Grounding system

• US 10,461,518 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicapped
• Original Assignee: Cambria County Association for the Blind & Handicapped
• Inventors: Smith, Allen Garrett, Platt, Gregory Stephen, Wedding, Timothy Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Hung V
• Application Number:
  US16/205,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20190109448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/26 End pieces terminating in a screw clamp, screw or nut
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/42 Clamping area to one side of screw only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/053 Suspension clamps and clips for electric overhead lines not suspended to a supporting wire
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/22 Arrangements of earthing wires suspended between mastheads
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/00 Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H01L31/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A grounding system, structured to ground a number of cables supported by a support assembly, includes a multi-function line assembly and a number of conductive mounting assemblies. Each conductive mounting assembly is structured to be coupled to the multi-function line and to a conductive pile.

Claims

1. A transmission assembly structured to support current wire extending between an installation source assembly and an installation receiving assembly, said transmission assembly comprising:

a support assembly, said a support assembly including a number of conductive piles and a number of cable hangers;

each said conductive pile structured to support a multi-function line assembly at an elevation above the ground;

each said cable hanger structured to be coupled to a multi-function line and structured to support a current wire;

a grounding system, said grounding system including a multi-function line assembly and a number of conductive mounting assemblies;

each of said conductive mounting assemblies structured to be coupled to said multi-function line and to a conductive pile;

said multi-function line assembly including a multi-function line; and

said multi-function line is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said number of conductive mounting assemblies and each of said cable hangers.

2. The transmission assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each said conductive mounting assembly includes a mounting body, a support coupling, and a number of multi-function line couplings; and

each said multi-function line coupling defines a conductive path.

3. The transmission assembly of claim 2 wherein:

each said mounting body is a conductive body; and

each said mounting body conductive body is a partially conductive body.

4. The transmission assembly of claim 2 wherein each said multi-function line coupling is a clamping assembly.

5. The transmission assembly of claim 4 wherein each said multi-function line coupling includes one of a clamping assembly, a split bolt, a U-bolt, or a lay-in lug assembly.

6. The transmission assembly of claim 2 wherein:

said number of multi-function line couplings includes a plurality of multi-function line couplings; and

each said multi-function line coupling spaced an effective distance from another multi-function line coupling.

7. The transmission assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said multi-function line assembly includes a terminal end; and

wherein said terminal end is a conductive terminal support.

8. An installation comprising:

a source assembly;

a receiving assembly;

a current wire extending between said source assembly and said receiving assembly;

a transmission assembly structured to support said current wire;

said transmission assembly including a support assembly and a grounding system;

said grounding system does not include any medial grounding splices;

said support assembly includes a number of conductive piles and a number of cable hangers;

each said conductive pile structured to support a multi-function line assembly at an elevation above the ground;

each said cable hanger structured to be coupled to a multi-function line and structured to support said current wire;

said grounding system including a multi-function line assembly and a number of conductive mounting assemblies;

each said conductive mounting assembly structured to be coupled to said multi-function line and to a conductive pile;

said multi-function line assembly including a multi-function line; and

said multi-function line assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said number of conductive mounting assemblies and each said cable hanger.

9. The installation of claim 8 wherein:

each said conductive mounting assembly includes a mounting body, a support coupling, and a number of multi-function line couplings; and

each said multi-function line coupling defines a conductive path.

10. The installation of claim 9 wherein:

each said mounting body is a conductive body; and

each said mounting body conductive body is a partially conductive body.

11. The installation of claim 9 wherein each said multi-function line coupling is a clamping assembly.

12. The installation of claim 8 wherein said multi-function line includes strands selected from the group consisting of:

copper strands, copper-clad steel strands, galvanized strands, conductive alloy strands, partially conductive, alloy strands, or composite strands.