Electrical distribution line control sticks

The invention is an apparatus for connecting and disconnecting an unenergized electrical line relative to an energized electrical line. It includes first and second connector devices, each including an electrically non-conductive member having a manipulatable hook positioned at one end. A fuse is electrically connected between the first and second connector hooks for electrically disconnecting the first connector hook from the second connector hook in the event of an excessive current demand through the connector hooks. A remotely operable switch is eletrically connected between the first and second connector hooks for electrically connecting and disconnecting the first connector hook relative to the second connector hook.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a device for connecting an unenergized 
electrical distribution line relative to an energized electrical 
distribution line, or for disconnecting these lines, particularly in high 
voltage power distribution systems. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
When testing or repairing electrical power line distribution systems, it is 
often necessary to disconnect and reconnect an unenergized (cold) line 
from an energized (hot) line. Directly disconnecting a high voltage 
(generally, above 600 volts) hot line from a cold line will result in 
considerable arcing between the two lines when the connection is broken. 
This arcing is extremely dangerous and frequently creates sparks which are 
equally dangerous. The sparks are very hot, they can burn, and an 
associated flash is very bright and can blind or damage the eyes. Thus, at 
high voltages, it is necessary to handle the lines from a distance with 
special sticks to provide safe working conditions between the operator and 
the lines. 
The arcing can also be destructive as it will melt, weld or otherwise 
destroy equipment. Furthermore, if the arc goes to ground or cross-phase, 
it is possible that an entire power loop will fail, resulting in a power 
outage for many customers. Thus, it is desirable to maintain a 
controllable electrical connection between a hot line and a cold line 
while they are physically being disconnected from one another. After the 
lines are separated, the electrical connection can be broken. This 
prevents arcing between the hot and cold lines. Inversely, it is desirable 
to first electrically connect separated hot and cold lines before 
physically connecting them together to prevent arcing as the lines are 
brought together. 
A conventional portable vacuum switch, often called a Rabbit Box, has been 
used to connect and disconnect hot and cold lines. However, such a vacuum 
switch requires a considerable amount of covering insulating material in 
order to make it available to use in a transformer box. Further, these 
portable vacuum switches require 4-5 people to properly operate them and 
their use is not very time efficient. An additional concern is that use of 
these portable vacuum switches is not considered to be particularly safe. 
Because of these problems, it is often easier to simply deenergize an 
entire circuit loop prior to undertaking work on the distribution systems. 
This is undesirable as it interrupts service to everyone on the circuit 
loop. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been designed to minimize the problems discussed 
above. The invention employs a pair of conventional electrical line 
control sticks. These control sticks are electrically nonconductive 
elongated sticks with hooks at one end of each stick. Such control sticks 
are used individually for remotely manipulating energized electrical 
distribution components, thereby protecting an operator from electrical 
shock. The control sticks have been modified to include a fuse mechanism 
and a remotely operable vacuum switch, mounted to one of the sticks, 
respectively. 
Conventionally, the control sticks are used individually and are not 
interconnected. In the present invention, remotely manipulatable hooks 
positioned on the end of each control stick are electrically connected 
through an electric line that includes the fuse and the remotely operable 
vacuum switch. The vacuum switch is used to open and close the electrical 
connection between the two hooks, when it is desired to do so. The fuse 
opens the electrical connection if an excessive current is drawn through 
the hooks and triggers that response. 
Each control stick is easily manipulated by a single individual and allows 
a hot line and a cold line to be physically connected and disconnected 
from each other while being electrically connected and disconnected 
remotely within the vacuum switch. Thus, the present invention can be used 
to physically disconnect a hot line from a cold line while the hot line 
remains electrically connected or energized. When the hot and cold lines 
are separated enough to prevent arcing between those lines, the vacuum 
switch is remotely opened to electrically disconnect the two lines. Any 
arcing is safely contained inside the enclosed vacuum switch. 
The present invention is also used in an inverse way to prevent arcing 
between the lines when physically connecting a hot and cold line. One 
control stick is connected to the cold line and the other control stick to 
the separated hot line while the vacuum switch is open. The switch is then 
closed, bringing both lines to the same electrical potential whereupon the 
two lines can be physically connected without electrical arcing. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, a rotating collar and 
electrical coupling allow one of the control sticks to be rotated relative 
to the fuse or vacuum switch, thereby easing the task of physically 
connecting and disconnecting electrical connectors which screw together. 
With the foregoing in mind, other objects, features and advantages of the 
present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the 
following description and the appended claims with reference to the 
accompanying drawings, all of which form part of this specification, 
wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the 
various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows a pair of electric line control sticks, generally indicated at 
10, according to the presently preferred embodiment of the present 
invention. The individual sticks, 12 and 14, are constructed of 
electrically nonconductive materials such as, for example, plastic, 
fiberglass or wood and can be 7-8 feet long with a diameter of 
approximately 1.25 inches. Each stick 12 and 14 has a hook end 16 and 18, 
respectively, and a grasping end 20 and 22, respectively. 
