Abstract: A pendulum type vibration absorber tester/adjuster, which enables vibration absorbers to be set to a desired damping in the factory. The test/adjustment is effected by mathematically determining the pendulum weight and arm length, setting the pendulum into motion and recording the motion on a chart recorder, and adjusting the damping of the absorber until a predetermined decrement is obtained.

Abstract: A vibration absorber for attachment to suspended cables such as electrical transmission lines, to suppress vertical aeolian vibrations as well as horizontal subconductor oscillations. A clamp arm has one end attached to a suspended cable and another end rotatably coupled to a frame through two frictionally-engaged elements which provide coulomb friction when the clamp arm is caused to rotate relative to the frame as a result of said vibrations or oscillations. A separate resilient member couples the clamp arm to the frame to restore the initial orientation of the clamp arm.

Abstract: A device enabling movement of an electrical conductor through a string of insulators coupled between a supporting tower and a yoke plate. An upper frame having clamping jaws for engaging one of the insulators is pivotally mounted to a lower frame connectable to the yoke plate. A hydraulic cylinder causes the frames to rotate relative to each other, to relieve stress on the lower portion of the insulator string, so that it can be uncoupled to permit movement of the conductor through it.

Abstract: A vibration absorber for attachment to suspended cables such as electrical transmission lines, to suppress vertical aeolian vibrations as well as horizontal sub-conductor oscillations. A clamp arm has one end attached to a suspended cable and a fulcrum adjacent the other end. The fulcrum is rotatably coupled to a frame, and the end of the clamp arm adjacent the fulcrum is coupled to the frame through the air cylinder damping element which forces air through a small orifice to provide viscous damping when the clamp arm is caused to rotate relative to the frame as a result of said vibrations or oscillations. A pair of torsion springs or non-rotatably mounted resilient washers acts to restore the initial orientation of the clamp arm.

Abstract: A vibration absorber for attachment to suspended cables such as electrical transmission lines, to suppress vertical aeolian vibrations as well as horizontal subconductor oscillations. A clamp arm has one end attached to a suspended cable and a fulcrum adjacent the other end. The fulcrum is rotatably coupled to a frame, and the end of the clamp arm adjacent the fulcrum is coupled to the frame through two bellows elements which force air through small orifices to provide viscous friction when the clamp arm is caused to rotate relative to the frame as a result of said vibrations or oscillations. Each bellows includes a resilient pleated portion which acts to restore the initial orientation of the clamp arm.

Abstract: In a vibration absorber for use with aerially suspended conductors and cables, there is described an improved vibration absorber wherein wind or turbulence induced vibrations resulting in travelling waves on conductors and cables are absorbed so as to prevent damage to or failure of conductors and related hardware due to fatigue. Known devices, particularly dampers and spacer dampers, attempt to control merely the amplitude of the waves produced on the conductor and are therefore ineffective in preventing the formation of such waves and the damage that may result. In this invention, a vibration absorber comprises a piston and cylinder device whereby a travelling wave displaces the piston or the cylinder relative to one another causing a fluid contained within the cylinder to be displaced through an orifice in the piston. The absorbing system thus defined has a mechanical dissipative impedance of value R to inhibit the reflection of a wave propagated on the conductor whereby the wave is absorbed.

Abstract: A conductor support member includes an external surface having a first portion thereon. The first portion is shaped to generate a localized increase in voltage gradient. Shielding means including surfaces intersecting to define a sharp edge are provided to promote a negative corona discharge adjacent the first portion. The said negative corona discharge produces a positive space charge to reduce the voltage gradient at the first portion. This inhibits the generation of positive corona discharge.

Abstract: A tool carrier having a first tool receptacle or container and a second tool receptacle mounted on a frame which is made up of a pair of essentially reverse Z-shaped side members joined at the top by a transverse handle and having at the bottom a short vertical leg, the legs being joined by a transverse member. The upper arm of the "Z" is essentially horizontal and the lower arm of the "Z" is slanted downwardly and forwardly to form the leg. At the upper and rearward end of the lower arm of the "Z" an axle passes through both side members and a wheel is mounted at each end of the axle. The first receptacle rests on the cross member and the axle. The second receptacle comprises a number of pockets and depends from the handle. Means for holding the handles of long-handled tools are provided on the upper arm of the "Z".

Abstract: A method of continuously casting steel in an open-bottom mould, with an addition of aluminum to molten steel, as the latter enters the mould, includes the addition of a fluxing agent to the molten steel, as the latter enters the mould, to fluidize viscous slags and thereby to mitigate detrimental surface characteristics which would otherwise be produced in the steel, when cast, as a result of such slags. Preferably, the fluxing agent is a metal oxide, e.g. manganese oxide, silicon oxide, boron oxide or sodium oxide, or a mixture of metal oxides, provided as a coating on an aluminum wire, which wire may constitute the aluminum addition. The invention further includes a steel additive comprising such a coated aluminum wire.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for separating elongate elements one at a time from a batch of elements. The apparatus comprises a batch receiver means having an inclined support face to support the leading element of the batch, and element ejector means including at least one finger engageable with the trailing element of said batch to lift said trailing element in an upwardly forward direction to separate said element from said batch.

Abstract: A suspension bracket and apparatus for a bundle conductor has a yoke plate suspended at opposite sides thereof by respective insulator strings. To reduce high voltage gradients across the lowermost insulators of the strings, one or more of the sub-conductors is clamped to the upper side of the yoke plate between the strings. To facilitate "clipping in" of this sub-conductor by providing a temporary suspension connection between one of the strings and the yoke plate in order to allow that string to be uncoupled and thereby to allow the sub-conductor to be raised past the uncoupled string, the yoke plate is provided with a cylindrical opening extending transversely of the axis of that string by which the temporary connector can be connected to the yoke plate.

Abstract: A method of stringing a bundle of cables from a suspension bracket suspended from a tower cross arm by insulator strings includes securing a temporary connection along at least a part of one of the strings to provide a temporary suspension connection which enables the string to be uncoupled, so that one of the cables can be passed through the uncoupled string. The string is then recoupled and the temporary connection is removed to allow the conductor to be secured to the suspension bracket. This method enables one or more cables to be secured above the suspension bracket for reducing the voltage gradient across the lowermost insulators of the strings.