CA3093146A1 - Method and apparatus for lifting and manipulating conductors - Google Patents

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention a bundle lifter for lifting a sub-conductor bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart sub-conductors, includes a base platform adapted for rotational mounting onto a support, four sub-conductor wire cages mounted on the platform, each wire cage having a roller rotatably mounted therein, to support a sub-conductor thereon, each wire cage adapted to releasably hold a single sub-conductor and to swivel relative to the platform, wherein when the wire cages are positioned under the sub-conductor bundle, the wire cages are swivelled to align their corresponding rollers with a corresponding sub-conductor for rolling support of the sub-conductor on the roller as the bundle lifter is elevated on the support upwards from under the sub-conductor bundle to simultaneously pick each sub-conductor in the bundle into its wire cage for translation of the bundle from an original position to a new position spaced apart from the original position.

Description

Method and Apparatus for Lifting and Manipulating Conductors Technical Field One aspect of the disclosure herein relates to the field of manipulators for lifting or otherwise manipulating sub-conductor bundles, and in particular to a method and apparatus for simultaneously lifting and translating each sub-conductor of a bundle of sub-conductors in a single phase bundle.
Background A manipulator for manipulating multiple sub-conductors in a single phase bundle is disclosed in US
patent number 8,573,562 which issued on November 5, 2013. That patent, describing a manipulator for separating sub-conductors in an energized single phase bundle, includes a rigid support member and first and second actuators mounted on the support member, wherein each actuator is independently actuable of the other. Insulators are mounted on each actuator.
A selectively releasable coupler is mounted on each insulator for selectively releasable coupling of each insulator to a corresponding sub-conductor. The actuators extend corresponding insulators independently of one another from the support member to thereby separate from each other, by an optimized separation distance, the distal ends of each insulator. When the corresponding sub-conductors of the single phase bundle are releasably coupled to the corresponding distal ends of the insulators, the surge impedance loading of the single phase bundle may be improved by separation of the corresponding distal ends of the insulators and the sub-conductors coupled thereto by the optimized separation distance.
As described in our US patent number 8,573,562, high voltage transmission and distribution lines are typically strung between a series of spaced-apart support structures or poles.
The conductors are connected to insulators mounted on or suspended from cross arms extending at the upper end of transmission or distribution poles, or to conductor support points built into transmission structures.
Periodically it is necessary to replace or repair the poles or structures, cross arms and insulators to maintain the electrical circuit in good working order. It is preferable if this maintenance and repair work, referred to as hot line work can be performed without de-energizing the conductors in order to avoid, for example an interruption of service.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Hot line work is a potentially hazardous undertaking. Safety regulations require that linemen maintain a minimum work clearance or "limit of approach distance" from energized conductors. The limit of approach distance varies depending upon the voltage of the conductors in question.
Auxiliary cross arms for temporarily lifting and supporting energized conductors from below are well known. Such cross arms typically have sleeves which are connectible to the boom jibs of boom or bucket trucks.
As also described in our United States patent no. 7,535,132, alternating current is generated in a .. three-phase configuration. The three phases, A phase, B phase and C phase, are all transported over separate conductors. Each such separate single conductor may be referred to in the industry as a phase. It is appreciated by one skilled in the art, that in some systems, more than one conductor (referred to herein as sub-conductors) carries the power load for a particular phase. This may be done in instances when a load is greater than a single conductor can accommodate. In such cases multiple (bundled) sub-conductors are often located adjacent to one another and may hang from the same insulator as shown herein labelled as prior art, in Figures 1 and 2. The conductors may be separated by spacers. Single insulators may, as illustrated, be configured to carry double sub-conductors, two sub-conductors per phase, under a single yoke plate attached to the insulator.
Summary What follows are summaries of assemblies described in better detail under the Detailed Description below.
Three Sub-Conductor Bundle Lifter A lifter for a bundle of three sub-conductors includes a base platform on which is mounted a pair of upstanding elongate posts on opposite sides of, so as to be spaced apart on, the platform. A
conductor wire cage is rotatably mounted on the top of each post. Each conductor wire cage is rotatable relative to its corresponding post about an axis of rotation which is orthogonal to a plane containing the platform. The spaced apart posts have a space between them which is equal to or

2 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 greater than the width of a conductor wire cage. A second pair of conductor wire cages are rotatably mounted on the platform so as to be at a lower elevation than the conductor wire cages on the top of the posts, and at opposite sides of the platform. The bases of the posts are mounted on a first axis crossing the platform in the plane containing the platform. The second pair of conductor wire cages lie on a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis. The two conductor wire cages in the second pair of conductor wire cages may each be mounted directly onto the platform with only a swivel mount between each conductor wire cage and the platform, or may be slightly elevated above the platform.
Four Sub-Conductor Bundle Lifter A lifter for a bundle of four sub-conductors includes a base platform on which is mounted an upstanding central post. A conductor wire cage support arm is rotatably mounted on the top of the central post for rotation of the arm about the top of the central post in a plane parallel to the base platform. The conductor wire cage support arm is elongate and is rotatable relative to the central post about an axis of rotation which is orthogonal to a plane containing the platform. A first pair of conductor wire cages are mounted on opposite ends of the support arm. A second pair of conductor wire cages are mounted on the platform so as to be at a lower elevation than the conductor wire cages on the support arm, and at opposite sides of the platform. The central post is located between the second pair of conductor wire cages. The conductor wire cages in the second pair of conductor wire cages may each be mounted directly down onto the platform or onto a low-rise mounting bracket on the platform.
Single Point Lifter Comprising Stacked Insulators Lifting a bundle of sub-conductors, for example using one of the bundle lifters described above, or lifting other heavy conductors during, for example, live reconductoring, often requires picking a conductor or bundle of sub-conductors for temporary relocation while maintaining the electrical insulation provided required for the high voltage in the conductor or bundle of sub-conductors. The higher the voltage, typically the longer the required length of the insulator holding the conductor or sub-conductor bundle. For heavy conductors carrying high voltage, a very long insulator will typically