Hook end 16 comprises an outer housing 17. An actuating handle 28 is 
operatively attached at a convenient position on the lower grasping end 20 
of stick 12 and is movable between open and closed positions. Handle 28 is 
attached to a rod 25, constructed of an electrically nonconductive 
material. Rod 25 extends through a hollow interior passageway 19, shown in 
phantom in FIG. 2, which itself extends axially through the interior of 
stick 12. Handle 28 is connected to one end of rod 25 by a pivotal and cam 
type of mechanism that causes the rod 25 to be moved axially within stick 
12 as the handle is moved between its open and closed positions. 
Specifically, when handle 28 is closed, rod 25 is in its most outwardly 
extended position and conversely, when handle 28 is open, rod 25 is in its 
most inwardly retracted position. 
The other end of rod 25 is connected by a pin 21 to a lower portion of a 
reciprocating block member 23 that is slidably retained within the outer 
end of member 17. As shown in FIG. 2, member 17 can be a cylindrically 
shaped member having a hollow end portion in which member 23 is received. 
A hook 24 is pivotably attached to member 23 and a spring (not shown) is 
provided internally within member 23 to hold hook 24 in a normally open 
position as shown in full line in FIG. 2. 
As member 23 is pulled into housing 17 the exterior edge of hook 24 will 
engage the edge of housing 17 and be pivoted into a closed position. 
The assembly on hook end 18 to actuate hook 26 is similarly configured just 
to that described for stick 12 and further description is not deemed to be 
necessary. Hook 26 is itself actuated by handle 30. 
Handles 28 and 30 open and close hooks 24 and 26, respectively, for 
gripping electrical connectors, as will be described later. Shields 32 and 
34 are positioned to prevent an operator from gripping the sticks too 
close to the hot electrical lines that are to be manipulated by the 
sticks. 
Hook 24 is also electrically connected to reciprocating block member 23 
which is in turn physically and electrically connected by screw 57 to one 
end of a jumper lead 56 located within housing 17. The other end of jumper 
lead 56 is physically and electrically connected to a coupling member, 
generally indicated at 44, by a screw 59. 
Coupling member 44 has an inner sleeve 46, which is an extension of housing 
17, electrically connected to an outer sleeve 48 as can best be seen in 
FIGS. 2-4. The outer sleeve 48 is positioned between a flange 50 of inner 
sleeve 46 and a snap-ring 52 which engages a groove (unshown) in the inner 
sleeve 46. The clearances between the inner sleeve 46 and outer sleeve 48 
are determined by the desired degree of fit. In one embodiment, an 
electrically conductive grease can be used between the two sleeves 
although this can be omitted if desired. The inner sleeve 46 is fixedly 
mounted to the stick 12 by a plurality of set screws 54 threaded through 
the flange 50. The outer sleeve 48 on the other hand, is rotatable in 
relation to the inner sleeve 46 and stick 12. The outer sleeve 48 is 
physically and electrically connected to a jumper strap 42 by a screw 47 
which does not extend through to the inner sleeve 46. This permits stick 
12 to be rotated independently of the rotatably mounted fuse 36 and casing 
37. In one embodiment, the coupling member 44 is made of brass but it can 
be made of aluminum or any other conductive material. 
Jumper strap 42 is physically and electrically connected to a connector 
generally indicated at 39 and which comprises post 40, locking nuts 41 and 
43 and set screw 45. Connector 39 is physically and electrically connected 
to one end of a fuse 36 by the set screw 45. Fuse 36 and a portion of 
connector 39 are encased in a protective electrically nonconductive 
casing, generally indicated at 37. Only locking nuts 41 and 43 and a 
portion of the post 40 extend outside casing 37. In one embodiment, casing 
37 comprises a plexiglass tube 31 attached to a plexiglass end cap 33 by 
nylon screws 35. 
The other end of fuse 36 is physically and electrically connected to one 
end of a second jumper lead 58 in a convenient manner. The second jumper 
lead 58 is for example 3 feet long and its other end is electrically 
connected to one terminal of a vacuum switch 60 encased in an electrically 
nonconductive switch casing 62 mounted to the second stick 14. The 
nonconductive switch casing 62 insulates and protects vacuum switch 60 
which is conventionally designed and is totally enclosed. The vacuum 
switch includes an internal vacuum chamber in which any arcing is 
contained, thereby reducing hazards associated with an open arc condition. 
In one embodiment, an appropriately rated vacuum switch made by the 
Jennings Company is used. 
The other terminal of the vacuum switch 60 is electrically connected to 
hook 26 by a third jumper lead (unshown) that is similar to lead 56. In 
one embodiment, the vacuum switch 60 can be electrically connected by a 
jumper lead to hook 26 similarly to coupling 44 being connected to hook 24 
by jumper lead 56. The vacuum switch 60 is opened and closed by means of a 
remote actuating control switch 64 and actuating rod 66. A portion of the 
actuating rod 66 is enclosed in an electrically nonconductive shield 68 
attached to the stick 14 to prevent unwanted actuation of the vacuum 
switch 60 in the event that the actuating rod 66 is bumped. The shield 68 
can be U-shaped, surrounding actuating rod 66 with the open ends connected 
to the stick 14. Alternatively, the shield 68 could comprise a tube 
surrounding the actuating rod 66 with the tube attached to the stick 14 by 
a bridging web. The sticks can be counterweighted to balance the weight of 
the fuse 36 and vacuum switch 60. 
