Here's a mystery that looks like a vise, but there's no way to attach it to a bench, maybe parts are missing and there is some clamp arrangement on the half round recess? (bottom picture).
Jaws are about 1 3/4" across. The fixed jaw has a sort of clamping screw (3/8 UNC?) and the moveable jaw has a v-groove which doesn't line up with it. There is a moveable eyebolt sort of thing which is bored to slightly over 3/4" next to what looks like a clamp (missing the other half) for a cylindrical piece. The whole thing is either brass or bronze except for the 3/8 screw, but I think that's a retrofit. So high voltage electronics or combustible chemicals? The only markings are a '1' and an '8' (separate places) on the fixed jaw, as well as '25kA', all cast in. There's an 8 on the moveable jaw as well. 'CT' is stamped on the fixed jaw, but it looks like an owner's mark.
Any ideas or guesses?
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| Thanks Glenn, keep digging! |
8 comments:
Bronze could mean shipboard use.
rdguy
I believe it's going to be a line clamp for high voltage grounding, like this:
https://hubbellcdn.com/prodimage1200/HPS_ID_G33632_PRODIMAGE_1200.jpg
There are lots of different types and I can't find your specific one but the basic components and the 25kA agree.
Found a pic of the socket used to tighten it:
https://www.licensedelectrician.com/Store/RT/Images/The-Puck-App1-lg.jpg
Dave,
That seems to be exactly it, but with much better photography. Thanks!
That certainly is it. I wonder if its intended to be temporary with what looks to be a hand tightened screw, why not a square or hex to be used with a wrench?
Linemen are kinda like Masons in that they keep their secrets. The ground clamps are available with either a screw-eye or a t-handle clamp; the-screw-eye versions are predominant and those are the types that are tightened with a hot-stick. But adapters like this are available, so I assume the applications are interchangeable:
https://tallmanequipment.com/product/t-handle-adapter/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn6youuyN-wIVh9zICh3Tog2MEAQYAiABEgIz6vD_BwE
The fact that the adapter is "knurled for added grip" makes me think it's intended for hand-tightening. So, I'm going to assume that the t-handle versions are intended to be placed and tightened by hand and the screw-eye versions are intended to be placed and tightened with a hot-stick. And I bet those crazy bastards do place them by gloved hand on live and hot circuits.
As far as I know they're temporary; placed as a safety measure while maintenance work is being done.
Thanks Dave. More stuff I never knew.
Temporary makes sense, else why stamp your initials on something owned by the utility?
rdguy
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