Elastomeric spacer and/or damper for electrical conductors

Claim 2

Device for spacing two or more conductors and damping the movement thereof, or for damping the movement of individual conductors, of an overhead electrical transmission line, comprising: a rigid multi-body member formed with an annular cavity in the periphery thereof, the walls defining the cavity having a radial enlargement located intermediate to the axial ends and establishing in axial cross-section a first constricted area which is curved in an axial direction; a rigid arm having at one end a clamping means for receiving a conductor and at the other end being provided with a shaft-like portion extending articulately into said cavity with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the constricted area; said shaft-like portion forming in axial cross-section a substantially concave outside surface, said portion being arranged in said cavity generally in symmetrical alignment to the constricted cross-section an including an enlarged flange whose outside diameter exceeds the inside diameter of said constricted cross-section; and a generally tubular, elastomeric member mounted about said shaft-like portion and interposed under radial compression between the latter and the walls of said cavity, the outside surface of the axially central portion of said elastomeric member having a curvature approximating a mirror image of said enlargement.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is formed with a second constricted cross-section, said second cross-section being located proximate to the periphery of the said body member, the inside diameter of said second constricted cross-section being substantially greater than the outside diameter of the shaft-like portion except for said enlarged flange.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement defining the first constricted cross-section substantially gradually decreases from the smallest inside diameter towards the opposite axial ends.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, wherein said shaft-like portion has an axially central segment with adjacent axial segments on opposite sides of the central segment decreasing in outside diameter towards said central segment.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 4, wherein said central segment has a substantially uniform diameter.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric member has outwardly flared opposed ends.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 6, wherein the curved surface of said elastomeric member is between and substantially contiguous to said flared opposed ends.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 7, wherein the surface of at least one axial end face defined by about one half the thickness of the elastomeric member is curved to merge into one flared end.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 6, wherein the outside diameter of at least one of said outwardly flared opposite ends is greater than said inside diameter of said first constricted cross-section.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 6, wherein the smallest diameter of said outer surface between the axial opposed ends coincides approximately with the axial center of the elastomeric member.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 6, wherein said elastomeric member is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal center of the member.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 6, wherein the outwardly flared opposed ends of the elastomeric member have maximum outiside diameters which are substantially identical.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 1, wherein one axial end of said elastomeric member bears against said enlarged flange.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 1, wherein said rigid multi-body member is a two shell substantially solid weight secured together.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 1, wherein said rigid multi-body member is a two shell hub adapted for receiving a plurality of said shaft-like portions.

Claim 17

Device for spacing two or more conductors and damping the movement thereof, or for damping the movement of individual conductors, of an overhead electrical transmission line, comprising: a rigid multi-body member formed with an annular cavity in the periphery thereof, the walls defining the cavity having a radial enlargement located intermediate to the axial ends and establishing in axial cross-section a first constricted area which is curved in an axial direction; a rigid arm having at one end a clamping means for receiving a conductor and at the other end being provided with a shaft-like portion extending articulately into said cavity wIth its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the constricted area; said shaft-like portion forming in axial cross-section a substantially concave outside surface, said portion being arranged in said cavity generally in symmetrical alignment to the constricted cross-section; a generally tubular, elastomeric member mounted about said shaft-like portion and interposed under radial compression between the latter and the walls of said cavity, the outside surface of the axially central portion of said elastomeric member having a curvature approximating a mirror image of said enlargement; and wherein the shaft-like portion within said cavity includes an enlarged flange of an outside diameter substantially equalling the inside diameter of said constricted cross-section and which, together with the thickness of said elastomeric member, significantly exceeds the inside diameter of said constricted cross-section thereby being effective to prevent the axial dislodgement of the shaft-like portion out of said cavity.

Claim 18

Device for spacing two or more conductors and damping the movement thereof, or for damping the movement of individual conductors, of an overhead electrical transmission line, comprising: a rigid multi-body member formed with an annular cavity in the periphery thereof, the walls defining the cavity having a radial enlargement located intermediate to the axial ends and establishing in axial cross-section a first constricted area which is curved in an axial direction; a rigid arm having at one end a clamping means for receiving a conductor and at the other end being provided with a shaft-like portion extending articulately into said cavity wIth its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the constricted area; said shaft-like portion forming in axial cross-section a substantially concave outside surface, said portion being arranged in said cavity generally in symmetrical alignment to the constricted cross-section; a generally tubular, elastomeric member mounted about said shaft-like portion and interposed under radial compression between the latter and the walls of said cavity, the outside surface of the axially central portion of said elastomeric member having a curvature approximating a mirror image of said enlargement; and wherein the shaft-like portion within said cavity includes an enlarged flange of an outside diameter substantially equalling the inside diameter of said constricted cross-section and which, together with the thickness of said elastomeric member, significantly exceeds the inside diameter of said constricted cross-section thereby being effective to prevent the axial dislodgement of the shaft-like portion out of said cavity.