CN118510677A - Overhead line clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to an overhead line clamp (100) which can be fixed on an overhead line (2), the overhead line clamp (100) comprising: a jaw (102); a hinge (104) for enabling the jaw to be driven between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the jaw (102) secures the wire (2); and a manually operable lock (108) arranged to be able to drive the jaw (102) between an open position and a closed position.

Description

Overhead line clamp

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an overhead line clamp. In particular, but not exclusively, they relate to an overhead contact wire clamp for an electrified overhead wire system.

Background

Electrified overhead line systems for transportation are also known as overhead catenary systems. The system comprises a cable arranged to transmit electrical energy to a vehicle, such as an electric locomotive, a trolley bus, a tram, or even a heavy road truck.

Vehicles include overhead devices such as pantographs, arcuate current collectors, or power poles to collect electrical energy from overhead line systems.

A common overhead line system includes an upper line, a lower line (contact line), and periodically spaced slings that suspend the lower line from the upper line.

The upper end of each sling is connected to the upper wire by a clamp. The lower end of each sling is connected to the lower wire by a clamp. The clamps form a tight mechanical and electrical connection.

Existing clamp designs will take time to tighten, especially when the clamp needs to be loosened and slightly repositioned multiple times in order to set the correct vertical height of the contact line.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an overhead contact wire clamp arranged to secure a sling to an overhead contact wire, the overhead contact wire clamp comprising:

A sling connector for securing the clamp to the sling;

Jaws, each jaw shaped to fit within a respective side slot of the overhead contact wire when the jaw is in a closed position;

a hinge for enabling actuation of the jaw members between an open position and a closed position; and

A manually operable lock is provided to drive the jaw members between the open and closed positions.

The manually operable lock provides the following advantages: so that the slings can be quickly secured to the overhead contact wires and used to quickly adjust the clamp position to correct the straightness of the slings. This is because the manually operable lock eliminates the need for tools.

The manually operable lock may comprise a manually operable lever. The length of travel of the manually operable lever may be set such that when the manually operable lever is at one end of its travel, the jaw members are in open positions spaced far enough apart to receive the side slots of the overhead contact wire therebetween, and when the manually operable lever is at a second end of its travel, the jaw members are in closed positions to grip against the side slots.

The advantage is a further increase in the speed at which the slings can be fixed to the overhead contact wire.

The manually operable lever may have a mechanical advantage of, for example, greater than 2. However, a mechanical advantage of the manually operable lever of greater than 3 or 4 may further reduce the force (effort) required for single stroke operation, as described above, while enabling the use of durable rigid hinges (e.g., metal living hinges as described below). The length of the manually operable lever may be at least as long as the length of the jaw members or longer than the length of the jaw members.

The manually operable lock may be a bistable lock mechanism. For example, the manually operable lock may be an over-center lock. The over-centre lock may comprise a manually operable lever arranged to rotate the cam to actuate the jaw members.

It is advantageous to provide switching feedback to the user, indicating that the jaw is in the closed position. This eliminates the need for manual inspection and compliance by the user with the torque specification.

The lock may comprise a stud interconnecting the jaw members, one end of the stud being anchored to the lock, the lock being arranged to push against a first one of the jaw members, the other end of the stud being anchored to a second one of the jaw members opposite the first jaw member.

Alternatively, the manually operable lock may be of a different type than the over-center lock.

The manually operable lock may further comprise a catch engageable when the jaw members are actuated in the closed position to prevent movement of the jaw members from the closed position.

The advantage is that the lock resists loosening, e.g. due to noise, vibration and harshness (harshness) of passing vehicles, or line oscillations caused by wind, etc.

The clamp may comprise an electrically conductive material to form an electrical connection between the sling connector and the jaw. The conductive material may include copper, silver, tin, aluminum, or alloys thereof.

The hinge may be a living hinge. The hinge may comprise an electrically conductive material. The hinge may be integral with the jaw.

The advantage is that a single molded body of electrically conductive material can be used.

The hinge may include a sling connector. The sling connector may include a socket for receiving a sling.

The socket may be located at the hinge such that when the jaw members are moved to the closed position, deformation of the hinge will compress the socket to secure the clamp to the slings.

