FR2713567A1 - Support for catenary wire carrying overhead railway electric wires in tunnel - Google Patents

Abstract

The catenary support has an electrically insulating arm (34) attached at its inner end (35) to a structure (15) on the tunnel wall. The outer end (36) is attached to a telescopic arm (74,75). The outer end of the telescopic arm carries the catenary suspension (13). The insulating arm is angled upward, and the telescopic arm is approximately horizontal, roughly following the roof (2) of the tunnel. The joints have a mechanism to set and maintain the arms at the correct angle. The electrical insulator is flexible and is made of an elastic synthetic material. The outer arm is also of a flexible material. The catenary suspension is pivoted from the end of the telescopic arm.

Description

 The present invention relates to a tunnel catenary support, of the type comprising: an electrically insulating arm having a first mounting end on the tunnel vault and a second catenary suspension end and comprising a first and a second straight section, adjacent respectively to the first end and the second end and mutually connected by a bend, - a mounting plate which is capable of being fixed to the tunnel vault in a predetermined position and on which the arm is mounted by its first end so that the first section is ascending from it and the second section is approximately horizontal, so as to follow the tunnel vault; - a suspension member of the catenary at the second end of the arm.

Catenary supports of this type are well known, and for example marketed under the reference 2421 by the Swiss firm
FURRER & FREY, in an embodiment adapted to support a flexible polygonal catenary.

 In this known embodiment, the arm is rigid and simply articulated on the mounting plate about a pivot axis oriented substantially vertically in said determined position to allow a slight displacement of the second end of the arm, depending on variations in apparent length of the catenary consecutive eg expansion of the latter or the arrow that it takes between the catenary supports under the action of an electricity collection pantograph.

 The only adjustment possibility offered by catenary supports of this type, apart from the possibility of choosing within certain limits the mounting area of the mounting plate on the tunnel vault, concerns the distance separating the bend, on the second section, the suspension of the catenary. Indeed, the latter, in fact formed two mutually independent parts, one of which is intended to carry the suspension wire of the catenary above the second section of the arm and the other to hold the catenary itself below this second section, can be fixed by clamping at any location along the second section of the arm.

 Such a known catenary support has the disadvantage of being able to be used only in the case of tunnels having a relatively large cross-section with respect to the gauge of the trains, considering that it is necessary to succeed in accommodating each catenary support between the gauge of the trains and an electrical safety gauge, corresponding to the respect of an isolation distance between any component brought to the supply voltage of the trains in electricity and any point of the vault; by way of nonlimiting example, the insulation distance is 250 mm, in polluted zone, or 200 mm, in unpolluted zone, for a power supply voltage of 25 kV (IT <- 041 standard).

 Compliance with this condition may present no difficulty when installing a catenary inside a tunnel planned from the outset for this purpose; however, it is observed that the design of a tunnel to receive the known catenary supports thus designed implies a large oversizing of the tunnel with respect to the train gauge, that is to say a significant increase in the cost of these tunnels, especially in the case of single-track tunnels, whose vaults frame the train gauge on all sides.

 When it comes to electrifying tunnels initially designed for steam or diesel traction, whose vault is very close to the gauge of the trains especially in single track, the use of these known catenary supports forces to considerably lower the flat -form of the way, to clear between the gauge of the trains and the electrical safety gauge a sufficient space.

 This leads to costly earthworks, all the more lengthy as they relate to roads in service, and this not only inside the tunnels but over considerable distances on either side of them; given their amplitude, generally several tens of centimeters, these earthworks must concern not only the platform of the road but also neighboring installations, for example signaling or evacuation of water.

These disadvantages can be partially remedied by substituting for the traditional flexible catenary, usually used in combination with these known catenary supports, a rigid catenary, also known, suitably hung under the second section of the arm and having the advantage of not require suspension means above this arm. This solution is however not entirely satisfactory because, given the usual conformation of the tunnel vaults, it is more the arm itself than the means provided above its second section to suspend the traditional flexible catenary that it is difficult to fit between the train gauge and the electrical safety gauge.
the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and, for this purpose, the present invention proposes a tunnel catenary support, of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that the first end of the arm is connected to the plate of mounting via means for adjusting the orientation of the first section relative to the mounting plate around a first tilting axis, which is substantially horizontal in said determined position, and the second end of the arm carries the suspension member of the catenary via means for adjusting the orientation of this suspension member relative to the second section about a second axis of tilting parallel to the first axis of tilting.

