Abstract: A pretensioning device for causing an automatic line splice to exert a strong grip on the ends of two cables inserted into opposite ends of the automatic line splice. The pretensioning device has a rack supported for sliding movement in a rectangular tube. The rack has a series of teeth along its length. A sled mounted on the rectangular tube has a dog engageable with any one of the teeth on the rack. A cam on the rectangular tube is provided for moving the sled lengthwise of the rectangular tube while the dog engages a tooth of the rack to extend the rack. A clamp on the rectangular tube grips one of the cables and a clamp on the rack grips the other cable.

Abstract: A self-cleaning hot line clamping device used by electric utilities, having clamps for electrically connecting a line conductor to another piece of electrical equipment such as a second line conductor or tap conductor. At least one of the clamps has a first jaw in the form of a V-shaped recess, and a second jaw to force a line conductor into the recess in wedging contact with the converging surfaces of the recess. The converging surfaces of the recess are serrated to have a wiping action on the line conductor at the contact points so that when the line conductor is forced into the recess surface oxide on the line conductor at the contact points will be removed.

Abstract: Structure for and method of charging an electric vehicle at a parking location and facilitating billing for the charging energy utilized and the parking time. The structure includes a charging and parking meter at a parking space for receiving a charge card and into which a charging plug from an electric vehicle may be placed, structure for reading the charge card placed in the meter and for locking the plug in place, and a central processor unit for determining the charging energy used and parking time and for storing billing data relative thereto at a remote location, for periodic removal to facilitate billing. The method of the invention includes the steps of permitting charging of an electric vehicle at a parking location in response to use of a charge card and storing charging and parking information for subsequent retrieval to facilitate billing to the owner of the charge card.

Abstract: A precipitator comprising a multiplicity of vertical wires suspended from their top ends and having weights connected to their bottom ends, and means responsive to the weight reduction when a wire fails to release the top ends of the wire to provide for removal of the entire portion of the wire above the wire failure point from the precipitator by gravity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical joint compound for use in tubular compression connectors generally of aluminum or copper, and is particularly useful for joining large, stranded or solid, underground, electrical power cable and terminations of cable in high-voltage potheads. The electrical joint compound is a thermosetting hardenable resin system such for example as epoxy or polyester, which contains sufficient fine metal particles to make the resin semi-conducting and also contains coarse metal particles of irregular shape which because of their size and shape break through any oxide surface such as occurs particularly on aluminum conductors during compression, and allow a metal-to-metal contact to be made between connector and conductor strands and between contiguous conductor strands. The combination of the coarse and the fine particles in a hard, semi-conducting resin provide a synergistic effect which gives a stable, low resistance, compression connector joint not heretofore available.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical joint compound for use in tubular compression connectors generally of aluminum or copper, and is particularly useful for joining large, stranded or solid, underground, electrical power cable and terminations of cable in high-voltage potheads. The electrical joint compound is a thermosetting hardenable resin system such for example as epoxy or polyester, which contains sufficient fine metal particles to make the resin semi-conducting and also contains coarse metal particles of irregular shape which because of their size and shape break through any oxide surface such as occurs particularly on aluminum conductors during compression, and allow a metal-to-metal contact to be made between connector and conductor strands and between contiguous conductor strands. The combination of the coarse and the fine particles in a hard, semi-conducting resin provide a synergistic effect which gives a stable, low resistance, compression connector joint not heretofore available.