High-voltage cable clamp

Abstract

A high-voltage cable clamp facilitates cable installation and cable structure fixation. The high-voltage cable clamp comprises a bottom clamp and a top clamp. The bottom clamp has an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. The inner surface has a cable support region having a plurality of pockets. Each pocket accommodates a ball conveyor with balls extending above a cable support area of the inner surface to guide a cable positioned on the bottom clamp. The top clamp has an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. The top clamp is mounted over the bottom clamp and secured to the bottom clamp by a fastener.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cable clamp, and more particularly, to a high-voltage cable clamp with a ball-bearing conveyor for installing cables. Background Technology

[0002] The world is rapidly shifting towards renewable energy, and current power infrastructure will be unable to meet the enormous demand for more electricity. The world is increasingly struggling to meet these new demands. A significant portion of future upgrades will be achieved through the use of large underground high-voltage cables.

[0003] The installation of high-voltage cables is an extensive and difficult process due to their sheer size and weight. A trench leading to the tunnel entrance is excavated. A large cable reel is placed at the cable's starting point, and large rollers are placed throughout the cable trench. The cable is pulled out and dragged along the rollers by heavy machinery. Once the cables reach the entrance, they are either pulled alongside pre-installed cable clamps in the tunnel lining (see Figure 1) and lifted into the clamps by heavy machinery, or pulled through the clamps using pre-placed external rollers. In both methods, the top of the cable clamp is removed, and then replaced once the cable is in place. Once the top portion of the clamp is bolted in place, the cable is secured and protected against potential short-circuit faults. Therefore, the immense weight and friction between the clamp and the cable make the latter part of the installation challenging. The process of removing and replacing the top clamp further increases the time required for this process.

[0004] Current high-voltage cable clamps come in a variety of configurations, materials, and sizes. Most cable clamps consist of two parts: a top clamp and a bottom clamp, secured together around the cable by one or two bolts. Current cable clamps do not help improve cable movement through the clamps during installation. The current installation process requires additional equipment, such as rollers or machinery specific to tunnel projects, to guide and assist in pulling the cable through. This additional heavy machinery also adds complexity. The use of rollers also increases cost and difficulty, as rollers require time to set up and need regular maintenance or replacement. The added difficulty due to the use of rollers has also proven to be time-consuming.

[0005] There is a need for a clamp suitable for high-voltage applications requiring underwater installation. There is also a need for an improved cable clamp that facilitates cable installation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention relates to a high-voltage cable clamp used to assist in the installation and securing of cables. The high-voltage cable clamp includes a bottom clamp and a top clamp. The bottom clamp has an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. The cable support area of ​​the inner surface of the bottom clamp has a plurality of recesses. Each recess accommodates a ball-type conveying device. The ball-type conveying device has balls extending over the cable support area of ​​the inner surface to guide the cable positioned on the bottom clamp. The top clamp has an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. The top clamp is mounted above the bottom clamp and secured to the bottom clamp by fasteners. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art clamp for aligning and installing clover-shaped cable structures in tunnels.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the high-voltage cable clamp of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partially exploded view of a high-voltage cable clamp.

[0010] Figure 4A yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of the bottom clamp.

[0011] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A Exploded view of the ball-type conveyor and bottom clamp.

[0012] Figure 5A yes Figure 4A Top view of the bottom clamp.

[0013] Figure 5B It is along Figure 5A The bottom clamp is a sectional view taken from line 5B-5B.

[0014] Figure 5C It is along Figure 5A A sectional view taken from line 5C-5C of the bottom clamp.

[0015] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the alternative spring-loaded ball conveyor and bottom clamp.

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the bottom clamp, wherein an alternative spring-loaded ball conveyor is provided in the bottom clamp.

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 4A A bottom view of the bottom clamp.

[0018] Figure 9 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional view of a high-voltage clamp, on which a clover-shaped cable structure is mounted. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A high-voltage cable clamp 20 of the present invention is shown. The high-voltage cable clamp 20 includes a bottom clamp 22 and a top clamp 60, the top clamp 60 being secured to the bottom clamp 22 by fasteners 100 and nuts 102. The top clamp 60 includes an outer surface 62, a first end 66, a second end 70, and an inner surface 74. The first end 66 and the second end 70 respectively include mounting holes 68 and 72 for receiving fasteners 100 to secure the top clamp 66 to the bottom clamp 22. The outer surface 62 of the top clamp 60 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 64 for providing support for the top clamp 60. The inner surface 74 of the top clamp includes a plurality of clamping ribs 76 for engaging a cloverleaf cable configuration 200 mounted in the cable clamp 20, such as... Figure 7 As shown.

[0020] The bottom clamp 22 of the high-voltage cable clamp 20 includes an outer surface 24, a first end 30, a second end 36, and an inner surface 42. The first end 30 and the second end 36 respectively include mounting holes 32 and 38 and recessed recesses 34 and 40. When the top clamp 60 is mounted above the bottom clamp 22, the mounting holes 32 and 38 at the ends 30 and 36 of the bottom clamp 22 are aligned with the mounting holes 68 and 72 at the ends 60 and 70 of the top clamp 60. The mounting holes 32 and 38 at the ends 30 and 36 of the bottom clamp 22 receive fasteners 100 from below the bottom clamp 22, such that when the top clamp 60 is positioned above the bottom clamp 22, the fasteners 100 extend upward through the mounting holes 32 and 38 in the ends 30 and 36 of the bottom clamp 22 and through the mounting holes 68 and 72 in the ends 66 and 70 of the top clamp 60.

