Abstract
The present invention provides an improved wedge connector removal tool for disconnecting a transmission or distribution line wedge tap connection and the methods of using such a tool. The tool may couple to a wedge connector around the transmission or distribution lines enabling a lineman's hands to be free from supporting the tool, and the wedge may be removed from the connection without the incorporation of powder charges.
Claims
1. A method for removing a wedge from a wedge sleeve thereby uncoupling a wedge connector from a first conductor and second conductor of a transmission or distribution line set, the method comprising: a. mounting a wedge connector removal tool, including: i. anchoring an attachment member to a surface of said wedge sleeve thereby supporting said removal tool, ii. positioning a threaded nut under said wedge in a location opposite to said surface of said wedge sleeve; and b. driving a bolt through said nut thereby applying a force operable to dislodge said wedge from said transmission or distribution lines and said wedge sleeve; wherein said attachment member is attached to an elongated arm on a distal end of said wedge sleeve and said threaded nut is attached to the elongated arm on a proximal end of said wedge sleeve, wherein said elongated arm has a front surface, a rear surface, and a central axis.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said driving the bolt is advanced with a driving mechanism.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said central axis defines a plane of symmetry for said wedge connector removal tool.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said attachment member is provided in the form of an open-ended bracket having at least one protrusion with a position orthogonal to an interior surface of said elongated arm.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said attachment member and said elongated arm form a T-shape and position said protrusion perpendicular to said elongated arm front surface.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein said protrusion has a substantially square geometry.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein said removal tool includes two protrusions, each having a substantially curved geometry.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said threaded nut has a position that is centered with said central axis.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said surface of said wedge sleeve is a top surface having a large cross-section, and further includes a second bottom surface having a smaller cross-section, wherein said cross-section is substantially C-shape.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said force is applied to said bottom surface of said wedge and translates said wedge out of said sleeve.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said force is in a pressure ranging from 115 MPa to 200 MPa.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said bolt is further coupled to a ratcheting mechanism operable to advance said bolt.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(2) FIG. 2 provides a front view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 3 provides a rear view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 4 provides a side view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 5 provides a side view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(6) FIG. 6 provides a top view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(7) FIG. 7 provides a bottom view of a wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(8) FIG. 8 provides an exemplary environmental side view of a wedge connector removal tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(9) FIG. 9 provides an exemplary environmental view of a wedge connector removal tool being secured to a wedge connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(10) FIG. 10 provides an exemplary environmental view of a wedge connector removal tool secured to a wedge connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(11) FIG. 11 provides an exemplary environmental view of a wedge connector removal tool secured to a wedge connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(12) FIG. 12 provides an exemplary view of a wedge connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(13) FIG. 13 provides an exemplary view of a wedge connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(14) FIG. 14 provides an exemplary wedge connector removal tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(15) Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without all of the specific details provided.
(16) The present invention concerns a wedge connector removal tool that may dislodge a wedge from a wedge sleeve, thereby releasing the transmission or distribution line sets for replacement or repair of a wedge connector or transmission or distribution line cables. FIGS. 1-7 provides an exemplary wedge connector removal tool 1000 according to the present invention. The wedge connector removal tool 1000 may include an elongated arm 1100, having an attachment member 1200, a threaded nut 1300, and a drive bolt 1400. The attachment member 1200 and elongated arm 1100 may form a T-shape frame illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The attachment member may have two protrusions (e.g., hooks) 1210 and 1220 that are operable to provide a ground for the removal tool to anchor. The drive bolt 1400 may have threading 1420 that threads through the threaded nut 1300. The elongated arm may have an interior surface 1100A and an exterior surface 1100B. On the exterior surface 1100B of the elongated arm 1100, there may be a spine 1150 operable to absorb force produced by the advancement of the bolt 1400. The removal tool 1000 may maintain symmetry about the plane 1130, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. The elongated arm 1100 may have a width 1140 that ranges from 1 inch to 2½ inches.
(17) The elongated arm 1100 may have a length 1120, as shown in FIG. 5. The length 1120 may span from the bottom surface 1310 of the threaded nut to the hooking interface 1210, 1220 and provides a space for anchoring tool 100 to the wedge 2000. The length 1120 may have a range from 3½ inches to 5 inches apart. The attachment member 1200 may have a distance 1240 that defines a distance between each hook in the attachment member. The hooks 1210, 1220 preferably interface with wedge sleeves top surface 2102 around the transmission or distribution lines. The distance 1240 may range from about 3 inches to about 4½ inches. The elongated arm 1100, attachment member 1200, and hooks 1210, 1220 may have a thickness 1141 ranging from ⅛ inch to ⅜ inches.
