Abstract: Embodiments and methods relate to pulling and installing a product line along an underground arcuate path beneath an obstacle, including pulling the product line for an extended length (i.e. a length that might otherwise be deemed impracticable) along the underground arcuate path beneath the obstacle. A sealing/locking mechanism is located at one end of an outer pipe and at an end of an inner pipe at a position within the underground arcuate path.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for supporting and moving a product line or pipe string in connection with an underground arcuate path in a ground beneath an obstacle, having a platform on the ground; a pivot member connected to the platform; wherein the pivot member defines a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the ground; and at least one rotator connected to the pivot member; wherein the at least one rotator pivots about the pivot axis in relation to the platform. The disclosure also relates to an omnidirectional roller apparatus for supporting and moving a product line or pipe string in connection with an underground arcuate path in a ground beneath an obstacle, having a stand mounted on the ground, wherein the stand has a frame; a bearing mounted on the frame; a rotational shaft mounted to the bearing, and a Mecanum wheel mounted on the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A continuous processing system and method for the continuous processing of an electrical conductor cable having aluminum strands encasing a steel core directly from a puller or from a puller and reel, simultaneously or on-the-fly during substantially the entirety of a reconductoring or re-stringing of the cable, wherein such cables are used for power lines or for static wires. The system is adapted to cooperate with a pulling machine. The pulling machine may be formed integrally within the system or may be a conventional pulling machine which cooperates with the system. The processing system runs continuously, substantially without interruption, during the pull of all of the cable from the pull zone of the reconductoring or restringing.

Abstract: A waveform separator system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system, wherein the DC leakage current is a composite DC current comprising one or more high magnitude momentary spikes, and having a DC component and an AC component includes: (1) a waveform separator configured to receive the composite DC current flowing through the insulating structure and to separate the composite DC current into corresponding direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) components wherein the AC component has a first rate of change, and wherein the DC component has a second rate of change, and wherein the first rate of change is greater than the second rate of change; (2) at least one comparator configured to receive the AC component and produce at least one corresponding digital signal; and (3) a processor configured to: (a) receive the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component, (b) analyze the at least one corresponding d

Abstract: An electrical isolator includes a flexible non-electrically conductive membrane and an inelastic flexible dielectric member journaled in the membrane and extending from the first end of the membrane to the second end of the membrane. First and second couplings are mounted to the ends of the dielectric member. The ends of the membrane are mated in sealed engagement with the couplings so as to fluidically seal the ends of the membrane and the dielectric member within the membrane. The membrane is filled with a dielectric fluid so as to displace any air in the membrane and the dielectric member. The couplings are adapted to couple to objects at opposite ends of the electrical isolator.

Abstract: A boom mountable breaker system and a method of using same for interrupting electrical transmission through a portion of an energized conductor downstream of a desired break location. The method includes: mounting the jumper onto the energized conductor across the desired break location so as to form an electrically conductive first parallel electrical path; installing an in-line opener in the energized conductor at the desired break location on the energized conductor; positioning the breaker at the desired break location on the energized conductor, and electrically connecting the breaker, while open, across the desired break location and across the opposite ends of the jumper so as to form a second parallel electrical path when the breaker is closed; closing the breaker to thereby complete the second parallel electrical path; removing the jumper from across the desired break location; and, opening and then removing the breaker.

Abstract: A belly bar method and apparatus use to attach, carry and release external cargo from a hovering aircraft. The belly bar apparatus has articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end. The articulated tubing tool has a first external catch and a second external catch mounted on the articulated tubing tool. The first external catch is manually configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo via the cyclic. The second external catch is electronically configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo proximate the collective.

Abstract: A grounding clamp includes a safety lock-out which locks the operation of the clamp in the absence of a cooperating hot-stick. The lock-out employs a clutch which prevents the translation of the clamping members relative to one another until the clutch is disengaged. The cooperating hot-stick is required for the disengagement of the clutch.

Abstract: A system for non-destructive testing of an overhead energized electrical component. The system has a base, an X-ray source, an X-ray digital imager, and an imager controller. The system also has a removable electrically conductive flexible shield which is adapted to be operatively coupled to, and to encapsulate, at least the base, the X-ray source, the X-ray digital imager and the imager controller so as to form a shrouded system. In a use position, when the shrouded system is positioned adjacent the energized electrical component so as to non-destructively test the energized electrical component, the shield protects at least the base, the X-ray source, the X-ray digital imager and the imager controller from electric fields around the energized electrical component while allowing signal communication between at least the X-ray source and the energized electrical component.

Abstract: A manipulator for separating sub-conductors in an energized single phase bundle includes a rigid support member and first and second actuators mounted on the support member, wherein each actuator is independently actuable of the other. Insulators are mounted on each actuator. A selectively releasable coupler is mounted on each insulator for selectively releasable coupling of each insulator to a corresponding sub-conductor. The actuators extend corresponding insulators independently of one another from the support member to thereby separate from each other by an optimized separation distance the distal ends of each insulator. When the corresponding sub-conductors of the single phase bundle are releasably coupled to the corresponding distal ends of the insulators the surge impedance loading of the single phase bundle may be improved by separation of the corresponding distal ends of the insulators and the sub-conductors by the optimized separation distance.

