Messenger-Supported Overhead Cables For Electrical Transmission

Abstract

A transmission line assembly for transmission and distribution of high voltage power which comprises a conductor, a separate messenger member and coupling means. The conductor has a predetermined length. The separate messenger member has a predetermined length. The coupling means couples the messenger to the conductor to the messenger. The messenger member and the conductor remain structurally separate from each other and functionally independent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transmission line assembly for transmission and distribution of high voltage power comprising:
 a conductor having a predetermined length;   a separate messenger member having a predetermined length;   means for coupling the messenger to the conductor, such that the messenger member remains structurally separate from the conductor and functionally independent thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the conductor comprises a substantially circular cross-section which includes a plurality of strands uniformly dispersed therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the messenger comprises an insulative member including a plurality of fibers embedded in a glass matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality fibers comprises one or more of the following fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, s-glass fibers, r-glass fibers, s2-glass fibers or other glass fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the conductor is structurally configured to transmit between 2400 V and 765,000 V. 
     
     
         6 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the conductor and the messenger member are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and wherein the coupling means facilitates the maintenance of the separation of the messenger relative to the conductor. 
     
     
         7 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupling means comprises a pair of bracket members, each bracket member includes a conductor indentation and a messenger indentation, whereupon positioning of the bracket members in operable association, the conductor indentation of each of the bracket members cooperate to surround and capture the conductor, the messenger indentation of each of the bracket members cooperate to surround and capture the messenger member, and, an attachment assembly configured to retain the bracket members in operable engagement. 
     
     
         8 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 7  wherein the attachment assembly comprises a fastener attachable to each of the bracket members. 
     
     
         9 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupling means comprises a bracket member having a messenger indentation at a first end thereof and a conductor indentation at the other end thereof, a messenger clamp assembly is pivotably coupled to bracket member proximate the messenger indentation, whereupon the messenger clamp cooperates with the bracket member to retain the messenger within the messenger indentation, and, a conductor clamp assembly is pivotably coupled to the bracket member proximate the conductor indentation, whereupon the conductor clamp cooperates with the bracket member to retain the conductor within the conductor indentation. 
     
     
         10 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the messenger indentation and the conductor indentation includes a liner or a resilient member to preclude damage to the respective one of the conductor and messenger relative to the bracket member. 
     
     
         11 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupling means comprises a messenger tray assembly defining a channel structurally configured to receive the messenger, a conductor tray assembly defining a channel structurally configured to receive the conductor, and a pivotable coupling assembly which facilitates the pivotable coupling of the messenger tray assembly relative to the conductor tray assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the messenger tray assembly and the conductor tray assembly further includes a clamp member configured to clamp the respective one of the conductor and the messenger thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 12  wherein the pivotable coupling means comprises a pair of ear members on each of the messenger tray assembly and the conductor tray assembly, and a pivoting connector pivotably extending through each of the ear members, to in turn, facilitate pivoting of the messenger tray assembly relative to the conductor tray assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 13  wherein the pivotable coupling means comprises at least one link which is pivotably connected at the first end to the conductor tray assembly and pivotably connected at the second end to the messenger tray assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second conductor, the first conductor, the second conductor and the messenger member are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and wherein the coupling means facilitates the maintenance of the separation of the messenger relative to the conductor, the coupling member comprises a frame member having a central region and opposing wing members, the messenger member is coupled to the central region of the frame member, and each conductor is pivotably connected to opposing wing members of the frame member. 
     
     
         16 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coupling means comprises a flexible housing member extending over the conductor and the messenger, and an armor grip clamp assembly comprising a pair of semi-circular clamps extending around a portion of the flexible housing member and coupling to each other to releasably retain the same. 
     
     
         17 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein coupling means comprises a flexible liner which are structurally configured to maintain the messenger member and the conductor in a spaced apart configuration, and a clamp member extending thereover to releasably maintain the flexible liner relative to the messenger and the conductor. 
     
     
         18 . The transmission line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coupling means comprises the wrapping of the conductor relative to the messenger in a helical winding, along the length thereof.