A person skilled in the art will easily understand how much easier it is to have in a small space, between the gauge of the trains and an electrical safety gauge, such a catenary support whose geometry can be adapted according to the conditions of implantation. In particular, when it is a question of adapting to electrical traction a tunnel, in particular a single-track tunnel, initially designed for steam or diesel traction, the possibility of optimally adapting the catenary support to the electrical safety gauge, imposed by the shape of the vault and electrical safety standards, allows to place the train gauge closer to the electrical safety gauge than when using the known catenary supports, commented above, that is to say to say to reduce the amplitude of the lowering that must be subjected to the platform of way, or even to avoid this lowering in the case of tunnels largely sized initially; the lowering of the tunnel lane can be compensated for a much smaller distance out of this tunnel and, in general, earthworks are considerably reduced in terms of both cost and duration; moreover, it becomes possible in most cases to dispense with a corresponding lowering of the installations close to the track, which further increases the advantage of economy and speed of work.
A person skilled in the art will also readily understand that the possibilities of modifying the geometry of a catenary support according to the invention make it possible to use only one and the same standard support for all the support points of the catenary, even in the case of an installation in a tunnel cut directly into the rock and thus having a vault sometimes very irregular.

 It will be noted that the use of a rigid catenary in combination with a catenary support according to the invention, provided with a suitable suspension member, makes it possible to benefit fully from the above advantages of this one, given the the small size of such a catenary rigid in height.

 Naturally, the articulation of the suspension member of the rigid catenary at the second end of the arm by means of means for adjusting the orientation of this suspension member about a substantially horizontal axis of tilting allows for suitably orient the rigid catenary, depending on the slope of the track, regardless of the orientation of the arm relative to the mounting plate around the first axis of tilting.

 A catenary support according to the invention can, however, also receive a flexible catenary, comprising a suspension wire and at least one contact wire suspended therefrom; a suitable suspension member is then provided, which receives the suspension wire and can be properly oriented around the second tilting axis, irrespective of the orientation adjustment made at the first tilting axis.

 If the installation conditions so require, in particular during an installation of the curved catenary, the catenary support according to the invention may comprise, in addition, at least one return arm of the contact wire of the catenary, articulated on the electrically insulating arm, near the elbow, and placed below the second section with reference to said determined position; a single return arm is thus provided when the contact wire is unique whereas, in the case where the catenary has two contact wires, two of these return arms, preferably mutually independent, can be provided, or an arm of common reminder to both contact wires.

 In such a case, these abovementioned advantages of a catenary support according to the invention are naturally preserved.

 These advantages are even more significant, whatever the type of the catenary, when the catenary support according to the invention is produced so that the bend comprises means for adjusting the orientation of the second section relative to the first one. section about a third axis of tilting parallel to the first and second tilt axes. A person skilled in the art will readily understand that such an additional articulation between the two sections of the arm increases the possibilities of adapting the shape of the latter to the electrical safety gauge, that is to say the possibility of bringing from the latter the gauge of the trains in comparison with the previously known solutions.

 For this purpose, also, it is preferred that the second section comprises means for adjusting the distance between the second axis of tilting and the elbow, and is for example telescopic, as well as the or each possible return arm. Such an arrangement effectively hooks the suspension member of the catenary at the second end of the arm, that is to say, to ensure that no useless portion thereof exceeds the plumb of the suspension member, while accurately positioning the catenary depending on the position of the track. By cons, when adopting a catenary support of the known type, commented previously, the adaptation of the position of the suspension member of the catenary depending on the position of the track is certainly possible, but it goes with generally the presence of a useless length of the second section of the cantilever arm relative to the catenary, and it is naturally necessary to also accommodate this cantilever length inside the safety template electrical and outside the train gauge, which leads to separate these two templates to accommodate this unnecessary length of the second section of the arm, and therefore unnecessarily increases the earthworks.

