CARRIED EQUIPMENT FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL CABLES.

Abstract

Power line equipment, such as terminal and splice arrangements, for use with overhead power cables that allows interrogation of the overhead power cables through the equipment. The equipment includes at least one port to facilitate access to the power member of the power cable, so that interrogation instruments can be operationally coupled to the power member and to interrogation elements, such as fiber optics associated with the power member. Interrogation can occur after the overhead power cable has been fully tensioned and secured by the equipment; for example, after it has been secured to a support tower.

Description

CARRIED EQUIPMENT FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRICAL CABLES Cross-reference related to the application This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application no. 62 / 952,113 filed on December 20, 2019, which is incorporated herein in full by reference. Field of invention This description refers to the field of overhead power cables and, in particular, to the equipment components used to install and support overhead power cables for the transmission and distribution of electricity. Brief description of the invention In one embodiment, a termination arrangement for an overhead electric cable is described. The termination arrangement comprises a clamping element configured to secure a strength member of an overhead electric cable and a connector operatively attached to the clamping element. The connector comprises a connector body and a connector body bore extending longitudinally from a first opening at a distal end of the connector body to a proximal end of the connector body. In another embodiment, a method for terminating an overhead electric cable is described, comprising a central reinforcing element and a plurality of conductor strands wound around the reinforcing element.The method includes the steps of separating an end portion of the reinforcing element from the conductor wires, inserting the end portion of the reinforcing element into a termination arrangement, the termination arrangement comprising a connector having a connector body and a hole in the connector body, wherein the step of inserting the reinforcing element includes placing the end portion of the reinforcing element, at least partially, into the hole in the connector body. In another embodiment, a method for interrogating an overhead electric cable via a termination arrangement is described, wherein the overhead electric cable has a reinforcing element comprising interrogating elements and a plurality of conductive strands wound around the reinforcing element. The method includes the steps of separating an end segment of the reinforcing member from the conductive strands, operatively securing a termination arrangement to the overhead electric cable, wherein the termination arrangement includes a gripping element configured to grasp the reinforcing member and a connector operatively attached to the gripping element, the connector comprising a connector body and a connector body bore extending longitudinally from a first opening at a proximal end of the connector body to a distal end of the connector body.The step of operationally securing the termination assembly to the overhead power cable includes securing a first part of the end segment of the strength member to the clamping element and placing a second part of the end segment of the strength member into the hole in the connector body. Interrogation of the reinforcing element can be carried out by operationally linking (e.g., by direct or indirect contact) an interrogation device to the end of the reinforcing element. During interrogation, the reinforcing element can be disposed entirely within the termination assembly or can extend beyond it. These and other drawings in this description will become clear from the following description. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a portion of an overhead electric transmission line. Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a termination arrangement assembled according to the above technique. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a termination arrangement assembled and set according to the above technique. Figure 4 illustrates an overhead electric cable that includes detection elements arranged within a reinforcement element. Figures 5A - 5E illustrate a termination arrangement according to an embodiment of the present description in various assembly states. Figures 6A - 6B illustrate a termination arrangement according to an embodiment of the present description. Figures 7A-7C illustrate a termination arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 8A-8C illustrate a termination arrangement according to one embodiment of the present description. Figure 9 illustrates a splice arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 10 illustrates a splice arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 11A - 11B illustrate a splice arrangement according to one embodiment of the present description. Figure 12 illustrates a termination arrangement according to one embodiment of the present description. Detailed description of the invention Figure 1 illustrates a portion of an overhead electric transmission line for the transmission of electricity. Overhead electric transmission and distribution lines are constructed by raising bare electric wires (e.g., electric wire 104a) above the ground, using support towers (e.g., pylons) such as support towers 102a / 102b / 102c. Transmission and distribution lines can span many miles, requiring extremely long runs of electric wire and numerous support towers. Some of the support towers are called dead-end towers or anchor towers, such as tower 102a. Such towers are located at termination points, such as electrical substations or locations where the power line is routed underground.Dead-end towers, such as tower 102a, may also be required where the power line changes direction (for example, makes a turn) or at regular intervals along a long, straight path. In such cases, the overhead power cable must be terminated and secured to the dead-end tower under high voltage. As illustrated in Figure 1, power cable 104a is secured to tower 102a using a dead-end termination structure 106a. Another termination structure is called a splice. While the length of a single overhead cable segment may cover several thousand feet, an electrical network requires several hundred or even thousands of miles of electrical cable. To span these distances, linemen often need to splice (i.e., join) two smaller cable segments. Thus, one or more splices may be placed between two dead ends of an overhead cable installation. The splice functions as a mechanical joint that holds the two wire ends together and as an electrical joint that allows electrical current to flow through the splice. As illustrated in Figure 1, a 108b splice operatively connects electrical cable 104b to electrical cable 104c to form a mechanical joint and a continuous electrical path. Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of a termination arrangement (e.g., a dead end) for use with a bare overhead electric cable, e.g., as the dead end 106a in Figure 1. The termination arrangement 200 illustrated in Figure 2 is similar to that illustrated and described in PCT Publication No. WO 2005 / 041358 to Bryant and in U.S. Patent No. 8,022,301 to Bryant et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in full. Characterized extensively, the termination arrangement 200 illustrated in Figure 2 includes a gripping element 210 and a connector 220 for anchoring the termination arrangement 200 to a dead-end structure (e.g., a tower), not illustrated, e.g., with a fastener 226 (e.g., an eyebolt) disposed at a proximal end of the termination arrangement 200. At the end of the termination arrangement 200, opposite the fastener 226, the termination arrangement 200 is operatively connected to a bare overhead electric cable 260 including an electric conductor 262 (e.g., comprising conductive strands) surrounding and supported by a resistance component 264, e.g., a fiber-reinforced composite resistance component. The gripping element 210 firmly grasps the force member 264 to secure the overhead electric cable 260 to the termination arrangement 200. As illustrated in Figure 2, the gripping element 210 includes a compression-type fitting (e.g., a wedge-type fitting), specifically a collar 212 having a lumen 216 (e.g., a hole) that surrounds and grips the force member 264. The collar 212 is arranged in a clamp housing 214, and as the electric cable 260 is tensioned (e.g., pulled over support towers), friction develops between the force member 264 and the sleeve 212 as the sleeve 212 is driven further into the clamp housing 214.The conical (outer) shape of collar 212 and the matching inner funnel shape of the collar housing 214 create greater compression on the force member 264, ensuring that the force member 264 does not slip out of the collar 212 and thus that the overhead electric cable 260 is secured to the termination arrangement 200. cor / an / zznz / q / uιλι As illustrated in Figure 2, an outer sleeve 240 is disposed over the gripping element 210 and includes a conductive body 244 to facilitate electrical conduction between the electrical conductor 262 and a bridge plate 246. An inner sleeve 248 (e.g., a conductive inner sleeve) can be placed between the conductor 262 and the conductive body 244 to facilitate electrical connection between the conductor 262 and the conductive body 244. The conductive body 244 can be made of aluminum, and the bridge plate 246 can be welded to the conductive body 244, for example. The bridge plate 246 is configured to be joined to a connection plate 272 to facilitate electrical conduction between the electrical conductor 262 and another conductor, for example, another electrical cable (not illustrated) that is in electrical communication with the connection plate 272. The connector 220 includes a fastener 226 and gripping elements that engage threads 228 arranged at one end of the gripping element of the connector 220, with a connector body 222 disposed between the fastener 226 and the gripping element that engages threads 228. The gripping element that engages threads 228 is configured to operatively engage with the coupling threads of the connector 218 in the collar housing 214 to facilitate movement of the connector 220 toward the collar 212, pushing the collar 212 into the collar housing 214 when the threads 218 and 228 are engaged and the connector 220 is rotated relative to the collar housing 214. This strengthens the grip of the collar 212 on the force member 264, further securing the overhead electric cable 260 to the termination arrangement 200.The fastener 226 is configured to attach to a dead-end structure, for example, a dead-end tower, to secure the termination arrangement 200 and the electric cable 260 to the dead-end structure. Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a termination arrangement, similar to the termination arrangement in Figure 2, that has been crimped onto an overhead electric cable. The termination arrangement 300 includes a connector having a crimp holder 326 extending outward from a proximal end of an outer sleeve 340. A bridge plate 326 is integrally formed with the conductor body 342 for electrical connection to a connection plate (for example, see Figure 2). As illustrated in Figure 3, the outer sleeve 340 is crimped onto (for example, over) two regions of the underlying structure, namely the corrugated sleeve region 340b and the corrugated sleeve region 340a.The crimped sleeve region 340b is generally located over an intermediate portion of the underlying connector (for example, see Figure 2), and the crimped sleeve region 340a is generally located over a portion of the overhead electric cable 380. The compressive forces exerted on the outer sleeve 340 during the crimping operation are transferred to the underlying components, i.e., to the connector below the crimped region 340b and to the overhead electric cable 380 below the crimped region 340a, to permanently secure the termination arrangement 300 to the electric cable 380. The termination arrangements described in Figures 2 and 3 can be used with various configurations of bare overhead power cables. The termination arrangements illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 are particularly useful with overhead power cables that have a fiber-reinforced composite strength component. For example, a compression wedge clamping element, for instance, having a collar disposed in a collar housing (e.g., Figure 2), allows gripping a fiber-reinforced composite strength component under high compressive force without a significant risk of fracturing the composite material. Figure 4 illustrates an overhead electric cable 480 (e.g., a bare overhead electric cable) that includes a resistor element 484 made of a fiber-reinforced composite material. The electric cable 480 includes a conductor 482 comprising a first plurality of conducting strands 482a that are helically wound around (e.g., twisted around) a reinforcing component 484. A second plurality of conducting strands 482b are wound around the first conducting strands. The conducting strands 482a / 482b can be made from conductive metals such as copper or aluminum, and for use in bare overhead electric cables, they are typically made from aluminum.Conductive materials, such as aluminum, do not possess sufficient mechanical properties (e.g., sufficient tensile strength) to be self-supporting when strung between support towers to form an overhead power line for the transmission and / or distribution of electricity. Therefore, the strength member 484 supports the electrical conductor 482 when the overhead power cable 480 is strung between support towers under high mechanical tension. The reinforcing element 484 illustrated in Figure 4 is a fiber-reinforced composite strength component, for example, comprising a plurality of reinforcing fibers arranged in a bonding matrix. As illustrated in Figure 4, the reinforcing element includes an inner section 484a comprising substantially continuous reinforcing carbon fibers arranged in a polymer bonding matrix. An insulating layer 484b surrounds the inner section 484a and may include substantially continuous reinforcing glass fibers in a polymer bonding matrix, for example. An overhead electric cable of this configuration is available under the trademark ACCC® (CTC Global Corp., Irvine, CA) and is described in U.S. Patent No. 7,368,162 to Hiel et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Such fiber-reinforced composite strength elements may include a single fiber-reinforced composite strength element (e.g., a single rod) as illustrated in Figure 4. Alternatively, the composite strength component may consist of a plurality of individual fiber-reinforced composite strength elements (e.g., individual rods) that are operatively combined (e.g., twisted or braided together) to form the strength component. Examples of such multi-element composite strength components include, but are not limited