3 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 not have the required strength to resist bending to support the conductor or bundle of sub-conductors when the insulator is angled from the vertical or cantilevered, for example, such as occurs when the conductor has been lifted and then rotated so as to be moved laterally away from its original position to increase clearance for access by a lineman.
What has been discovered is that, in one embodiment of a conductor lifter, a two-tier insulator stack having an upper tier of multiple insulators mounted on a top of lower tier of multiple insulators, affords the required level of electrical insulation for high voltage live conductors and sub-conductor bundles while providing improved compression and bending strength so that the weight of the conductor or sub-conductors may be held when the insulator stack is either vertical or cantilevered, or at least angled on the end of a boom so as to be off-vertical. Thus for example, the lower or first tier of the two-tier insulator stack may have six individual parallel insulators of equal length and providing equal electrical insulation mounted on a base, for example in a 2 x 3 configuration which is equally spaced apart on a rectangular base. A plate may be mounted across the upper ends of the six insulators in the lower tier. The upper or second tier may have for example four individual parallel insulators of equal length and providing equal electrical insulation, which are mounted onto the plate, for example in a 2 x 2 configuration. The spacing between the insulators in the lower tier may be substantially the same spacing as between the insulators in the upper tier so that the footprint of the insulators in the upper tier is smaller than the footprint of the lower tier.
The upper tier may advantageously be centred on the lower tier. This example is not the only configuration as it can be four insulators on the bottom and two on the top or two on the bottom and one on the top.
Rotating Head Conductor Lifter A rotating head conductor lifter, configured to hold and manipulate a single conductor or a pair of sub-conductors of a conductor bundle, in one embodiment comprises two conductor wire cages mounted to a swivelling plate. The swivelling plate mounted to a carriage block. The carriage block is slidably mounted on a curved track. The rotating head conductor lifter may be mounted on the end of a single-point lifter. Rotating both the insulators of the single point lifter and the rotating head conductor lifter accessory mounted thereon, while supporting a single conductor or a pair of sub-conductors in the two conductor wire cages of the accessory, moves the insulators from a

4 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position or visa-versa. The rotating head conductor lifter accessory enables a single conductor or a pair of sub-conductors to move along a travel arc while supported on the carriage block back and forth between horizontal and vertical orientation of the single point lifter while the sub-conductors remain parallel to the ground. Further .. this keeps the conductor or sub-conductors in the bottom of the conductor wire cages as they were designed to work.
Two Roller Wire Cage A two roller wire cage is also disclosed below.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a depiction of prior art support for a two sub-conductor bundle.
Figure 2 is a depiction, in an enlarged view, of the two bundle support of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a close-up perspective view of a prior art three sub-conductor bundle, the three sub-conductor bundle supported on a V-string pair of insulators and a T-shaped yoke plate.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the three sub-conductor bundle shown in Figure 3, the three sub-conductor bundle on a support structure.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a four sub-conductor bundle known in the art, the four sub-conductor bundle supported on a V-string pair of insulators and an X-shaped yoke plate.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a three sub-conductor bundle lifter with two sub- conductors up and one sub-conductor down in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 7 is a further perspective view of the three sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 6, the holder rotated 90 degrees to accommodate one sub-conductor up and two sub-conductors down.

5 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the three sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 6 showing the sub-conductors equally spaced in a delta configuration.
Figure 9 is a front perspective view of a four sub-conductor bundle lifter in accordance with the present disclosure, the lifter is configured in a position to manoeuvre between the lower pair of sub-conductors in order to get into position to lift the four sub-conductor bundle.
Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the four sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 9, shown in a position prior to configuring the lifter to pick the four sub-conductors simultaneously.
Figure 11 is a front perspective view of the four sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 9, shown with upper wire cages rotated into a position configured to pick the four sub-conductors simultaneously.
Figure 12 is a front perspective view of the four sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 9, shown as supporting the four sub-conductors in the four wire cages of the lifter.
Figure 13 is a front perspective view of a 500 kV H-frame support structure supporting a three sub-conductor bundle in a two up, one down configuration and a portion of a boom supporting an embodiment of a single point lifter and an embodiment of a three sub-conductor bundle lifter in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 14 is a front perspective view of the H-frame support structure, single point lifter and three sub-conductor bundle lifter of Figure 11, showing the three sub-conductor bundle supported in the lifter and moved to a position apart from the original position of the bundle.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a conductor wire cage in accordance with the present disclosure, the wire cage including two rollers and the wire cage door configured in an open position.

6 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 15A is a perspective view of a conductor wire cage with a spring loaded latch in accordance with the present disclosure, the wire cage including two rollers and the wire cage door configured in an open position.
Figure 15E3 is a view showing the two torsion springs that keep the wire cage latch in the closed position.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15 showing the pin removed to allow the door to close.
Figure 16A is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15A, showing the wire door in a partially closed position with the latch in an open position for closing of the wire cage door.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15, showing the wire cage door in a closed position with the pin in the open position.
Figure 17A is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15A, showing the wire cage door in a closed position with the latch in the open position.
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15, showing the wire cage door in a closed position with the pin pushed in securing the wire cage door.
Figure 18A is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15A, showing the wire cage door in a closed position with the latch closed securing the wire cage door.
Figure 188 is a perspective view of the conductor wire cage of Figure 15A, showing the wire cage door .. in a closed and latch position with the hotstick eyes rotated 900, illustrating the rotation to ease the operation of the wire cage door with an insulated hotstick.

7 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 19 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a single point lifter in accordance with the present disclosure, supporting a three sub-conductor bundle lifter at a distal end of the lifter.
Figure 20A is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 19.
Figure 20B is a front elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 19.
Fig 21A is a perspective view of a crane mounted on a truck, with the conductor wire lifter rotating head assembly of Fig 22 mounted on the upper end of the single point lifter of Fig 29C mounted on the end of the crane boom, with a pair of conductor wires held horizontally on the carriage riding on the track of the rotating head assembly.
Fig 21B is the view of Fig 21A with the single point lifter elevated to a 45 degree angle.
Fig 21C is the view of Fig 21A with the single point lifter elevated to a high, eg. 60 degree, angle.
Fig 21D is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig 21A.
Fig 21E is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig 21B.
Fig 21F is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig 21C.
Fig 21G is the view of Fig 21A with the pair of conductor wires held vertically on the carriage riding on the track of the rotating head assembly.
Fig 21H is the view of Fig 21G with the single point lifter at a 45 degree angle.
Fig 211 is the view of Fig 21G with the single point lifter at a high angle.
Fig 211 is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig21G.
Fig 21K is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig21H.
Fig 21L is an enlarged view of the single point lifter and rotating head assembly of Fig211.

8 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 22 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotating head conductor lifter, in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 22A is a side elevation view of the rotating head conductor lifter of Figure 21.
Figure 22B is a front elevation view of the rotating head conductor lifter of Figure 21.
Figure 22C is a cross-sectional view of the rotating head conductor lifter of Figure 21, taken along line C-C in Figure 22A.
Figure 23 is a bottom perspective view of the carriage of the rotating head conductor lifter of Figure 21.
Figure 24 is a top perspective view of the carriage of the rotating head conductor lifter of Figure 21, with the swivel plate removed.
Figure 25 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a single point lifter in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 25A is a top view along section line A-A in Figure 25 of an embodiment of a single point lifter in accordance with the present disclosure.
Figure 26A is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 300 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 900 to the horizontal.
Figure 26B is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 30 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 30 to the horizontal.

