For over fifty years AR Products, LLC working in concert with Research Consulting Associates, research and development, have patented proven and reliable anti-vibration devices and anti-galloping devices for transmission lines and broadcast towers. "Proven and Reliable" are at the root of the culture of both entities. The approach used has been to combine analysis and measurement to support each other in the development of new and useful technology, leading to commercial products.
Proven and Reliable Anti-Galloping and Anti-Vibration Technology
for Safe
and
Secure Delivery of Electric Power and Broadcast Power
The above photos illustrate the broad reach of the company's achievements. First, is the development of installation by helicopter of the company's products. This includes AR WINDAMPER®, AR TWISTER®, AR SPACER-DAMPER®. Second, hot-line methods have been used for all four product lines. The latter, the AR SPACER TWISTER® is seen in the upper middle photo. Second, for the TV/Radio Broadcast Industry, there are two anti-gallop devices, the AR SANDAMPER®, and the AR SNUBBER®. The former is responsible for saving a tower during a heavy ice storm near Raleigh, NC, while the latter may be seen in action in one of the accompanying videos. Thirdly, for the control of Aeolian vibration, there are many proven models to choose from including, (i) piston type damper, (ii) canister type damper, (iii) ring type damper. All employ the same damping principle, kinetic impact. There is no messenger wire to wear out, nor is there any elastomer to wear out. It is all metal construction. Fourth, there is the special family Over-Sized SPACER DAMPER® devices. These have the unique features of increasing the critical wind speed at which galloping begins, and increasing the delivery capacity of the entire transmission line by reducing the inductance along the line. All AR SPACER DAMPER® designs can include that feature.
AR WINDAMPER® IN ACTION!
AR SNUBBER® IN ACTION!
Galloping Conductors • Comparing Two Control Methods by Field Testing
By Albert S. Richardson, P.E.
March 4, 2013
On the TUTORIALS page on the website: arproducts.org there is a technical paper titled, "A Study of Galloping Conductors on a 230 kV Transmission Line". The last four pages compares two anti-gallop devices. The first device, WINDAMPER®, hangs below the conductor and is all aluminum. The second device, detuning pendulum, also hangs below the conductor and is made of cast iron. The first device requires up to two per conductor span, while the second requires four or five per span. The first device is designed to help the conductor to twist in the wind to control gallop. The second device is designed to prevent conductor twisting to control gallop. Obviously, there is a contradiction between the two devices. (continued)
Introducing The Lightweight AR® Spacer Damper
By Albert S. Richardson, P.E.
January 18, 2013
The new lightweight spacer/damper is now available for twin and quad bundled conductors, both new and old. This new design will revolutionize the way that bundled conductors are used. Here are some of the unique features:
- Protects against both galloping and vibration
- Can be sized to either 18in., 24in., 30in.
- Can include built-in vibration control at low cost
- Two methods for gallop control (i) inertia, (ii) twisting
- Proven method for vibration control: kinetic impact
- Includes special tool for spreading conductors apart
(continued)
The Technology Behind the AR Twisting Idea • Six Applications
By Albert S. Richardson, P.E.
March 1, 2013
The patents listed here are but a few of the ones that resulted from the MIT Research Project on Galloping Transmission Lines during the early 1960's. This project was sponsored by the Edison Electric Institute and consisted of (i) Analysis, (ii) Wind Tunnel Testing, (iii) Dynamic Model Testing, (iv) Field Testing on Full-Scale Transmission Lines.
It led to (i) Eight Project Progress reports, (ii) Eight IEEE Papers, (iv) One International paper at the First International Congress on the Effects of Wind on Structures, presented at Teddington, England by Mr. Albert S. Richardson, (v) Eighteen U.S. and Foreign Patents, and (vi) other papers presented to ASCE and CIGRE... (continued)