Apparatus and method for electrically and mechanically connecting and disconnecting a power line

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires. The apparatus comprises two plates that each defines three holes configured to receive two conductors and a ground wire, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent to each other such that the respective holes in each plate are aligned such that the conductors and ground wires coming from each plate would be in physical contact. Three connectors hold the plates together. The first two connectors are configured to release the plates upon the application of a tensional force on the conductors or ground wires before the third connector releases the plates, thereby separating the conductors before separating the ground wires. Another embodiment addresses the same in multi-service connections.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A method for electrically and mechanically separating two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising: 
 receiving a tensional force on a service drop line comprising two conductors and a ground wire attached to a corresponding pair of conductors and a corresponding ground wire extending from a utility pole;    physically and electrically separating each of said two conductors from said corresponding pair of conductors extending from the utility pole; and    subsequently physically and electrically separating said ground wire from said corresponding ground wire extending from the utility pole.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for connecting a plurality of conductors and a plurality of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising: 
 a plurality of crimp-on connectors configured to receive said conductors and said ground wires;    a box having a plurality of holes configured to receive said crimp-on connectors on a first surface of said box, in which said box is attached to a first location on a utility pole;    at least one mechanical breakaway device configured to receive one of said ground wires, in which said mechanical breakaway device is attached to a second location on said utility pole; and    wherein said mechanical breakaway device releases said received ground wire first upon an application of a tensional force on said conductors or said ground wires, such that said tensional force on said conductors then increases on said conductors, thereby pulling said crimp-on connectors out of said box and releasing said conductors and said ground wires that are attached to said crimp-on connectors.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein said holes on said surface of said box are equidistantly spaced apart in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein said box having an internal structure disposed inside of said box.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein said box having a plurality of outlet openings on a second surface of said box.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein said internal structure further comprising a plurality of tubular members, a plurality of holding tubular members, and a plurality of flat members  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as in  claim 23 , wherein said tubular members are aligned with said holes and are configured to receive said crimp-on connectors.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as in  claim 24 , wherein said internal structure having said tubular members disposed in a plurality of columns and oriented perpendicularly to said utility pole.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as in  claim 26 , wherein said tubular members are attached to said flat members.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as in  claim 23 , wherein said holding tubular members are attached to said flat members and are oriented in a direction parallel with said utility pole.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus as in  claim 23 , wherein said holding tubular members are aligned with said outlet openings.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus as in  claim 29 , wherein said holding tubular members hold a first portion of said conductors and a first portion of said ground wires in place inside of said box and within said internal structure as a second portion of said conductors and a second portion of said ground wires are positioned outside of said box from said outlet openings through said holding tubular members.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein said internal structure is made of a conductive material.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein said internal structure is disposed within an insulating material.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein said mechanical breakaway device further comprising a first end and a second end, in which said first end is attached to said second location on said utility pole and said second end holds said received ground wires as a messenger wire.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as in  claim 33 , wherein said second end of said mechanical breakaway device further comprising a breaking member and a gripping member, in which said breaking member covers a top portion of said messenger wire and said gripping member covers a bottom portion of said messenger wire.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as in  claim 34 , wherein said gripping member covers said bottom portion of said messenger wire by gripping onto said breaking member.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as in  claim 34 , wherein said breaking member further comprising a first end, a second end, and an initiation area for breaking, in which said initiation area for breaking is located near said first end, where said first end is connected to said utility pole, and said second end receives said messenger wire.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus for connecting a plurality of conductors and a plurality of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising: 
 a plurality of crimp-on connectors configured to receive said conductors and said ground wires;    a structure with a first surface attached to a first location on a utility pole;    a plurality of tubular members attached to a second surface of said structure, wherein said tubular members are configured to receive said crimp-on connectors;    at least one mechanical breakaway device configured to receive one of said ground wires, in which said mechanical breakaway device is attached to a second location on said utility pole; and    wherein said mechanical breakaway device releases said received ground wire first upon an application of a tensional force on said conductors or said ground wires, such that said tensional force on said conductors then increases on said conductors, thereby pulling said crimp-on connectors out of said tubular members and releasing said conductors that are attached to said crimp-on connectors.    
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as in  claim 37 , wherein said tubular members are disposed in a plurality of columns and are oriented perpendicularly to said utility pole.  
   
   
       39 . The apparatus as in  claim 37  further comprises a plurality of holding tubular members, wherein said holding tubular members are attached to said structure and are oriented in a direction parallel to said utility pole.  
   
   
       40 . The apparatus as in  claim 39 , wherein said holding tubular members are disposed below said tubular members and are configured to have a first portion of said conductors and said ground wires be positioned above said holding tubular members, a second portion of said conductors and said ground wires be positioned within said holding tubular members, and a third portion of said conductors and said ground wires be positioned below said holding tubular members.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus as in  claim 39 , wherein said tubular members, said holding tubular members, and said structure are made of a conductive material.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus as in  claim 41 , wherein said tubular members, said holding tubular members, and said structure are disposed within an insulating material.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus as in  claim 37 , wherein said mechanical breakaway device further comprising a first end and a second end, in which said first end is attached to said second location on said utility pole and said second end holds said received ground wires as a messenger wire.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus as in  claim 43 , wherein said second end of said mechanical breakaway device further comprising a breaking member and a gripping member, in which said breaking member covers a top portion of said messenger wire and said gripping member covers a bottom portion of said messenger wire by gripping onto said breaking member.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus as in  claim 44 , wherein said breaking member further comprising a first end, a second end, and an initiation area for breaking, in which said initiation area for breaking is located near said first end, where said first end is connected to said utility pole, and said second end receives said messenger wire.  
   
   
       46 . A method for electrically and mechanically separating a plurality of conductors and a ground wire in a multiple service installation system upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or said ground wire, comprising: 
 receiving a tensional force on a service drop line comprising a plurality of conductors and a ground wire, wherein said conductors and ground wire are attached in separate locations along a utility pole;    physically and electrically separating said ground wire from said utility pole first;    subsequently physically and electrically separating said conductors from said utility pole; and    wherein other service drop lines do not receive a tensional force and do not physically and electrically separate.