Abstract: An electrical isolator includes a flexible non-electrically conductive membrane and an inelastic flexible dielectric member journalled in the membrane and extending from the first end of the membrane to the second end of the membrane. First and second couplings are mounted to the ends of the dielectric member. The ends of the membrane are mated in sealed engagement with the couplings so as to fluidically seal the ends of the membrane and the dielectric member within the membrane. The membrane is filled with a dielectric fluid so as to displace any air in the membrane and the dielectric member. The couplings are adapted to couple to objects at opposite ends of the electrical isolator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to replacing conductors in a high-voltage power transfer system. The method provides, for example, a method for maintaining sections of electrically conductive phases in a three-phase power conductor line, wherein the three phases are parallel and spaced apart in an ordered sequence. The phases are strung between support structures and supported above the ground. Maintenance work, which include replacement or repair, is performed on sections of the three phases without interrupting a power load in any one of the three phases and without transposing the relative positions of the phases out of their ordered sequence.

Abstract: A system for determining DC leakage current flowing through an electrically insulating structure in a high voltage direct current power system is provided. The DC leakage current is a composite DC current. The insulating structure is operatively coupled to at least an overhead energized DC electrical line. The system further includes a direct current meter adapted to be electrically coupled to at least the insulating structure. The meter includes a waveform separator. The separator is configured to receive and separate the composite DC current into a corresponding direct current (DC) and an alternating current (AC) component. The separator further includes at least one comparator which is configured to produce at least one corresponding digital signal from the AC component; and a processor. The processor receives and analyzes the at least one corresponding digital signal and the DC component to determine a resultant leakage current flowing through the insulating structure.

Abstract: The system enables remote inspection of an object, such as an underwater steel pile, using a plurality of video cameras. The cameras are positioned on a frame along a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object and spaced apart so as to enable inspection of the circumference of the object. Moving the frame along the surface of the object enables a video of the entire surface area of the object to be made. A plurality of wheels are mounted to the frame to provide rolling contact with the surface of the object and to cause the cameras to remain a fixed distance from the surface of the object. A plurality of springs are mounted between the frame and the wheels to further ensure smooth movement of the frame. A plurality of lights mounted to the frame illuminate the surface of the object during the inspection process.

Abstract: A belly bar method and apparatus use to attach, carry and release external cargo from a hovering aircraft. The belly bar apparatus has articulated tubing tool connected to an airframe of the hovering aircraft at a first mounting end and at a second mounting end. The articulated tubing tool has a first external catch and a second external catch mounted on the articulated tubing tool. The first external catch is manually configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo via the cyclic. The second external catch is electronically configured for optional attach, carry and release of the external cargo proximate the collective.

Abstract: A material property determining system operable to determine properties of a conduit. The material property determining system includes a tool movable along a conduit and having at least one sensing device for sensing at least one property of the conduit. A processor is operable to process outputs of the at least one sensing device. Responsive to processing of the outputs by the processor, the processor correlates the processed outputs to determine the type of material of the conduit.

Abstract: A stress mapping system and method is operable to determine and map stresses along a conduit. The system includes a tool movable along a conduit and having at least one sensing device for sensing characteristics of the conduit, and a processor operable to process an output of the at least one sensing device. Responsive to processing of the output by the processor, the processor is operable to determine stresses at a surface of the conduit. Responsive to the processing of the output of the at least one sensing device, and responsive to a determination of a location or position of the tool along the conduit, the system generates a map of determined stresses along the conduit. The map of determined stresses provides a visual representation of the stresses determined at and along the surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A method of using a temporary conductor as a re-usable tool in maintaining, repairing or re-conductoring at least one energized phase, includes stringing the temporary conductor between support structures at either end of a first section, then energizing the said temporary conductor by bringing the temporary conductor to the voltage potential of the phase and electrically paralleling the temporary conductor with the energized phase, de-energizing and then maintaining, repairing or reconductoring the de-energized energized phase, re-energizing and electrically paralleling said energized phase, de-energizing and removing the temporary conductor for later re-use as the re-usable tool in a second section of the energized phase.

Abstract: Switchgear comprises a support structure that supports one or more bus conductors. The bus conductor(s) each extend longitudinally in a bus direction. The switchgear further includes one or more circuit breaker bays. Each circuit breaker bay comprises feeder cable terminal(s) configured to respectively terminate feeder cable(s). Each circuit breaker bay further comprises a circuit breaker that is spaced from the feeder cable terminal(s) in the bus direction, and that comprises terminal pair(s). Each pair includes a bus-side terminal via which the circuit breaker connects to a respective bus conductor and a feeder-side terminal via which the circuit breaker connects to a respective feeder cable terminal. The circuit breaker is also configured to selectively interrupt current between the bus-side terminal and the feeder-side terminal of each terminal pair. The bus-side terminal and the feeder-side terminal of each terminal pair are spaced from one another in the bus direction.

Abstract: A temporary support and conductor re-locator includes a mounting arm and corresponding mounting bracket on one end of the arm, the other end supporting a pivotally mounted insulator depending downwardly from a crank arm. The upper end of the crank arm is attached to an actuator which, upon actuation, pivots the crank arm and insulator about the end of the support arm so as to rotate up and out of the way an energized conductor contained in the wire holder at the bottom end of the insulator. The support arm is temporarily mounted to an existing transmission line tower or pole so as to extend outwardly substantially horizontally therefrom thereby cantilevering outwardly of the tower the end of the arm supporting the crank arm and insulator. Actuation of the actuator firstly elevates a lower portion of the crank arm then rotates the crank arm about the cantilevered end of the support arm.