 It is known that the possibility for a catenary to fade slightly at the passage of a pantograph, naturally to return elastically thereafter to its original conformation, promotes cooperation between the catenary and the pantograph and is preferably provided for this effect, that the arm is elastically flexible.

 When, as is known per se, the first section of this arm consists essentially of an electrical insulator, an elastic, elastically flexible electrical insulator is advantageously chosen in this respect, which has the advantage over insulators. traditional porcelain, reduced section.

 Thus, it was possible to make a catenary support arm according to the invention with a section of diameter at most equal to 80 mm, which naturally facilitates the insertion of the arm in a particularly small space, between the electrical safety mask and the gauge of the trains.

Naturally, this figure is only a non-limiting example, it being understood that the smaller the diameter of the section of the arm, the smaller the space required for housing the arm between the electrical safety gauge and the train gauge is low , and the more the advantages of a catenary support according to the present invention are sensitive.

 To compensate for expansion problems, it is preferably provided that the mounting plate comprises free articulation means of the first end of the arm, through the means of adjusting the orientation of the first section, around a first pivot axis, which is substantially vertical in said determined position. It is then advantageously provided, also, that the suspension member of the catenary comprises free articulation means on the second end of the arm, by means of the adjustment means of the orientation of this suspension member, around a second pivot axis situated in a plane perpendicular to the second tilting axis and capable of being oriented substantially parallel to the first pivot axis or obliquely to it by means of the adjustment means of the orientation of this suspension member.

 These adjustment means can be produced in various forms, but a particularly simple embodiment is characterized in that these means comprise a pivot which is articulated freely around the second axis of tilting on the second end of the arm, defines the second axis of pivoting and carries the suspension member of the catenary freely articulated around the second pivot axis, and pivot locking means against a rotation about the second axis of tilting, relative to the second section .

 Likewise, the means for adjusting the orientation of the first section may be produced in different forms, but these latter preferably comprise a clevis on which the first end of the arm is articulated freely about the first tilting axis and means for micrometric connection, offset from the first axis of tilting, between the first section and the yoke, and the yoke is hinged freely on the mounting plate around the first pivot axis.

 Preferably, the means for adjusting the orientation of the first section further comprise means for locking the micrometric connection means.

 It is indeed a question of freezing the geometry of the arm after its adjustment, to make sure that no part of the arm will impinge, by accidental deformation of this one, on the electric gauge or the jig of the trains .

 Naturally, the embodiment of these locking means such as that of the locking means of the pivot, or that of the adjustment means, also lockable, the orientation of the second section relative to the first section when these means exist, can be selected from a wide range of possibilities by the skilled person.

 It will be noted that the same clevis and the same micrometric connection means can accommodate several locations, on the yoke, of the first tilting axis and can further increase the possibilities of adaptation of a catenary support according to the invention to the electrical safety gauge, for the purpose of placing the gauge of trains closer to the latter, providing that the yoke comprises means for defining a plurality of predetermined positions, selectable, of the first axis of tilting, offset from the means micrometric linkage.

 Naturally, although the foregoing comments refer more particularly to the application of a catenary support according to the invention to the electrification of a tunnel initially intended for steam or diesel traction, these catenary supports can find other applications, with the same advantages; in particular, for a given train gauge and for a given isolation distance, their use makes it possible to bring the gauge of the electrical safety closer to the train gauge, and consequently to design new tunnels of smaller section despite a power supply trains by catenary.

 Other features and advantages of a catenary support according to the invention will become apparent from the description below, relating to a non-limiting example of embodiment, and the accompanying drawings which form an integral part of this description.

 FIG. 1 shows a layout diagram of a rigid catenary using a catenary support according to the invention, in a tunnel with a cant, the tunnel and the catenary which will be considered as longitudinal by convention being seen in section by a transverse plane.

 FIG. 2 shows, in a side elevational view corresponding to the view of FIG. 1 and with partial cutaway, all the components of the catenary support corresponding to the first end of the arm, namely this first end, the plate mounting mounting the arm on the tunnel vault, and the clevis serving as a connecting intermediate between the first end of the arm and the plate.

 FIG. 3 shows these same components, in a plan view, in plan view, along an arrow indicated at III in FIG.