(18) An exemplary wedge connector 2000 is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the wedge connector comprises at least two parts, a wedge sleeve 2100 and a wedge 2200. Both have complementary geometries that are operable to join transmission or distribution lines. The wedge sleeve 2100 has a cross-section that may be substantially C-shaped. The C-shape allows the wedge sleeve to plastically deform and frictionally hold the transmission or distribution lines when wedge 2200 is inserted. The wedge sleeve 2100 may have a top surface 2102 with a larger cross-section and may provide a bottom surface 2101 having a smaller cross-section 2101 with less area. The wedge 2200 may be inserted from at the top surface 2102 and may compress two transmission or distribution lines in the wedge sleeve 2101. The wedge 2200 has a complementary geometry to the wedge sleeve 2100 and may have a top surface 2202 with a larger cross-section and a bottom surface 2201 with a smaller cross-section. The wedge 2200 also provides two lateral channels 2203 symmetrically positioned about a centerline of the wedge. The wedge connector 2000 may be manufactured from aluminum and aluminum-copper alloys, with mechanical properties that are highly conductive. The channels 2203 may have a substantially circular geometry for receiving each of the transmission or distribution lines for coupling. An assembled wedge connector 2000 securing two transmission or distribution lines 3100, 3200 is illustrated in FIG. 8.
(19) The present invention provides a method for removing a wedge connector 2000 from a transmission or distribution line set 3000. The transmission or distribution line set may include a first conductor line 3100, and a second conductor line 3200. FIGS. 8-13 shows an assembled wedge connector securing first and second conductor lines 3100, 3200 between the wedge 2200 and wedge sleeve connector 2100. The wedge removal tool 1000 is not anchored to the wedge connector 2000 in this illustration. FIG. 9 provides an illustration of the first steps for anchoring the wedge removal tool 1000 to the wedge connector 2000. The attachment member 1200 interface with the wedge connector's top surface 2102 with the hooks of the attachment member 1210 and 1220 wrap around the transmission or distribution lines 3100, 3200 and the elongated arm 1100 may be positioned between the opening provided by the wedge sleeves 2100 C-shape as the tool rotates into position in the direction S. The tools rotation S positions a bottom surface 1310 of the nut 1300 with the bottom surface of the wedge, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the removal tool 1000 is properly secured when the hook 1220 of the attachment member 1200 interfaces with the top surface 2102 of the wedge sleeve 2100 and the bottom surface of the nut 1310 is in a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the wedge 2201. The drive bolt 1400 may be advanced through the nut 1300 and the drive bolts interfacing surface 1410 may apply a force to the wedge's bottom surface 2202 that is sufficient to dislodge the wedge 2200 from the sleeve 2100, as illustrated in FIG. 11. The drive bolt 1400 is advanced through the nut 1300 in the direction R.
(20) The drive bolt 1400 may be advanced with a wrench, ratchet, impact driver, or impact wrench. In some embodiments, the elongated arm 1100 may have a longer length than the span of the wedge connector's 2000 top and bottom surfaces. In such embodiments, the selected drive bolt 1400 may have a length equal to the length of the elongated arm 1200.
(21) In other embodiments, the drive bolt 1400 and nut 1300 may be replaced with a linear actuator such as a linear solenoid or pneumatic actuator. In yet other embodiments, the drive bolt 1400, nut 1300, and advancement tools may be replaced with an integrated drive mechanism, as illustrated in FIG. 14. In such embodiments, an advancement tool 4000 may have an attachment member 4200 and a lever 1450 that is operable to drive a pin 4300, the driving mechanism 4400, may be an integrated linear ratchet that when the lever is pumped in the direction W the pin 4300 elongates out of the drive mechanism and applies a force F to the bottom surface of the wedge 2200. In other embodiments, the driving mechanism may be a hydraulic power drive that is actuated with the lever 1450.
CONCLUSION/SUMMARY
(22) The present invention provides an improved wedge connector removal tool and method of using such a tool that is operable to dislodge a wedge from a transmission or distribution line connection without using a powder cartridge. The present wedge removal tool is able to couple to a wedge connector around the transmission or distribution lines such that a lineman's hands are unrestrained to supporting the tool. It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