9 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 26C is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 600 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 90 to the horizontal.
Figure 26D is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 60 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 60 to the horizontal.
Figure 26E is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 80 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 90 to the horizontal.
Figure 26F is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the top mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 80 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 80 to the horizontal.
Figure 26G is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the front mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 30 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 0 to the horizontal.
Figure 26H is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the front mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 60 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 30 to the horizontal.
Figure 261 is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the front mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 60 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 0 to the horizontal.
Figure 26J is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the front mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 80 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 50 to the horizontal.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 26K is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 25, the insulators mounted to the front mount position of the boom adaptor, with the boom adaptor at 800 to the horizontal and the elongate insulators at 00 to the horizontal.
Figure 26L is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26K
showing the location of cross-section D-D.
Figure 26M is a rear elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26L
showing the locations of cross-sections B-B and C-C.
Figure 26N is an enlarged partially cut away view of cross section B-B.
Figure 260 is the view along cross-section C-C in Figure 26M.
Figure 26P is the view along cross-section D-D.
Figure 260 is, in perspective view, the boom adapter of Figure 26L.
Figure 27 is, in rear perspective view, the single point lifter of Figure 25 showing the insulator base tilted upwardly by the use of an adaptor link.
Figure 27A is, in rear elevation view, the single point lifter of Figure 26M
showing the insulator base tilted using an adaptor link.
Figure 27B is a cross-section along line A-A in Figure 27A.
Figure 27C is a cross-section line along B-B in Figure 27A.
Figure 28 is, in perspective view, an adaptor link.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 28A is the adaptor link of Figure 28 in front elevation view.
Figure 288 is the adaptor link of Figure 28 in side elevation view.
Figure 29A is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26L
showing the use of an adaptor link to tilt the insulator base upwardly approximately 45 degrees from the front mount position with a boom angle of 30 degrees and front mount at 90 degrees from horizontal.
Figure 298 is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26L
showing the use of an .. adaptor link to tilt the insulator base upwardly approximately 45 degrees from the front mount position with a boom angle of 80 degrees and front mount at 30 degrees from horizontal.
Figure 29C is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26L
showing the use of an adaptor link to tilt the insulator base downwardly approximately 45 degrees from the top mount position with a boom angle of 30 degrees and front mount at 90 degrees from horizontal.
Figure 29D is a side elevation view of the single point lifter of Figure 26L
showing the use of an adaptor link to tilt the insulator base downwardly approximately 45 degrees from the top mount position with a boom angle of 80 degrees and front mount at 30 degrees from horizontal.
Figure 30A illustrates the pitch and boom angles for the single point lifter of Figure 27L in a front mount configuration.
Figure 30E3 illustrates the pitch and boom angles for the single point lifter of Figure 30A in a top mount configuration.
Figure 30C illustrates the pitch and boom angles for the single point lifter of Figure 30A using a 45 degree adaptor link in the front mount position.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Figure 30D illustrates the pitch and boom angles for the single point lifter of Figure 30E3 using a 45 degree adaptor link in the top mount position.
Figures 31A and 318 show a two conductor bundle lifter ability to rotate to reduce conductor spacing to fit into bundle traveller with a conductor spacing of 9" instead of 18" as is bundle spacing.
Detailed Description Sub-conductors in a bundle typically have 18 inch spacing between the sub-conductors. Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art, two sub-conductor bundle in a horizontal side-by-side configuration and a horizontal side by side configuration offset vertically. Each sub-conductor may be picked, for example by using a single tier, single point lifter.
Figures 3 - 4 show a three sub-conductor bundle configuration where the three sub-conductors are held spaced apart by a T-shaped yoke plate 6. The T-shaped yoke plate holds the sub-conductors in a two up, one down arrangement evenly spaced 18 inches apart in a delta configuration. With a different yoke plate, or for example by inverting the T-shaped yoke plate 6, the sub-conductors could also be supported in a one up, two down arrangement. The yoke plate is suspended from a support structure by a V-string pair of insulators 4. Figure 5 shows a four sub-conductor bundle configuration held in an X-shaped yoke plate. The upper two sub-conductors are directly above the corresponding lower two sub-conductors in the bundle and generally spaced 18" apart horizontally and vertically.
When it is required to, for example, change the insulators supporting the conductor bundle from the support structure, the problem is how to simultaneously lift all of the sub-conductors of the two, three or four sub-conductors bundle of the energized phase, and then move the conductor bundle away from the support structure 2 (shown as 10 in figure 1) so as to provide the required limit of approach distance for a lineman to safely change the insulators. Of the difficulties posed by this, at least three are notable: 1) the sub-conductors are energized and can be of high voltage, so insulators of the required voltage rating are needed to provide the electrical insulation. The higher the voltage the longer the insulators have to be; 2) the bundle of sub-conductors usually is heavy, so the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 insulators need to support the heavy load; for example, they may need to be rated to support 25,000 lbs both in compression, when the insulators are entirely vertical, and at least some of that weight load in bending, when the insulators are off-vertical; and 3) for a three bundle configuration, the bundle may be configured as either two up, one down, or one up, two down, so that the three bundle wire holder, such as provided herein, should be able to convert between these two possible configurations. For a four bundle configuration, the four bundle wire holder, such as provided herein, must be able to pass the conductor wire cages for the upper two sub-conductors between the lower two sub-conductors and then re-configure so that the upper and lower sub-conductors are supported, secured and lifted simultaneously.
Three Sub-conductor Bundle Wire Holder Thus as seen in Figures 6-8, commencing with the perspective view of Figure 6, the three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a is shown configured to hold two sub-conductors up (or high), and one sub-conductor down (or low). Each conductor wire cage (12a ¨ 12d), where herein, the terms "conductor holder cage" and "wire cage" are used interchangeably, is mounted so that it may be rotated or swivelled about its corresponding axis of rotation A in either direction. The direction of rotation is shown by arrow B. Wire cages 12a, 12b are mounted on the upper end of equal height elongate posts 14a, extending upwardly from platform 14. Wire cages 12c, 12d are mounted on platform 14 on low-rise mounting brackets 14b. Axes of rotation A are orthogonal to the plane containing platform 14.
In plan view Figure 6A, the four wire cages are mounted equally spaced around the perimeter of platform 14. Platform 14 may be circular, and may be rotated or swivelled about axis of rotation C, in direction D. Platform 14 may for example be mounted on a bearing plate 14d (shown in blue) on a swivel plate 14c. By swivelling platform 14 by 90 degrees about axis C, the wire cage 10a may be converted from the two up, one down configuration of Figure 6 to the two down, one up configuration of Figure 7. The configuration may be reversed by reversing the rotation about axis C, or by rotating about axis C in the same direction by a further 90 degrees.
Once platform 14 is rotated about axis C to enable supporting and lifting of the desired sub-conductor configuration, the wire cages 12a, 12b, 12c, & 12d are rotated about axis A to align their rollers 38 to run along their Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 corresponding sub-conductor 8a, 8b or 8c (shown in dotted outline in Figures 6 and 7). Three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a is seen in front elevation in Figure 8, showing some of the relative dimensions, by way of example, for sub-conductors having nominal 18 inch spacing.