 - Figure 4 shows a view of the yoke and the end plate in a horizontal direction marked by an arrow IV in Figure 2.

 FIG. 5 shows, in a view similar to that of FIG. 2, the second end of the arm, the rigid catenary and the member ensuring its suspension at the second end of the arm, the catenary and this member being seen in section through an average plane, transverse, marked in VV in Figure 6.

 FIG. 6 shows a plan view, from above, of the second end of the arm, of the rigid catenary and of the suspension member thereof at the second end of the arm, in a direction indicated by an arrow VI in Figure 5.

 FIG. 7 shows a view of the second end of the arm, of the rigid catenary and of the suspension member thereof at the second end of the end arm, in a horizontal direction indicated by an arrow VII in FIG. 5.

 - Figure 8 shows a view of the catenary and the suspension member thereof in section through a transverse plane parallel to the plane marked V-V in Figure 6 itself identified in VIII-VIII in Figure 7.

 - Figure 9 illustrates, in a view similar to that of Figure 1, various conformations of the catenary support arm according to the invention, among a large number of possible conformations.

 - Figure 10 shows a view similar to that of Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the connecting elbow of the second section of the arm to the first section thereof.

 - Figure 1 1 shows, in a similar view to that of Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the catenary support components illustrated in Figure 5.

 - Figures 12 and 13 illustrate, in views similar to that of Figure 1, the combination of a flexible catenary to a catenary support of the invention, respectively with and without the contact wire of the contact arm.

 Referring first to Figure 1, where 1 has been designated by the contour of the cross section of the vault 2 of a single-lane tunnel, and 3 by the electrical safety jig with respect to the vault 2.

This electrical safety mask 3 has a shape which is deduced from the contour 1 by homothety, since this electrical safety mask 3 is offset with respect to the contour 1, towards the inside 4 of the tunnel, with a uniform isolation distance D imposed by safety standards, eg 250 mm, in the case of a polluted area, or 200 mm, in a non-polluted area, static and for a power supply voltage of 25 kV trains according to IT-C-041; Naturally, these figures and this standard are only given as a non-limiting example.

None of the components brought to the voltage in question must be situated between this electrical safety mask 3 and the outline 1. In this figure, the train gauge has been designated, in its entirety, shifted inwardly 4. tunnel with respect to the electrical safety gauge 3, by 6 and 7, between the jig 5 of the trains and the electrical safety jig 3, the pantograph gauge respectively static and dynamic, for example in the case of isolated horns for a 1450 mm bow according to UIC 608 R, and 8 the pantograph electric gauge. The permissible misalignment of the latter has been schematized in x, parallel to an unillustrated running surface, having a slope, that is to say an inclination of angle a, not exceeding a few degrees, with respect to a plane horizontal 9; this permissible misalignment, which is, for example, more or less 200 mm in alignment and plus or minus 250 mm in curve, has been illustrated between two limit positions 10a and 10b of an average plane of the pantograph, which average plane notably presents in these limit positions 10a and 10b have an angle of inclination 4 equal to the angle α of cant relative to a vertical plane 11.

 12, in this figure, a catenary support according to the invention, which must meet the following geometrical conditions, whatever the location where it is located along the tunnel: it must bear the catenary 13, here rigid, between the limits 10a and 10b of permissible misalignment of the pantograph, below the electrical safety gauge 3 but above the gauges 6 and 7 of the pantograph statically and dynamically; it must be fixed to the roof 2 outside the jig 5 of the train and, more generally, must be located entirely outside this jig 5 and the jig 7 of the dynamic pantograph, wider than the jig 6 of the jig. in static, no condition being imposed on it in relation to the electrical gauge 8 of the pantograph; - at least as regards its components brought to the supply voltage of the train in electricity, it must in no way penetrate between the electrical safety mask 3 and the contour 1 of the cross section of the vault 2.

 For this purpose, the catenary support 12 according to the invention has in the illustrated example a conformation which will now be described, not only with reference to FIG. 1 but also with reference to all the other FIGS. 2 to 9. .

