Cable termination systems and isolating apparatus for electrical power transmission conductors and methods using the same

1. A conductor termination system for use with an electrical power transmission conductor, the conductor termination system comprising:

a) a termination assembly including:

an end member including a receiver portion configured to receive a segment of the conductor; and

an integral retainer mechanism including a moveable keeper member on the end member, wherein the retainer mechanism is operable to selectively clamp a segment of the conductor in the receiver portion to the end member and to apply a retention load to the conductor segment; and

b) a connector adapted to be applied to the end member and the conductor to securely clamp the conductor segment to the end member;

wherein:

the receiver portion has a longitudinal axis and is configured to laterally receive the conductor segment to extend along the longitudinal axis;

the retainer mechanism is selectively alternatively positionable in each of:

an open position, wherein the keeper member is positioned such that the receiver portion is open to laterally receive the conductor segment; and

a clamping position wherein the keeper member is positioned to prevent removal of the conductor segment laterally from the receiver portion and to apply a clamping load to the conductor segment to resist axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion;

the keeper member is pivotable about a pivot axis and across the receiver portion between the open and clamping positions;

the retainer mechanism includes a latch member on a side of the receiver portion opposite the pivot axis;

the keeper member is anchored by the latch member when in the clamping position;

the latch member includes a latch bolt;

the retainer mechanism further includes a pivot bolt about which the keeper member pivots about the pivot axis between the open and clamping positions; and

the keeper member can be clamped onto the conductor segment by tightening the latch bolt and the pivot bolt.

2. The conductor termination system of claim 1 wherein the retainer mechanism is selectively alternatively positionable in a closed position, wherein the keeper member is positioned to retain the conductor segment and to prevent removal of the conductor segment laterally from the receiver portion while permitting axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion.

3. The conductor termination system of claim 1 wherein the keeper member includes an engagement portion configured to substantially conform to and transfer the clamping load to the conductor segment.

4. The conductor termination system of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a wedge connector adapted to be force-applied to the end member and the conductor, the wedge connector including:

a sleeve member defining a sleeve cavity; and

a wedge member configured to be forcibly inserted into the sleeve cavity to capture the conductor segment and the end member therebetween such that the wedge connector inhibits axial movement of the wedge connector, the conductor segment and the end member.

5. The conductor termination system of claim 1 wherein the conductor termination system is an isolating apparatus further including:

a) an elongate insulator having opposed first and second insulator ends;

b) a second termination assembly including:

a second end member including a second receiver portion configured to receive a second segment of the conductor; and

a second integral retainer mechanism including a second moveable keeper member on the second end member, wherein the second keeper member is operable to selectively clamp the second conductor segment in the receiver portion to the end member and to apply a retention load to the conductor; and

c) a second connector adapted to be applied to the second end member and the second conductor segment to securely clamp the second conductor segment to the second end member;

wherein the first insulator end is secured to the first end member and the second insulator end is secured to the second end member.

6. The conductor termination system of claim 5 further including a switch mechanism to selectively alternatively electrically connect and disconnect the first and second end members and thereby the first and second conductor segments.

7. The conductor termination system of claim 1 including an electrical transmission conductor, wherein:

a segment of the conductor is disposed in the receiver portion of the end member;

the conductor segment is clamped in the receiver portion by the keeper member such that relative axial displacement between the end member and the conductor segment is thereby resisted; and

the conductor segment is securely clamped to the end member by the connector.

8. A method for forming a conductor termination assembly with an electrical power transmission conductor, the method comprising:

providing a termination assembly including:

an end member including a receiver portion configured to receive a segment of the conductor; and

an integral retainer mechanism including a moveable keeper member on the end member;

wherein the receiver portion has a longitudinal axis and is configured to laterally receive the conductor segment to extend along the longitudinal axis;

positioning the retainer mechanism in an open position, wherein the keeper member is positioned such that the receiver portion is open to laterally receive the conductor segment;

placing a conductor segment in the receiver portion with the retainer mechanism in the open position;

applying a connector to the end member and the conductor segment to securely clamp the conductor segment to the end member; and

using the retainer mechanism, clamping the conductor segment in the receiver portion and applying a retention load to the conductor segment with the keeper member, including pivoting the keeper member about a pivot axis and across the receiver portion between the open position and a clamping position wherein the keeper member prevents removal of the conductor segment laterally from the receiver portion and applies a clamping load to the conductor segment to resist axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion;

wherein:

the retainer mechanism includes a latch member on a side of the receiver portion opposite the pivot axis;

the keeper member is anchored by the latch member when in the clamping position;

the latch member includes a latch bolt;

the retainer mechanism further includes a pivot bolt about which the keeper member pivots between the open and clamping positions; and

the method includes clamping the keeper member onto the conductor segment by tightening the latch bolt and the pivot bolt.

9. The method of claim 8 including, after placing the conductor segment in the receiver portion and prior to positioning the retainer mechanism in the clamping position, positioning the retainer mechanism in a closed position, wherein the keeper member is positioned to retain the conductor segment and to prevent removal of the conductor segment laterally from the receiver portion while permitting axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the connector comprises a wedge connector including:

a sleeve member defining a sleeve cavity; and

a wedge member;

the step of applying the connector to the end member and the conductor segment is executed while the retainer mechanism is in the closed position; and

applying the wedge connector to the end member and the conductor segment includes forcibly inserting the wedge connector into the sleeve cavity using a powder actuated tool to capture the conductor segment and the end member therebetween such that the wedge connector inhibits axial movement of the wedge connector, the conductor segment and the end member.

11. An isolating apparatus for an electrical power transmission conductor, the isolating apparatus comprising:

a) an elongate insulator having opposed first and second insulator ends; and

b) a first termination assembly including a first end member and a second termination assembly including a second end member, wherein the first insulator end is secured to the first end member and the second insulator end is secured to the second end member, and wherein the first termination assembly further includes:

a receiver portion of the first end member configured to receive a segment of the conductor; and

an integral retainer mechanism including a moveable keeper member on the first end member, wherein the retainer mechanism is operable to selectively position the keeper member to prevent removal of a segment of the conductor laterally from the receiver portion and to apply a clamping load to the conductor segment to resist axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion;

wherein:

the receiver portion has a longitudinal axis and is configured to laterally receive the conductor segment to extend along the longitudinal axis;

the retainer mechanism is selectively alternatively positionable in each of:

an open position, wherein the keeper member is positioned such that the receiver portion is open to laterally receive the conductor segment; and

a clamping position wherein the keeper member is positioned to prevent removal of the conductor segment laterally from the receiver portion and to apply a clamping load to the conductor segment to resist axial displacement of the conductor segment with respect to the receiver portion;

the keeper member is pivotable about a pivot axis and across the receiver portion between the open and clamping positions;

the retainer mechanism includes a latch member on a side of the receiver portion opposite the pivot axis;

the keeper member is anchored by the latch member when in the clamping position;

the latch member includes a latch bolt;

the retainer mechanism further includes a pivot bolt about which the keeper member pivots about the pivot axis between the open and clamping positions; and

the keeper member can be clamped onto the conductor segment by tightening the latch bolt and the pivot bolt.

12. The isolating apparatus of claim 11 further including a switch mechanism to selectively alternatively electrically connect and disconnect the first and second end members.