Four Sub-conductor Bundle Wire Holder As seen in Figures 9-12, a holder for a bundle of four sub-conductors 10b includes a base platform 14 on which is mounted a centrally located upstanding central post 16. A
conductor wire cage support arm 18 is rotatably mounted on the top of the central post 16 for rotation of the arm 18 in a plane of rotation which is parallel to a plane containing platform 14. The plane of rotation of arm 18 substantially intersects the top of the central post 16. Arm 18 is elongate and rotatable relative to central post 16 about an axis of rotation E which is orthogonal to the plane containing platform 14. In one embodiment, not intended to be limiting, platform 14 may be a circular plate.
As best seen in Figures 11 and 12, a first pair of conductor wire cages 20a, 20b is mounted on opposite ends of the support arm 18. A second pair of conductor wire cages 20c, 20d is mounted, by way of mounting brackets 22, onto platform 14. Conductor wire cages 20c, 20d are mounted below the elevation of support arm 18 on central post 16 so that rotation of support arm 18 about axis of rotation E does not interfere with wire cages 20c, 20d. Mounting brackets 22, and corresponding wire cages 20c, 20d are mounted on opposite sides of platform 14, oppositely disposed on opposite sides of central post 16. Thus the central post 16 is located centrally between the conductor wire cages 20c, 20d. In an alternative embodiment, not intended to be limiting, conductor wire cages 20c, 20d may be mounted directly onto platform 14. Whether or not conductor wire cages 20c, 20d are mounted onto platform 14 using mounting bracket 22, conductor wire cages 20c, 20d are mounted, for example on a swivel mount such as would be known to one skilled in the art, so that the wire cages 20c, 20d may be rotated relative to platform 14. Likewise, conductor wire cages 20a, 20b are rotatably mounted on support arm 18, for example by means of known swivel mounts, so as to be rotatable relative to support arm 18.
In order to capture sub-conductors 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d the sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10b is moved vertically upwardly in direction G (show on figures11) from underneath the sub-conductor Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 bundle. Because the four sub-conductors are to be picked simultaneously, wire cages 20a and 20b must be moved upwardly between the lower two sub-conductors 8c and 8d without interfering with those sub-conductors, and then positioned underneath the upper two sub-conductors 8a and 8b. To accomplish this, support arm 18 carrying the wire cages 20a and 20b is rotated from the pick position of Figure 11 to the insertion position of Figures 9 and 10 by rotating support arm 18 about axis E by substantially 90 degrees. This orients the arm 18 and wire cages 20a and 20b such that they may be inserted vertically upwards between the lower two sub-conductors 8c and 8d, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Once wire cages 20a and 20b on support arm 18 are inserted between, so as to be positioned above, sub-conductors 8c and 8d, a further 90 degree rotation of support arm 18 swings cages 20a and 20b from their insertion position into their pick position, as shown in Figure 11. Once in the pick position, and with the conductor cages open so as to be ready to receive the sub-conductors 8a and 8b onto their corresponding rollers, the assembly 10b is then elevated into the position illustrated in Figure 12 and the wire cages closed so as to capture the four sub-conductors 8a to 8d within their corresponding conductor cages 20a to 20d. With the sub-conductors thus picked, the four bundle .. wire holder assembly may be supported and moved so as to manipulate the sub-conductor bundle to provide a safe working clearance for a lineman.
As seen in Figures 13 and 14, a sub-conductor bundle holder, such as the three bundle sub-conductor holder of Figures 6 and 7 or the four bundle sub-conductor holder of Figures 9 - 12, may be mounted .. as an accessory onto the distal end of an insulator stack 30, better described below. Although a three bundle sub-conductor holder 10a is illustrated by way of example, it is understood that a four bundle sub-conductor holder 10b, or other accessories such as the one described below, may also be used.
Thus in the example of Figures 13 and 14, with insulator stack 30 mounted onto the boom adaptor 32, and with boom adaptor 32 mounted onto boom 34, and in particular with the lower end of insulator stack 30 mounted onto the selectively inclinable platform 32a of boom adaptor 32, insulator stack 30 is oriented vertically and, once in position underneath sub-conductor yoke plate 6 is moved upwardly so as to pick the sub-conductors using, in this example, three bundle sub-conductor wire holder 10a.
Once the sub-conductors have been secured within conductor cages 12a-12c, boom 34 is lowered so as to free the sub-conductors from yoke plate 6 and then translated, in the illustrated example laterally, as shown in Figure 14, away from the intended worksite so as to provide the required clearance for a lineman to, for example, replace the insulators 4 on support tower 2.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Double Roller Wire Cage Conductor holders (interchangeably referred to herein as "wire cages" or "cages") 20a-20d, illustrated in Figures 9 - 12 and conductor holders 12a - 12d illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, show the use of a single roller 38 within each cage. When the conductors are heavy, it is advantageous to distribute the load over two rollers instead of a single roller per wire cage, so as to reduce by half the downward pressure applied to each roller by the heavy conductor at each point of support where the conductor is supported by the roller. This for example reduces or eliminates deformation or damage of the aluminium strands of the conductor that may otherwise occur. Thus as seen in Figure 15, an improved conductor wire cage 36 is provided having two side by side rollers 38 mounted in line within the channel 40a of channel block 40. A wire cage gate 42 is mounted to one wall 40d of channel block 40 by means of a hinge 42a so that the gate 42 may be selectively rotated in direction H about hinge 42a so as to engage the locking tab 42b of gate 42 within notch 40b in the opposite wall 40e of channel block 40.
In the illustrated embodiment, which is not intended to be limiting, locking tab 42b is releasably retained within notch 40b by means of a removable pin 44 which is slidably mounted in bores 40c in the notched wall 40e, so that pin 44 may be selectively removed from bores 40c and notch 40b to thereby allow locking tab 42b to be inserted into the notch so as to close the wire cage, or removed from the notch so as to open the wire cage. Locking tab 42b has a corresponding bore there through 42c, which aligns with bores 40c when the locking tab is seated within notch 40b. With notch 40b receiving locking tab 42b, pin 44 is slid through the aligned bores 40c and 42c so as to retain gate 42 in its locked position over rollers 38.
Pin 44 may include a locking key protrusion 44a protruding from one end of the pin, and the bores 40c and 42c may be formed as a keyway so that when pin 44 is journaled through bores 40c and 42c, so that the end 44b of the pin 44 is protruding from one end of block 40, opposite from the handle end 44c of pin 44, the key protrusion 44a may be rotated out of alignment with the keyway so as to retain the pin in its locking position, thereby locking tab 42b into notch 40b. As seen in Figure 16, the gate 42 is in its open position so as to receive a conductor down onto rollers 38.
In Figure 17 the gate 42 is in its closed position, but not yet locked, as it would be when a conductor was held on the rollers 38 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 and the gate 42 initially closed over the conductors. In Figure 18 the pin 44 has been slid through bores 40c and 42c so as to lock the locking tab 42b into notch 40b. The pin 44 would then be locked into place by rotating the handle 44c in direction H, rotating the key protrusion 44a out of alignment with the keyway 44f through bores 40c and 42c, thereby preventing pin 44 from being removed inadvertently.
Insulator Stack In another aspect of the present disclosure, a stacked insulator conductor lifter for simultaneously supporting a plurality of sub-conductors in a sub-conductor bundle, in various orientations including when the elongate insulators are positioned at an angle off the vertical and the weight of the plurality of sub-conductors exceeds 25,000 lbs, will now be described, with reference to Figures 19 ¨ 20B. In a preferred embodiment, insulator stack 30 includes a lower or first tier 30a and an upper or second tier 30b. The first tier 30a comprises a plurality of parallel insulators 50 of equal length, arranged so as to extend orthogonally from a boom adaptor base 32a of boom adaptor 32. For example, without intending to be limiting, the plurality of insulators 50 may include six insulators. The six insulators 50 may be equally spaced apart, and arranged upon the base 32a in multiple rows.
For example, the insulators 50 may be arranged in two rows of three insulators, or in other words, a 2 x 3 configuration, as shown in Figure 19.
