FR2695263A1 - Safety system preventing access to overhead cables on pylon - includes sets of bars forming horizontal barrier beneath dangerous zone at top of pylon - Google Patents

Abstract

The protection system for overhead cable pylons includes a barrier (10) extending out in a horizontal plane from the pylon, dividing upper and lower regions of the pylon, and preventing access to the upper region. A shaft (12) extends vertically up to the pylon, and is linked to rods (24,25) which project horizontally, at right angles to the first shaft. The projecting horizontal rods in turn each carry a parallel set of horizontal rods forming a barrier preventing an operator passing. The barriers are opened or closed by operation of a control at the base of the pylon. ADVANTAGE - System prevents unauthorised access to dangerous levels at top of pylon.

Description

 The invention relates to an access protection device for a support pole, in particular for high-voltage power lines, at the level of which there is a prohibited access zone located in the upper part of the support pole, above a restricted area or neighborhood area.

 The present invention will find its utility in the context of interventions carried out on poles serving, more particularly, for supporting high voltage overhead electrical lines. Furthermore, it concerns the industry specializing in equipment intended for such interventions.

Intervention on a support pole for high voltage power lines is, at present, perfectly regulated because of the danger that this represents. In fact, such interventions frequently consist in carrying out repairs or installations of electrical equipment placed at a certain height from the ground, and which may be located in a restricted access area. Indeed, at the level of such posts supporting high-voltage electric lines, there are three zones, namely
- the prohibited access zone, located in the upper part of the pole because in this upper part we find the brackets to which the high-voltage power lines are attached. This zone, as qualified, is prohibited from access to any person , whatever their level of qualification, especially when the power lines are kept energized
- the restricted access zone or neighborhood zone, this extending below the prohibited access zone. This area can only access authorized personnel of a determined level of qualification or, for example, belonging to the electric power distribution company;
- the unregulated access zone, extending from the lower limit of the neighborhood zone to the ground, in this zone being authorized to intervene any person as soon as it has been ordered to carry out such a intervention.

 Of course, the limit of these zones is perfectly defined by standards applicable in the field, this according to the importance of the high voltage current of overhead power lines.

 As can be seen from the foregoing explanations, the obligation to call on qualified or specially authorized personnel for interventions in the restricted area make these interventions particularly expensive. In addition, the time before interventions are often important due to the overload of work of these qualified or qualified personnel. However, it should be noted that even the operations that should be carried out during these interventions, for example, on the electrical equipment equipping these support posts, can, frequently, be carried out by an electrician of average qualification.

 Also, the object of the present invention is to provide such electricians with an access protection device which allows them to materialize the lower limit of the prohibited access area by means of protection and dams. , this from the unregulated access area to, finally, allow them access to the neighborhood area.

 In fact, it should be pointed out that if access to the neighborhood area is currently only authorized to qualified or authorized persons, this is only true because of, precisely , the absence of a protective barrier capable of preventing access to the prohibited access area. Furthermore, it is understandable that the presence of a permanent barrier at the limit of the neighborhood zone and the prohibited access zone cannot be envisaged, specifically, with a view to authorizing the access to the upper end of the post after power failure and earthing of high voltage power lines.

 Thus, the access protection device according to the invention has the advantage in that it allows the installation of such a temporary protection barrier, this at the upper limit of the neighborhood area, while allowing, the operator, to be outside of the latter. Thus, once this barrier is installed, the electrician, mandated to carry out the intervention, is likely to access the level of the neighboring area.

Then, once the operation has been carried out, he can, again, remove said barrier, this still being located in a protected area, ie below the neighboring area.

To this end, the invention relates to an access protection device for a support pole, in particular for high-voltage electric lines, at the level of which there is a prohibited access zone, located in the upper part of the support pole, above a restricted access area or neighborhood area, characterized in that it comprises
means for determining, from a zone situated below the neighborhood zone, the limit separating the latter from the prohibited access zone
- Means for ensuring protection and blocking the passage to a user, as well as to the tools or objects that they handle
- Means for authorizing the installation and fixing of these protection and barrier means from an area located below the neighboring area.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the description which follows, relating to an embodiment which is given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting example.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings and in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a support pole for high voltage power lines
- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the access protection device, according to the invention affixed to a support post
- Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the access protection device
- Figure 4 is a schematic representation from above of the layout of one or more access protection devices around a support post.

