Horizontal Conductor Lifter for Vertical Wire Holder Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in safely lifting and moving high-voltage sub-conductor bundles while maintaining the vertical orientation of wire holders to prevent accidental release of energized conductors.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal conductor lifter mounted on a truck or crane boom, equipped with a rotation actuator that pivots the main beam and insulators to maintain a horizontal orientation, ensuring wire holders remain vertical during lifting and moving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vertically oriented tool is used to pick conductor bundles, then the tool can effectively lift lowermost sub-conductors, but it cannot maintain safe working clearance from energized conductor bundles below when working on center or top conductor bundles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical orientation of the conductor picking tool to a horizontal orientation. The main beam extends horizontally from the boom, and wire holders are positioned at the end of the main beam to pick conductor bundles from the side rather than from below. This inversion allows the tool to access center and top conductor bundles while maintaining safe clearance from energized conductors below.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical picking approach to a horizontal picking approach by extending the main beam laterally from the boom. This dimensional change allows the wire holders to reach center and top conductor bundles through horizontal movement rather than vertical movement, thereby maintaining safe vertical clearance from energized conductors below.
2Length of stationary object
If the boom is raised to a high angle to reach high elevation conductor bundles, then the tool can access the conductor bundles, but the wire holders cannot maintain their operative vertical orientation due to lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of raising the boom to a high angle and attempting to maintain vertical wire holder orientation against lateral forces, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the boom at a lower, more stable angle and using a horizontally extending main beam to reach the conductor bundles. The wire holders maintain vertical orientation through the horizontal configuration rather than fighting lateral forces at high angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotation actuator that dynamically adjusts the orientation of the main beam and insulators to maintain the wire holders in their operative vertical orientation. This dynamic adjustment compensates for any lateral forces and ensures stable operation throughout the picking and moving process.
3Length of stationary object
If wire holders are placed in an off-vertical orientation, then the boom can reach high elevation conductor bundles, but the sub-conductors may press against latching covers causing accidental opening and release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by maintaining wire holders in a vertical orientation even when reaching high elevation conductor bundles. The horizontal main beam configuration and rotation actuator work together to ensure wire holders remain vertical, preventing sub-conductors from pressing against latching covers and causing accidental release.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation actuator dynamically maintains the wire holders in their operative vertical orientation throughout the entire operation. This dynamic control ensures that regardless of boom position or lateral forces, the wire holders remain properly oriented to securely hold sub-conductors without pressing against latching covers.
4Productivity
If vertically oriented insulators are used on the boom, then the tool can lift conductor bundles, but the insulators and tool incursion into the safe clearance distance of lower conductor bundles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the vertical stacking of insulators to a horizontal arrangement. The insulators are positioned horizontally at the end of the main beam rather than vertically along the boom. This inversion allows the tool to lift conductor bundles effectively while the horizontal configuration keeps the insulators and tool clear of the safe clearance zones around lower energized conductor bundles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement of insulators to a horizontal arrangement. This dimensional change positions the insulators laterally away from the boom and lower conductor bundles, eliminating the incursion into safe clearance distances while maintaining the ability to lift conductor bundles effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A horizontal conductor lifter includes a main beam to which an elongate wire holder adapter is connected through a horizontal, stacked bank of insulators and an inclined electrically insulating load transfer element collectively forming an electrically insulating truss to temporarily support the weight of a conductor or sub-conductors in a conductor bundle. The wire holder adapter supports vertically oriented wire holders thereon. A rotation actuator acts between the main beam and a distal end of a boom adapter on a crane or truck boom. In use, the rotation actuator, the stacked bank of insulators and the load transfer element prevent rotation of the wire holders to an off-vertical orientation so that the wire holders are maintained in their operative vertical orientation throughout a maintenance operation.