A transition plate 52 is mounted on the distal ends 50a of the plurality of insulators 50, distal from the boom adaptor 32. Transition plate 52 is fastened to secure a distal end 50a of each insulator 50 to the transition plate 52. The second tier 30b of the insulator stack 30 adds an additional set of a plurality of parallel insulators 50 to insulator stack 30. For example, without intending to be limiting, the second tier 30b may comprise four insulators 50. The four insulators 50 are mounted spaced apart on the upper surface of the transition plate 52, and may be spaced apart by substantially the same distance as exists between the spaced apart insulators 50 on the first tier 30a in the insulator stack, arranged for example in a configuration of two rows of two insulators, or in other words, a 2 x 2 configuration, illustrated in Figure 19.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 The stack thus is formed in a shape approximating a pyramid configuration where the lower tier has a greater number of insulators, spread over a greater area, as compared to the upper tier of insulators.
The pyramid configuration gives the advantage of triangle-like bracing for bending loads applied to the apex of the pyramid configuration, an accessory for holding sub conductors or conductors may then be mounted on the apex to carry heavy loads.
This arrangement of insulators is not limited to six insulators 50 on the bottom 30a and four insulators on the top 30b. It may be four insulators 50 on the bottom 30a and two insulators 50 on the top 30b, three insulators 50 on the bottom 30a and two insulators 50 on the top 30b, or two insulators 50 on the bottom 30a and one insulator 50 on the top 30b. Also the insulators 50 may be of different lengths or voltage rating for the bottom 30a or the top 30b, but must be the same length for the tier they are on.
In the embodiment of Figure 19, a three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a is mounted on the distal end 50a of the second tier 30b of insulators 50, distal from the transition plate 52. Optionally, the platform 14 may be mounted on a swivel plate 14c, thereby allowing for the three sub-conductor bundle wire holder 10a to rotate about the axis of rotation C in direction D
while mounted on insulation stack 30. Although the illustrations herein show the three sub-conductor bundle holder 10a mounted to the distal end of the second tier 30b, it will be appreciated that other picking accessories for supporting and manipulating one or more sub-conductors, including but not limited to the rotating head described below and the four sub-conductor bundle wire holder accessory 10b, may also be mounted to the distal end 50a of insulator stack 30.
As may best be seen in Figure 20A, the boom adaptor 32 includes an adaptor base 32a, which provides a support for the insulator stack 30. The adaptor base 32a is pivotally attached to an adaptor jib 32b at a pivotal coupling 32c. A linear actuator 33, which for example may be a hydraulic cylinder, includes a cylinder 33a pivotally mounted at 32e (show at base of hydraulic cylinder on figure 20A) to the jib 32b, and a piston 33b pivotally mounted to the adaptor base 32a at a pivotal coupling 32d, spaced apart from the pivotal coupling 32c between the base 32a and jib 32b.
Thus, the angle of the insulator stack 30 may be angled relative to the vertical by extending or retracting the rod 33b of the linear actuator 33.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 As an example of insulators that may be utilized in constructing the insulator stack 30, without intending to be limiting, each insulator 50 of the plurality of insulators may comprise an 80 inch polymer insulators rated for a line voltage of substantially 230 kV, thus giving the conductor lifter a rating of 500 kV. However, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other insulators with different specifications (voltage rating and length), and other pluralities of insulators selected for the first and second tiers 30a, 30b of the stack 30, arranged in different pyramid configurations other than the 2 x 3 and 2 x 2 configurations described above may also be useful in the manufacture an insulator stack 30 capable of providing the combined tensile and torsion strength required for supporting and manipulating a plurality of sub-conductors of a sub-conductor bundle.
Conductor Wire Lifter Rotating Head Accessory In other aspects of the present disclosure, a conductor wire lifter rotating head accessory 60 will now be described, with reference to Figures 22 to 24, which may be mounted to a further embodiment of a single point lifter 80, described with reference to Figures 21A-21L and Figures 25 ¨ 26K.
As viewed in Figures 21A-21L and in Figure 22, the conductor wire lifter rotating head accessory 60, allows at least one sub-conductor for example a pair of sub-conductors 8 held in corresponding wire cages 65 to retain their original orientation as the single point lifter is rotated in an arc between, for example, vertical and horizontal. Accessory 60 includes a cart or carriage 62 and a raceway 70. The carriage 62 is slidingly mounted to a curved track 72 of the raceway 70, and is free to move along the track 72 in direction X. The raceway 70 comprises the curved track 72 mounted on an L-shaped support plate 74. The L-shaped support plate 74 is mounted, on one side of the raceway 70, to a first lifter plate 75a, and the other side of the L-shaped support plate 74 is mounted to the second lifter mounting plate 75b. The L-shaped support plate 74 is mounted to each of the first and second lifter mounting plates 75a, 75b so as to be orthogonal to the respective surfaces of the first and second lifter mounting plates, as best viewed for example in Figure 21. Each of the first and second lifter mounting plates 75a, 75b include a plurality of mounting bolt holes 75c, which may advantageously be provided in different configurations so as to enable mounting of the conductor wire lifter rotating head accessory 60 to the top of an insulator(s) 50 having a corresponding configuration of bolt holes.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 Stop plates 76a, 76b are mounted so as to abut against opposite ends 72a, 72b of the curved track 72 and which serve to stop movement of the carriage along the track. The first and second stop plates 76a, 76b are mounted to the first and second ends 74a, 74b of the L-shaped support plate 74, such that the L-shaped support plate 74 is orthogonal to the planar surfaces of the stop plates 76a, 76b as best viewed in Figure 22A.
Figure 23 illustrates the carriage 62 uncoupled from the raceway 70. The carriage 62 comprises a swivel plate 63. The swivel plate 63 is rotationally mounted to a carriage block 64. A swivel wear pad 63a is sandwiched in between the swivel plate 63 and the carriage block 64. On an upper surface 63b of the swivel plate 63 there is mounted a pair of spaced apart conductor wire cages 65.
The carriage block 64 comprises first and second portion 64a, 64b. In some embodiments, the first and second portions 64a, 64b may have a substantially C-shaped cross-section, whereby the upper end 66a of each portion is adjacent the swivel plate wear pad 63a, and the lower ends 66b of each portion are positioned proximate to the first and second lifter mounting plates 75a, 75b, when the carriage 62 is coupled to the raceway 70. There is a gap G between the lower ends 66b of the first and second portion 64a, 64b of the carriage 62. The gap G is sized so as to receive the flange 74d supporting curved edge 74c of the L-shaped support plate 74 when the carriage 62 is mounted to the raceway 70.
An interior cavity 64c defined by the first and second portions 64a, 64b of the carriage block 64 is adapted to receive the curved track 72 when the carriage 62 is mounted to the raceway 70. A set of bearings is rotatably supported within the interior cavity 64c of the carriage block 64. For example, not intending to be limiting, the bearings 68 may include an upper set of long rollers bearings 68a. The set of long roller bearings 68a are rotatably mounted to the opposed facing interior surfaces of the sidewalls 66c of the first and second portion 64a, 64b. The set of long roller bearings 68a is mounted so as to be adjacent the upper end 66a of the carriage block portions 64a, 64b, and are configured so as to slidingly engage the surface 72c of the track 72. For example, as may best be seen by the positioning of mounting fasteners 78c on the outer surface of the sidewall 66c. The fasteners are arranged in a slightly curved configuration so as to match the curve of track 72. The set of long roller bearings 68a is configured so as to slidingly engage against the curved outer surface 72c of the curved Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 track 72, facilitated by matching the curvature of the set of the long roller bearings 78a to the curvature of the track 72. Similarly, a set of short roller bearings 68b is also provided. The set of short roller bearings 68b include a pair of short roller bearing sets, each mounted within the cavity 64c of the carriage block 64, adjacent the lower end 66b of the carriage block so as to slidingly engage the .. undersurface 72d of the track 72, on either side of the L-shaped support plates 74. As with the long roller bearings set 68a, the pair of short roller bearings are also each adapted to remain in sliding contact with the underside 72d of the track 72, by mounting the pair of short roller bearings 68b within the cavity 64c so as to correspond to the curvature of the underside 72d of the track 72. The edges of track 72 are thus sandwiched between the upper and lower roller bearings.
Figures 21A-21F show a pair of subconductors held horizontally on the rotating head 60 and mounted on the end of a single point lifter 80. Figures 21G-21L show a pair of subconductors 8 held vertically on the rotating head 60 and mounted on the end of a single point lifter 80.
The single point lifter is mounted on the end of a crane boom 24. Crane boom 24 is mounted on truck 26.