 The present invention relates to an access protection device 1 for support pole 2 in particular of power lines 3 as shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

More particularly, in Figure 1 is shown such a support pole 2 which comprises, at its upper end 4 a single or double bracket 5 to which are attached the high voltage power lines 3. In fact, at such a support pole 2 there are three zones, marked Z1, Z2, Z3. The latter is located in the upper part 6 of the support post 2 and corresponds to the prohibited access area. As for the area
Z2, located immediately below zone Z3, it corresponds to the restricted access zone or neighborhood zone. It is therefore advisable to take a certain number of precautions to access this zone Z2.

As for the zone Z1 which has been called, for the purposes of the description, free zone, it extends from the lower limit 7 of the neighborhood zone to the ground. The height of zones Z3 and Z2 is defined by standards applicable in the field and it may depend on the voltage in the power lines 3.

 As already specified above in the description, access to the neighborhood area Z2 is strictly regulated unless there is a protective barrier, substantially at the height of the limit 8 separating the neighborhood area Z2 from the area of access prohibited Z1.

 Also, the access protection device 1, according to the invention, comprises, on the one hand, means 9 for determining, from the free access zone Z1, the limit 8 separating the neighborhood zone Z2 from the zone access prohibited Zl.

On the other hand, this device 1 includes protection and barrier means 10 intended to be placed at or below the limit 8 previously determined by the means 9, this to prevent the passage of an operator from the area of neighborhood Z2 to the zone of prohibited access Z3.

Finally, the access protection device 1 comprises means 1 1 for authorizing the fitting and fixing of the protection and barrier means 10 from the zone Z1 situated below the neighborhood zone Z2.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means 9, making it possible to determine the limit 8, consist of a pole 12 of length at least equal to the sum of the heights corresponding to the prohibited access zone Z3 and the neighborhood zone Z2. This pole 12 is preferably extended at its lower end 13 so as to allow the operator to grasp and hold it while being located below the neighborhood zone Z2. As for the upper part 14 of this pole 12, it includes locating means 15 located at a certain distance 16 from the upper end 17 of said pole 12, a distance corresponding, at least, to the height of the zone of Access forbidden
Z3. Thus, by carrying the pole 12 against the support post 2, so as to locate the upper end 17 of this pole 12 at the same level as the lowest power line, the operator comes to determine the limit 8 separating the zone forbidden access 3 of the neighborhood area 2, this thanks to these locating means 15 being, at this time, up to said limit 8.

 Note that with regard to the upper part 14 of the pole 12, this can be constituted in the form of a telescopic rod 18 which is removed from the main tube 19 corresponding to the pole 12 before the maneuver. Naturally, in the maximum projecting position of this telescopic rod 18, position identified by its coming into abutment, its projecting length relative to the upper end 21 of the main tube 19 is at least equal to the height of the prohibited access area Z3. Furthermore, the difference in section of this rod 18 and of the main tube 19 makes it possible to visualize, very clearly, the position of the limit 8, the latter corresponding, under these conditions, to the upper end 21 of said main tube 19.

 As regards the protection and barrier means 10, these are positioned on the pole 12 below the locating means 15, that is to say immediately below the upper end 21 of the main tube 19 according to the mode of preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings. In fact, these means 10 are, as defined, in the form of a barrier 22 arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pole 12 and made integral with the latter by means of a connection means 23 whatever. This barrier 22, thus positioned transversely to the progression of an operator, prevents the latter from reaching the prohibited access zone Z3.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the barrier 22 is in the form of one or more elements 24, 25 associated with each other in a rigid or mobile manner. It is understood, in fact, that the device 1 according to the invention must be adaptable to support posts 2 of different configuration. Thus, at the level of these support posts 2 can vary both the section and the arrangement or configuration of electrical equipment.

 Thus, according to the embodiment shown in the attached drawings, those or these elements 24, 25, forming the barrier 22, are in the form of a main bar 26 crossed by several transverse rods 27, parallel to each other to others and arranged in the same plane. Here again, the protruding length of the transverse rods 27, on either side of the main bar 26, can be provided of an adjustable nature, in order to allow such an element 24, 25, forming the barrier 22, to span a obstacle which can be constituted by the support post 2, itself as illustrated in FIG. 4 or even a material present at the level of the latter.

 The connection means 23 are, under these conditions, in the form of a connection sleeve 28 capable, on the one hand, of being fitted on the pole 12 and, on the other hand, of accommodating the main bar 26 .

