Abstract: A dielectric cover for an insulator, supporting a high voltage conductor in an electrical distribution system, has holes for receiving retaining pins. The retaining pins are used to secure the cover over the insulator and conductor. Arched fenders, which may be circular or have a bottom opening, extend out from the cover and overlie the holes and ends of the pins. The fenders prevent birds roosting on the pin, increase the dielectric surface length between the top of the cover and the electrical conductor above the pins, and protect the pins from contamination issues which would reduce the dielectric properties of the pins. Contamination issues include birds defecating on the pins, which can create a conductive path between the bird and the inside of the cover, and atmospheric moisture such as rain, snow, and ice on the pins. Thus, wildlife is protected from electrocution.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuse cutout cover has an integral roof portion. The roof portion covers the energized top of a fuse in a first type of cutout. An attachable roof extension covers the energized top of a fuse in a larger second type of cutout. By having the optional roof extension feature, the same cover may be used with two types of cutouts. The roof extension is connected using a cruxiform connector on the bottom surface of the roof portion that tightly fits into a hole in the roof extension. To prevent an air gap between the cruxiform connector and the hole in the roof extension, the bottom of the hole is sealed. This prevents flashovers through the air gap. As a result, electrical insulation between wildlife and the energized cutout is increased.

Abstract: A plastic retaining pin for being inserted through a retaining hole in a high voltage insulating cover has a compressible nose, with the wide part of the nose being larger than the retaining hole. The pin may be on the order of 3-12 inches long. The other end of the pin has a grasping ring for receiving the hook of a hot stick. Along the length of the body of the pin is a plurality of radial portions (e.g., six or more) extending outward from a centerline of the body. These radial portions may be skirts or ribs having a diameter less than the retaining hole in the cover. The skirts or ribs greatly increase the surface leakage distance along the body of the pin and also prevent conductive liquids flowing along the body, which may lead to a flashover.

Abstract: For protecting wildlife from electrocution by high voltage components, dielectric covers are used to cover fuse cutouts, insulators, or other high voltage components. The cover includes through-holes for receiving retaining pins to secure the cover in place. The holes are the weak link in flashover prevention since the holes form an air gap, which has a breakdown voltage lower than that of the cover material. To prevent a bird's wing or a squirrel's tail from directly covering the hole in the surface of the cover, an arched or tubular hood is formed around each hole to block the bird or squirrel from directly covering the hole, reducing the risk of a flashover through the hole. The hoods extend out about 1-1.5 inches to essentially add a 1-1.5 inch air gap between the animal and the hole without enlarging the cover.

Abstract: A fuse cutout cover is disclosed that allows a lineman to engage a metal hook assembly and pull ring of the cutout with a loadbreak tool. The cutout also includes a wire connector and a metal top connector that leads from the wire connector to the top of the fuse. A front opening in the cover allows easy access by a loadbreak tool over a wide range of angles. A roof of the cover extends beyond the sidewalls of the opening and covers an end of the top connector. An inner vertical wall of the cover has a bottom edge that rests on the top surface of the top connector to space the roof from the top connector to provide additional vertical clearance when positioning the loadbreak tool to engage the cutout. The wall also blocks access to the enlarged open to prevent birds from nesting in the opening.

Abstract: A dielectric cover for an insulator and conductor in an electrical distribution includes an insulator cover for covering the insulator, an arm for covering a portion of the conductor extending from under the insulator cover, and an arm adapter for securing the arm to the insulator cover. The arm adapter has a raised outer first rib, and the arm has a raised outer second rib and an inner first groove. The lineman positions the insulator cover and arm adapter over the insulator, such as by using a hotstick. Then, the lineman slides the arm down over the arm adapter so that the first rib enters the first groove to secure the arm to the arm adapter. Retaining pins are then inserted through holes in the insulator cover and arm to secure the dielectric cover over the insulator and conductor. The arm's raised second rib acts as a water dam to prevent flashovers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fuse cutout cover has an integral roof portion. The roof portion covers the energized top of a fuse in a first type of cutout. An attachable roof extension covers the energized top of a fuse in a larger second type of cutout, such as a Fault Tamer™ cutout. By adding the roof extension, the same cover may be used with two types of cutouts, and there is not a large gap over the fuse, preventing wildlife from entering the gap. In another embodiment, a second roof is formed over the first roof portion to accommodate different types of cutouts. Electrical insulation between wildlife and the energized cutout is also increased.

Abstract: For protecting wildlife from high voltage conductors proximate to a utility pole, dielectric covers are used to cover fuse cutouts, bushings, or other connections to insulators. Such covers include a vertical slot for receiving an energized wire so the cover can be installed using a hot-stick while the wire is energized. To eliminate leakage currents flowing across the cover under high voltage conditions, which previously led to localized melting of the cover, inner walls of the cover are molded that are laterally separated from the outer walls of the cover. The double wall design eliminates leakage currents due to the extra dielectric wall and air gap, and the inner wall is not subject to contamination from conductive pollutants. The double wall design also increases the insulating properties of the cover.

Abstract: For protecting wildlife from high voltage conductors, dielectric covers are used to cover fuse cutouts, bushings, solid-blade disconnects, lightning arrestors, or other high voltage components. To increase a vertical surface distance between the top of the cover and the bottom of the cover, a plurality of protruding skirts are molded into the cover. The cover is formed of two molded halves, which are later affixed together. To prevent water entering the junction between the two halves, one half is formed with a lip that overlaps the edge of the other half. Retaining pins secure the cover in place.

