US RE36,333 E · Fixture apparatus for elevated lines

Abstract

A fixture for elevated utility lines, deployable from a hoverable vehicle having a load attachment point, each fixture having a body with a slot formed therein for receiving the line; a trap having one or a pair of movable arms for holding the line within the slot; a cocking mechanism for holding the trap in an open condition; and a trigger mechanism activated by contact with the line for releasing the cocking mechanism, and a trap releaser including a supportive hook receiver for releasing the trap during removal of the body from the line. A system for deploying fixtures also includes a base, an attachment for releasably suspending the base from the load attachment point and having a stabilizer bar supportively connected relative to the attachment point and resiliently oriented relative to the vehicle, a yoke releasably supported relative to the load attachment point, the base being suspended from the yoke. A plurality of the fixtures can be stored on the base for deployment therefrom, at least one releasable fixture hook being supported on the base for engaging one of the hook receiving members. The fixtures are sequentially affixable at selected locations along the line, at least one of the fixtures being retrievable from the line by engagement of the hook receiver by the marker hook. The fixture can be configured as a safety marker, as well as a spacer for groups of conductors of the line.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A fixture apparatus for an elevated utility line, comprising:

(a) a body having a slot formed therein for receiving a conductor of the line;
(b) a trap supported relative to the body for holding the conductor within the slot, the trap being activated by movement of the conductor into the slot;
and
(c) a trap releaser for releasing the trap during removal of the body from the conductor, comprising:
(i) a hook receiver movably connected to the body for support thereof during removal of the body from the conductor;
and
(ii) connector means for connecting the hook receiver to the trap for release thereof when the body is supported by the hook receiver, without preventing subsequent reactivation of the trap.

4 more elements

Apparatus for marking an elevated utility line, the apparatus being adapted for deployment from a hoverable vehicle, the vehicle having a load attachment point, the apparatus comprising:

(a) at least one marker comprising:
(i) a marker housing having a slot formed therein for receiving the line;
(ii) a trap for holding the line within the slot, the trap being activated by movement of the line into the slot, the trap comprising a first jaw member, the jaw member being movable between an open position for receiving the line when the line is within the slot, and a closed position for clamping the line;
a trap closer for moving the first jaw member toward the closed position, the jaw member being pivotally movable relative to the housing;
a cocking mechanism for holding the first jaw member in the open position, and a trigger mechanism for releasing the cocking mechanism, the trigger mechanism being activated by contact with the line;
and
(iii) a trap releaser for releasing the trap during removal of the housing from the line, the trap releaser comprising a hook receiver movably connected to the housing for support thereof during removal of the housing from the line;
and a connector for connecting the hook receiver to the trap for release thereof when the housing is supported by the hook receiver, without preventing subsequent reactivation of the trap;
(b) base means for defining a base;
(c) attachment means for releasably suspending the base means from the load attachment point, the attachment means comprising:
(i) a rigid stabilizer bar supportively connected relative to the attachment point and resiliently oriented relative to the vehicle;
(ii) a yoke member releasably supported relative to the load attachment point, the yoke member fixably engaging the stabilizer bar when the yoke member is supported relative to the load attachment point;
(iii) stabilizer biasing means for yieldably holding the stabilizer bar fixed about a vertical axis and at least one horizontal axis of the vehicle;
and
(iv) means for suspending the base means from the yoke member;
(d) storage means on the base means for storing a plurality of the marker housings;
and
(e) at least one releasable marker hook for engaging the hook receiver of one of the plurality of marker [housing] housings ,
whereby the plurality of marker housings are sequentially affixable at selected locations along the line, and
whereby at least one of the plurality of marker [housing] housings is retrievable from the line by engagement of the hook receiving member thereof by the marker hook.

17 more elements

A fixture apparatus for an elevated utility line, adapted for deployment from a hoverable vehicle, the vehicle having a load attachment point, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a body having a slot formed therein for receiving a conductor of the utility line, and a first receiver for supporting the body during the deployment;
(b) a trap supported relative to the body for holding the conductor within the slot the trap comprising:
(i) a clamp having an open position for receiving the conductor and a closed position for clamping the conductor;
and
(ii) a driver movably supported relative to the body between a first position corresponding to the open position of the clamp and a second position wherein the clamp is forcibly retained in the closed position;
(c) a trap releaser for releasing the trap during removal of the body from the conductor, comprising:
(i) a second receiver movably connected to the body for support of the body during the removal;
and
(ii) a connector coupled between the second receiver and the driver for moving the driver from the second position to the first position when the body is supported by the second receiver;
(d) a base;
(e) attachment means for releasably suspending the base from the load attachment point;
(f) storage means on the base for storing the body;
and
(g) a releasable coupler supported relative to the base for engaging the first receiver of the body,
whereby the body is affixable at a selected location along the conductor;
and
whereby the body is retrievable from the conductor by engagement of the second receiver thereof by the coupler.

14 more elements

A fixture apparatus for an elevated utility line, the line having a plurality of conductors including a closely spaced group of the conductors, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a body having a primary slot formed therein for receiving one of the plurality of conductors, the body having at least one secondary slot for engaging at least one other conductor of the group, the apparatus holding the engaged conductors in a predetermined spaced relation;
(b) a trap supported relative to the body for holding the one conductor within the primary slot, the trap comprising:
(i) a clamp having an open position for receiving the one conductor and a closed position for clamping the one conductor;
and
(ii) a driver movably supported relative to the body between a first position corresponding to the open position of the clamp and a second position wherein the clamp is forcibly retained in the closed position;
and
(c) a trap releaser for releasing the trap during removal of the body from the conductors, comprising:
(a) a receiver movably connected to the body for support of the body during the removal;
and
(ii) a connector coupled between the receiver and the driver for moving the driver from the second position to the first position when the body is supported by the receiver.

7 more elements

Apparatus for marking an elevated utility line, the apparatus being adapted for deployment from a hoverable vehicle, the vehicle having a load attachment point, the apparatus comprising:

(a) at least one marker comprising:
(i) a marker housing having a slot formed therein for receiving the utility line;
(ii) a trap for holding the line within the slot, the trap comprising a jaw member, the jaw member being movable between an open position for receiving the line when the line is within the slot, and a closed position for clamping the line;
a clamping mechanism for moving the jaw member to and maintaining the closed position;
and
(iii) a trap releaser for opening the trap during removal of the housing from the line, the trap releaser comprising a receiver movably connected to the housing for supporting the body during the removal;
and a connector coupled between the receiver and the clamping mechanism for moving the jaw member to the open position when the housing is supported by the receiver;
(b) a base;
(c) attachment means for releasably suspending the base from the load attachment point, the attachment means comprising:
(i) a rigid stabilizer bar supportively connected relative to the attachment point and resiliently oriented relative to the vehicle;
(ii) a yoke member releasably supported relative to the load attachment point, the yoke member fixably engaging the stabilizer bar when the yoke member is supported relative to the load attachment point;
(iii) stabilizer biasing means for yieldably holding the stabilizer bar fixed about a vertical axis and at least one horizontal axis of the vehicle;
and
(iv) means for suspending the base from the yoke member;
(d) a releasable marker coupler on the base, the marker coupler being engagable with the at least one marker for support thereof relative to the base, the marker being affixable at a selected location along the line and releasable from the base;
and
(e) an actuator for activating the clamping mechanism when the line extends into the slot for engagement by the trap,
whereby the at least one marker is affixable at a selected location along the utility line, and
whereby the at least one marker is retrievable from the line by engagement of the receiver of the trap releaser by a coupling device.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fixture apparatus for elevated lines

Life of this patent

Fixture apparatus for elevated lines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49