The advantage is that the same user hand drive will cause the clamp to be fixed on the overhead contact wire and on the sling. Another advantage is that in use conductivity is maintained by the clamp in any vibration.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided that includes an overhead contact wire clamp, an overhead contact wire, and a sling.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an overhead line clamp fixable to an overhead line, the overhead line clamp including:

A jaw member;

A hinge for enabling the jaw to be driven between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the jaw is arranged to secure an overhead line; and

A manually operable lock is provided to be able to drive the jaw members between an open position and a closed position.

Drawings

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an overhead line system;

fig. 2 shows an example of an overhead contact wire;

Fig. 3 shows an example of an overhead contact wire clamp;

FIG. 4 illustrates an overhead contact wire clamp with a cam lever in an open position; and

Figure 5 shows the overhead contact wire clamp with the cam lever in the closed position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an example electrified overhead line system 1 for transportation. The overhead line system 1 includes: an upper catenary 3; a lower contact line 2; and a periodically spaced sling 4, the sling 4 suspending the contact wire 2 from the catenary 3.

The contact line 2 is an electrically conductive line arranged to contact the overhead equipment of the vehicle, thereby forming an electrical connection. The contact wire 2 is suspended at a substantially constant vertical height above the track/road so as to maintain constant contact with overhead equipment of the vehicle (e.g., a pantograph, an arcuate current collector, or a contact rod).

Catenary 3 is a conductive wire that is attached at intervals to a support structure (e.g., a column or building). The catenary 3 extends parallel to the contact line 2 and above the contact line 2. The catenary 3 sags at each intermediate span due to its own weight and the weight of the suspended slings 4 and contact wires 2.

Slings 4 are vertical conductive wires, such as generally vertical wires, for suspending contact wires 2 from catenary 3. The slings 4 connected to the intermediate spans of the catenary 3 are generally shorter than slings connected to the end spans close to the catenary 3 in order to compensate for sagging of the catenary 3 and to ensure a constant height of the contact wire 2.

The example system 1 shown is applicable to heavy rail implementations in a permanent manner. However, the clamp of the present invention may also be used with other types of overhead line systems, such as light rail/tram electrified overhead line systems. The latter system may have spaced support lines perpendicular to the contact line 2, which are connected to the contact line 2 directly or by means of short slings 4.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a cross section of a contact wire 2. The contact wire 2 may be, without limitation, a single core wire, such as a cold drawn solid wire made of copper, silver, tin or alloys thereof.

The contact line 2 has a non-circular cross-section. The contact wire 2 has side grooves 20 on its left and right sides. The side grooves 20 provide gripping surfaces for the clamp to achieve an interference gripping fit, wherein the jaw members are inserted into the side grooves 20 and compress the contact wire 2 laterally. The exact dimensions of the contact wire 2 may be standardized but may also vary worldwide, depending on the railway standard available for the area.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example implementation of an overhead contact wire clamp 100 according to various embodiments of the invention. The clip 100 is arranged to clip onto a contact wire 2 of a geometry governed by the relevant standard, such as the contact wire 2 schematically shown in fig. 2.

The clamp 100 includes jaw members 102, each jaw member 102 being shaped to fit within a respective side groove of the overhead contact wire 2 when the jaw members 102 are in the closed position.

In the closed position, the tips of jaw 102 may be spaced apart from one another by a value selected from a range of at least 5.5 millimeters to less than 8 millimeters, for example, about 6 millimeters. This enables the jaw 102 to fit in the side groove 20, wherein the interference will at least prevent the euro contact wire 2 from falling out.

In the open position, the tips of jaw 102 may be spaced more than 8 millimeters apart from each other. This is wide enough to receive at least the top of the contact wire 2.

The clip 100 includes a sling connector 106 to secure the clip 100 to the sling 4. The illustrated sling connector 106 includes a socket for receiving the sling 4. The socket is shown as a through hole through which the end of the sling 4 (e.g. the curled end) can be inserted and then clamped by deformation of the socket to anchor the end of the sling 4 to the clamp 100.

It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, another type of sling connector 106 may be used.

The clip 100 may include an entire body of conductive material. The body may integrally combine the jaw 102 and the sling connector 106.

The conductive material forms an electrical connection between the sling connector 106 and the jaw 102. This enables power to be transferred from the slings 4 to the contact wires 2.

Clip 100 also includes a hinge 104 to enable jaw 102 to be driven between an open position, shown in fig. 4, and a closed position, shown in fig. 5. The hinge axis of the hinge 104 is substantially parallel to the axis of the contact line 2.

