuff portion.