CROSSARM FOR AN ELECTRICAL POLE
20220112737 · 2022-04-14
Inventors
Cpc classification
H02G7/20
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
The present disclosure provides for an electrical utility temporary crossarm for quick connection to a crossarm of a utility pole. An end cap retention member is removably connected to a proximal end of an elongated crossarm of the electrical utility temporary crossarm and has an annular wall that includes one or more locking ribs arranged longitudinally and extending radially outwardly. A horn cap and a horn base is provided where each has a concave portion which defines a longitudinal support channel configured to receive the locking ribs in lock and key style arrangement. A wire holding member disposed on the distal end of the elongated crossarm member for receiving and securing an electrical wire.
Claims
1. An electrical utility temporary crossarm for quick connection to a crossarm of a utility pole, comprising: an elongated crossarm member having a proximal end opposite a distal end; an end cap retention member fixedly connected to the proximal end, said end cap retention member comprising an annular wall generally defining a longitudinal axis, said annular wall having a first end portion opposite a second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion each respectively comprising a cylindrical flange said annular wall defining an opening adapted to receive and secure the proximal end of the elongated crossarm member, said annular wall comprising at least a first locking rib arranged longitudinally and extending radially outwardly from the annular wall; a horn cap removably connected to a horn base, said horn cap and horn base having opposing concave portions adapted to securely engage and surround the annular wall of the end cap retention member when positioned between the cylindrical flanges; wherein said horn cap and said horn base each define at least one longitudinal support channel configured to engage the at least first locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member; said horn cap comprising a pair of upwardly extending arms, each of said arms defining an internally threaded aperture adapted to receive and secure a respective fastening bolt threaded therethrough, wherein each said respective threaded fastening bolt adapted to engage a side of the crossarm of the utility pole; and a wire holding member disposed on the distal end of the elongated crossarm member, said wire holding member adapted to receive and secure an electrical wire.
2. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 1, said annular wall of the end cap retention member further comprising at least a second locking rib arranged longitudinally along the annular wall and extending radially outwardly from the annular wall, wherein the at least one longitudinal support channel of the horn cap engages the at least first locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member in a first lock and key style arrangement, wherein the at least one longitudinal support channel of the horn base engages the at least second locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member in a second lock and key style arrangement.
3. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 2, wherein the at least first locking rib and the at least second locking rib extend radially outwardly from the annular wall by approximately equal heights.
4. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 2, wherein the at least first locking rib and the at least second locking rib extend radially outwardly from the annular wall by unequal heights.
5. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 1, wherein the annular wall of the end cap retention member defines at least one aperture adapted to receive a fastener therethrough, said fastener adapted to connect said end cap retention member to the elongated crossarm member.
6. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 1, said horn cap further comprising a plurality of teeth adopted to engage a portion of the crossarm of the utility pole when attached thereon.
7. The electrical utility temporary crossarm of claim 1, wherein the elongated crossarm member is constructed of a fiberglass composite, wherein the end cap retention member, horn cap and horn base are constructed of aluminum.
8. A connector assembly for quick connection of an electrical utility temporary crossarm to a crossarm of a utility pole, comprising: an end cap retention member removably connected to an end of an elongated crossarm member of the electrical utility temporary crossarm, said end cap retention member comprising an annular wall generally defining a longitudinal axis, said annular wall having a first end portion opposite a second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion each respectively comprising a cylindrical flange, said annular wall defining an opening adapted to receive and secure the proximal end of the elongated crossarm member, said annular wall comprising at least a first locking rib arranged longitudinally and extending radially outwardly from the annular wall; a horn cap removably connected to a horn base, said horn cap and said horn base each having opposing concave portions adapted to securely engage and surround the annular wall of the end cap retention member when positioned between the cylindrical flanges; wherein the opposing concave portions of said horn cap and said horn base each define at least one longitudinal support channel configured to engage the at least first locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member in a first lock and key style arrangement; said horn cap comprising a pair of upwardly extending arms, each of said arms defining an internally threaded aperture adapted to receive and secure a respective fastening bolt threaded therethrough, wherein each said respective threaded fastening bolt adapted to engage a side of the crossarm of the utility pole.
9. The connector assembly of claim 8, said annular wall of the end cap retention member further comprising at least a second locking rib arranged longitudinally along the annular wall and extending radially outwardly from the annular wall, wherein the at least one longitudinal support channel of the horn cap engages the at least first locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member in the first lock and key style arrangement, wherein the at least one longitudinal support channel of the horn base engages the at least second locking rib of the annular wall of the end cap retention member in a second lock and key style arrangement.
10. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the annular wall of the end cap retention member defines at least one aperture adapted to receive a fastener therethrough wherein said fastener is adapted to connect said end cap retention member to the elongated crossarm member.
11. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the annular wall of the end cap retention member defines at least two apertures wherein each aperture is adapted to receive a respective fastener therethrough wherein said respective fastener is adapted to connect said end cap retention member to the elongated crossarm member.
12. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the annular wall of the end cap retention member defines at least three apertures, wherein each aperture is adapted to receive a respective fastener therethrough wherein said respective fastener is adapted to connect said end cap retention member to the elongated crossarm member.
13. The connector assembly of claim 8, said horn cap further comprising a plurality of teeth adopted to engage a portion of the crossarm of the utility pole when attached thereon.
14. The connector assembly of claim 8, said horn cap having a flanged bottom portion defining a first plurality of apertures, said horn base having a flanged top portion defining a second plurality of apertures, wherein said first plurality of apertures aligns with said second plurality of apertures when the horn cap is connected to said horn base.
15. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the opposing concave portions of said horn cap and said horn base each further define at least one inner annular groove adapted to receive and enclose a head of a fastener when said opposing concave portions surround and engage the end cap retention member.
16. The connector assembly of claim 8, the end cap retention member further comprising a planar wall disposed at the first end portion and positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis.
17. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the horn cap, horn base, and end cap retention member are constructed of aluminum.
18. A hanger saddle assembly for an electrical utility temporary crossarm for quick connection to a crossarm of a utility pole, comprising: a stirrup member having a pair of downwardly extending legs; each of the pair of downwardly extending legs having a respective bottom end portion which defines at least one aperture adapted to receive an elongated fastener therethrough; a first clamp member having a concave region to accommodate a first portion of the electrical utility temporary crossarm, the first clamp member having a first angled region having a first lateral edge extending from an upper end of said concave region, the first clamp member having an upper end defining a first aperture adapted to receive the elongated fastener therethrough; a second clamp member having a concave region to accommodate a second portion of the electrical utility temporary crossarm, the second clamp member having a second angled region having a second lateral edge extending from an upper end of said concave region, the second clamp member having an upper end defining a second aperture adapted to receive the elongated fastener therethrough; a hinge that rotatably attaches the first clamp member and the second clamp member about a hinge axis.
19. The hanger saddle assembly of claim 18, each downwardly extending leg having a respective bottom end portion further defining at least a second aperture adapted to receive an elongated fastener therethrough, said second aperture adapted for adjusting a height of the temporary crossarm relative to the crossarm of the utility pole when said hanger saddle assembly is mounted on said crossarm of the utility pole.
20. The hanger saddle assembly of claim 18, further comprising an elongated fastener extending through the at least one aperture of each downwardly extending leg and extending through the first aperture of the first clamp member and through the second aperture of the second clamp member, said elongated fastener adapted to secure the bottom end portion of each downwardly extending leg to the first clamp member and to the second clamp member while clamping the first clamp member and the second clamp member around the first portion and the second portion of the temporary crossarm.
21. The hanger saddle assembly of claim 18, wherein the stirrup member is characterized as U-shaped.
22. The hanger saddle assembly of claim 18, wherein the stirrup member is characterized as C-shaped.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0072] For a further understanding of the nature and function of the embodiments, reference should be made to the following detailed description. Detailed descriptions of the embodiments are provided herein, as well as, the best mode of carrying out and employing the present invention. It will be readily appreciated that the embodiments are well adapted to carry out and obtain the ends and features mentioned as well as those inherent herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following disclosure is illustrative only and not in any way limiting, as the specific details disclosed herein provide a basis for the claims and a representative basis for teaching to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. It should be understood that the devices, materials, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein are presently representative of various embodiments. Other embodiments of the disclosure will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0073] As used herein, “axis” means a real or imaginary straight line about which a three-dimensional body is symmetrical. A “vertical axis” means an axis perpendicular to the ground (or put another way, an axis extending upwardly and downwardly). A “horizontal axis” means an axis parallel to the ground.
[0074] As used herein, homogeneous is defined as the same in all locations, and a homogeneous material is a material of uniform composition throughout that cannot be mechanically separated into different materials. Examples of “homogeneous materials” are certain types of plastics, ceramics, glass, metals, alloys, paper, board, resins, high-density polyethylene and rubber.