 Of course, the more the barrier 22 is made up of elements 24, 25, the more it will be necessary to equip the pole 12 with connection sleeves 28. In fact, according to a preferred embodiment, a pole 12 is equipped with two elements 24.25, extending radially with respect to said pole 12.

 As shown in Figure 2, these elements 24, 25 constitute the extension relative to each other and extend on either side of the pole 12. However, it may be that at the level of the support post 2, certain materials are too large for them to be able to be bypassed simply under the effect of the displacement of the transverse rods 27 relative to the main bar 26. For this purpose, one of the elements 25 may be provided for rotating about an axis corresponding to that of the pole 12, this with respect to a fixed element 24 and by means of rotation control means 30.

 FIG. 3 more particularly illustrates such means for controlling the rotation 30 of a movable element 25 relative to a fixed element 24.

These rotation control means 30 consist in producing the main tube 19 of the pole 12 using a fixed external tube 31 and an internal pivoting tube 32, the latter projecting from the end. upper 33 of the first so as to receive a connection sleeve 28 to which the element 25 can be fixed. Note, moreover, that the pivoting internal tube 32 is also projecting with respect to the lower end 34 of said fixed external tube 31 so as to authorize, precisely, the rotation control of said rotating element 25 from the lower end 13 of the pole 12. Of course, the upper end 33 of the fixed tube 31 also receives a connection sleeve 28 in order to make it integral with the pole 12 the fixed element 24.

 As for the means authorizing the fitting and fixing of the device 1 on the support post 2 from the free access zone Z1, they consist mainly of support means 35 of the pole 12 temporarily applicable to the support post 2 once marked, on the latter, the lower limit 7 of the neighborhood zone Z2.

 In this regard, it should be noted that said pole 12 is also provided with means 36 for locating this lower limit 7 of the neighborhood zone Z2. In fact, such locating means 36 can be in any form, for example of the visual type or even in the form of a handguard, as shown in the accompanying drawings. Naturally, these locating means 36 will be arranged, with respect to the locating means 15, at a distance corresponding, precisely, to at least the height of the neighborhood zone Z2. Thus, when the limit 8 is located, the limit 7 is located at the same time, thus making it possible to define the position of the support means 35.

 As already specified above, these have the function of supporting the pole 12 and are intended to be placed temporarily on a support post 2. Also, according to a preferred embodiment, these support means 35 are in the form of a clamping sleeve 37 made integral with a base 38 intended to be applied on the support post 2 so as to present the axis of the clamping sleeve 37 in a vertical position. Note that at the level of this base 38 are provided slots 39 serving as passers-by to a strap 40 provided with mechanical tensioning means 41, such as a ratchet tensioner.

 Once these support means 35 affixed to the support post 2, the pole 12 is fitted into the clamping sleeve 37. In the context of the embodiment shown in the drawings, this is the external fixed tube 31 corresponding to the main tube 19 of the pole 12 and which is thus immobilized in the clamping sleeve 37. Of course, before proceeding with the clamping, it is ensured that the element 24 is properly oriented relative to the support post 2. As regards relates to the rotating element 25, its position is capable of being adjusted later, by rotation of the internal tube 32, this acting on its projecting lower end relative to the fixed tube 31. Note that the device 1 also includes, in these conditions, means for locking in rotation 42 of the rotating element 25 relative to the fixed element 24. It is evident, in fact, that once this rotating element 25 is properly positioned, it must be immobilized, without anything i it could disappear unexpectedly and thus allow passage to the operator. In the context of the embodiment shown, these rotation blocking means 42 consist of means for indexing the angular offset in addition to the connection sleeve 28 corresponding to the rotating element 25 and the connection sleeve 28 of the fixed element 24, these being superimposed relative to each other.

 The pole 12 can be pre-equipped in its upper part with additional support means 35A which will be made integral with the support post 2 once the device 1 is held against the latter by means of the support means 35 in the zone Z1. More precisely, once the barrier 22 has been positioned, the operator can access the level of the neighborhood zone Z2 and, ultimately, use these additional support means 35A in order to consolidate the fixing of this device 1 against the support post 2. These support means preferably take a configuration identical to the support means 35. Also, they are in the form of a clamping sleeve 37 previously fitted on the pole 12 and comprising a base 38 held in place on the support post 2 by l 'intermediate at least one strap 40.

