US3066182A - Spreader and bridle for conductor wires - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1962 A. T. FLOWER SPREADER AND BRIDLE FOR CONDUCTOR WIRES Filed April 20, 1961 INVENIOR Alzcs-uaALoT. FLOWER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,066,182 SPREADER AND BRlDLE FOR CGNDUCTOR WIRES Archibald Thomas Flower, Glenside, Pa. (Queen St. and Ivy Hill Road, Philadelphia 18, Pa.) Filed Apr. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 104,298 4 Claims. (Cl. 174-146) This invention relates to a spreader bar and bridle for electric conductor wires.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spreader composed of superimposed bars having cooperating slots in their longitudinal edges to receive conductor wires and a spring bridle connected to the bars and normally moving the bars in opposite directions to retain the wires in the slots.

A further object of the invention resides in connecting the legs of a spring bridle to a pair of superimposed spreader bars having slots in their longitudinal edges to receive conductor Wires so that the legs of the bridle exert a spring tension on the bars to move the bars in opposite directions to position the slots to a non-registering relation to. retain the wires in the slots, said bars having means to receive and retain the legs of the bridle in expanded position when the bars are moved to bring the slots in register for inserting or removing the conductor wires.

This invention is an improvement on the spreader bar disclosed in my co-pending application filed November 23, 1960, Serial No. 71,323.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spreader bar and bridle applied to a series of conductor wires,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one side of the spreader,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the opposite side of the spreader,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the spreader,

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, and,

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, the numerals 5 and 6 denote a pair of elongated flat bars constructed of suitable insulation material such as reinforced polyester glass fibre. The bars are disposed in superimposed parallel relation and along the longitudinal edges of each bar are a series of spaced lateral slots 7 and 8, with the intermediate slots 9 disposed in the edge of the bar opposite to that of the end slots but if desired all the slots may be formed in the same edge. The slots 7 of bar 5 are L-shape with a branch 10 extending longitudinally of the bar and the lower edge of the slots leading to the branches is beveled, as at 11. By moving the bars longitudinally in opposite directions the slots 7 and 8 may be brought into register for inserting the conductor wires 12 and after inserting the wires movement of the bars in opposite directions will move the wires into the branches 10 of the slots 7 thus locking the wires in the branches against accidental displacement.

The spreader bars are held in locking engagement with the conductor wires by a bridle 13 formed of spring wire bent to form a loop 14 and diverging legs 15 with hooks 16 at their terminals adapted to engage in longitudinal guide slots 17 and 18 formed in the bars 5 and 6 on opposite sides of the central slots 9. The guide slots in 7 assaisz Patented Nov. 27, 1962 'ice each bar are of difierent lengths and at their outer ends are provided with diverging notches 19, with the shorter slot of each bar being opposite and in register with the longer slot of the other bar. One of the hooks 16 formed on the terminal of the legs 15 of the bridle may be longer than the other hook, so it may be assembled on the ground and will not be displaced during erection of the spreader. With the hooks of the bridle legs engaged in the guide slots of the bars 5 and 6, the spring legs exert a tension on the bars to move the bar 5 upwardly while moving-the bar 6 downwardly thus moving the slots 7 and 8 into non-registering position as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to insert or remove the conductor Wires from the slots 7 and 8, the bars 5 and 6 are moved longitudinally in opposite directions until the notches 19 of the guide slots 17 and 18 register whereupon the hooks 16 of the bridle legs 15 are moved into the notches 19 thereby holding the bars with the slots 7 and 3 in register. Upon disengaging the hooks from the notches 19, the tension of the spring legs of the bridle will move the bars to a locking position and prevent accidental displacement of the conductor wires from the slots 7 and 8.

In erecting the spreader, the bars 5 and 6 are moved relative to each other to bring the slots of the bars into register and then the hooks 16 of the bridle legs are engaged in the notches 19 of the guide slots to hold the bars 5 and 6 against movement While inserting the conductor wires in the slots. After the wires are inserted in the slots, the hooks on the ends of the bridle legs are moved from the notches 19 into the guide slots 17 and 18 and the spring tension of the bridle legs then moves the bars 5 and 6 in opposite directions to engage the wires in the branch 10 of the slots 7 thereby locking the wires in position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A spreader bar for conductor wires comprising a pair of elongated flat bars disposed in superimposed parallel relation, each bar having a series of spaced lateral slots extending in the same direction and opening through an edge of the bar with the slots of one bar co-acting with the slots of the other bar for receiving the conductor wires and having branches extending at an angle thereto for receiving the conductor wires when said bars are moved longitudinally in opposite directions, a V-shaped bridle formed of spring metal extending laterally from an edge of said bars, the legs of said bridle being expanded and connected to said bars so that contraction of the legs will move said bars in opposite directions to dispose the conductor wires in the branches of the slots of one bar, and means formed in said bars co-acting with the legs of said bridle to hold the legs expanded and said bars against longitudinal movement when the slots of said bars are in register.

2. A spreader bar for conductor wires as described in claim 1 wherein the legs of said bridle straddle said ars.

3. A spreader bar for conductor wires comprising a pair of elongated fiat bars disposed in superimposed parallel relation, each bar having a series of spaced lateral slots extending in the same direction and opening through an edge of the bar with the slots of one bar co-acting with the slots of the other bar for receiving the conductor wires and having branches extending at an angle thereto for receiving the conductor wires when said bars are moved longitudinally in opposite directions, a V-shaped bridle formed of spring ,metal extending laterally from an edge of said bars, hooks formed on the free ends of the legs of said bridle engaged in longitudinal guide slots formed in said bars, the guide slots of each 3 4 bar being of unequal length with the shorter slots in reg References Cited in the file of this patent ister with the longer slots of the other bar whereby con- UNITED STATES PATENTS traction of the legs of said bridle will move said bars in opposite directions to dispose the conductor wires in the 2457435 1948 branches of the lateral slots of one bar. 5 i g Hendnx 1957 4; A spreader bar for conductor wires as described gggg g gt gz 3 1n claim wherein said guide slots are provlded Wl h 2,899,160 Sher et a1 Aug 11, 1959 lateral notches adapted'to register to receive said hooks when said bars are moved to bring said lateral slots into register whereby the legs of said bridle are held expanded l0 FOREIGN PATENTS and the bars lodged against movement; 775,828 Great Britain y 1957

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