In the example shown, the hinge 104 is a living hinge composed of the same conductive material as described above. The inherent flexibility of copper means that living hinge 104 does not have to be weaker/less geometrically rigid than jaw 102.

A sling connector 106 may be located at the hinge 104 between the jaw members 102. The sling connector 106 may be oriented vertically and perpendicular to the hinge axis of the hinge 104. The sling connector 106 may be a hole in the conductive material. The sling connector 106 may be sized for a given sling cross-section. For example, the sling connector 106 may have a hole diameter greater than about 5 millimeters. By positioning the sling connector 106 at the hinge 104, the action of driving the jaw 102 to the closed position deforms the hinge 104 sufficiently such that the sling connector 106 compresses and squeezes the sides of the end (e.g., curled end) of the sling 4.

Fig. 3-5 also illustrate a manually operable over-center lock 108 in the form of a cam lever that includes a cam 110 and a manually operable lever 112. The term "cam" will be understood to cover both lobe cam mechanisms and eccentric mechanisms.

The lock 108 has a lock open position, as shown in fig. 4, in which the jaw 102 is in an open position. The lock 108 has a lock closed position, as shown in fig. 5, in which the jaw 102 is in a closed position. The lock 108 has bi-stability, switching between stable positions, as it moves the "over center" of the cam 110.

The lever 112 is manually operable with a mechanical advantage of greater than 2 or greater than 3 or greater than 4 to enable an adult's hand to elastically deform the hinge 104 (e.g., copper living hinge) through the cam lever 112 until the cam 110 reaches an over-center position (maximum lift).

The lever 112 is able to travel at least a small distance beyond the over-center position (maximum lift of the cam 110) in order to stay in a stable lock closed position.

Lock 108 includes a stud 114 that interconnects jaw 102. One end of the stud 114 is anchored to the lock 108. Cam 110 is configured to push against a first jaw 102A of the jaw members. The stud 114 extends through the first jaw. The other end of the stud 114 is anchored to a second jaw 102B opposite the first jaw 102A.

The length of travel of the lever 112 is such that when the lever 112 is at one end of its travel (fig. 4), the jaw members 102 are in open positions spaced far enough apart to receive the side slots 20 of the overhead contact wire 2 therebetween. When the lever 112 is at the second end of its travel (fig. 5), the jaw 102 is in the closed position so as to clamp against the side groove 20 of the overhead contact wire 2. The travel of the rod 112 may be a value greater than 60 degrees or greater than 100 degrees, such as about 120 degrees.

The illustrated lever 112 is long enough such that the tip of the lever 112 protrudes above the top of the hinge 104 at the second end of its travel (corresponding to the lock closed position) (fig. 5). The stem 112 may be at least as long as the length of the jaw 102 or slightly longer than the length of the jaw 102. In fig. 5, the rod 112 may be substantially parallel to the first jaw 102A at a second end of its travel.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example catch 116A, the catch 116A being engageable to prevent movement of the jaw members from the closed position when the jaw members are actuated in the closed position.

The illustrated clasp 116A includes teeth on the cam 110 that are configured to engage tooth receiving surface features 116B (e.g., stud holes) on the sides of the first jaw 102A when the cam 110 is over-centered rotated toward the lock-closed position of the lever 112. The teeth and tooth receiving surface configuration may be shaped to create a ratcheting force that prevents the lever 112 from rotating rearward.

Thus, as shown, catch 116A may be configured to automatically engage when lever 112 reaches the lock closed position. Moreover, the catch 116A is configured such that a greater force is required to move the lever 112 from the lock closed position to the lock open position than to move the lever 112 from the lock open position to the lock closed position.

It should be understood that the catch 116A is not limited to the specific example shown. For example, an alternative (or additional) type of clasp can include a side slot toward the distal end of the stem 112. When the lever 112 reaches the lock closed position, the side slots of the lever 112 may be coaxially aligned over the sling connector 106. Thus, the slings 4 can slide into side slots in the ends of the rod 112. This means that the lever 112 cannot leave the lock closed position without first sliding the slings 4 laterally out of the side slots.

In other examples, the manually operable lock 108 may be of a different type than an over-center lock. Examples include, but are not limited to:

a manually operable crank, for example a screw with a manually operable crank lever at one end;

-rotating a push button clamp, such as a quarter-turn clamp, a half-turn clamp or a full-turn clamp;

-a scissor mechanism clamp or other push-pull clamp.