to: the multi-element aluminum matrix composite strength component illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 6,245,425 to McCullough et al.; and the multi-element carbon fiber reinforcement component illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 6,015,953 to Tosaka et al.and the multi-element reinforcement component illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 9,685,257 to Daniel et al. Each of these U.S. patents is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other configurations and materials (e.g., other fibers and / or matrix materials) may be used for the fiber-reinforced composite strength element. cor i an / zznz / q / υιλι In the overhead power cable illustrated in Figure 4, the reinforcing member 484 also includes a plurality of interrogation elements, namely optical fibers 484c, embedded within the reinforcing member, for example, embedded within the inner section 484a. It has been suggested that such integrated optical fibers 486c can be used for communications (e.g., data transfer) or can be used to interrogate (e.g., to inspect) the reinforcing member 484 to determine a condition of the reinforcing member 484 and / or the power cable 480. For example, it has been suggested that OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometry) can be used to evaluate the temperature or stress state of the reinforcing member 484 along its length. Another example of interrogation elements being used in an overhead power cable is illustrated in International Patent Publication No. WO 2019 / 168998 by Dong et al., which is incorporated herein as a reference in its entirety. Regardless of the function of the interrogation elements, for example, optical fibers, access to the interrogation elements will be necessary, for example, to reliably introduce light into the ends of the optical fibers, and to detect and / or analyze the light emanating from the optical fibers. However, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, when the overhead power cable terminates at a dead point (i.e., using a termination arrangement described above), the end of the reinforcing element, and therefore the ends of the optical fiber, are no longer accessible for passing a signal into the optical fibers and / or for detecting a light signal emanating from the optical fibers. It is an object of the present description to provide equipment, such as a termination arrangement (for example, a dead end or splice) for use with an overhead electric cable that permits access to one end of the strength member and to the optical fibers or similar interrogation elements disposed therein, even after the overhead electric cable has been installed, for example, after a section of the overhead electric cable has been laid and terminated. Figures 5A–5E illustrate such a termination arrangement according to one embodiment. The termination arrangement 500 is illustrated in various assembly forms from the exploded view of Figure 5A to the assembled view of Figure 5D for better illustration of the drawing. Figure 5A illustrates a partial assembly including a gripping element 510 comprising a collar 512 disposed in a collar housing 514. An end segment 564' of the force member 564 is separated from the conducting wires 582 (e.g., by removing the conducting wires 582) and placed through the collar 512, e.g., through the collar hole, such that the end segment 564' extends along the proximal end of the collar 512 and beyond the proximal end of the collar housing 514.A connector 520 having a connector body 522 is operatively joined to the clamping member 510 by placing the hole in the connector body 524 over the end segment 564' and moving the connector 520 toward the clamping member 510. As the connector 520 and clamping member 510 are brought together, the mating threads of the clamping member 528 and the mating threads of the connector 518 in the collar housing 514 engage and are mated by the relative rotation of the connector 520 and the clamping member 510. As the connector / member is rotated, the threads force the connector 520 to engage with the collar 512, forcing the collar 512 into the collar housing 514 and increasing the pressure (e.g., grip) of the collar 512 on the force member 564. See Figure 5B. As a result, the end segment 564' of the strength member 564 extends beyond the fastening element 510 and into the hole 524 of the connector body. As illustrated in Figures 5A to 5D, the end segment of the strength member 564' extends into the hole 524 but does not extend beyond the proximal end (i.e., the fastener end) of the hole 524. As can be seen in Figure 5B, the end of the strength member 564 can be accessed using the proximal opening 532, i.e., the opening 532 in the proximal end of the connector body 522. This feature is enabled by the hole in the connector body 524 and by the opening in the connector body 532, which exposes the end of the strength member 564. As illustrated in Figure 5C, a fastener 526 (for example, an eyebolt) is provided to complete the termination arrangement 500. To allow access to the end of the strength member 564, the fastener 526 can be removed from the connector body 522. In other words, the fastener 526 is not permanently attached to the connector body 522 and is not integrally formed with (for example, cast with) the connector body 522. As illustrated in Figure 5C, the fastener 526 is threaded onto the connector body 522 using mating threads on the fastener 536 and mating threads on the connector body 537. In this way, the fastener 526 can be securely attached to the connector body 522 and can be easily separated from the connector body. 522 to access the end of the force member 564. The assembled termination arrangement 500 is illustrated in Figure 5D. If access to the end of the strength member 564 is required after the termination assembly has been installed (for example, on a support structure), it may be necessary to maintain tension on the overhead power cable 560 to prevent it from sagging to the ground to an undesirable height. In this regard, the termination assembly illustrated in Figures 5A to 5D includes a sling coupling 538. The sling coupling 538 allows the termination assembly to be temporarily secured to a support structure by attaching a sling (for example, a high-strength rope) to both the support structure and the termination assembly 560, for example, by passing the rope through the sling coupling 538. As illustrated in Figures 5A–5D, the sling coupling 538 is integrally formed with the connector body 522.It will be appreciated that the sling connector 538 can be formed on other parts of the termination arrangement 500, provided that it remains securely attached to the termination arrangement when the fastener 526 is separated from the connector body 522, for example, as illustrated in Figure 5C. For example, the sling coupling could be attached (for example, integrally formed with) the outer sleeve 540. FIG. 5E schematically illustrates an example of how the termination arrangement illustrated in Figures 5A–5D can be used to facilitate interrogation of the reinforcing member using an interrogation system. In the drawing illustrated in Figure 5E, two interrogation instruments are shown, namely a detector 580D and an emitter 580E. Depending on the interrogation system used, it may be necessary to use only one instrument, for example, an instrument connected at only one end of the reinforcing member 564. In other systems, it may be necessary to place an interrogation instrument at both ends of the reinforcing member 564. For example, in certain systems, it may be