초록 ▼

A wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure member between two conductors includes a bracket for attachment to the supporting member, a center support piece with a variable height arm connector, and two adjustable arms pivotally attached to the arm connector. No tools are required for the a

A wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure member between two conductors includes a bracket for attachment to the supporting member, a center support piece with a variable height arm connector, and two adjustable arms pivotally attached to the arm connector. No tools are required for the adjustments or attachments. Since the effective lengths of the support and arms are adjustable, either by elongation or using different length parts, the same angle of the arms can be achieved no matter what the separation between the conductors, and the gap between the arms and the conductor can be optimal for both deterrence and flashover prevention. The different pieces forming the deterrent can be selected by the lineman to quickly build an optimal deterrent in the field.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure for prevention of flashover, the utility support structure having at least one supporting member supporting at least one insulator and at least one conductor carrying a voltage, the deterrent comprising: a center support having a connector port

1. A wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure for prevention of flashover, the utility support structure having at least one supporting member supporting at least one insulator and at least one conductor carrying a voltage, the deterrent comprising: a center support having a connector portion at a bottom end of the center support connected to the supporting member of the utility support structure such that the center support is directly supported by the supporting member, the center support being formed of a dielectric insulating material;an arm connector, the center support having a plurality of connection locations along its length for the arm connector, the arm connector being connected directly to the center support at one of the connection locations along the length of the center support to adjust a height of the arm connector above the bottom of the center support, the arm connecter being connectable to the center support without the need for tools or other pieces, the arm connector being formed of a dielectric insulating material andat least one arm having two ends, one of the ends being connected directly to the arm connector without the need for tools or other pieces, the arm creating a downward angle relative to the center support when connected to the arm connector, wherein a height of the arm above the supporting member is adjustable for obtaining a desired configuration of the deterrent, the arm being formed of a dielectric insulating material. 2. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the at least one arm is pivotally connected to the arm connector, wherein an angle of the at least one arm with respect to the supporting member is adjustable. 3. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the at least one arm comprises at least one adjustable-length arm, a length of the adjustable-length arm being adjustable without the need for tools. 4. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the at least one arm is connected at its other end to the supporting member. 5. The deterrent of claim 1 further comprising a bracket connected to the bottom end of the center support without the need for tools or other pieces, the bracket being directly connected to the supporting member of the utility support structure. 6. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the arm connector is connected to the center support using first molded hand-releasable clips formed on at least one of the arm connector and center support, and the at least one arm is connected to the arm connector using second molded hand-releasable clips formed on at least one of the arm and arm connector. 7. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the arm connector is connected to the center support, and the at least one arm is connected to the arm connector, using molded raised heads inserted into inverted keyhole openings. 8. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the center support comprises a base portion and a movable upper portion, wherein the upper portion has connectors along its length that connect to the base portion such that the height of the center support is adjustable. 9. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the at least one arm is fixed at an angle with respect to the center support when connected to the arm connector. 10. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the center support, the arm connector, and the at least one arm are each a molded unitary piece. 11. The deterrent of claim 1 further comprising the center support being connected to the supporting member, the arm connector being connected to the center support, and the at least one arm being connected to the arm connector. 12. The deterrent of claim 11 wherein an end of the at least one arm opposite to the arm connector is directly attached to the supporting member. 13. The deterrent of claim 11 wherein an end of the at least one arm opposite to the arm connector is spaced above the supporting member and not directly attached to the supporting member. 14. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the arm connector has two opposite ends, wherein the at least one arm comprises two identical arms connectable to the opposite ends of the arm connector. 15. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the at least one arm is pivotally connected to the arm connector, wherein an angle of the arm with respect to the supporting member is adjustable, and the height of the arm connector above the supporting member is adjustable so that an angle of the at least one arm and a closest distance between the at least one arm and an insulator attached to the supporting member are independently settable. 16. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the supporting member is horizontal. 17. The deterrent of claim 1 wherein the supporting member is vertical. 18. A method of setting up an insulating wildlife deterrent for a utility support structure for prevention of flashover, the utility support structure having at least one supporting member supporting at least one insulator and at least one conductor carrying a voltage, the method comprising: determining a desired distance between at least one arm of the deterrent and an insulator on the supporting member;affixing a bracket directly to the supporting member;connecting a bottom end of a center support of the deterrent directly to the bracket without tools such that the center support is directly supported by the supporting member, the center support having a plurality of connection locations along its length for an arm connector;connecting the arm connector directly to the center support at one of the connector locations without tools to set an adjustable height of the arm connector above the bottom end of the center support; andconnecting the at least one arm directly to the arm connector without tools, the arm creating a downward angle relative to the center support when connected to the arm connector, wherein a height of the arm above the supporting member is manually set for obtaining a desired configuration of the deterrent. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein connecting the at least one arm to the arm connector comprises pivotally connecting the arm to the arm connector, the method further comprising setting an angle of the arm with respect to the supporting member to achieve a desired distance between the arm and the insulator, and affixing an end of the arm to the supporting member. 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the arm connector is connected to the center support before the center support is connected to the bracket.