The rotating head wire holder 60 can be used two ways: firstly, to keep the conductor bundle level when rotating from horizontal to vertical or vice-versa; and secondly to rotate the conductor bundle from vertical to horizontal, for example the single point lifter reconductoring a vertical two bundle, the conductor bundle has to be rotated from vertical to horizontal to be placed in bundle travellers and then rotated from horizontal back to vertical when the conductor has been replaced and is clipped back in permanent vertical bundle position.
In use, the rotating head sub-conductor wire holder 60 may be mounted as an accessory onto, for example, the end of a single point lifter, such as the single-point lifter 80 shown in Figures 25 ¨ 26K.
The single-point lifter 80 may comprise of a plurality of insulators 82, such as the four insulators 82 shown in Figure 25. Without intending to be limiting, in the example illustrated in Figure 25, the insulators may include polymer insulators having a length of 122 inches and line voltage rating of 345 kV. However, it will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that other suitable insulators may be selected for constructing the single-point lifter when picking and manipulating a sub-conductor bundle.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 The single-point lifter 80 further includes a boom adaptor 84, the boom adaptor including an adapter jib 84c to which the single point lifter is connected to the supporting crane boom, an lifter base adapter 84d which allows the lifter base 84a to which the plurality of insulators 82 are mounted to be mounted on the top for vertical insulators or the front for horizontal insulators. For example, as shown in Figure 25A, the adaptor base 84a supports the four elongate insulators 82. Insulators 82 are spaced evenly apart from each other and adjacent to the outer perimeter edge 84b of the lifter base 84a. The boom adaptor 84 further includes an adaptor jib 84c and a rotating body including a lifter base adaptor 84d. A linear actuator selectively rotates the lifter base adaptor 84d relative to adapter jib 84c about pivotal coupling 84g. The linear actuator includes a cylinder 84e and the piston 84f. A
distal end of the cylinder 84e is pivotally mounted to the adapter jib 84c, and the distal end of the piston 84f, distal from the cylinder 84e, is pivotally mounted to a lower end of the lifter base adaptor 84d. The lifter base adaptor 84d is coupled to, and extends beneath, the lifter base 84a to which the insulators 82 are mounted. Lifter base 84a is mounted onto lifter base adaptor 84d in such a way so that the lifter base 84a may be tilted relative to lifter base adaptor 84d.
For example, a pair of spaced apart bolts or pins 84i (not shown) may be used as illustrated.
The geometric arrangement of the pivotal coupling between the linear actuator 84e, 84f and the adapter jib 84c and the rotating lifter base adapter 84d provides for greater flexibility in the range of movement for rotating the position of the insulators 82 relative to the boom adaptor 84. For example, as may be shown in Figures 26A through 26K, the range of motion of the insulators, from completely vertical as shown for example in Figures 26A and 26C, to completely horizontal, such as shown in Figures 26G, 261 and 26K, are possible, regardless of where the top mount 84h of the adaptor jib 84c is positioned, relative to the ground. In part, the flexibility of the range of motion through which the insulators of the single point lifter may be rotated is facilitated by providing two mounting positions for mounting the insulators 80 to the boom adaptor 84;
namely, the top mount position 88a and the front mount position 88b. Examples of the range of motion, with the insulators 80 mounted to the boom adaptor 84 in the top mount position 88a are illustrated in Figures 26A to 26F, while examples of the range of motion achieved with the insulators 80 mounted to the boom adaptor 84 at the front mount position 88b are illustrated in Figures 26G to 26K. As the single point lifter is rotated, the conductors held in the wire cages on the cart maintain their original orientation by the translation of the cart around the track.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 In the embodiment of Figure 27, the boom adaptor 84, which as before is for mounting on the distal end of a boom and for supporting on the boom adaptor at least one tier of substantially parallel electrical insulators 80, includes:
a) a jib 84c adapted to mount onto the distal end of the boom, b) a lifter base adaptor 84d pivotally mounted to the jib 84c for rotation of the lifter base adaptor relative to the jib in the plane of rotation of the insulators 80, c) a lifter base 84a pivotally mounted to the lifter base adaptor 84d and adapted for mounting of the insulators onto the lifter base, d) a selectively actuable actuator 84e, 84f cooperating between the jib 84c and the lifter base adaptor 84d, and e) an adaptor link 84j mountable between the lifter base adaptor 84d and the lifter base 84a so as to selectively tilt the lifter base relative to the lifter base adaptor.
The insulators are adapted to support an accessory such as the three or four sub-conductor bundle .. holders or rotating lifter head on the distal end of the insulators distal from the boom adaptor.
Figure 27 illustrates the use of an adaptor link 90 in the mounting of insulators 82, to lifter base adaptor 84d in single point lifter 80. Adaptor link 90, better seen by way of example in Figure 28, includes a parallel pair of linkage members 90a, held spaced apart by a cross-brace 90b. Adaptor link 90 is also shown in detail_in the front and side elevation views of Figures 28a and 28b. Adaptor link 90 assists in varying the orientation of the range of pitch angles of the insulators as they are articulated about their axis rotation. The insulators rotate in pitch as the lifter base adaptor 84d, rotates relative to adaptor jib 84c upon actuation of actuator 84e,f.
The various orientations of the insulator pitch angle range of motion envelope are illustrated in Figures 29a-d. In Figures 29a and 29b, the adaptor link 90 is absent so that the insulators 82, on their base 84a, are mounted with their base ends flush onto lifter base adaptor 84d.
Fig 29a shows base 84a mounted onto the front face of the lifter base adaptor 84d, referred to in respect of Fig 26g as the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 front mount position 88b. Fig 29b shows base 84a mounted onto the top face of the lifter base adaptor 84d, referred to in respect of Fig 26a as the top mount position 88a.
In Figure 29c adaptor link 90 is mounted between the lower mounting points on the front face of the lifter base adaptor 84d and base 84a so as to tilt base 84a and insulators 82 upwardly or closer to vertical. In the illustrated example, adaptor link 90 is sized by way of example so as to tilt base 84a up by 45 degrees relative to lifter base adaptor 84d. Tilt angles other than 45 degrees would also work.
In Figure 29d, adaptor link 90 is mounted between the top face of lifter base adaptor 84d and base 84a, in between the corresponding mounting points closest to adaptor jib 84c.
In this position, adaptor link 90 tilts the insulators 82 away from vertical. Again, in the illustrated example, which is not intended to be limiting, the adaptor link 90 is a 45 degree link as it is tilts base 84a by 45 degrees relative to the top face of lifter base adaptor 84d.
Due to the constraints of actuator 84e,f and the geometry of jib 84c and lifter base adaptor 84d, applicant has found that at least one desirable use of single point lifter 80 is improved using for example, a 45 degree adaptor link 90. In particular, adaptor link 90 sets the position of the insulators 82 relative to adaptor jib 84c so that the insulators 82 may be rotated to, and inserted when, substantially horizontal into adjacent conductor phases or a sub-conductor bundle to pick, horizontally, one of the conductors or sub-conductors. Then, once picked, the conductor or sub-conductor may be removed horizontally and rotated to the vertical to provide easier and safer access by a lineman to the picked conductor or sub-conductor. As can be seen by a comparison to the available ranges of motion in Figs 29a, 29b, without the use of adaptor link 90, horizontal picking followed by rotation to the vertical cannot be accomplished using the illustrated example of single point lifter 80.
In some applications, and as illustrated in Figures 31A and 31B, it is advantageous to be able to adjust the position of the wire cages to accommodate the reduced spacing between conductors passing through a traveler. As seen in figure 12a, rather than for example an 18 inch spacing between sub-conductors, the spacing when passing through a traveler may be less than half that. Consequently, if a bundle wire lifter has wire cages pre-set at 18 inches apart, then that bundle wire lifter will not be able to pick both sub-conductors simultaneously out of the traveler.
Consequently, in order to do so both of the three and four bundle wire lifters described herein may be rotated, and the orientation of Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 the wire cages adjusted, to be able to pick sub-conductors havingrreduced spacing as seen by the way of example in Figure 12b, such as may occur when picking sub-conductors out of a traveler. In the case of the three bundle wire lifter of Figure 6, base 14 would be rotated for example by 45 degrees so as to displace posts 14a, and thus wire cages 12a and 12b, also by 45 degrees relative to the direction of the sub-conductors to be picked. Wire cages 12a and 12b are then re-aligned so as to align with the sub-conductors for pick up. In the case of the four bundle wire lifter of Figure 9, only the support arm 18 needs to be rotated 45 degrees and wire cages 20a and 20b re-aligned.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15

