Dielectric Cover With Pivoting Arms And Keyhole Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dielectric covers for high voltage power line insulators and conductors are cumbersome and require tools for installation, making them difficult to handle and install, especially when dealing with wildlife-related short circuits that necessitate quick and tool-free solutions.
Innovation Solution
A dielectric cover system with attachable and pivotable arms that connect to the insulator cover portion using a keyhole and resilient tab mechanism, allowing for tool-free assembly and secure locking, and can be easily secured in place using pins manipulated by a hotstick, accommodating conductors that bend around the insulator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-piece dielectric cover is used to cover the insulator and conductor, then protection against wildlife short circuits is provided, but the cover becomes large and unwieldy when handled by a lineman
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric cover is divided into multiple segments: a main body portion covering the insulator and separate arm portions that extend to cover the conductor. These segments can be handled and assembled separately, making the overall system manageable for linemen while providing complete protection when assembled.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is made in multiple pieces to simplify handling, then ease of handling is improved, but the complexity of assembly and connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arm portions are designed to attach to the main body through a simplified connection mechanism where the arm ends connect to mounting surfaces on the main body. This merging of separate components through straightforward attachment reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the benefits of segmented handling.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional insulators with narrow neck areas are used, then the insulator structure is maintained, but the cover becomes difficult to secure properly over the conductor
Solution Approach 1:
The arm portions are designed with pivot capability, allowing them to move from a stored position to an operational position where they extend over the conductor. This dynamic adjustment allows the cover to adapt to the conductor's position relative to the narrow insulator neck, enabling proper securing without modifying the insulator structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies handling and storage, enables quick and reliable installation without power downtime, and provides robust protection against wildlife-induced outages by allowing easy attachment and secure locking of the cover system, even on conductors that are not horizontal.
Implementation Method 1
The arm has a resilient tab that rides over the raised ridge as the arm's keyhole engages the knob on the cover. As the arm is then pulled back to lock the knob in the narrow portion of the keyhole, the arm's resilient tab passes over the raised ridge and then snaps against the top wall of the cover.
Data Source
AI summary
A dielectric cover for an insulator and conductor in an electrical distribution includes an insulator cover portion for covering the insulator. A knob and ridge extend down from an inside ceiling of the insulator cover portion. An arm, for covering a portion of the conductor extending from the insulator, has a top keyhole, where the keyhole has a wide portion that fits over the knob in a first position and a narrow portion that restricts vertical movement of the arm in a locked position when the arm is withdrawn slightly. The arm also has a resilient tab that snaps over the ridge in the locked position, wherein the knob in combination with the keyhole restrict further withdrawing of the arm from the insulator cover portion in the locked position, and the tab contacting the ridge restricts further insertion of the arm into the insulator cover portion in the locked position.