necessary or desirable to place the emitter 580E at one end of the reinforcing member and the detector 580D at the other end of the reinforcing member. In any case, the 580E emitter and the 580D detector each include an instrument body housing 582D / 582E, for example, instrument electronics such as a light emitter in the 582E emitter body (e.g., LED, coherent light, etc.) and a detector in the 582D detector body (e.g., a CCD sensor or similar). Each instrument also includes a 584D / 584E connection part configured to attach to the 522 connector body so that the instrument can communicate (e.g., optically) with the 564 power member, for example, using associated optical fibers (see Figure 4).As illustrated in Figure 5E, the connecting portion 584D / 584E includes connector body mating threads 586D / 586D that are configured (e.g., sized) in the same manner as the connector body mating threads 537 to engage the mating threads of the fastener 536. Therefore, in operation, the fastener 526 can be removed (e.g., after securing the termination arrangement using the sling coupling 538) to expose the end of the force member 564 through the opening 532. One or more instruments 580D / 580E can be secured to the connector body and used to interrogate the force member 564 by emitting and / or detecting a signal through the opening 532. After interrogation of the force member is complete, the fastener 526 can be reattached to the connector body 522 and re-secured to the support tower or other structure. In an alternative arrangement, a transmitting and / or detecting instrument can be placed inside the fastener, for example, inside the eye bolt, thus avoiding the need to remove the fastener to interrogate the resistance components. Power can be supplied to the instruments using an electrical connection that runs through the fastener. See Figure 10 below, for example. Figures 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of a termination arrangement according to this disclosure. The termination arrangement 600 has a structure similar to the termination arrangement 500 and generally includes a gripping element 610 that is operatively connected to a connector body 620 having an opening in the connector body through which the strength member 664 is inserted, substantially as illustrated in Figures 5A–5E. Compared to the drawing illustrated in Figures 5A–5E, the fastener 626 is a clevis-type fastener having a clevis base 627 and two separate clevis tips 629a / 629b extending from the base 627. A clevis opening 631 extends through both tips to allow a bolt to be secured to the tips for connection to a dead-end structure. In the drawing illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, it is not necessary to remove the fastener 626 to access the end of the reinforcing member 664 because of the accessibility of the opening 632 between the ends 629a / 629b. A cover 634 can be removably attached over the opening 632 to seal the opening 632 and protect the end of the strength member 664. For example, the cover 634 can be threaded, friction-fitted, and / or held in place by one or more fasteners. In the drawing illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, the clevis opening 631 is offset from a longitudinal axis of the strength member 664, for example, off-center from the longitudinal axis of the connector body hole. More specifically, the fork opening 631 is arranged centrally on tips 629a / 629b, and the tips are arranged at an angle with respect to connector 620.In this way, the end of the force member 664 can be accessed (for example, after removal of the cover 634) without the need to dismantle the termination device 600 from the support structure, as described in the illustrated drawing in figures.... 5A-5D. Figures 6A and 6B also illustrate two interrogation instruments, a 680D detector and a 680E emitter, which can operate similarly to the 580D / 580E instruments in Figure 5E. Each of the 680D / 680E instruments includes a 684D / 684E connection part that is configured to attach to the 620 connector so that the instrument can be put into communication (e.g., optical communication) with the power member 664, e.g., with optical fibers associated with the power member (see Figure 4). As illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, the connection portions 684D / 684E allow the instruments to be operatively connected to the connector 620 (e.g., similarly to the cover 634) so ​​that the fork tips 629a / 629b do not interfere with the instrument bodies 682a / 682b. Figures 7A through 7C illustrate additional drawings of a termination arrangement according to this disclosure. The termination arrangement 700a illustrated in Figure 7A is structurally similar to the termination arrangements illustrated above and includes a gripping element 710a, a connector 720a, and an outer sleeve 740a, wherein the end segment 764' of the strength member 764 extends through the body of the connector 722a. As illustrated in Figure 7A, the opening 732a is offset (e.g., angled) with respect to the strength member 764, i.e., offset with respect to the hole 722a that extends through the body of the connector 722a. As illustrated in Figure 7A, the opening 732a is substantially orthogonal to the hole 722a (e.g., at approximately 90° with respect to the hole).Furthermore, the opening 732a is located near the interface between the connector body 722a and the retainer 726a, and the retainer is integrally formed with the connector body 722a, i.e., it cannot be removed from the connector body 722a. To facilitate the transmission of a signal (e.g., a light signal) through the opening 732a and to an end surface of the booster component segment 764', a reflective surface 739a (e.g., a mirror) is positioned at the interface between the opening 732a and the hole 724a. To reflect the signal through an opening that is substantially orthogonal to the hole, the reflective surface 739a can be positioned at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the hole 722a. The reflective surface 739a can include, for example, a glass mirror or a highly reflective metallic surface.In one implementation, the hole 724a comprises a step (e.g., a shoulder) near the proximal end to prevent the end of the reinforcing element 764 from resting against the reflective surface. 739a when the reinforcing element is inserted into hole 724a. For example, the distance between the shoulder and the reflective surface 739a can be selected to match the desired focal distance for the interrogation instrument(s). As with the termination arrangement illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, it will be appreciated that the resistance element 764a can be interrogated without removing the fastener 726a from the connector body 722a, i.e., without removing the termination arrangement 700a from the support structure. In this respect, the cover 734a can be removed and the instruments 780E / 780D can be operatively joined over the opening 732a to interrogate the reinforcement component 764a as described above. The drawing illustrated in Figure 7B is similar to the drawing illustrated in Figure 7A, except that the opening 732b (e.g., the interrogation port) is located in the connector body 722b and beneath the outer sleeve 740b. In this respect, an opening 733b is also formed in the outer sleeve 740b to allow access to the opening 732b and the reflective surface 739b. The cover 734b is configured to insert and seal against the opening in the outer sleeve 733b and the opening in the connector body 732b to prevent the entry of contaminants and / or moisture into the