Base-Mounted Cable Clamping Element for Street Light Pole Theft Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Theft of copper wiring from street and traffic light poles is a significant issue due to the increasing value of copper, as thieves access and remove wiring through access holes in the poles, causing damage to the lighting systems, and merely locking the hand-hole cover does not provide adequate protection.
Innovation Solution
An upright element is secured to the base of the pole, perpendicular to the base, with means to releasably secure the electrical cable to one side of the upright element, separating the pole's interior into accessible and non-accessible sections, preventing thieves from accessing the cable through the access opening when the pole is secured to the base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hand-hole cover is locked, then the access opening is secured, but thieves can still access wiring through other means and the problem is not fully solved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable securing function from the pole structure itself and places it on a separate base-mounted element. The cable is secured to the base through a clamping mechanism rather than being routed through the hollow pole interior, removing the vulnerable connection point from accessible areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a base element as an intermediary between the pole and the ground. This base element provides a secure mounting point for cable clamps and creates a physical barrier that prevents direct access to cable securing points, acting as a mediator that protects the wiring infrastructure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cable is routed through the hollow pole interior, then installation is simple, but thieves can easily access and remove the cable through the access opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable routing into two separate paths: power supply cables are secured to the base outside the pole, while fixture connection cables remain accessible through the hand-hole. This segmentation allows maintenance access where needed while protecting the main power connections from theft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the cable securing point from the vertical dimension (inside the pole at hand-hole level) to the horizontal dimension (at the base level, perpendicular to the pole). The base element extends horizontally with clamping surfaces that secure cables away from the vertical access path through the hand-hole.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided for inhibiting theft of electrical wiring through the access opening of an electrical fixture supporting pole, such as a street light pole. Prior to securing the pole to the base, a wire clamping element is placed on the base around the passage for the power supply cable. The electrical power supply cable is clamped to a vertical surface of the clamping element, and the free end of the cable is extended to a location proximate the second opposed vertical surface of the clamping element. The electrical connection cable from the electrical fixture is then attached to the power supply cable, and the pole and the clamping element are secured to the base such that the access opening is positioned to provide access to the connections of the power supply cable and electrical connection cable from the electrical fixture, but access to the clamping device which secures the power supply cable to the first surface is not possible without removing the pole.