Patent ID: 8203074

Claim:
A transmission line assembly for transmission and distribution of high voltage power comprising: a conductor having a predetermined length, the conductor comprising an un-sheathed stranded aluminum member with a current carrying voltage of at least 2,400V; a separate messenger member having a predetermined length, which is less than the predetermined length of the conductor, the messenger comprises an insulative member including a core including a plurality of carbon fibers and a plurality of glass fibers, wherein the carbon fibers are completely surrounded by glass fibers and wherein the plurality of carbon fibers and the plurality of glass fibers are embedded in a resin matrix; means for coupling the messenger to the conductor, such that the messenger member remains structurally separate from the conductor and functionally independent thereof; 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, and 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.