Hooks 24 and 26 are remotely manipulatable to grip and operate two types of 
electrical connectors encountered in a transformer box. Thus, the hooks 24 
and 26 are used both to establish electrical circuits and to physically 
operate different types of electrical connectors. The first type of 
connector is found in a dead-front transformer. To disconnect this type of 
connector, one of the hooks 24, 26 is engaged with a ring on the end of 
the connector and the connector can be disconnected by merely pulling a 
ring connector from a connector socket and connected by pushing the ring 
connector into the ring socket. 
For a second type of connector found in live-front transformers, the 
connector must be rotated to disconnect it. By means of the rotating 
coupling 44 and the rotating collar 38, stick 12 is specifically adapted 
for rotating a live-front connector. A ring on the connector is engaged by 
the hook 24 and stick 12 is rotated to disconnect or connect the 
connector. The fuse 36 and casing 37 are maintained in a stationary 
position by gravity as the stick 12 is rotated. This prevents the second 
jumper lead 58 from wrapping around stick 12 as it is rotated. In an 
alternative embodiment, the second jumper lead 58 can be long enough to 
rotate about stick 12 if fuse 36 is not attached to a rotating collar and 
coupling. A voltage verifier 70 can be provided on one of the sticks to 
notify whether a voltage is present, i.e., whether a line is hot or cold, 
the vacuum switch 60 is open or closed, and whether the fuse 36 is good or 
blown. In a preferred embodiment, the voltage verifier 70 is of 
conventional design and is physically attached to the rotating collar 38 
and is electrically attached by a jumper lead (not shown) to the outer 
sleeve 48. 
In one representative embodiment of the present invention, sticks 12 and 14 
are about 7' 10" long and 1.25" in diameter Casing 37 is about 18" long 
and 2.5" in diameter while casing 62 is about 10" long and 2.5" in 
diameter. Coupling 44 is about 2" long with inner sleeve 46 having an 
inner diameter of 2" and an outer diameter of 2.125". Outer sleeve 48 has 
an inner diameter of approximately 2.128", allowing for clearance between 
the inner sleeve 46 and the outer sleeve 48 depending on the degree of fit 
desired between the two pieces. Shield 32 is positioned, for example, 29" 
from the jumper lead 58 end of casing 37 and shield 34 is similarly 
positioned. Shield 68 is approximately 22" long. 
The procedure for using the present invention to connect a hot line to a 
cold line is as follows. Each stick 12 and 14 is individually manipulated 
by a separate operator to assure that ends 20 and 22 will not be 
simultaneously held by a single operator thus completing an undesirable 
circuit through that operator. Additionally, each operator will wear 
appropriate protective clothing, such as rubber gloves and sleeves, and 
appropriate shielding material will be positioned in and around the 
transformer box. 
The continuity between hooks 24 and 26 is first checked with a continuity 
tester with the vacuum switch 60 open and then closed. This checks whether 
the vacuum switch 60 is operating properly and whether the fuse 36 is 
operational. If everything is working properly, the vacuum switch 60 is 
opened. Stick 14 is attached to the hot line while stick 12 is held away 
from the cold line. The vacuum switch 60 is closed and the continuity is 
again checked by means of the voltage verifier 70 to reconfirm that the 
vacuum switch 60 is still operating properly and that fuse 36 has not 
blown after exposure to the high voltage. Vacuum switch 60 is then opened 
and continuity again checked to make sure that the switch 60 has 
electrically isolated hook 24 from the hot line. 
With the vacuum switch 60 open, stick 12 is attached to the cold line. 
Vacuum switch 60 is then closed to energize the cold line. If the fuse 36 
blows, the cold line has a fault in it. If the fuse 36 does not blow, the 
cold line is good. Thus, fuse 36 tests whether the cold line is good or 
not and is also a safety device, cutting current to a bad line. The 
voltage verifier 70 is used to determine whether the fuse 36 has blown or 
not. If the voltage verifier 70 indicates a voltage, the fuse 36 has not 
blown and the cold line has been energized. If the voltage verifier 70 
indicates no voltage, either the fuse 36 has blown or the voltage verifier 
70 is not operating properly. Either case will require further 
investigation by the operator. 
If the cold line has remained energized, the hot line and cold line are 
physically attached to each other. The switch 60 is then opened, the fuse 
stick 12 removed and held clear. Finally, the stick portion 14 is removed. 
The present invention is used in a similar manner to disconnect a hot line 
from a cold line. 
While the invention has been described in accordance with what is presently 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed 
embodiment but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications 
and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and the scope of 
the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest 
interpretation of such claims so as to encompass all such equivalent 
structures.