Abstract: A fuse cutout cover is disclosed that allows a lineman to engage a metal hook assembly and pull ring of the cutout with a loadbreak tool at a wide range of angles, while the cover still prevents electrocution of wildlife. A first portion of the cover has a vertical opening for receiving the wire. A second portion has a substantially flat roof portion that covers the top portion of the fuse, the hook assembly, and the pull ring. The hook assembly and pull ring are laterally exposed by the cover to allow the loadbreak tool to engage the hook assembly and pull ring at a wide range of angles. Another feature of the cover is multiple sets of through-holes for securing pins so that the pin locations can be optimized for ceramic insulators and narrower polymer insulators.

Abstract: For protecting wildlife from high voltage conductors proximate to a utility pole, dielectric covers are used to cover fuse cutouts, bushings, solid-blade disconnects, lightning arrestors, or other connections to insulators. Such covers include a vertical slot for receiving an energized wire so the cover can be installed using a hot-stick while the wire is energized. The vertical slot substantially faces the utility pole. To prevent squirrels storing nuts in the cover via the vertical slot, a squirrel guard is fitted over the top of the cover to block access to the vertical slot in the cover. The guard has a second vertical slot for receiving the wire so can be installed while the wire is energized. The guard may be customized for the particular cover used with it. Retaining pins secure the guard and cover in place.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A dielectric cover system for an insulator supporting a high voltage conductor is molded to fit over the insulator to cover at least a top portion of the insulator and the conductor in contact with the insulator. A clip internal to the cover allows the cover to be freely placed over the insulator and then effectively restricts an inner diameter of the cover at a reduced diameter neck portion of the insulator, such that the clip blocks the cover from being lifted off the insulator and rotated about the insulator during high wind conditions. The clip is particularly effective where the conductor is supported in a side groove of the insulator, so the insulator and conductor form an asymmetric structure.

Abstract: A dielectric cover system for an insulator supporting a high voltage conductor is molded to fit over the insulator to cover at least a top portion of the insulator and the conductor in contact with the insulator. A bolt through the cover is inserted to a depth to engage a reduced-diameter neck area of the insulator to prevent the cover from being rotated about the insulator during a high wind condition. Other securing devices may instead be used that allow the cover to be freely placed over the insulator and then effectively restrict an inner diameter of the cover at a reduced diameter portion of the insulator, such that the securing device blocks the cover from being lifted off the insulator and rotated about the insulator.

Abstract: An expandable dielectric cover system for a pair of insulators supporting a conductor includes a first insulator cover and a separate insulator cover. A sleeve covers portions of the first insulator cover and second insulator cover and covers the conductor between the two covers. The sleeve covers a variable length of the first insulator cover and second insulator cover to accommodate a wide range of separations between the two covers while still covering the conductor. Pivotable arms are connectable to the other sides of the covers for covering a length of the conductor extending away from the sleeve.

Abstract: A dielectric cover system for an insulator supporting a high voltage conductor is molded to fit over the insulator to cover at least a top portion of the insulator and the conductor in contact with the insulator. A clip internal to the cover allows the cover to be freely placed over the insulator and then effectively restricts an inner diameter of the cover at a reduced diameter neck portion of the insulator, such that the clip blocks the cover from being lifted off the insulator and rotated about the insulator during high wind conditions. The clip is particularly effective where the conductor is supported in a side groove of the insulator, so the insulator and conductor form an asymmetric structure.

Abstract: A dielectric cover system for an insulator supporting a high voltage conductor is molded to fit over the insulator to cover at least a top portion of the insulator and the conductor in contact with the insulator. A bolt through the cover is inserted to a depth to engage a reduced-diameter neck area of the insulator to prevent the cover from being rotated about the insulator during a high wind condition. Other securing devices may instead be used that allow the cover to be freely placed over the insulator and then effectively restrict an inner diameter of the cover at a reduced diameter portion of the insulator, such that the securing device blocks the cover from being lifted off the insulator and rotated about the insulator.

Abstract: An expandable dielectric cover system for a pair of insulators supporting a conductor includes a first insulator cover and a separate insulator cover. A sleeve covers portions of the first insulator cover and second insulator cover and covers the conductor between the two covers. The sleeve covers a variable length of the first insulator cover and second insulator cover to accommodate a wide range of separations between the two covers while still covering the conductor. Pivotable arms are connectable to the other sides of the covers for covering a length of the conductor extending away from the sleeve.

Abstract: A plastic retaining pin for being inserted through a retaining hole in a high voltage insulating cover has an oval cross-section. The pin has a compressible nose, with the wide part of the nose being larger than the retaining hole. The nose has a relatively long front portion that expands out from the tip at about a 15 degree angle for easy insertion through the retaining hole. A back part of the nose is relatively short and has a relatively steep angle of about 45 degrees so as to require a higher pulling force to compress the nose when removing the pin from the hole. The other end of the pin has a grasping hole for receiving the hook of a hot stick. If the retaining hole is oval, the grasping hole is at a predetermined orientation with respect to the insulating structure to ease removal using a hot stick.

Abstract: A plastic shield for a cable and insulator is described having a center section for covering the insulator. The center section has an opening at both its ends for the cable. Proximate each opening is a pivotable and bendable flange, where the flange pivots at one end of the flange and freely bends. An arm extends from each of the cable openings of the center section, and each arm covers the cable exiting the center section. Each arm is pivotally attached to the other end of the associated flange. The flange allows its associated arm to be moved over a wide range of horizontal and vertical angles (e.g., up to 45 degrees) and allows the arms to have a variable horizontal and vertical offset relative to the center line of the center section and insulator to accommodate a cable that is offset from the center line.