 FIG. 4 illustrates the case of a support post 2 which, because of its large section, requires the use of two devices 1 so as to create a perfect barrier at the height of the limit 8 separating the neighborhood zone Z2 from the prohibited access zone Z3. The use of two devices 1 can also be imposed through the presence, on this support post 2, of a material, such as materialized in broken lines, which, by its size, prevents obtaining a barrier effective with just one device 1.

 Of course, most of the elements making up this device 1, in accordance with the invention, will be made of synthetic material so as to obtain a perfectly insulating assembly, but also light in order to facilitate its installation on a support post 2. I1 should, in fact, take into account that this installation of the device 1 is generally carried out from the ladder although the operator must be located below the neighborhood zone Z2 during the maneuver.

 In all cases, it is understood that, thanks to this device 1, an operator, not authorized or not specially qualified to intervene in the neighborhood zone Z2, is able to materialize a barrier at the height of the limit between this zone of neighborhood Z2 and the prohibited access zone Z1, this being outside these zones. This technique thus allows such operators, unqualified or qualified, to intervene, for example, on electrical equipment located in this neighborhood zone Z2, but which, however, does not require, specifically, a particular qualification. .

 Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to the forms, materials and combinations of these. various elements, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

Claims  1. Access protection device for support post (2), in particular for high-voltage electric lines (3), at which there is a prohibited access zone Z3, located in the upper part (6) of the support post ( 2), above a regulated access area or neighborhood area Z2, characterized in that it comprises  - Means (9) for determining, from a zone Z1 situated below the neighborhood zone Z2, the limit (8) separating the latter from the prohibited access zone Z3  - Means (10) for providing protection and blocking the passage to a user, as well as to the tools or objects that the user is handling  - And means (11) for authorizing the fitting and fixing of these protection and barrier means (10) from a zone Z1 located below the neighborhood zone Z2.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (9) consist of a pole (12) of length at least equal to the sum of the heights corresponding to the prohibited access area Z3 and the area of neighborhood Z2, the upper part (14) of this pole (12) comprising locating means (15) located, relative to the upper end (17), at a distance (16) corresponding, at least to the height of the prohibited access zone Z3.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper part (14) of the pole (12) is formed in the form of a telescopic rod (18) capable of being removed from a main tube (19) corresponding to this pole (12) so that in the maximum projecting position the projecting length of this telescopic rod (18), relative to the upper end (21) of said main tube (19), is at least equal to the height of the prohibited access zone Z3, the locating means (15) being constituted by the difference in section of this rod (18) and of the main tube (19) at the level of the upper end (21) of the latter.  4. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the protection and barrier means (10) are positioned, on the pole (12), below the locating means (15) and are in the form a barrier (22) disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said pole (12) and made integral with the latter by means of a connection means (23).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the barrier (22) consists of one or more elements (24, 25) made integral with the pole (12) via the connecting means (23) , such as connecting sleeves (28), and being arranged radially with respect to said pole (12).  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that an element (24, 25) consists of a main bar (26) crossed by several transverse rods (27), parallel to each other and arranged in the same plane, the protruding length of said transverse rods (27), on either side of the main bar (26), being adjustable.  7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling rotation (30) of at least one element (25) rotating relative to another fixed element (24).  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotation control means (30) are constituted by means of a pole (12) comprising a main tube (19) produced using an external tube fixed (31) and a pivoting internal tube (32), the latter projecting from the upper end (33) of said fixed external tube (31) so as to receive a connection sleeve (28) to which the rotating element (25) is fixed, said pivoting internal tube (32) also projecting from the lower end (34) of this fixed external tube (31) so as to allow the rotary control of said element (25 ) rotating from the lower end (13) of the pole (12), the upper end (33) of the fixed external tube (31) receiving a connection sleeve (28) in order to make it integral with the pole (12), the element (24) fixed.  9. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the means of laying and fixing (11) of the device (1) on the support post (2) from the zone Z1 consist of support means (35) of the pole (12) temporarily applicable to said support post (2), once identified, on the latter5 the lower limit (7) of the neighborhood area Z2.  10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pole (12) comprises locating means (36) of the lower limit (7) of the neighborhood zone Z2.  11. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pole (12) is pre-equipped, in its upper part, with additional support means (35A) made integral with the support post (2) once the device (1) held against the latter via the support means (35) located in the zone Z1.  12. Device according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the support means (35) and the annex support means (35A) consist of a clamping sleeve (37) in which is fitted the pole (12) and comprising a base (38) held in place on the support post (2) by means of at least one strap (40).