Modular Conductor Lift Assembly for Pole Access and Conductor Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile conductor lift devices are heavy, unwieldy, and require significant assembly and disassembly efforts, often necessitating cranes or forklifts, and lack the ability to provide complete access to power poles and insulators due to their large size and inability to move conductors vertically or horizontally.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight mobile conductor lift composed of seven subassemblies that can be easily assembled and disassembled by one or two workers using handheld tools, featuring a central cross arm, extension arms with sliders, insulator stem subassemblies, and a mast subassembly that can be attached to a crane or digger derrick truck, allowing for vertical and horizontal movement of conductors and rotation for enhanced access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mobile conductor lift devices are used, then conductors can be supported and held away from supports, but the devices are large, heavy, and require significant assembly involving cranes or forklifts
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile conductor lift device is divided into multiple subassemblies including a base subassembly, vertical mast subassembly, horizontal crossarm subassembly, and conductor holding subassembly. Each subassembly can be independently assembled and disassembled by workers using simple hand tools, eliminating the need for heavy machinery during assembly operations.
2Reliability
If existing mobile conductor lift devices are used, then conductors can be held away from supports, but the devices are incapable of moving conductors vertically or horizontally away from supports
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates movable components including the vertical mast that can be extended and retracted, and the horizontal crossarm that can be adjusted in position. These dynamic elements enable the device to move conductors both vertically and horizontally away from supports, providing flexible access to different work areas on power poles and structures.
3Reliability
If existing mobile conductor lift devices are used, then conductors can be supported, but the devices lack the ability to turn at an angle after conductors are attached
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the base subassembly and vertical mast subassembly incorporates rotational joints that allow the entire upper structure to turn at angles relative to the base. This angular adjustment capability enables workers to position conductors and access supports from optimal angles while maintaining stable conductor support during work operations.
4Reliability
If existing mobile conductor lift devices are used, then conductors can be held away from supports, but the devices are difficult to store and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into compact subassemblies that can be easily transported to work sites and quickly reconfigured. The modular design with standardized connection interfaces allows workers to assemble the conductor holding structure only when needed, and disassemble it for compact storage and transport when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile conductor lift comprised of multiple lightweight subassemblies that may be rapidly assembled manually or using handheld tools by a small crew of workers and that is capable of being quickly and easily placed into multiple potential configurations and in either horizontal or vertical orientations for lifting energized or deenergized conductors away from power poles in order to provide room for work to be performed by workers on such power poles or on other equipment connected to such power poles.