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: 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.