Electrically conductive surface and a process for producing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11545817-B2
Application number	US-201816634419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2018
Priority date	Jul 27, 2017
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

Load-bearing apparatus/systems for location in the vicinity of energized power lines are provided. The apparatus includes a base member. The base member has an upper layer and a backing surface layer. An uppermost surface of the upper layer is adapted to support on it at least power line workers and/or related stringing equipment. At least the uppermost surface of the upper layer is adapted to be electrically conductive. Methods for forming the apparatus are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mat for creating an equipotential zone on a work area in the vicinity of an energized power line, and for supporting thereon at least power line workers and/or related stringing equipment, the mat comprising:
a base member including an upper layer and a backing surface layer, an uppermost surface of the upper layer being adapted to support thereon the power line workers and/or related stringing equipment and the backing surface layer being adapted to be in contact with a surface of the work area,
wherein at least the uppermost surface comprises a substantially uniform layer of an electrically conductive flexible composition, and wherein the composition comprises both a non-conductive flexible material and conductive particles which are embedded within the non-conductive flexible material in sufficient density to provide electrical conductivity across the uniform layer, and wherein an amount by volume of the conductive particles is higher than an amount by volume of the non-conductive flexible material.

2. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are a conductive powder.

3. The mat claim of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive flexible material includes a synthetic resin.

4. The mat of claim 3 , wherein the resin is selected from the group including polymers or polyesters.

5. The mat of claim 3 , wherein the conductive particles comprises conductive flakes.

6. The mat of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the volume of resin to the volume of conductive flakes is substantially 1:2.5.

7. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are selected from the group comprising; metal particles, metal filings, metal chips.

8. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the conductive particles are carbon or graphite particles.

9. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a stable formable setting paste.

10. The mat of claim 1 further comprising at least one locator mounted on the uppermost surface for releasably connecting an upright member to the uppermost surface.

11. The mat of claim 10 , wherein the at least one locator is located around a periphery of the uppermost surface.

12. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a plurality of base members, and the mat further comprises at least one electrically conductive connector for mechanically and electrically connecting the plurality of base members.

13. The mat of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive layer sandwiched between the upper layer and the backing surface layer and protruding from the upper layer to form at least a portion of the uppermost surface.

14. The mat of claim 1 further comprising a bridge adapted to extend from and over an edge of the base member onto an area outside of the equipotential zone, and wherein the bridge is made of an electrically insulating material.

15. The mat of claim 14 , wherein the bridge further includes an upper layer of an electrically non-conductive fabric.

16. The mat of claim 15 , wherein the bridge is modular in construction.

17. The mat of claim 16 , wherein each module of the bridge includes a deck section supported on a support section, and wherein the electrically non-conductive fabric overlies a floor of the deck section.

18. The mat of claim 17 , wherein the deck section and the support section are integrally formed as a single unit.

19. The mat of claim 17 , wherein the deck section and the support section are separate components that are adapted to be connected together.

20. The mat of claim 15 , wherein the bridge is associated with at least one stairway, and wherein the at least one stairway is made of an electrically insulating material.

21. The mat of claim 20 , wherein the electrically non-conductive fabric overlies one or more foot treads of the at least one stairway.

22. The mat of claim 15 , wherein the bridge is associated with at least one stairway, and wherein the at least one stairway is formed integrally with the bridge as a single unit.

23. The mat of claim 14 , wherein the bridge is fabricated from plastic by a blow molding process.

24. An equipotential zone system, including a plurality of the mats of claim 1 , for location on a work area in the vicinity of an energized power line for supporting power line workers and/or related stringing equipment thereon, the system further comprising:
the equipotential zone formed by interconnecting the plurality of mats in an edge-to-edge arrangement at their connecting edges;
at least one grounding element adapted to be coupled to the equipotential zone; and
at least one bonding cable adapted to be coupled to at least each of the mats and/or related stringing equipment, and
wherein electrical continuity between the interconnected mats is maintained at least through the electrically conductive flexible composition on the uppermost surfaces of the mats.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising a bridge adapted to extend from the equipotential zone onto an area outside of the equipotential zone, and wherein the bridge is made of an electrically insulating material.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the bridge further includes an upper layer of an electrically non-conductive fabric.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the bridge is modular in construction.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein each module of the bridge includes a deck section supported on a support section, and wherein the electrically non-conductive fabric overlies a floor of the deck section.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the deck section and the support section are integrally formed as a single unit.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the deck section and the support section are separate components that are adapted to be connected together.

31. The system of claim 26 , wherein the bridge is associated with at least one stairway, and wherein the at least one stairway is made of an electrically insulating material.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the electrically non-conductive fabric overlies one or more foot treads of the at least one stairway.

33. The system of claim 26 , wherein the bridge is associated with at least one stairway, and wherein the at least one stairway is formed integrally with the bridge as a single unit.

34. The system of claim 25 , wherein the bridge is fabricated from plastic by a blow molding process.

35. A method for manufacturing the mat of claim 1 , the method comprising:
providing the base member including the upper layer and the backing surface layer; and
forming the uppermost surface of the upper layer by applying to the upper layer a substantially uniform layer of the electrically conductive flexible composition.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising; sandwiching a conductive layer between the upper layer and the backing surface layer such that the conductive layer protrudes from the upper layer; and applying the electrically conductive flexible composition on the conductive layer protruding from the upper layer to form the uppermost surface.

37. A method for manufacturing the mat of claim 1 comprising:
providing the base member including the upper surface layer and the backing surface layer; and
forming the uppermost surface of th

Assignees

• Quanta Associates Lp

Inventors

• Ball David James
• Greer Jody Milton
• Wabnegger David Karl
• Palmer Robert Wayne

Classifications

• B32B15/14

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• B32B5/028

  Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points · CPC title

• B32B2255/26

  Polymeric coating · CPC title

• B32B15/043

  of metal (B32B15/01 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B2262/101

  Glass fibres · CPC title