Animal guard installation bracket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention enables utility company personnel to install animal guards on electrical equipment bushings, insulators and surge arresters while standing at ground level.
In particular the invention is design to install the animal guard shown in FIG.
1.
This device is described in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
5,648,641 to Guthrie.
As shown in FIG.
1, one embodiment of a barrier 16 is shown, comprised of an annular base 18, fabricated from an insulating material such as rubber, epoxy, silicone, vinyl, or the like, which supports a plurality of spokes 20 extending radially therefrom in a spaced apart relationship.
As clearly seen, the insulating material of the annular base 18 preferably extends outward along each of the spokes 20 for a short distance for increased strength.
Extending radially inwardly from the inner side of the annular base 18 is a plurality of short stubs 24, also fabricated from the same insulating material as the base 18.
These stubs 24 function to displace the annular base 18 slightly away from the bushing 12 so as to allow drainage of condensation, rainfall, and other moisture buildups.
In the particular embodiment of the animal guard depicted in FIG.
1, the annular base 18 can be seen to be two separate semi-circular sections held together by a spring 26, which extends into flanges 28 of insulating material protruding from an end insulation extension on each section.
A small gap 30 is left between the ends of the semi-circular sections opposite the spring 26 to facilitate installing the device onto the bushing 12 and removing it.
In a further embodiment, utilizing an insulating material of sufficient resiliency, the annular base 18 is a continuous ring but for gap 30, and the spring 26 is not utilized.
The spokes 20 extend radially from a conductor 22 enclosed within the insulating material of the annular base 18 as shown by the dashed lines.
This gives the device greater strength, but is not required.
Other embodiments of the invention have none of the spokes 20 electrically connected or utilize various combinations of the spokes 20 electrically connected, depending on particular electrostatic requirements for the invention