[0075] Referring initially to
[0076] As illustrated in
[0077] As illustrated in
[0078] Preferably, the horn cap 126 and the horn base 128 each define at least one longitudinal support channel 132, 133 configured to engage the at least first locking rib 124 of the annular wall 114 of the end cap retention member 112. The horn cap 126 includes a pair of upwardly extending arms 134A, 134B. Each of the upwardly extending arms 134A, 134B define an internally threaded aperture 136A, 136B. The respective internally threaded aperture 136A, 136B is adapted to receive and secure a respective fastening bolt 138A, 138B threaded therethrough. Each of the respective threaded fastening bolt 138A, 138B is adapted to engage a side 140A, 140B of the crossarm 102 of the utility pole 104. The elongated crossarm member 106 includes a wire holding member 142 oriented on the distal end 110 of the elongated crossarm member 106. The wire holding member 142 is adapted to receive and secure an electrical wire 146.
[0079] In one embodiment, as illustrated in
[0080] In another embodiment, as shown in
[0081] In yet another embodiment, the at least first locking rib 124 and the at least second locking rib 148 extend radially outwardly from the annular wall 114 by unequal heights. In this context, height is meant as the extent that the locking rib extends radially outwardly form the annular wall 114. One skilled in the art would understand that a height E of the at least first locking rib 124 can be higher or lower (i.e., greater or lesser) than a height of the at least second locking rib 148.
[0082] In one embodiment, as illustrated in
[0083] In another embodiment, as shown in
[0084] In yet another embodiment, the elongated crossarm member 106 is constructed of a fiberglass composite and the end cap retention member 112, the horn cap 126, and the horn base 128 are constructed of aluminum.
[0085] Referring to
[0086] As shown in
[0087] In one embodiment, as illustrated in
[0088] In another embodiment, the at least one longitudinal support channel 132 of the horn cap 126 is preferably disposed at a top, central location 130A of the concave portion 130 of the horn cap 126. The at least one longitudinal support channel 133 of the horn base 128 is preferably disposed at a bottom, central location 131A of the concave portion 131 of the horn base 128. Preferably, the at least one longitudinal support channel 132 of the horn cap 126 opposes the at least one longitudinal support channel 133 of the horn base 128, because such preferred embodiment better enables the horn cap 126 and horn base 128 to firmly encircle, engage, and removably connect to the annular wall 114 of the end cap retention member 112.
[0089] As illustrated in
[0090] In another embodiment, the annular wall 114 of the end cap retention member 112 of the connector assembly 162 defines at least two apertures 166A, 166B, and each of the at least two apertures 166A, 166B is adapted to receive a respective fastener 168A, 168B through the respective aperture 166A, 166B to fasten the end cap retention member 112 to the elongated crossarm member 106 with respective fastener 168A, 168B, as shown in
[0091] As illustrated in
[0092] In one embodiment, the horn cap 126 of the connector assembly 162 preferably includes a plurality of teeth 158 adopted to engage a portion 160 of the crossarm 102 of the utility pole 104 when the connector assembly 162 is attached to the crossarm 102 of the utility pole 104, as illustrated in
[0093] In one embodiment, as shown in
[0094] As seen in
[0095] In one embodiment, the end cap retention member 112 of the connector assembly 162 further includes a planar wall 184 disposed at the first end portion 116, and the planar wall 184 is positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis A.
[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the horn cap 126, the horn base 128, the end cap retention member 112, connector assembly 162 are constructed of aluminum.
[0097] In accordance with other embodiments of the disclosed invention, there is provided a hanger saddle assembly 186 for an electrical utility temporary crossarm 100 for quick connection to a crossarm 102 of a utility pole 104. As illustrated in
[0098] Each downwardly extending leg 190A, 190B of the stirrup member 188 has a respective bottom end portion 192A, 192B which defines at least one aperture 194A, 194B adapted to receive an elongated fastener 196A, 196B through the respective at least one aperture 194A, 194B.
[0099] As illustrated in
[0100] As illustrated in
[0101] In such preferred embodiment, the hanger saddle assembly 186 includes a hinge 230 that rotatably attaches the first clamp member 198 to the second clamp member 214 about a hinge axis D, as illustrated in
[0102] In one embodiment, as shown in
[0103] In another embodiment, the hanger saddle assembly 186 further includes an elongated fastener 240 extending through the at least one aperture 194A, 194B of each downwardly extending leg 190A, 190B and extending through the first aperture 212 of the first clamp member 198 and through the second aperture 228 of the second clamp member 214. In such embodiment, the elongated fastener 240 is adapted to secure the bottom end portion 192A, 192B of each downwardly extending leg 190A, 190B to the first clamp member 198 and to the second clamp member 214 while clamping the first clamp member 198 and second clamp member 214 around the first portion 202 and the second portion 218 of the temporary crossarm 100, as illustrated in
[0104] In yet another embodiment, as shown in
[0105] All U.S. patents and publications identified herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.