Claims (31)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A bundle lifter for lifting a sub-conductor bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart sub-conductors, the bundle lifter adapted for mounting to a support, comprising:
a base platform having opposite first and second surfaces, the first surface adapted for rotational mounting onto the support, four sub-conductor wire cages mounted on the second surface of the platform, each wire cage having a roller rotatably mounted therein, the roller adapted to support a sub-conductor thereon, each wire cage adapted to releasably hold a single sub-conductor and to swivel relative to said platform in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane containing said platform, wherein when the wire cages are positioned under the sub-conductor bundle, the wire cages are swivelable to align their corresponding rollers with a corresponding sub-conductor for rolling support of the sub-conductor on the roller as the bundle lifter is elevated on the support upwards from under the sub-conductor bundle to simultaneously pick each sub-conductor in the bundle into its wire cage for translation of the bundle from an original position to a new position spaced apart from the original position.

2. The bundle lifter of claim 1 wherein the platform has a perimeter and the four wire cages are mounted spaced around the perimeter, and wherein the four wire cages are substantially equally spaced around the perimeter and are in sequential order around the perimeter edge, first, second, third, and fourth wire cages, and wherein the first and third wire cages are mounted on posts so as to elevate the first and third wire cages a substantially equal first distance above the platform, and the second and Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 fourth wire cages are mounted a substantially equal second distance from the platform wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, wherein, when the bundle lifter is in a first platform orientation for picking a three sub-conductor bundle having a two high one low configuration, the platform is rotated relative to the support so that the first and third wire cages are aligned to engage the two high sub-conductors and the second and fourth wire cages aligned to engage the low sub-conductor, and wherein when the bundle lifter is in a second platform orientation, rotated substantially 90 degrees from the first platform orientation in the plane containing the platform, for picking a three sub-conductor bundle having a one high two low configuration, the first and third wire cages are aligned to engage the one high sub-conductor and the second and fourth wire cages are aligned to engage the two low sub-conductors.