termination assembly 700b. The drawing illustrated in Figure 7C is similar to the drawing illustrated in Figure 7B, but instead of a reflective surface, a sleeve 741c (for example, a tubular component) connects the collar housing 714c to the fastener 726c. In other words, the sleeve 741c replaces all or part of the connector body. Sleeve 741c includes a sleeve opening 735c that can be aligned with the sleeve opening 733c to allow access to the inside of sleeve 747c and thus to the end segment 764' of the reinforcing member 764. Although the inside of sleeve 747c could be provided with a reflective surface as illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B, the inside of sleeve 747c may have sufficient volume to allow insertion of a transmitting or detecting device directly into the inside of sleeve 747c to allow interrogation of the reinforcing member 764. The drawing illustrated in Figure 7C is similar to the drawing illustrated in Figure 7B, but instead of a reflective surface, a sleeve 741c (for example, a tubular component) connects the collar housing 714c to the fastener 726c. In other words, the sleeve 741c replaces all or part of the connector body. Sleeve 741c includes a sleeve opening 735c that can be aligned with the sleeve opening 733c to allow access to the inside of sleeve 747c and thus to the end segment 764' of the reinforcing member 764. Although the inside of sleeve 747c could be provided with a reflective surface as illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B, the inside of sleeve 747c may have sufficient volume to allow insertion of a transmitting or detecting device directly into the inside of sleeve 747c to allow interrogation of the reinforcing member 764. During installation, the fastener (e.g., the eyebolt) should generally be aligned vertically as illustrated in Figures 7A–7C. Therefore, it is also preferred that the openings (e.g., openings 732a, 732b, and 735c) be positioned to generally face upward when the eyebolt is aligned, i.e., as illustrated in the figures. The bridge plate should generally be positioned downward as illustrated, and therefore, it is preferred that the openings in the outer sleeve (e.g., openings 733b and 733c) be positioned on the opposite side of the sleeve so that they generally face upward when the bridge plate is positioned as illustrated in the figures. Figures 8A to 8C illustrate another embodiment of a termination arrangement according to the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 8A, the termination arrangement 800 includes a gripping element 810, a connector 820, and an outer sleeve 840, wherein the fastener 826 is integrally formed with the connector body 822. A hole in the connector body 824 extends through the connector body 822 from a distal end of the connector body 822, i.e., adjacent to the gripping element 810, to an opening 832 in the base of the fastener 826. As can be seen in Figure 8B, the end segment 864' of the reinforcing element 864 can extend beyond the opening 832 so that the end surface of segment 864' is readily accessible for interrogation using an interrogation instrument.The end surface of segment 864' can be covered (e.g., using a removable cap or by coating) to protect the end surface and optical fibers (Figure 4) from exposure when the strength member 864 is not being interrogated. In the drawing illustrated in Figure 8C, the end segment 864' of the strength member 864 terminates inside the connector body 822, and the interrogation device 880D / 880E includes an extension 884c (e.g., a light guide tube) that is configured to be inserted through the hole 824 and close proximity to the end surface of the end segment 864' to facilitate interrogation. A cover (not coated) can be placed over the opening 832 when interrogation is not being performed. Because the body often houses a battery and related circuitry, it is frequently too large to fit within the fastener opening 831. The interrogation device 880D / 880C, as shown in sections 8A-8C, is configured to allow interrogation of the force member without removing the fastener 826. In this configuration, the interrogation signal is emitted / detected at an angle relative to the device body so that the entire body does not need to be inserted into the fastener opening 831. Although illustrated as being arranged at an angle of approximately 90°, other angles and configurations can be used to allow interrogation without fastener removal.Furthermore, the termination arrangement 800 can be assembled so that the end segment 864' of the reinforcing member, for example, reinforcing member 864 in Figure 8B, extends beyond the fastener 826 (for example, through the opening 831) so that an angled emitter or detector is not required to operationally access the end of the strength member 864b. Therefore, the end segment 864' can extend well beyond the end of the fastener 826 to facilitate access to the reinforcing member 864b. For example, the end segment 864' of the reinforcing member 864 can extend beyond the opening 832 by several millimeters or several meters, as desired. After interrogation of the strength member 864 is complete, the end segment of the strength member can be trimmed to reduce or eliminate the portion of the end segment that extends beyond the fastener 826, for example, beyond the opening 832. Although it is illustrated implemented with a hook-type fastener, it will also be appreciated that the drawing illustrated in Figures 8A-8C can be implemented with a fork-type fastener, for example, a fastener of the type illustrated in Figures 6A to 6B. In such an implementation, the opening of the fork can be offset (for example, as illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B) or it can be aligned with the hole in the connector body, for example, where the prongs are not angled with respect to the hole in the connector body. One advantage of the drawing illustrated in Figures 8A to 8C is that the interrogation instruments can be simplified; for example, it will not be necessary to design the interrogation instruments to fit a specific aperture configuration. For example, the interrogation instruments can be the same instruments used to interrogate the reinforcing element before the installation of the termination arrangement, for example, before or during the installation of the overhead electric cable on the support towers. In the preceding drawings of a termination arrangement, particularly the drawing illustrated in Figure 7C, the interrogation device (e.g., the emitter and / or detector components) may be placed inside the termination arrangement (e.g., inside the sleeve 747c), and the cover placed over the opening(s) to seal the components within the termination arrangement. Power for the device may be supplied by a battery or by inductive coupling using current passing through the outer sleeve. An antenna with associated circuitry may also be provided to enable wireless transmission for controlling the interrogation device and / or for receiving data from the interrogation device using a handheld device, for example, a tablet with a touchscreen.If the device needs to be replaced, for example due to aging, the inside can be accessed by removing the cover and replacing the components. This description also refers to splice arrangements for use with overhead electric cables, such as splice 108b illustrated in Figure 1. A splice arrangement for use with a fiber-reinforced composite strength element is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 7,019,217 to Bryant, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Although a splice maintains