LINE ATTACHMENT DEVICES AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF

1 . A transmission tower line attachment device for installing a line on a hanging sheave, the attachment mechanism comprising:

a first guide arm;

an upper frame spaced from the first guide arm and defining a throat between the first guide arm and the upper frame;

a resilient first gate arranged at an outer end of the upper frame between the upper frame and the first guide arm and adapted to open inwardly into the throat in response to an external force and to close when the external force is removed;

wherein the attachment mechanism is adapted to be mounted on the hanging sheave at an inner end of the upper frame and first guide arm.

2 . The line attachment device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second gate arranged at an inner end of the upper frame, the second gate being adapted to open inwardly in response to an external force.

3 . The line attachment device of claim 2 , wherein the second gate is held closed by a frangible link.

4 . The line attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient first gate is spring mounted to the upper frame.

5 . The line attachment device of claim 1 , further comprising a second guide arm projecting upwardly from the upper frame.

6 . A hanging sheave for a transmission tower, the hanging sheave comprising:

an aperture for housing at least one power line;

a resilient gate providing access to the aperture and adapted to open inwardly to allow a line to be slotted into the aperture; and

a guide arm projecting outwardly and upwardly from the hanging sheave adjacent to and from the base of the resilient gate.

7 . The hanging sheave of claim 6 , wherein the resilient gate has a convexly curved outer profile.

8 . A transmission tower anchoring system comprising:

an anchor body;

a line adapted to be installed on a series of transmission towers by an aerial vehicle, wherein the anchor body is retained on the line by a mechanical fuse.

9 . The anchoring system of claim 8 wherein:

the anchor body has a hole passing through the anchor body; and

a loop of the line is passed through the hole and the loop is attached to another point on the line by the mechanical fuse.

10 . The anchoring system of claim 8 , wherein the anchor body is substantially spherical.

11 . The anchoring system of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical fuse is a cable tie.

12 . A method for anchoring a line on a transmission tower, the method comprising:

attaching an anchor body to the line by way of a mechanical fuse, the anchor body being arranged between an end portion and a trailing portion of the line;

installing the trailing portion of the line on the transmission tower using an aerial vehicle;

releasing the end portion of the line from the aerial vehicle and attaching the end portion to a ground anchor point; and

applying tension to the line until the mechanical fuse breaks, releasing the anchor body from the line.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the anchor body has a hole through the anchor body and the step of attaching the anchor body to the line comprises passing a loop of the line through the hole and attaching the loop to another point on the line by the mechanical fuse.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the steps of installing the line and releasing the line are performed by a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the anchor body is substantially spherical.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the mechanical fuse is a cable tie.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the line is installed in an aperture above a hanging sheave of the transmission tower and wherein the anchor body is larger than the aperture.

18 . A transmission tower line anchor comprising:

an anchor body having a hole, wherein the hole is sized to receive a loop of a line passed therethrough; and

a mechanical fuse adapted to secure the loop to another point on the line.

19 . The line anchor of claim 18 , wherein the anchor body is substantially spherical.

20 . The line anchor of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical fuse is a cable tie.