3. The bundle lifter of claim 1, wherein the platform has a perimeter and wherein a first and third wire cage of the four wire cages are mounted on the second surface of the platform proximate the perimeter and oppositely disposed to each other across the platform, and wherein a post is mounted on, so as to extend from, the second surface and an elongate arm is swivelly mounted on a distal end of the post, so as to rotate in a plane parallel to the plane containing the platform, wherein a second and fourth wire cage of the four wire cages are mounted to opposite ends of the elongate arm, and the post is mounted between the first and third wire cages, so as to position the second and fourth wire cages above the first and third wire cages, wherein, when the elongate arm is rotated so as to align a longitudinal axis of the elongate arm between the first and third wire cages, the elongate arm is elevatable between a lower pair of a four sub-conductor bundle, and Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 wherein, when the arm is rotated so as to position the longitudinal axis of the arm parallel to an axis extending to and between the first and third wire cages, such that the first and third wire cages are aligned to engage the lower pair of sub-conductors and the second and fourth wire cages are aligned to engage an upper pair of sub-conductors of the four sub-conductor bundle.

4. The bundle lifter of claim 2, wherein the platform is substantially planar.

5. The bundle lifter of claim 3 wherein the platform is substantially planar.

6. The bundle lifter of claim 1 wherein the roller of each wire cage includes a pair of rollers.

7. The bundle lifter of claim 2 wherein the first and third wire cages are each rotationally mounted on a post extending orthogonally from the second surface of the platform, each post having a length equal to the first distance.

8. The bundle lifter of claim 3 wherein the first and third wire cages are each mounted on a post extending orthogonally from the second surface of the platform, each post rotationally mounted to the surface and having a length equal to the first distance.

9. The bundle lifter of any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the mounting of the second and fourth wire cages is selected from a group comprising: mounted on the surface of the platform, mounted on a bracket wherein the bracket is mounted on the surface of the platform.

10. The bundle lifter of claim 3 wherein the plate is adapted to swivel in the plane containing the platform.

11. A system for lifting a sub-conductor bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart sub-conductors, the system comprising:
the bundle lifter of claim 1 and a boom adaptor, and wherein the support is electrically insulated, and Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 wherein the boom adaptor is configured for mounting onto a distal end of a crane boom; and wherein the support comprises at least one tier of parallel elongate insulators mounted on the boom adaptor so as to extend away from the boom adaptor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one tier of parallel elongate insulators comprises stacked first and second tiers of parallel elongate insulators, wherein the first tier comprises a first set of elongate insulators, the first set having a boom end mounted to the boom adaptor and a tier end mounted to the second tier, and wherein the second tier comprises a second set of elongate insulators, the second set having a tier end mounted to the first tier and a distal end mounted to the first surface of the platform.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a number of insulators in the first set is greater than a number of insulators in the second set.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein each set of insulators of the first and second sets is each arranged in a matrix, each matrix comprising at least two rows and two columns.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the matrix of the first set of insulators comprises two rows and three columns and the matrix of the second set of insulators comprises two rows and two columns.

16. An electrically insulated lifting attachment for a boom, the attachment comprising stacked first and second tiers of parallel elongate insulators, wherein the first tier comprises a first set of elongate insulators, the first set having a boom end adapted to be mounted to a boom adaptor and a tier end mounted to the second tier, and wherein the second tier comprises a second set of elongate insulators, the second set having a tier end mounted to the first tier and a distal end adapted to be mounted to an accessory.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15

17. The attachment of claim 16 wherein a number of insulators in the first set is greater than a number of insulators in the second set.

18. The attachment of claim 16 wherein each set of insulators of the first and second sets is each arranged in a matrix, each matrix comprising at least two rows and two columns.

19. The attachment of claim 18 wherein the matrix of the first set of insulators comprises two rows and three columns and the matrix of the second set of insulators comprises two rows and two columns.

20. An attachment mountable to a boom for lifting a plurality of conductors comprising:
at least one wire cage mounted on a cart, an arcuate track having opposite first and second ends, and having an inner side corresponding to an inner radius of the track, wherein the cart is mounted on the inner side of the track and is adapted for free translation along the inner side of the track to and between the first end and the second end, wherein the track is adapted for mounting a boom adaptor, and wherein the at least one wire cage is in a first orientation when the cart is positioned at the first end of the track, and are in a second orientation when the cart is positioned at the second end of the track, and wherein the first and second orientations of the at least one wire cage are substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein conductors held in the at least one wire cage are transported along the arcuate track to and between the first and second ends of the track so that a first conductor orientation at the first end of the track is transposed by substantially the angle swept out by the inner radius to a second conductor orientation of the second end.

21. The attachment of claim 20 wherein the cart includes rolling means and the cart rolls along the track on a rolling means.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15

22. The attachment of claim 21 wherein the rolling means are roller bearings.

23. The attachment of claim 22 wherein the roller bearings include upper and lower pairs of roller bearings, and where the track includes a corresponding arcuate flange and the pairs of roller bearings are mounted on corresponding upper and lower sides of the flange to secure the cart on the track.

24. The attachment of claim 20 wherein the at least one wire cage is mounted on a platform and the platform is mounted on the cart for said free translation of the cart along the track.

25. The attachment of claim 24 wherein the platform is swivelly mounted on the cart.

26. The attachment of claim 24 wherein the at least one wire cage are a pair of wire cages.

27. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein each of the at least one wire cage each include more than one roller.

28. The wire cages of claim 27 wherein the more than one roller includes a pair of rollers mounted side-by-side and aligned within the cage so as to share between the pair of rollers the weight load of a conductor passing through the wire cage and over the rollers.

29. A boom adaptor adapted for mounting on the distal end of a boom and for supporting on the boom adaptor at least one tier of substantially parallel electrical insulators, wherein the insulators are adapted to support an accessory on the distal end of the insulators distal from the boom adaptor, the boom adaptor comprising:
a) a jib adapted to mount onto the distal end of the boom, b) a lifter base adaptor pivotally mounted to the jib for rotation of the lifter base adaptor relative to the jib in a plane of rotation, the lifter base adaptor having a lifter base pivotally mounted thereto adapted for mounting of the insulators onto the lifter base, the plane rotation containing the insulators when mounted on the lifter base, c) a selectively actuable actuator cooperating between the jib and the lifter base adaptor, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15 d) an adaptor link mountable between the lifter base adaptor and the lifter base so as to selectively tilt the lifter base relative to the lifter base adaptor.

30. A device as shown, described and/or implied.

31. A method as shown, described and/or implied.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-15