Installation tool for tie tubes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11437789-B2
Application number	US-201916704036-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Dec 5, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

An attachment tool for attaching a tie tube to a wire includes a body and a first engagement portion extending away from the body. The first engagement portion releasably engages a first end of the tie tube for attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire. A second engagement portion extends away from the body and releasably engages a second end of the tie tube for attachment of the second end of the tie tube to the wire after attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire. A coupling structure is connected to the body, the coupling structure coupling to a hot stick.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment tool for attaching a tie tube to a wire, comprising:
a body;
a first engagement portion extending away from the body, the first engagement portion releasably engaging a first end of the tie tube for attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire;
a second engagement portion extending away from the body, the second engagement portion releasably engaging a second end of the tie tube for attachment of the second end of the tie tube to the wire after attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire; and
a coupling structure connected to the body, the coupling structure coupling to a hot stick, wherein:
the first engagement portion comprises a first finger extending away from the body, and
the second engagement portion comprises a second finger extending away from the body and a third finger extending away from the body, wherein the second finger is between the first finger and the third finger.

2. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein a first distance between the first finger and the second finger is greater than a second distance between the second finger and the third finger.

3. The attachment tool of claim 2 , wherein the second distance is equal to a thickness of the tie tube.

4. The attachment tool of claim 2 , wherein:
a third distance between a first end of the second finger distal from the hot stick and a first end of the third finger distal from the hot stick is greater than a fourth distance between a second end of the second finger proximal to the hot stick and a second end of the third finger proximal to the hot stick.

5. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the second finger distal from the hot stick extends above a line drawn between a first end of the first finger distal from the hot stick and a first end of the third finger distal from the hot stick.

6. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein a width of the tie tube when the tie tube is in an unrolled configuration is greater than at least one of a first width of the first finger, a second width of the second finger, or a third width of the third finger.

7. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein the second finger emanates from the third finger such that the second finger is separated from the body by a separation distance.

8. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein the coupling structure comprises an annular portion that couples to an annular portion of an applicator ring tool extending from the hot stick.

9. The attachment tool of claim 1 , wherein the coupling structure comprises an arm portion that couples to a linear portion of an applicator ring tool extending from the hot stick.

10. An attachment tool for attaching a tie tube to a wire, comprising:
a body;
a first finger extending away from the body;
a second finger extending away from the body; and
a third finger extending away from the body, wherein
the second finger is between the first finger and the third finger,
the second finger is offset from the first finger and the third finger such that a first plane passing through the first finger and the third finger does not pass through the second finger and a second plane passing through the first finger and the third finger does pass through the second finger, and
at least one of a first distance between the first finger and the second finger is equal to a thickness of the tie tube or a second distance between the second finger and the third finger is equal to a thickness of the tie tube such that the first finger, the second finger, and the third finger releasably engage the tie tube for attachment of the tie tube to the wire.

11. The attachment tool of claim 10 , wherein the second finger is a different size than at least one of the first finger or the third finger.

12. The attachment tool of claim 11 , wherein at least one of a first length of the first finger is different than a second length of the second finger or the second length of the second finger is different than a third length of the third finger.

13. The attachment tool of claim 11 , wherein at least one of a first diameter of the first finger is different than a second diameter of the second finger or the second diameter of the second finger is different than a third diameter of the third finger.

14. The attachment tool of claim 11 , wherein at least one of a first diameter of the first finger is smaller than a second diameter of the second finger or the second diameter of the second finger is larger than a third diameter of the third finger.

15. The attachment tool of claim 14 , wherein the first diameter of the first finger is equal to the third diameter of the third finger.

16. The attachment tool of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first finger, the second finger, or the third finger is tapered, such that at least one of:
a first cross-sectional area of the first finger at a first first finger body distance from the body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the first finger at a second first finger body distance from the body, the second first finger body distance greater than the first first finger body distance,
a first cross-sectional area of the second finger at a first second finger body distance from the body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the second finger at a second second finger body distance from the body, the second second finger body distance greater than the first second finger body distance, or
a first cross-sectional area of the third finger at a first third finger body distance from the body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the third finger at a second third finger body distance from the body, the second third finger body distance greater than the first third finger body distance.

17. An attachment tool for attaching a tie tube to a wire, comprising:
a body;
a first engagement portion extending away from the body, the first engagement portion releasably engaging a first end of the tie tube for attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire;
a second engagement portion extending away from the body, the second engagement portion releasably engaging a second end of the tie tube for attachment of the second end of the tie tube to the wire after attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire; and
a coupling structure connected to the body, the coupling structure coupling to a hot stick, wherein:
the coupling structure comprises an annular portion that couples to an annular portion of an applicator ring tool extending from the hot stick.

18. The attachment tool of claim 17 , wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first finger extending away from the body.

19. An attachment tool for attaching a tie tube to a wire, comprising:
a body;
a first engagement portion extending away from the body, the first engagement portion releasably engaging a first end of the tie tube for attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire;
a second engagement portion extending away from the body, the second engagement portion releasably engaging a second end of the tie tube for attachment of the second end of the tie tube to the wire after attachment of the first end of the tie tube to the wire; and
a coupling structure connected to the body, the coupling structure coupling to a hot stick, wherein:
the coupling structure comprises an arm portion that couples to a linear portion of an applicator ring tool extending from the hot stick.

20. The attachment tool of claim 19 , wherein the first engag

Assignees

• Preformed Line Products Co

Inventors

• Palmer Jacob
• Clines Cameron

Classifications

• H02G7/20

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

• H02G1/02 Primary

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• H02G7/05

  Suspension arrangements or devices for electric cables or lines · CPC title