Some example embodiments involving crank movement may include a torque limiter to automatically prevent excessive torque. The torque limiter can be a clutch-based torque limiter or another type of torque limiter. The clutch-based torque limiter can include a pawl clutch or a ball brake clutch, or another suitable type of clutch. These clutches can also be used to prevent reverse movement of the manually operable lock, for example by making the ball detent surface shallower in the reverse direction, so as to reduce the torque of the ball ejecting from the detent.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that variations to the examples given are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, a clamp may be used at the upper end of the sling to connect with the catenary.

The features described in the foregoing description may be used in different combinations than those explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to particular features, these functions may be performed by other features, whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to particular embodiments, these features may also be present in other embodiments, whether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (25)

1. An overhead line clamp securable to an overhead line, the overhead line clamp comprising:

A jaw member;

a hinge for enabling the jaw to be driven between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the closed position the jaw is arranged to secure an overhead line; and

A manually operable lock is provided to drive the jaw members between the open and closed positions.

2. The overhead line clamp of claim 1, wherein: the manually operable lock includes a manually operable lever.

3. The overhead line clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the manually operable lock is a bistable lock mechanism.

4. The overhead line clamp of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: the manually operable lock comprises a stud interconnecting jaw members, one end of the stud being anchored to the manually operable lock, the manually operable lock being arranged to push against a first one of the jaw members, the other end of the stud being anchored to a second one of the jaw members opposite the first jaw member.

5. The overhead line clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the manually operable lock further includes a catch that is engageable when the jaw members are actuated in the closed position to prevent movement of the jaw members from the closed position.

6. The overhead line clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: conductive material to form an electrical connection between the socket of the overhead wire clamp and the jaw members.

7. The overhead line clamp of claim 1 in the form of an overhead contact wire clamp arranged to secure a sling to an overhead line in the form of an overhead contact wire, the overhead contact wire clamp comprising:

A sling connector for securing the overhead contact wire clamp to a sling;

Jaws, each jaw shaped to fit within a respective side slot of the overhead contact wire when the jaw is in a closed position;

a hinge for enabling actuation of the jaw members between an open position and a closed position; and

A manually operable lock is provided to drive the jaw members between the open and closed positions.

8. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 7, wherein: the manually operable lock includes a manually operable lever.

9. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 8, wherein: the length of travel of the manually operable lever is set such that when the manually operable lever is at one end of its travel, the jaw members are in open positions spaced far enough apart to receive the side slots of the overhead contact line therebetween, and when the manually operable lever is at a second end of its travel, the jaw members are in closed positions to grip against the side slots.

10. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 8 or 9, wherein: the manually operable lever has a mechanical advantage of greater than 2 and/or the manually operable lever is at least as long as the length of the jaw members or longer than the length of the jaw members.

11. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein: the manually operable lock is a bistable lock mechanism.

12. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 11, wherein: the manually operable lock is an over-center lock.

13. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 12 when dependent on claim 8, wherein: the over-center lock includes a manually operable lever configured to rotate the cam to actuate the jaw members.

14. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 13, wherein: a manually operable lever is provided to rotate the cam to actuate the jaw members to provide switching feedback to the user to indicate that the jaw members are in the closed position.

15. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein: the manually operable lock comprises a stud interconnecting jaw members, one end of the stud being anchored to the manually operable lock, the manually operable lock being arranged to push against a first one of the jaw members, the other end of the stud being anchored to a second one of the jaw members opposite the first jaw member.

16. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein: the manually operable lock further includes a catch that is engageable when the jaw members are actuated in the closed position to prevent movement of the jaw members from the closed position.

17. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 16, wherein: the clasp includes a slot toward the distal end of the manually operable lever that is coaxially aligned over the sling connector when the manually operable lever reaches the lock closed position.

18. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 17, further comprising: conductive material to form an electrical connection between the sling connector and the jaw.

19. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 18, wherein: the hinge part is a movable hinge part.

20. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 19, wherein: the hinge includes a sling connector.

21. The overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 20, wherein: the sling connector includes a socket for receiving a sling.

22. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 21, wherein: the socket is located at the hinge such that when the jaw members are moved to the closed position, deformation of the hinge compresses the socket to secure the overhead contact wire clamp to the sling.

23. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 22 when appended to claim 18, wherein: the hinge includes a conductive material.

24. The overhead contact wire clamp of claim 23, wherein: the hinge is integral with the jaw.

25. A system comprising an overhead contact wire clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 24, an overhead contact wire and a sling.