[0021] The center portion 48 of the bottom clamp 22 also includes a mounting hole 50 and a recessed recess 52. A fastener 90 is mounted through the mounting hole 50 from the top of the bottom clamp 22 to secure the cable clamp 22 to the surface. The recessed recess 52 accommodates the head of the fastener 90 to prevent the fastener 90 from occupying space along the inner surface 42 of the bottom clamp 22 and to prevent the fastener 90 from interfering with the cable configuration 200 mounted on the bottom clamp 22.

[0022] The inner surface 42 of the bottom clamp 22 includes an arcuate cable support area 44 with a plurality of clamping ribs 46. When the cable configuration 200 is positioned on the bottom clamp 22, the clamping ribs 46 engage the cable configuration 200. The curved cable support area 44 also includes a plurality of recesses 54 designed to receive a ball-bearing conveyor 80. The ball-bearing conveyor 80 includes a cylindrical housing 82, an outer edge 84, and balls 86. The balls 86 are positioned in the center of the cylindrical housing 82 and surrounded by the outer edge 84.

[0023] like Figures 4A to 4B and Figures 5A to 5C As shown, a ball-bearing conveyor 80 is positioned in each recess 54. The ball-bearing conveyor 80 is press-fitted into the recess 54.

[0024] like Figure 5B and Figure 5C As shown, the balls 86 of the ball-type conveyor 80 extend upward into the curved cable support area 44. As described below, the ball-type conveyor 80 assists in the installation of the cable in the high-voltage cable clamp. The ball-type conveyor 80 significantly reduces friction during installation, making it easier to install the cable onto the high-voltage cable clamp 20.

[0025] Alternatively, it is conceivable that the ball conveyor 80 may include threads, and the recess includes a threaded hole so that the ball conveyor can be threadedly secured in the recess.

[0026] Figure 6 and Figure 7 An alternative spring-loaded ball-bearing conveyor 180 is shown. The bottom clamp 122 includes an inner surface 142 having a plurality of recesses 154. The spring-loaded ball-bearing conveyor 180 is received within the recesses 154. The spring-loaded ball-bearing conveyor 180 includes a housing 182, a spring 183, and balls 186. A top clamp can be mounted above the bottom clamp, and the cable is positioned on the bottom clamp as described below. The spring-loaded ball-bearing conveyor allows ball-bearing transmission to be enabled during cable installation but is disabled after the cable is mounted on the bottom clamp.

[0027] like Figure 8 As shown, the outer surface 24 of the bottom clamp 22 includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 26 to provide support for the bottom clamp 22. The bottom clamp 22 also includes hexagonal recesses 28 at the first end 30 and the second end 36, respectively, to help install the fastener 100 into the mounting holes 32, 38.

[0028] To install cable 200 into the high-voltage cable clamp 20, the bottom clamp 22 is first installed in the mounting position via the mounting fastener 90 in the center 48 of the bottom clamp 22. Once the bottom clamp 22 is installed, a pull rope is passed through the high-voltage cable clamp 20. A cable sleeve is then attached to one end of the cable to be pulled. A rope is tied to the cable sleeve, allowing the cable to be pulled through the bottom clamp 22. The cable slides on a ball-bearing conveyor 80 within the bottom clamp 22 to assist in its installation. Once the cable is in place, the top clamp 60 is positioned above the cable in a triangular configuration, although other cable configurations, such as single, double, or quad configurations, are also possible. The top clamp 60 is secured to the bottom clamp 22 by fasteners 100 at the ends 66, 70 of the top clamp 60 and at the ends 30, 36 of the bottom clamp 22. Attaching the top clamp 60 to the bottom clamp 22 provides sufficient pressure to compress the ball conveyor 80 downwards, thereby further securing the cable.

[0029] Figure 9 The high-voltage cable clamp 20 of the present invention is shown, wherein a clover-shaped cable structure 200 is installed.

[0030] Furthermore, although specific preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the teachings of the invention. The foregoing description and drawings are illustrative only and not limiting. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined appropriately in the appended claims based on the prior art.

Claims

1. A high-voltage cable clamp for fixing a cable, the high-voltage cable clamp comprising: A bottom clamp having an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface has a cable support area with a plurality of recesses, each recess accommodating a ball-type conveyor having balls extending over the cable support area on the inner surface for guiding a cable positioned on the bottom clamp; and A top clamp is mounted above the bottom clamp, wherein the top clamp has an outer surface, a first end, a second end, and an inner surface; Thus, the top clamp is secured to the bottom clamp by fasteners.

2. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball-type conveying device has a cylindrical housing with an outer edge, and the balls are positioned inside the cylindrical housing and extend along the outer edge.

3. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ball-bearing conveyor is spring-loaded.

4. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the bottom clamp includes reinforcing ribs for providing support for the bottom clamp.

5. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the top clamp includes reinforcing ribs for providing support for the top clamp.

6. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the bottom clamp includes clamping ribs for engaging cable positions within the cable clamp.

7. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the top clamp includes clamping ribs for engaging cable positions within the cable clamp.

8. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second ends of the bottom clamp include recessed recesses having mounting holes for receiving fasteners.

9. The high-voltage cable clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The center of the bottom clamp includes a recessed cavity with mounting holes for receiving fasteners.

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