electrical conductivity between the two cable segments, the strength components of the two segments are separated within the splice. That is, there is a discontinuity of the reinforcing element within the splice located between two dead ends. Because of this discontinuity, the entire length of the cable between the two dead ends cannot be interrogated (for example, using optical fibers) using interrogation devices connected only at the termination arrangements.Therefore, this disclosure includes drawings of a splice arrangement that allows the reinforcing element to be questioned, for example, from the splice to each of the dead ends, so that the entire length of the cable can be questioned. Figure 9 illustrates one embodiment of such a splice arrangement. Splicing arrangements often include equipment components that are structurally similar to the components of a termination arrangement, for example, as described above, and include two sets of components at each end of the splice arrangement to secure the two cables. Referring to Figure 9, splice arrangement 900 includes two splice portions, 902a and 902b, at opposite ends of the cut assembly 900, where splice portion 902a secures overhead power cable 960a and cut portion 902b secures overhead power cable 960b. Because splice portions 902a and 902b are substantially identical, only splice portion 902a will be described in further detail. As previously stated, the clamping equipment in the splice arrangement may be substantially similar to the clamping equipment used in the termination arrangements. Therefore, the splice includes a gripping element 910a having a collar 912a disposed in a collar housing 914a. The strength member 964a of the overhead electric cable 960a extends beyond the conductor 962a and into a lumen 916a where it is gripped by the collar 912a. To physically secure the first splice part 902a to the second splice part 902b, and thereby secure the first wire 960a to the second wire 960b, a connector assembly 920 is used. The connector assembly 920 includes a central connector body 922 and matching collar threads 926a / 926b arranged at each end of the connector body 922, where the matching collar threads are configured to engage with the connector threads arranged in the collar housing 914 to compress the collar 912 within the housing 914. The connector assembly 920 also includes a connector assembly hole 924a / 924b that extends through the assembly, for example, through the entire assembly, to allow force components to extend near the center of the body 922 to allow interrogation of the resistance components 964a and 924b. 964b. The 900 splice arrangement also includes two matching conductor body portions 944a and 944b that are joined by a pair of matching flanges 946a and 946b. The flanges 946a / 946b can be secured to each other using two or more flange bolts 948a / 948b that extend through the bolt openings in the flanges 946a / 946b. Alternatively, a ferrule can be used to secure the mating flanges 946a / 946b. Typically, the conductor body 944 will be crimped over the underlying equipment and / or the electrical conductor. For example, crimps can be placed over the connector body 920, the gripping element 910, and / or the electrical cable 960a / 960b to further secure the physical and electrical connection between the two wires. To interrogate one or both of the 960a / 960b reinforcing elements after installation of the overhead power line including the splice assembly, the 948a / 948b bolts can be removed and the conductive portions separated from the 944a / 944b body. To temporarily hold the two portions of the splice assembly together, the 946a / 946b tabs can be provided with additional openings or hooks to allow a high-strength cable to be connected to the tabs and hold the portions together under tension. Figure 1 illustrates another embodiment of a splice arrangement. 10. In the drawing illustrated in Figure 10, many of the equipment components are the same as or substantially similar to the equipment components illustrated in Figure 9, including the gripping element 1010a comprising a collar 1012a and a collar housing 1014a. In the drawing illustrated in Figure 10, the conductive body 1044 is fabricated from a single (e.g., unitary) body and extends over the first and second splice portions 1002a / 1002b. cor / an / zznz / q / uιλι In the diagram illustrated in Figure 10, an emitting device 1080 (e.g., an LED, coherent light source, or similar) is contained within the connector assembly 1020 such that the emitting device 1080 can emit light toward the end of each of the strengthening components 1064a and 1064b. A detector can therefore be placed at the opposite ends of the strengthening elements 1064a / 1064b (e.g., via a termination arrangement described above) to detect and / or analyze the light signal emanating from the emitter 1080 and passing through the optical fiber(s) (Figure 3). In an alternative arrangement, the connector assembly may include a detector (e.g., a photodiode or similar), and the emitter may be placed at the termination of the overhead cables. In any case, power can be supplied to the 1080 transmitter using electrical contacts 1078a and 1078b. For example, to perform the interrogation, a portable power source, such as a battery, can be connected to electrical contacts 1078a / 1078b to power the transmitter. The electrical contacts extend through the conductive body 1044 and into the connector assembly 1020. The ports where contacts 1078a / 1078b pass through the conductive body 1044 can be sealed to prevent contamination from entering the splice arrangement 1000. Figure 1 illustrates another embodiment of a splice arrangement. 11A. As with the drawings illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the splice arrangement 1100A includes two splice portions 1102a and 1102b for securing two electrical cables 1160a and 1160b. Each splice portion includes a collar-type gripping element; for example, gripping element 1110a includes a collar 1112a housed in a collar housing 1114a for gripping the strength member 1164a. The splice arrangement 1100A includes a one-piece (e.g., unitary) conductive body 1144 that extends over both gripping elements 1110b. The conductive body 1144 also includes an interrogation port 1170 to allow access to the ends of the reinforcing elements 1164a / 1164b within the splice arrangement. An interrogation sleeve 1172 is placed within the port 1170 to facilitate the transmission and / or detection of light signals to / from the reinforcing elements 1164a / 1164b. The interrogation sleeve 1172 is round and cylindrical, for example, having a side wall and an opening 1174 extending through it. A reflective surface 1139 (for example, a mirror) is provided at the bottom of the aperture 1174 to allow a light signal emanating from the booster component to be reflected upwards for detection through the aperture 1174.Advantageously, the interrogation sleeve 1172 can be rotated, for example, around the threads 1176, so that the reflective surface faces the opposing resistance component 1164b. In this way, both reinforcing elements 1164a / 1164b can be easily interrogated simply by rotating the sleeve 1172 to the desired position. A cap can be provided on top of the sleeve 1172 to prevent contamination from entering when the sleeve is not in use. Because the gripping elements 1110a / 1110b are not joined within the splice arrangement (for example, as in Figure 9), the physical joining of the wires is achieved by crimping the conductor body 1144 onto each of the gripping elements 1110a / 1110b. To improve the crimp's