BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Typically such line spacers are fitted to high voltage power lines at regular spacings along the lines lengthwise between pylons or other line supports, to ensure that individual lines do not move relative to one another and touch during periods of high wind loading, earthquakes or similar. Typically spacers extend between two adjacent lines and encircle each at either end of the spacer. A triple or larger spacer may be used to space three or more lines from each other.

US patent 3,743,962 discloses a spacer for fitting between parallel conductors having jaws at each end forming a conductor clamp at each end of the bar members. The two bar members are bolted together after fitting in position between two conductors.

Line spacers are fitted after the lines have been strung between pylons. A common practice is for a workman to fit the spacers between pairs of lines while working from an adjacent helicopter. This may require that the workman fits the spacer and then uses a spanner or other tool to close the spacer about the lines.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides an improved or at least alternative form of line spacer, for use between power transmission lines or in similar applications.

In broad terms the invention comprises a spacer for use between lines to maintain the lines at a set spacing from each other, including at least two spaced jaws and a lever action closure mechanism operable to close the jaws after engaging of the spacer onto adjacent lines to fix the spacer in position between the lines.

Preferably each pair of jaws comprises a fixed jaw part and a movable jaw part which is slidingly moved by the lever action closure mechanism to close the moving jaw part against the fixed jaw part.

Preferably a twin spacer comprises two fixed jaw parts provided one at either end of a spacer member connecting the fixed jaw parts and two movable jaw parts slidingly carried by said spacer member between the fixed jaw parts. Preferably the lever action closure mechanism operates between the two movable jaw parts to slidingly move each away from the other and towards two fixed jaw parts to close the line spacer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of spacer of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings by way of example and without intending to be limiting, wherein: Figure 1 is the view of the preferred form spacer from one side with the closure lever and jaws open, Figure 2 is a view of the preferred form spacer from one side after operating of the closure lever to close the spacer, Figure 3 is a view of the closed spacer in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a cross-section view of the spring loaded end of the closure lever in the preferred form spacer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM The preferred form line spacer shown in the drawings is a twin spacer intended to be fitted between two overhead power transmission lines, or pairs of lines, to space the lines from each other, and comprises two pairs of jaws generally indicated at 1 and 2 in Figure 1. The pairs of jaws comprise fixed jaw parts la and 2a respectively, and movable jaw parts lb and 2b. The fixed jaw parts la and 2a are carried at either end of a spacer body member 3, on which the moving jaw parts lb and 2b are slidably mounted, so that the jaw parts lb and 2b may move in the direction of arrows B during operation of a lever action closure mechanism which operates between the jaw pairs 1 and 2.

The closure mechanism comprises closure lever 4 pivotally engaged with one of the movable jaw parts 2b and link 6 pivotally connected to the closure lever 4 intermediate of its length at 6 and to the other movable jaw part lb at 7. In the preferred form twin spacer shown the fixed jaw parts la and 2a are provided one at either end of the body member 3 and face each other as shown and operation of the lever action closure mechanism slides the two movable jaw parts lb and 2b away from each other and towards the two fixed jaw parts to close the spacer.

The spacer body member 3 having fixed jaw parts la and 2a at either end and mounting the moving jaw parts lb and 2b may have an I or T cross-section in shape and the moving jaw parts lb and 2b are mounted for sliding movement along the member 3 by legs 9 extending around a web of the I-cross-section body member 3 as shown, so as to capture the jaw components lb and 2b on the spacer body, while enabling sliding movement in the direction of arrows B when the closure lever is moved in the direction of arrow C in Figure 1 to its closed position shown in Figure 2.

Typically the spacer components will be formed from aluminium or other lightweight material. The spacer jaws mount insulating components 10 formed from rubber or other non-conducting and preferably resilient material which when the spacer is closed will press tightly around the two lines as shown in Figure 2.

In use, to close the spacer after it has been fitted between two adjacent lines so that the lines are positioned one between each pair of jaws, the closure lever 4 is moved in the direction of arrow C, causing the jaw components lb and 2b to move slidingly away from each other towards, and to close against, the fixed jaw components la and 2a, so that when the spacer is fully closed, the lines will be captured between the two closed jaws on each side of the spacer.

Preferably the spacer includes means for snap locking the free end of the longer member 4 in position as shown in Figure 2 when the spacer is closed. Any suitable mechanism may be employed but in the preferred form and referring to Figure 4, the distal end 4a of the lever member 4 comprises an internal bore 4b housing a spring 11 to one end of which is attached a bush 12. A pin 13 extends through the bush 12 and through slots 4c on either side of the end of the lever member as shown. During closing the lever member 4 the pin 13 engages striker portions lc on one of the movable jaw parts lb on either side, depressing the spring 11 in the end of the handle, and then snap locks into the hook shaped recesses 15 on either side as shown in Figure 2. If required for maintenance or relocation of the spacer, the spacer may be opened by using an L-shaped tool to depress the spring 11 and move the pin 13 out of recesses 15 on either side, and then pivot out the end of the lever member 4.

In the preferred form twin spacer described above, one jaw part moves slidingly towards the other jaw part to close each pair of jaws on operation of the lever action closure mechanism, but alternatively for example the two jaws of each pair of jaws may be pivotally mounted relative to one another so that operation of the closure lever will cause the two jaws to pivot towards each other, to close about the lines.

Other equivalent mechanical arrangements are possible utilising a lever action closure mechanism to enable the spacer to be closed about adjacent lines by a lever action in fitting of the spacer.

The preferred form twin spacer shown in the drawing is for fitting between two lines and for example a triple spacer may include three pairs of jaws intended to enable

fitting of the spacer to three adjacent lines, with two similar lever action closure mechanisms provided one between each pair of jaws. A quadruple spacer for fitting between four adjacent lines may comprise four pairs of closable jaws and three lever action closure mechanisms between each jaw pair, and so on.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.