Supports – Pipe or cable – Suspended
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-29
2001-01-09
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Suspended
C024S1320WL, C174S146000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170783
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to spacers for aerial cables for supporting one or more cables above the ground, and more particularly to a cable retainer for aerial cable spacers, the cable retainer having an improved clamping capability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Overhead conductor cables are commonly suspended from a messenger cable typically made of high strength alloys. The messenger cable is supported on poles or towers with the conductor cable spacers arranged at spaced intervals along the messenger cable to suspend one or more conductor cables. Since many power circuits require three phase electric power, it is often convenient to suspend conductor cables in groups of three. A spacer supports all three conductor cables and simultaneously maintains the conductors in spaced relation.
If the advantages of suspending conductors in this manner are to be fully availed, it is essential that the spacer be easily attached to the messenger cable and to the conductor cables. To provide ease of attaching the spacer to the cables and to reduce the number of parts required, the means for retaining the cables in their respective seats of the spacer should accommodate cables of varying cross sectional diameters without requiring bushings, sleeves, grommets or the like.
The construction of the spacer should be such that all of its parts have both high mechanical and electrical strength and are durable in use. In addition, all parts of the spacer should be economical to manufacture and to assemble.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,277 issued Apr. 26, 1977 to Hendrix Wire & Cable Corporation, the predecessor to the instant assignee, and discloses a spacer for aerial cables. The spacer includes a body member having at least one generally arcuate cable retaining means adapted to engage a surface of the conductor cable and retain the cable in a concave seat of the spacer. One end of the cable retaining means is pivotally supported on the body member. Generally arcuate ratchet tooth means are provided adjacent the other end of the cable retaining means. Generally arcuate ratchet tooth means are also provided on the body member outwardly of the concave seat. The teeth of the retainer ratchet tooth means are engagable with the teeth of the body member ratchet tooth means when the retaining means is rotated about its pivotal support, thereby to firmly retain the conductor cable in the concave seat.
Hawkins U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,149 discloses a spacer for overheard electric lines. The cable is gripped between an inside elastomer bushing and an outside elastomer bushing. The bushing halves are compressed and held together about the conductor by a U-shaped resilient clip, which has snaps which are fitted into grooves disposed on the spacer.
However, it has been found in the prior art spacers that the force exerted on the cable is not satisfactory. Alternatively, it has been found that it is difficult to close the cable retainer with sufficient force exerted on the cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerial cable spacer which overcomes the above noted problems of the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention is to provide an aerial cable spacer which exerts a high force on the cable.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an aerial cable spacer having a cable retainer which closes easily with a force exerted on the cable and which accommodates cables of a wide range of sizes.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an aerial cable spacer having a cable retainer which closes easily with a force exerted on the cable and which can be used repeatedly without losing its effectiveness to retain the cable.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an aerial cable spacer having a cable retainer which closes easily with a force exerted on the cable and which is cost effective to manufacture.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an aerial cable spacer having a cable retainer which closes easily with a force exerted on the cable and which is durable.
Yet still another object of the invention is to provide a cable spacer made of the same material as the cable, thereby making them dielectrically compatible.
The present invention therefore provides a device for supporting and spacing aerial cables, the device comprising a main body portion, the main body portion having a cable seat, the cable seat having a cable engaging surface, a first side adjacent the cable seat, and a second side adjacent the cable seat and opposite from the first side; a cable retaining arm having a cable engaging surface, a first end pivotally coupled to the second side of the main body portion, and a second end, the second end having a means for releasably engaging the first side of the main portion; and a resilient member secured to one of the cable engaging surfaces, whereby the cable retaining arm is capable of closing upon a cable positioned in the cable seat and comprising the resilient member which acts like a spring to maintain a force on the cable.
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Hendrix Wire & Cable, Inc.
King Anita M.
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe
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