Ported hardware for overhead electrical cables
Electrical line hardware such as termination arrangements and splices for use with overhead electrical cables that enable the interrogation of the overhead electrical cables through the hardware. The hardware includes at least one port to facilitate access to the strength member of the electrical cable so that interrogation instruments may operatively couple to the strength member and to interrogation elements such as optical fibers associated with the strength member. The interrogation may occur after the overhead electrical cable has been fully tensioned and secured by the hardware, e.g., secured to a support tower.
1 . A termination arrangement for an overhead electrical cable, comprising:
a compression-type gripping element gripping a fiber-reinforced composite strength member of an overhead electrical cable;
a connector operatively attached to the compression-type gripping element, the connector comprising:
a connector body; and
a connector body bore extending longitudinally through the connector body from a first connector body aperture in the proximal end of the connector body to a second aperture in the distal end of the connector body;
an outer sleeve disposed over at least the gripping element, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a conductive body; and
a removable cover operatively disposed over the second aperture.
2 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , comprising a fastener operatively affixed to the proximal end of the connector body.
3 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises a clevis having a base and two spaced-apart clevis prongs extending from the base.
4 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 3 , wherein the second aperture is disposed through the base and between the two spaced-apart prongs.
5 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 4 , wherein each of the bolt apertures are offset from the longitudinal axis of the connector body.
6 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 3 , wherein each of the two spaced-apart prongs comprises a bolt aperture disposed near a proximal end of the prong.
7 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 2 , wherein the fastener is detachable from and re-attachable to the connector body.
8 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the fastener is threadably engaged with the connector body.
9 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the fastener is bolted to the connector body.
10 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the fastener comprises a clevis having a base and two spaced-apart prongs extending from the base.
11 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the fastener comprises an eyebolt comprising a base and a closed loop extending from the base.
12 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 7 , further comprising a sling coupling affixed to the connector body.
13 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 12 , wherein the sling coupling comprises a closed loop.
14 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the compression-type gripping element comprises a compression wedge.
15 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 14 , wherein the compression wedge comprises a collet disposed within a collet housing.
16 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 15 , wherein the connector body is operatively attached to the collet housing.
17 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the conductive body is fabricated from aluminum.
18 . The termination arrangement recited claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the connector body.
19 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 17 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a jumper plate operatively attached to the conductive body.
20 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal connector body bore is sized and shaped to receive the strength member of an overhead electrical cable.
21 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal connector body bore has a substantially circular cross-section and has a diameter of at least about 6 mm.
22 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal connector bore has a diameter of not greater than about 18 mm.
23 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises an eyebolt.
24 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 23 , wherein the eyebolt is permanently affixed to the connector body.
25 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 24 , comprising an eyebolt bore extending through a base of the eyebolt, wherein the eyebolt bore lies along the longitudinal axis of the connector body bore.
26 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 25 , wherein the eyebolt bore has substantially the same size and cross-section as the connector body bore.
27 . A termination arrangement for an overhead electrical cable, comprising:
a compression-type gripping element gripping a fiber-reinforced composite strength member of an overhead electrical cable;
a connector operatively attached to the compression-type gripping element, the connector comprising:
a connector body; and
a connector body bore extending longitudinally from a first aperture in a proximal end of the connector body toward a distal end of the connector body,
wherein the longitudinal connector body bore is in operative communication with a non-longitudinal bore that is disposed at an angle of from about 70° to about 130° relative to the longitudinal connector body bore.
28 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 27 , comprising a non-longitudinal bore aperture disposed at an end of the non-longitudinal bore.
29 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 28 , comprising a removable cover operatively disposed over non-longitudinal bore aperture.
30 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 27 , further comprising a second non-longitudinal bore that is disposed at an angle of less than 180° relative to the connector body bore.
31 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 27 , comprising a reflective element disposed at an interface between the connector body bore and the non-longitudinal bore, where the reflective element is configured to reflect light between the connector body bore and the non-longitudinal bore.
32 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 27 , wherein the connector body bore terminates before a distal end of the connector body.
33 . The termination arrangement recited in claim 27 , wherein the connector body bore extends to the distal end of the connector body.