INDUSTRY Insights
MANYtransmission lines have had hardware failures due to wind-induced vibrations.
Over extended periods of time, the
wind-driven rubbing between line insulator hardware and the associated
cross arm attachment points can cause
total failure of the cross arm at the
point of attachment. These vibrations
cause wear between the metal components on the transmission line hardware. In some cases, this could result
in line failure or multiple arm replacements, which can be very expensive.
In many cases, over time, the clevis pin can completely erode through
the attachment of the arm. If the hole
is not repaired after it becomes worn, it
may deteriorate to the point that it may
no longer be able to support the weight
of a conductor. In these situations, conventional methods may require replacing the entire arm.
In the past, some transmission crews
used a helicopter with stabilizers and
other specialized equipment to inspect
the hardware, and to focus in on the
attachment points. This task was com-
plex, time consuming, expensive and
labor intensive and diverted crews from
doing other work when the arm attach-
ments needed to be replaced due to
these types of failures.
To solve this problem; Georgia
Power was challenged to find a solu-
tion to eliminate the wear due to
wind-driven sawing action. With this
concept in mind, Buddy Phillips, a
maintenance and reliability staff spe-
cialist took the challenge given, and
went straight to work. Over his career
with Georgia Power, Phillips had rec-
ognized other business solutions and
within a matter of weeks, and several
prototypes later, he built a prototype
that was stronger than then his other
designs. What Phillips developed was
a cost-effective repair process that was
easy, simple and fast and a solution for
a longstanding problem Georgia Pow-
er was having with their transmission
line hardware failures.
Installing the device
Linemen use this device by inserting the stainless steel bushing into the
attachment hole in the arm. Because
the attachment is made of a corro-sion-resistant stainless steel, the workers no longer need to replace the entire
arm. As a result, it improves reliability and extends hardware life and has
also saved a significant amount of money in transmission and distribution
line repairs, and because of its success,
Georgia Power plans on installing the
Transmission Staff Specialist
Invents Bushing
Georgia Power solves the long-standing
problem of hardware failures.
By Tasha Hardegree, Georgia Power
BUDDY PHILLIPS is a line specialist for Georgia Power, in the Maintenance & Reliability
Department, has been with the company for 42 years, and is responsible for line maintenance
including: inspection of new line construction, steel structure repairs, evaluation of hardware
failures, helicopter inspections. He is also responsible for Transmission lines in Georgia and
live line training.