ability to secure the gripping elements 1110a / 1110b, the gripping elements are provided with corrugations 1128a / 1128b or a similar surface feature such that the crimp will cause the conductor body 1144 to deform in the spaces between the ribs 1128a / 1128b. The splice arrangement illustrated in Figure 11B is similar to the termination arrangement illustrated in Figure 7C. Specifically, splice arrangement 1100B includes a sleeve 1141b that replaces all or part of the connector body connecting the two gripping elements 1110ab and 1110bb. Sleeve 1141b includes a sleeve opening 1135b that can be aligned with the sleeve opening 1133b to allow access to the inside of sleeve 1147b and, therefore, to the ends of the reinforcing elements 1164ab and 1164bb. Although the inside of sleeve 1147b could be provided with a reflective surface as illustrated in Figure 11A, the inside of sleeve 1147b may have a volume sufficient to insert a transmitting or detecting device directly into the inside of sleeve 1147b to allow interrogation of booster elements 1164ab and 1164bb. In the preceding drawings, particularly the drawing illustrated in Figure 11B, the components (e.g., the emitter and / or detector components) can be placed inside the splice assembly (e.g., inside the sleeve 1147b), and the cover is placed over the openings to seal the components within the splice assembly. Power for the device can be supplied by a battery or by inductive coupling using current passing through the outer sleeve. An antenna with associated circuitry can also be provided to enable wireless transmission for controlling the interrogation device and / or for receiving data from the interrogation device using a handheld device, such as a tablet with a touchscreen. If the device needs to be replaced, for example, due to aging, the interior can be accessed by removing the cover and replacing the components.In any case, although the device secured within the splice arrangement may be a transmitter and a detector, it may be preferable to place a transmitter within the splice with a detector placed in the termination arrangement at the opposite end of the force member. Figure 1 illustrates another embodiment of a termination arrangement. 12. This type of termination arrangement 1200 is sometimes called a helical dead end. See, for example, U.S. patent application no. s2019 / 0081470 by Ma et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In this arrangement, the structural rods or strands 1211 are helically wrapped around the cable 1260 to secure the cable 1260 and are formed into a loop 1226 at the distal end of the arrangement 1200. In this arrangement, to permit interrogation of the strength member 1264, a portion 1211a of the structural strands is wound around a portion of the reinforcement member that has been stripped of the overlapping conductor strands. The end of the booster component 1264 extends beyond the 1211 threads and is exposed to allow interrogation.The exposed end of the reinforcing element can be covered or sealed when not in use to prevent damage to the end of the reinforcing element. The preceding drawings are presented to illustrate termination arrangements and splice arrangements that facilitate the interrogation of overhead electric cables during and / or after the installation of the electric line (e.g., a distribution line or a transmission line). As such, the above drawings are subject to various modifications not specifically illustrated above. For example, gripping elements are illustrated comprising a clamp-type grip having a clamp and a clamp housing. However, other types of gripping elements may be used. For example, a gripping element may include a direct compression device as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 86,805,596 to Quesnel et al. and assigned to Alcoa Fujikura Limited, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In drawings of a termination arrangement, the bridge plate is illustrated positioned at the proximal end of the conducting body. However, other arrangements are possible, such as a shark fin arrangement, in which the bridge plate is positioned closer to the middle of the conducting body. The termination arrangements and splicing arrangements described above can be used with a variety of electrical cables that have reinforcing elements, particularly fiber-reinforced composite reinforcing elements. Interrogation techniques may include laser-based techniques, such as optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR), or incoherent light techniques, such as those described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2019 / 168998 by Dong et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It will be noted that the above description also refers to methods for securing an overhead electric cable to a termination arrangement (e.g., a cul-de-sac), and methods for interrogating a member of the force through the equipment. Interrogation can occur after the overhead electric cable has been fully tensioned and secured by the equipment, for example, secured to a support tower as illustrated in Figure 1.In one embodiment, a method for terminating an overhead electric cable comprising a central reinforcing member and a plurality of conductor wires wound around the reinforcing member, the method comprising the steps of separating an end portion of the reinforcing member from the conductor wires, inserting the end portion of the reinforcing member into a termination arrangement, the termination arrangement comprising a connector having a connector body and a connector body hole, wherein the step of inserting the reinforcing member includes placing the end portion of the reinforcing member at least partially into the connector body hole. In another embodiment, a method is described for interrogating an overhead electric cable through a termination arrangement, wherein the overhead electric cable has a reinforcing element comprising interrogation elements and a plurality of conductive strands wound around the reinforcing element. The method may include the steps of separating an end segment of the reinforcing member from the conductive strands, operatively securing a termination arrangement to the overhead electric cable, wherein the termination arrangement includes a gripping element configured to grasp the reinforcing member and a connector operatively connected to the gripping element, the connector comprising a connector body and a connector body bore extending longitudinally from a first opening at a proximal end of the connector body to a distal end of the connector body.The step of operationally securing the termination assembly to the overhead power cable includes securing a first part of the end segment of the strength member to the clamping element and placing a second part of the end segment of the strength member into the hole in the connector body. Interrogation of the strength member can be carried out by operationally linking (e.g., by directly or indirectly contacting) an interrogation device to the end of the strength member. During interrogation, the strength member may be entirely within the termination assembly (see Figure 5E, for example) or may extend beyond the termination assembly (see Figure 8B, for example). Although several drawings, termination arrangements, and methods for terminating and interrogating an overhead electric cable have been described in detail, it is evident that those skilled in the art will devise modifications and adaptations to those drawings. However, it should be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present description.

