Page 39 - CARILEC CE Industry Journal_Oct_2019

Innovative New Live Line Tool

and Framing Designs

- A.J. Carreira, P.Eng., SMIEEE, President
K-LINE INSULATORS LIMITED, Toronto, Canada
[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Abstract–In many cases insulators are mounted to distribution and transmission line pole cross-arms. Existing
cross-arm materials such as wood, steel and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) are showing signs of deterioration. In
some cases, these cross-arm materials can be extremely heavy and difficult to handle or transport into remote access
line locations. The Totally Insulated Framing (TIF) Systems recently developed offer a new approach when replacing
the traditional cross-arm designs. The new TIF systems overcome the disadvantages of cross-arms, they are
lightweight and provide benefits that include increased framing life cycle and improved safety. The new designs can
also offer increased vertical ground clearances, allow use of shorter poles or increased power line operating capacity
while also reducing Right-Of-Way (ROW) width requirements. Many utilities involved in extensive transmission line
cross-arm replacements find it necessary to conduct this work using live line methods. Line crews are discovering
that the equipment available to support the conductors during the change out have mechanical strength and other
limitations. The recently introduced K-ARM system was developed to overcome these restrictions efficiently,
effectively and safely. These live line “tool kits” offers advantages previously unavailable with other alternative
equipment.

Keywords–live line tools; K-ARM; totally insulated framing; TIF; cross-arms

INTRODUCTION K-ARM LIVE LINE TOOL
TM

Existing cross-arms have limited life due to wood rot, Currently available live line work procedures used to
steel corrosion or fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) surface replace a cross-arm require the use of traditional live line
tracking and degradation. As a result of these deficiencies tools and equipment as illustrated in Fig. 1. Longer span
many utilities are finding it necessary to replace such lengths combined with larger conductor sizes result in
deteriorating components. mechanical loads which can exceed the ratings of existing
live line tools. In order to perform the work safely and
Removing lines from service is becoming an ever increasing efficiently, it was deemed necessary to develop a new
challenge as the demand for power increases and the “tool”. The tool presented in this paper is the unique
TM
capacities of power systems are pushed to their limits. K-ARM which was specifically designed to address
these safety and line load issues.
The K-ARM new live line tools and Totally Insulated
TM
FramingTM (TIF) Designs are introduced as new tools,
equipment and materials developed to facilitate live line
cross-arm replacements. These new designs offer
solutions to the previously referenced cross-arm issues
and an improved alternative to the various tools and
cross-arms currently available.

Fig. 1 - Live Line Stick Set Ups (Courtesy HO)

CE INDUSTRY Journal 37