Overhead electric and optical transmission systems
First Claim
1. An overhead electric and optical transmission system of the kind in which at least one overhead electric conductor is freely supported in long lengths between towers and includes over at least a part of its length at least one optical guide for use in the communications field adapted for transmission of light, a mechanical connection between an overhead electric conductor incorporating at least one optical guide and a tower in which an end of the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to and is electrically insulated from the tower by at least one elongate tension insulator and the electric conductor is electrically connected to another electric conductor, wherein the elongate tension insultor comprises an elongate body of substantially rigid, electrically insulating material of high tensile strength which has, mechanically secured to its ends, metal terminal fittings connected to the overhead conductor and to the tower, which has, at each of a plurality of positions mutually spaced along the length of and integral with the body, an outwardly extending shed whereby the creepage path between the ends of the tension insulator is increased, and which has, extending along the body, a central throughbore through which the optical guide of the electric conductor passes from the conductor to an optical guide joint remote from the insulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an overhead electric and optical transmission system in which at least one of the overhead electric conductors incorporates an optical guide, the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to a tower or other rigid support structure by a mechanical connection in which an end of the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to and is electrically insulated from the tower or other rigid support structure by an elongate tension insulator having at least one throughbore, the optical guide of the conductor passes from the conductor through the throughbore of the tension insulator to an optical guide joint remote from the insulator, and the electric conductor is electrically connected to another electric conductor. The tension insulator may be a shedded body of porcelain or glass having a central throughbore or it may be a rod or tube of resin bonded glass fibre surrounded by a shedded sleeve of plastics material having at least one throughbore extending throughout the length of the wall of the sleeve.
31 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. An overhead electric and optical transmission system of the kind in which at least one overhead electric conductor is freely supported in long lengths between towers and includes over at least a part of its length at least one optical guide for use in the communications field adapted for transmission of light, a mechanical connection between an overhead electric conductor incorporating at least one optical guide and a tower in which an end of the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to and is electrically insulated from the tower by at least one elongate tension insulator and the electric conductor is electrically connected to another electric conductor, wherein the elongate tension insultor comprises an elongate body of substantially rigid, electrically insulating material of high tensile strength which has, mechanically secured to its ends, metal terminal fittings connected to the overhead conductor and to the tower, which has, at each of a plurality of positions mutually spaced along the length of and integral with the body, an outwardly extending shed whereby the creepage path between the ends of the tension insulator is increased, and which has, extending along the body, a central throughbore through which the optical guide of the electric conductor passes from the conductor to an optical guide joint remote from the insulator.
- 4. In an overhead electric and optical transmission system of the kind in which at least one overhead electric conductor is freely supported in long lengths between towers and includes over at least a part of its length at least one optical guide for use in the communications field adapted for transmission of light, a mechanical connection between an overhead electric conductor incorporating at least one optical guide and a tower in which an end of the overhead electric conductor is mechanically secured to and is electrically insulated from the tower by at least one elongate tension insulator and the electric conductor is electrically connected to another electric conductor, wherein the elongate tension insulator comprises an elongate load transmitting member of electrically insulating material which has, mechanically secured to its ends, metal terminal fittings connected to the overhead conductor and to the tower, and surrounding the load transmitting member, a sleeve of plastics insulating material which has, at each of a plurality of positions mutually spaced along the length of and integral with the sleeve, an outwardly extending shed whereby the creepage path between the ends of the tension insulator is increased, and which has, extending throughout the length of the wall of the sleeve, at least one throughbore through which the optical guide of the electric conductor passes from the conductor to an optical guide joint remote from the insulator.
Specification