Flexible electrical isolation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10181705-B2
Application number	US-201815879691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

An electrical isolator includes a flexible non-electrically conductive membrane and an inelastic flexible dielectric member journalled in the membrane and extending from the first end of the membrane to the second end of the membrane. First and second coupling members are anchored to the ends of the dielectric member. The ends of the membrane are mated in sealed engagement with the coupling members so that the coupling members fluidically seal the ends of the membrane and fluidically seal the dielectric member within the membrane. The membrane is filled with a dielectric fluid so as to displace any air in the membrane and the dielectric member. The coupling members are adapted to couple to objects at opposite ends of the electrical isolator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical isolation link comprising:
an electrically insulating rope encased in the hollow cavity of a flexible dielectric fluid-impermeable weather shielding covering the rope so as to extend along substantially an entire length of the rope between the opposite ends of the rope,
a dielectric fluid also encased within the weather shielding, wherein air in interstices between fibers of the rope, air bubbles, air pockets, and air in voids between the rope and the weather shielding are excluded by the presence of the dielectric fluid in the hollow cavity and impregnation of the dielectric fluid into the rope,
and wherein the opposite ends of the rope, and corresponding opposite ends of the weather shielding are sealed to form opposite fluidically sealed ends, and wherein each of the sealed ends are mounted to terminating couplings, wherein the rope is mounted to the couplings to take-up substantially an entire tensile load applied to the couplings.

2. The link of claim 1 wherein the terminating couplings further each include at least one joint.

3. The link of claim 2 wherein the at least one joint provides for bending of the terminating couplings.

4. The link of claim 2 wherein the at least one joint provides for swiveling rotation of the terminating couplings.

5. The link of claim 1 wherein the weather shield includes a clear membrane to provide for inspection by a user into the hollow cavity.

6. The link of claim 5 wherein the clear membrane is a window strip.

7. The link of claim 1 adapted for use between a pulling line and a replacement conductor.

8. The link of claim 1 adapted for use between a to-be-replaced conductor and a new replacement conductor.

9. The link of claim 1 adapted for use between an aerial vehicle and a slung load, under-slung beneath the aerial vehicle.

10. The link of claim 9 wherein the aerial vehicle is a helicopter and the slung load is a lineman.

11. The link of claim 1 wherein the rope fibers are chosen from the group consisting of: polymer, aramid, composite, synthetic.

12. The link of claim 10 wherein the weather shielding is tubing.

13. The link of claim 12 wherein the length of the tubing is less than the length of the rope so that the opposite ends of the rope protrude from the opposite ends of the tubing so as to cooperate with the terminating couplings.

14. The link of claim 13 wherein the couplings each include a coupling cavity and wherein the opposite ends of the rope extend into the coupling cavity and are mounted therein to the corresponding terminating coupling.

15. The link of claim 14 wherein the coupling cavity is a socket and wherein each of the ends of the rope are flared within their corresponding socket so as to substantially fill the socket and secured therein by a fluid-to-solid setting compound.

16. The link of claim 1 wherein the weather shield includes a hollow flexible spinal member therein.

17. The link of claim 1 wherein the dielectric fluid has been allowed to soak into the rope to exclude the air, air bubbles and air pockets.

18. An electrical isolator comprising:
an elongate flexible dielectric member encased in a corresponding length of flexible dielectric tubing adapted to be filled with dielectric fluid,
wherein the opposite ends of the tubing and member are sealable to provide a fluid seal.

19. The isolator of claim 18 wherein the opposite ends are sealable by couplers and wherein the member and the tubing at either end are mounted to their corresponding coupler wherein the member is mounted to the couplers to take-up substantially an entire tensile load applied to the opposite ends.

20. The isolator of claim 19 wherein the tubing is filled with the dielectric fluid.

21. The isolator of claim 20 wherein air is substantially completely displaced by the dielectric fluid.

22. An apparatus comprising:
a dielectric elongate flexible membrane defining a hollow cavity, a first end, and a second end, wherein the hollow cavity is accessible from each of the first end and the second end of the flexible membrane; and
a first coupling located at the first end of the flexible membrane, and a second coupling located at the second end of the flexible membrane, wherein an interface between the flexible membrane at the first end of the flexible membrane and the first coupling, and the second end of the flexible membrane and the second coupling, are both fluidly sealed.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , further comprising:
a dielectric rope located within the hollow cavity.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 , further comprising:
a dielectric fluid located within the hollow cavity.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 , further comprising:
a dielectric rope located within the hollow cavity; and
a joint in the first coupling.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the joint is a swivel.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein the joint permits bending.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 , further comprising:
a dielectric fluid located within interstices of the dielectric rope.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 , further comprising:
a dielectric fluid located within the hollow cavity and surrounding the dielectric rope.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the rope is connected to the first coupling.

Assignees

• Quanta Ass Lp
• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Wabnegger David Karl
• Palmer Robert Wayne
• Greer Jody Milton
• Boudreau Michael Howard

Classifications

• H02G7/20

  Spatial arrangements or dispositions of lines or cables on poles, posts or towers · CPC title

• H02G1/04 Primary

  for mounting or stretching · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title