Claims

1. A termination arrangement for an overhead electric cable, comprising: a gripping element configured to grip a strength member of an overhead electric cable; a connector operatively coupled to the gripping element, the connector comprising: a connector body; and a hole in the connector body extending longitudinally from a first opening at a proximal end of the connector body to a distal end of the connector body.

2. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 1, comprising a fastener operatively fixed to the proximal end of the connector body.

3. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastening element comprises a compression wedge.

4. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 3, wherein the compression wedge comprises a collar disposed within a collar housing.

5. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 4, wherein the connector body is operatively attached to the collar housing.

6. The termination arrangement described in claim 5, wherein the connector body is threaded into the collar housing.

7. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 1 to 6, comprising an outer sleeve disposed over at least the gripping element.

8. The termination arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the outer sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the connector body.

9. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 7 to 8, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a conductive body.

10. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a bridge plate operatively attached to the conductor body.

11. The termination arrangement referred to in claim 10, wherein the bridge plate is operatively attached to the conductive body near a proximal end of the outer sleeve.

12. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connector body orifice extends through the connector body from the first connector body opening at the proximal end of the connector body to a second opening near the distal end of the connector.

13. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 12, wherein the hole in the connector body is sized and shaped to receive the reinforcing element of an overhead power cable.

14. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the orifice in the connector body has a substantially circular cross-section and a diameter of at least approximately 6 mm.

15. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the connector hole has a diameter not exceeding about 18 mm.

16. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 12 to 15, comprising a removable cover operatively disposed over the second opening.

17. The termination arrangement referred to in claim 16, wherein the removable cover is secured over the second opening using at least one threaded fastener.

18. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 16, wherein the removable cover is threaded into the second opening.

19. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 16, wherein the removable cover is friction-fitted into the second opening.

20. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the fastener comprises an eyebolt.

21. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 20, wherein the eyebolt is permanently fixed to the connector body.

22. The termination arrangement referred to in claim 21, comprising a ring bolt hole extending through a ring bolt base, wherein the ring bolt hole is located along the longitudinal axis of the connector body hole.

23. The termination arrangement referred to in claim 22, wherein the eyebolt hole has substantially the same size and cross-section as the connector body hole.

24. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 12 to 19, wherein the fastener comprises a fork having a base and two separate fork teeth extending from the base.

25. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 24, wherein the second opening is arranged through the base and between the two separated tips.

26. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 24 or 25, wherein each of the two separate tips comprises a bolt opening disposed near a proximal end of the tip.

27. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 25 or 26, wherein each of the bolt openings is offset from the longitudinal axis of the connector body.

28. The termination arrangement mentioned in any of claims 12 to 19, wherein the fastener can be detached and reattached to the connector body.

29. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 28, wherein the fastening element is threaded onto the connector body.

30. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 28, wherein the fastener is screwed to the connector body.

31. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 28 to 30, wherein the fastener comprises a fork having a base and two separate prongs extending from the base.

32. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 28 to 30, wherein the fastener comprises an eye bolt comprising a base and a closed loop extending from the base.

33. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 28 to 32, further comprising a sling coupling.

34. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 33, wherein the sling coupling is fixed to the connector body.

35. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 34, wherein the sling coupling is permanently fixed to the connector body.

36. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 33 to 35, wherein the sling coupling comprises a closed loop.

37. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the connector body hole is in operative communication with a non-longitudinal hole that is arranged at an angle of less than 180° with respect to the connector body hole.

38. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 37, wherein the non-longitudinal hole is arranged at an angle of approximately 70° to approximately 130° with respect to the hole in the connector body.

39. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claim 37 or 38, comprising a non-longitudinal drilling opening disposed at one end of the non-longitudinal drilling.

40. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 37 to 39, further comprising a second non-longitudinal hole that is arranged at an angle of less than 180° with respect to the hole in the connector body.

41. The termination arrangement cited in any of claims 37 to 40, comprising a reflective element disposed at an interface between the connector body hole and the non-longitudinal hole, wherein the reflective element is configured to reflect light between the connector body hole and the non-longitudinal hole.

42. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 39 to 41, comprising a removable cover operatively disposed over a non-longitudinal drilling opening.

43. The termination arrangement referred to in claim 42, wherein the removable cover is secured over a non-longitudinal drill opening using at least one first threaded fastener.

44. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 42, wherein the removable cover is threaded onto the non-longitudinal bore opening.

45. The termination arrangement mentioned in claim 42, wherein the removable cover is friction-fitted into the non-longitudinal hole opening.

46. ​​The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 37 to 45, wherein the connector body hole terminates before a distal end of the connector body.

47. The termination arrangement referred to in any of claims 37 to 45, wherein the connector body hole extends to the distal end of the connector body.

48. A method for terminating an overhead electric cable comprising a central reinforcing element and a plurality of conductor wires wound around the reinforcing element, the method comprising the steps of: separating an end portion of the reinforcing element from the conductor wires; inserting the end portion of the reinforcing element into a termination arrangement, the termination arrangement comprising a connector having a connector body and an orifice in the connector body, wherein the step of inserting the reinforcing element includes placing the end portion of the reinforcing element at least partially into the orifice in the connector body.

49. The method described in claim 48, wherein the insertion step includes inserting the end portion of the reinforcing element into a gripping element.

50. The method described in claim 49, wherein the gripping element comprises a collar and a collar housing.

51. The method mentioned in any of claims 48 to 50, comprising the step of placing an outer sleeve over at least a portion of the connector body.

52. The method mentioned in claim 51, comprising the step of compressing the outer sleeve onto the connector body.

53. The method mentioned in any of claims 48 to 52, wherein the connector body orifice extends through the connector body from the first connector body opening at the proximal end of the connector body to a second opening near the distal end of the connector.

54. A method for interrogating an overhead electric cable through a termination arrangement, the overhead electric cable having a reinforcing element comprising interrogation elements and a plurality of conducting wires wound around the reinforcing element, comprising the steps of: separating an end segment of the reinforcing element from the conducting wires; operatively securing a termination arrangement to the overhead electric cable, the termination arrangement comprising: a gripping element configured to grip the force member;a connector operatively attached to the gripping element, the connector comprising a connector body and a connector body bore extending longitudinally from a first opening at a proximal end of the connector body to a distal end of the connector body, wherein the step of operatively securing the termination arrangement to the overhead electric cable comprises: securing a first part of the end segment of the reinforcing member to the gripping element; and placing a second part of the end segment of the force member into the bore of the connector body, and interrogating the reinforcing component by operatively attaching an interrogation device to the end of the reinforcing component.

55. The method described in claim 54, wherein the reinforcing component is fully disposed within the termination arrangement during the interrogation step.

56. The method described in claim 54, wherein the reinforcing element extends beyond the termination arrangement during the interrogation step.