Anti-galloping device, transmission line combined therewith, and methods

Abstract

A weight is installed in a vertical plane above a subject line. Gravity pulls the weight to an initial angle of about 140 degrees from the starting plane and thereby twists the line. The twist angle remains fixed so long as no gallop occurs. During galloping motion of the line, the initial twist is decreased as the line approaches the peak of motion and reinduced as the line leaves the peak. The line correspondingly rotates between zero degrees added twist and beyond about 140 degrees, the initial added twist angle. The rotation of the line continuously changes the profile of the air foil of the line formed by ice frozen about the line, and thereby dampens air lift and galloping of the line. The weight is attached to the line by a grip and a pair of brackets secured to the grip at one end and fitted through a slot in the weight at opposite ends. A bolt tightens the grip between the bracket members at the one end, such that the brackets and the grip pivot about the line and the opposite ends of the brackets exert an outward force within the slot of the weight to firmly retain the weight. Alternatively, the bolt is placed between the grip and the weight such that the brackets loosely retain the weight to prevent vibration of the line. Another clamp and grip enable adjustment of the location of the center of gravity of the weight with respect to the line.