Abstract: Apparatus for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including a non-conductive board longer than and mounted to the tower below the davit arm, struts extending between the board and the tower, and a movable slider mounted on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack. Without contacting any energized components, a lineman moves the slider and operates the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaches the shoe from the insulator, moves the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaches and replaces the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, moves the slider and operates the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaches the shoe to the insulator.

Abstract: An electrical power line tower which is resistant to wind induced vibration damage supports vertically spaced apart electrical conductor-mounting cross arms extending from the tower, each cross arm having a mounting bracket welded to the tower end of the arm and the mounting bracket being attached to the tower via bolts. First clamping brackets on each conductor supporting arm are positioned between the tower and conductor, the first clamping brackets including cross arm-engaging bolts preventing bracket sliding along the arms and bracing poles extending diagonally upwardly between the first clamping brackets on each conductor supporting arm and a bolt securing the mounting bracket of the next higher arm along the tower. The length of the bracing poles is adjustable for providing the desired bracing support to the conductor support arms to which the bracing poles are attached.

Abstract: An electrical power line tower which is resistant to wind induced vibration damage supports vertically spaced apart electrical conductor-mounting cross arms extending from the tower, each cross arm having a mounting bracket welded to the tower end of the arm and the mounting bracket being attached to the tower via bolts. First clamping brackets on each conductor supporting arm are positioned between the tower and conductor, the first clamping brackets including cross arm-engaging bolts preventing bracket sliding along the arms and bracing poles extending diagonally upwardly between the first clamping brackets on each conductor supporting arm and a bolt securing the mounting bracket of the next higher arm along the tower. The length of the bracing poles is adjustable for providing the desired bracing support to the conductor support arms to which the bracing poles are attached.

Abstract: Apparatus for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including a non-conductive board longer than and mounted to the tower below the davit arm, struts extending between the board and the tower, and a movable slider mounted on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack. Without contacting any energized components, a lineman moves the slider and operates the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaches the shoe from the insulator, moves the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaches and replaces the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, moves the slider and operates the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaches the shoe to the insulator.

Abstract: Method for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including the steps of mounting a non-conductive board to the tower below the davit arm, mounting non-conductive struts between the board and the tower, positioning a movable slider in a track on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack, positioning the slider and operating the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaching the shoe from the insulator, moving the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaching and replacing the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, positioning the slider and operating the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaching the shoe to the insulator.

Abstract: A cradle for safely supporting an electrical insulator which comprises a string of aligned individual insulators, each individual insulator having at least a larger diameter skirt and a concentric smaller diameter shank extending upwardly therefrom, during transport between work sites on and during helicopter transport to and from an electrical conductor supporting tower. The cradle is a partially peripherally enclosed, open-topped structure having a floor, an upstanding rear wall, peripheral walls sloping downwardly from the rear wall to a front wall, an opening in the front wall, an elongate slot in the floor extending rearwardly from the opening, the slot having a width greater than the diameter of an insulator shank but less than the diameter of an insulator skirt, the dimensions of the floor allowing an insulator skirt to lie flat thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including a non-conductive board longer than and mounted to the tower below the davit arm, struts extending between the board and the tower, and a movable slider mounted on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack. Without contacting any energized components, a lineman moves the slider and operates the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaches the shoe from the insulator, moves the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaches and replaces the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, moves the slider and operates the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaches the shoe to the insulator.

Abstract: A cradle for safely supporting an electrical insulator which comprises a string of aligned individual insulators, each individual insulator having at least a larger diameter skirt and a concentric smaller diameter shank extending upwardly therefrom, during transport between work sites on and during helicopter transport to and from an electrical conductor supporting tower. The cradle is a partially peripherally enclosed, open-topped structure having a floor, an upstanding rear wall, peripheral walls sloping downwardly from the rear wall to a front wall, an opening in the front wall, an elongate slot in the floor extending rearwardly from the opening, the slot having a width greater than the diameter of an insulator shank but less than the diameter of an insulator skirt, the dimensions of the floor allowing an insulator skirt to lie flat thereon.

Abstract: A method of replacing an electrical insulator on a conductor-supporting tower includes the steps of providing an elongate beam spanning the tower between a work site and a helicopter accessible site, a trolley movable on the beam between the sites and an insulator cradle detachably supported by the trolley for supporting the insulator during transport between the sites and to and from the tower via helicopter. The cradle is a partially peripherally enclosed, open-topped structure having a floor, an upstanding rear wall, peripheral walls sloping downwardly from the rear wall to a front wall, an opening in the front wall, an elongate slot in the floor extending rearwardly from the opening, the slot having a width greater than the diameter of an insulator shank but less than the diameter of an insulator skirt, the dimensions of the floor allowing an insulator skirt to lie flat thereon.

Abstract: A transfer platform for safely transferring a lineman from a helicopter to a utility pole includes a cylindrical hollow member dimensioned to closely fit over the top of the pole, the member having an open lower end and a top cap closing the upper end thereof, the top cap abutting the top of the pole when the member is positioned on the pole, a step extending sidewardly from the member, the step being substantially parallel to and lower than the top cap and an equipment support assembly extending sidewardly from the member. An aperture is formed in the member beneath the underside of the step and an adjustable shim assembly extends through the aperture into the hollow of the member.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at an IM user agent. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at a server. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A method of replacing an electrical insulator on a conductor-supporting tower includes the steps of providing an elongate beam spanning the tower between a work site and a helicopter accessible site, a trolley movable on the beam between the sites and an insulator cradle detachably supported by the trolley for supporting the insulator during transport between the sites and to and from the tower via helicopter. The cradle is a partially peripherally enclosed, open-topped structure having a floor, an upstanding rear wall, peripheral walls sloping downwardly from the rear wall to a front wall, an opening in the front wall, an elongate slot in the floor extending rearwardly from the opening, the slot having a width greater than the diameter of an insulator shank but less than the diameter of an insulator skirt, the dimensions of the floor allowing an insulator skirt to lie flat thereon.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at a server. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A transfer platform for safely transferring a lineman from a helicopter to a utility pole includes a cylindrical hollow member dimensioned to closely fit over the top of the pole, the member having an open lower end and a top cap closing the upper end thereof, the top cap abutting the top of the pole when the member is positioned on the pole, a step extending sidewardly from the member, the step being substantially parallel to and lower than the top cap and an equipment support assembly extending sidewardly from the member. An aperture is formed in the member beneath the underside of the step and an adjustable shim assembly extends through the aperture into the hollow of the member.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting a high voltage electrical conductor suspended from a lattice-type tower during maintenance and repair includes a pair of elongate support arms, each of the support arms having an aperture extending therethrough intermediate its ends, the aperture opening in a direction transverse to the length of the support arms, and an elongate conductor support bar slidably received in the apertures of the support arms and extending between the support arms to define with the support arms a generally H-shaped support assembly, the support arms being slidable on the support bar for adjusting the distance between the arms and being movable on the support bar between a first position wherein the arms are parallel to each other and a second position wherein the arms are arranged at an angle to each other.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at an IM user agent. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at a server. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at an IM user agent. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.

Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a plurality of transport protocol objects (TPOs) are instantiated at an IM user agent. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of TPOs is adapted to provide a translation between a first IM protocol and a different IM protocol.