US 12,244,131 B2
Tension stringing apparatus and process
Cody Glenn Jackson, Haughton, LA (US); John Jerry Martin, Castor, LA (US); and Andrew Calvin Lackman, Shrevesport, LA (US)
Assigned to TSE INTERNATIONAL INC., Shreveport, LA (US)
Filed by TSE International Inc., Shreveport, LA (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/814,897.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/919,410, filed on Mar. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0295555 A1, Sep. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. H02G 7/02 (2006.01); B66D 1/50 (2006.01); H02G 1/04 (2006.01); H02G 11/02 (2006.01); H04B 1/38 (2015.01)
CPC H02G 7/02 (2013.01) [H02G 1/04 (2013.01); H02G 11/02 (2013.01); H04B 1/38 (2013.01); B66D 1/50 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for tension stringing a conductor through above-ground supports, comprising the steps of:
affixing a length of rope to said conductor;
positioning a first stringing apparatus near a first end of said above-ground supports;
positioning a second stringing apparatus near a second end of said above-ground supports;
each of said first and second stringing apparatuses are powered by electric batteries;
each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes an a respective onboard control system which controls each of said first and second stringing apparatuses in a pulling mode or in a tensioning mode;
each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a motor and regenerative brake;
each of said first and second stringing apparatuses includes a wireless transceiver hard-wired to said respective onboard control systems of said first and second stringing apparatuses;
selecting one of said first and second stringing apparatuses as a puller machine operating in pulling mode using said onboard control system of said selected one of said first and second stringing apparatuses designated as said puller machine;
each of said wireless transceivers communicating with the other wireless transceiver enabling control of both said first and second stringing apparatuses by said onboard control system of said puller machine;
verifying wireless communications sent from said transceiver of said puller machine were received by said transceiver of a tensioning machine and said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
selecting and commanding said tensioning machine from said tensioning machine to operate as said tensioning machine operating in said tensioning mode, and, said puller machine being, thereafter, in command of said tensioning machine wirelessly communicating with said transceiver of said tensioning machine and controlling said onboard control system of said tensioning machine;
said puller machine in pulling mode for pulling in said conductor toward a puller machine reel and said tensioning machine being in said tensioning mode operating said regenerative brake of said tensioning machine for tensioning out said conductor from a tensioning machine reel;
said puller machine has a driveline and a driveline brake; said tensioning machine has a driveline and a driveline brake;
performing a driveline brake check on said puller machine and said tensioning machine;
providing said driveline brake check on said puller machine and said tensioning machine are satisfactory such that there is no rotation of said puller machine reel and said tensioning machine reel, an input maximum line pull value in pounds-force is input into said onboard control system of said puller machine, an input tension value in pounds-force is input into said onboard control system of said puller machine and is communicated wirelessly to said tensioning machine;
said tensioning machine operating in tensioning mode returning and acknowledging said input tension value from said puller machine operating in said pulling mode;
setting a motor speed of said tensioning machine to zero;
releasing said driveline brakes on said puller machine and said tensioning machine;
selecting a desired reel speed of said puller machine until said conductor is completely pulled through said supports; and,
if said conductor is completely pulled through said supports, simultaneously applying said driveline brakes on said puller machine and said tensioning machine as commanded by said puller machine control system on said puller machine.