The present invention discloses a bus bar assembly having multiple bus bars, multiple insulating holders, and a housing. Each of the insulating holders is configured to be mounted to one of the bus bars. Each of the insulating holders includes multiple ribs positioned within an interior cavity of the corresponding insulating holder, and the ribs maintain a desired air gap between each insulating holder and the corresponding bus bar mounted in the insulating holder. The housing is configured to receive each of the bus bars and the corresponding insulating holder.

A support for a busbar including two parts each having two surfaces substantially planar and perpendicular to one another and arranged to form, together with the two surfaces of the other part from the two parts, a through-cavity or a passage, a base including a hole or a fastener, and, a shape complementary to a shape of the other of the two parts, the shape being arranged to form, together with the shape of the other of the two parts, an attachment between the two parts. Advantageously, it is possible to obtain a support for a busbar, the support being robust, reliable, and inexpensive and able to be mounted in an easy and rapid manner.

A support for a busbar including two parts each having two surfaces substantially planar and perpendicular to one another and arranged to form, together with the two surfaces of the other part from the two parts, a through-cavity or a passage, a base including a hole or a fastener, and, a shape complementary to a shape of the other of the two parts, the shape being arranged to form, together with the shape of the other of the two parts, an attachment between the two parts. Advantageously, it is possible to obtain a support for a busbar, the support being robust, reliable, and inexpensive and able to be mounted in an easy and rapid manner.

Cables having buffer elements formed with two-dimensional fillers are described. A cable may include at least one optical fiber, and a buffer element may be formed around the at least one optical fiber. The buffer element may be formed from a material that includes a polyolefin resin, a filler added to the polyolefin resin that includes a plurality of two-dimensional particles, and a compatibilizer. A jacket may be formed around the at least one optical fiber and the buffer element.

A power distribution system comprising a bus bar, a frame member, a support block formed from a non-conductive material and having a first side and an opposite second side, one or more first fasteners extending beyond the second side and mechanically coupled to the bus bar, one or more second fasteners extending beyond the first side and mechanically coupled to the frame member, a first insulator located between the first side of the support block and the frame member, and a second insulator located between the second side of the support block and the bus bar. Other apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

A power distribution system comprising a bus bar, a frame member, a support block formed from a non-conductive material and having a first side and an opposite second side, one or more first fasteners extending beyond the second side and mechanically coupled to the bus bar, one or more second fasteners extending beyond the first side and mechanically coupled to the frame member, a first insulator located between the first side of the support block and the frame member, and a second insulator located between the second side of the support block and the bus bar. Other apparatus and methods are also disclosed.

A bus support includes a corona shield portion and a bus support portion on the corona shield portion. The bus support portion includes an insulator engagement ledge including one or more mounting apertures configured to receive a fastener therethrough for mounting the bus support to an insulator. The bus support portion includes first and second bus support walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the insulator engagement ledge. Each bus support wall includes a U-shaped channel defined therein that is configured to receive and support a cylindrical and/or tubular bus conductor. The corona shield portion and the bus support portion form a monolithic structure.

The detrimental effects of environmental hazards on units having withdrawable stabs or contacts may be overcome by using fixed feed units in compartments in a manner akin to withdrawable units. In particular, multiple fixed feed units may be provided in a single section or column by implementing vertical bus bars providing multiple connection points particular to fixed feed units. As a result, fixed feed units may be mounted to the vertical bus bars, as opposed to horizontal main bus bars or requiring complex wiring, thereby allowing multiple fixed feed units to be efficiently provided to maximize space. An electrically insulating bus support, which may be supplemented with bracing, may provide improved short-circuit protection. Electrically insulating covers over fixed feed unit connections may also provide electrical isolation in the system in accordance with industry standards. Moreover, in one aspect, fixed feed units and withdrawable units may be intermixed.

The detrimental effects of environmental hazards on units having withdrawable stabs or contacts may be overcome by using fixed feed units in compartments in a manner akin to withdrawable units. In particular, multiple fixed feed units may be provided in a single section or column by implementing vertical bus bars providing multiple connection points particular to fixed feed units. As a result, fixed feed units may be mounted to the vertical bus bars, as opposed to horizontal main bus bars or requiring complex wiring, thereby allowing multiple fixed feed units to be efficiently provided to maximize space. An electrically insulating bus support, which may be supplemented with bracing, may provide improved short-circuit protection. Electrically insulating covers over fixed feed unit connections may also provide electrical isolation in the system in accordance with industry standards. Moreover, in one aspect, fixed feed units and withdrawable units may be intermixed.

Aspects of the present invention relate to reinforced electric wires, particularly reinforced electric wires as used in holiday lighting such as Christmas light strings. In some embodiments, the reinforced electric wire can comprise a conductor, a reinforcing string or one or more reinforcing threads, and an insulator jacket. In some embodiments, the conductor comprises a single conductor strand. In some embodiments, the conductor comprises a plurality of conductor strands. In some embodiments, the wire comprises an insulator jacket having a plurality of channels therein, where a conductor is passed through the center channel, and reinforcing threads are passed through the other channels. Methods of making wires in accordance with various embodiments are also provided herein.