Abstract: An arrangement for preventing the formation of a layer of foreign material on a high-voltage insulator. In situations where wind and rain are not available to clean a high-voltage insulator and thereby prevent arcing, this invention provides blowers which move a stream of air around the insulator. The blowers may be provided with motors which are supplied electrical energy from local low-voltage networks, or from a plurality of solar cells which are disposed on grounded parts of the support structure of the power line network. In some embodiments, the blowers may be of a motorless type and mounted directly on a high-voltage carrying conductor. In such a motorless blower arrangement, the blower blade is configured so as to have points which generate and repel ions in accordance with the known point-effect principle.

Abstract: An aerial power transmission line comprises phase wires suspended from supports and a lightning protection system designed also to convey information in the form of r-f signals and having at least two wires 4 and 5 spaced a certain distance apart and forming an r-f data transmission channel. The wires 4 and 5 of the lightning protection system are suspended from the supports 3 one under the other in a substantially vertical plane.

Abstract: A suspension clamp for an electrical conductor or other filamentary member comprising an open-sided housing able to be presented transversely to a conductor to extend at least partially around it, said housing being adapted for securement to a support, a conductor engaging cradle supported by said housing provided with axially extending walls spaced inwardly from said housing, said housing and cradle being able to accept a plurality of helical conductor clamping rods between said housing and said cradle for surrounding and providing clamping force between said conductor and said cradle thereby to secure said conductor to said clamp.

Abstract: A flexible stranded body, such as an electric conductor of an overhead electric transmission or distribution system, comprises at least one stranded layer of elongate elements of metal or metal alloy, at least one elongate compartment within and extending throughout the length of the stranded body and, loosely housed in the elongate compartment, at least one separate optical fibre and/or at least one optical bundle. Preferably, the elongate compartment extends within a circumferentially rigid central core which is surrounded by the stranded layer or layers but it may be a bore in an elongate element of a stranded layer or an elongate space bounded by two adjacent elongate elements.

Abstract: A d.c. power transmission line comprises two wire-type systems providing for lightning protection of line conductors (2,3). One of the wire-type systems comprises at least two wires (9) in a spaced relation to each other and is located above a line conductor (2) connected to a negative pole (6) of a d.c. power supply (7). A second wire-type system comprises a single wire (11) and is located above a line conductor (3) connected to a positive pole (8) of the d.c. power supply (7).

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: An electric cable for communication purposes, for instance a one-pair party station cable which is designed as twin cable and includes a cross-section-wise relatively flat envelope or cover of thermoplastics or elastomers and includes conductors arranged in spaced relationship to each other and also includes traction relief members in about the middle between the conductors. The traction relief members are embedded in the envelope or cover and are adapted to exert the traction forces exerted on the cable in the longitudinal direction thereof. The traction relief members include high-strength fibers arranged symmetrically with regard to the longitudinal central plane of the cable and with regard to the conductors. The enveloping substance includes thermoplastics or elastomers.

Abstract: A high power high voltage transmission system consists of three highvoltage cables which are suspended from a transmission tower in insulated relationship with one another and with respect to the ground. Each of the cables is shown as a gas-insulated cable having a central high voltage conductor and an outer conductive housing which is insulated from the central conductor. The line-to-line voltage of the central conductors of each of the high voltage cables is 765 kV, while the potential between the outer conductive housings of each of the cables is 345 kV. The total right of way and height of the support tower is that needed for a conventional 345 kV transmission system even though the system is used to transmit 765 kV line-to-line voltage.

Abstract: A safety disconnect switch for mounting on a utility pole to serve as an anchor at one end of a suspended service entrance cable extending to a remote building, so as to first disconnect the cable and then drop it harmlessly to the ground upon an excessive tension force being applied to the cable by a falling tree or the like. This device includes a movable terminal clamping means or slider that joins the termial ends of the wires of the suspended cable to the bus bars of the incoming power supply lead wires. A detent switch mechanism or means holds the movable terminal clamping means in either a first fixed position or a second cable-released position. The detent switch means also includes a locking means and a trigger means to open the locking means upon a predetermined tension force being exerted on the suspended cable.

Abstract: A boltless device for spacing two overhead parallel conductors, the device including a rigid, hollow arm structure adapted to extend between the conductors. First resilient bushing means are located at each end of the rigid arm structure and adapted to engage the respective conductors. A second, outside, resilient bushing means is adapted to engage the conductors in opposed relation to the first bushing means, and two resilient metal clips are adapted to be clipped to the respective ends of the rigid arm structure and around the outside bushing means to secure both bushing means and the arm structure of the overhead conductors. The clips each have a shape that conforms to an outside shape and surface of the second bushing means such that the clips engage the outside surface the full distance thereof when each clip is secured to the arm structure.

Abstract: A dead end appliance for receiving and supporting a drop wire at a selected area therealong. The appliance comprises an elongated body having reversing loops or hooks at the opposite ends thereof. One of the loops defines an appliance mounting loop and has a generally S-shaped configuration adapted to be received over a hook-like mounting member. The other of the loops defines a line retaining loop and has a generally U-shaped configuration. When the appliance is mounted to a service pole or the like by means of the S-shaped mounting loop cooperating with the hook-like mounting member, and with the drop properly installed, the drop wire span extends from the source end of the wire to the generally U-shaped line retaining loop, spirally around the body toward the S-shaped appliance mounting loop, at least once around both the S-shaped loop and the body, around the body to the end thereof immediately adjacent the S-shaped loop and thence generally downward to the terminal end forming the drop end of the wire.

Abstract: An inexpensive boltless device for spacing at least two parallel, spaced apart conductors. The device comprises rigid clamping structures adapted to be secured together and to the conductors by two U-shaped resilient metal clamps. At least one of the clamping structures has two outwardly facing planar ledges inclined inwardly toward each other. The resilient clips have planar leg portions provided with angularly directed extensions shaped to extend over and respectively engage the inclined planar surfaces when the clamping structures are placed together and the clips are disposed over the clamping structures.

Abstract: A conductor wire is composed of an aluminium alloy consisting of between 98.0 and 99.5 weight percent aluminium; between 0.3 and 1.0, preferably 0.4 to 0.6, weight percent iron; between 0.16 and 1.2, preferably 0.3 to 1.0, weight percent silicon; and trace quantities of conventional impurities. The conductor wire has a higher tensile strength than wires of known aluminium alloys which contain similar quantities of iron and is especially suitable for use in telecommunication cables, wiring cables and overhead conductors. The conductor wire may have a cladding of copper or copper alloy.