 In a manner that is not characteristic of the present invention, the catenary support 12 according to the invention is mounted on the roof 2 of the tunnel by means of a bracket 15 whose shape and constitution are indifferent since it is rigid, entirely situated outside the jig of the train 5 and the dynamic gauge 7 of the pantograph, and that it defines a reference surface 14, for example substantially vertical and longitudinal, facing the jig 5 of the trains and the dynamic jig 7 pantograph.

 Although a standardization of the consoles 15 corresponding to the different catenary supports 12 of the same tunnel or a series of tunnels is preferred, particular conditions of implementation can lead to providing consoles 15 of different shape, even in a same tunnel.

 To ensure its mounting on the console 15, the catenary support 12 comprises meanwhile a mounting plate 16 intended to be secured to the bracket 15 in a specific position which will serve as a reference thereafter and in which it rests flat on the reference surface 14 of that, between the templates 5 and 7, on the one hand, and the template 3, on the other hand; the fastening of the plate 16 with the bracket 15 is for example provided by screwing.

 This plate 16 is more particularly visible in Figures 2 to 4, which will be referred to now and where we see that it has the shape of a stirrup when viewed in side elevation, and more specifically comprises in one only rigid piece, for example molded or forged metal, a flat base 17, substantially vertical and in particular having a substantially vertical flat face 18 by which it rests flat on the reference surface 14 of the bracket 5, and two wings 19 flat, substantially horizontal, mutually parallel and projecting on the base 17 opposite the face 18 of that.

 To allow the fixing of the plate 16 by its base 17 on the bracket 15, this base 17 is pierced right through several holes 26, oblong along substantially horizontal planes 20 to receive with a certain possibility of adjustment according to these plans. fixing screw on the console 15.

 The wings 19 are also pierced from one side, as for them following a same substantially vertical axis 21, bores 22 by which they receive coaxially, with possibility of relative rotation around the axis 21 without or virtually no possibility of displacement relative to the axis 21, a pivot 23 which is retained by pinning in the illustrated example and extends in particular between them.

 Between the two wings 19, the pivot 23 carries itself, with the possibility of relative rotation around the axis 21 but without the possibility of relative movement along this axis 21 except for a slight functional clearance vis-à-vis wings 19 to allow relative free rotation around the axis 21, a rigid coaxial sleeve 24, rigidly secured to a rigid yoke 25 which is thus pivotally mounted about the axis 21, relative to the plate 16 itself- even integral with the roof 2 of the tunnel through the console 15.

 The bracket 25, which forms for example a metal-welded assembly with the sleeve 24, comprises two flat wings, substantially vertical, 27 mutually parallel and mutually symmetrical with respect to a substantially vertical plane 28 including the axis 21 and constituting for the cleft 25 a mean plane of symmetry, arranged approximately transversely if one refers to the longitudinal general direction of the tunnel and the catenary 13. These two wings 27 extend in the direction of a distance from the axis 21, from the sleeve 24. In their zone closest to the latter, they are interconnected, rigidly, by two flat, substantially horizontal spacers 29 each of which is symmetrical with respect to the plane 28 and which extend to the sleeve 24 to which they are secured rigidly, respectively close to one or the other of the wings 19, between them.

 The two wings 27 also leave between them a space 130 fully open in the direction of a distance from the axis 21 as well as, outside the area of the spacers 29 which extend only about half of the unreferenced dimension of the wings 27 in the direction of a distance from the axis 21, upwards and downwards.

 In their zone farthest from the axis 21, the two wings 27 are pierced right through, along the same substantially horizontal axis 30, of a respective bore 31 through which they receive integrally, for example by bolting to the outside of the yoke 25, a coaxial pivot 32 passing through the space 130. Preferably, as illustrated, several sets are thus provided, namely two sets in the illustrated example, of two bores 31 arranged according to the same substantially horizontal axis 30 respectively in one and the other wings 27 to receive a pivot 32, which allows to choose the positioning of the latter in the direction of the height on the yoke 25, depending on the shape and dimensions of the space 33 remaining between the electrical safety mask 3, on the one hand, and the templates 5 and 7 respectively of the train and the pantograph dynamically, on the other hand (Figure 1).

 By the pivot 32, thus positioned along an axis 30 suitably selected, the yoke 25 carries, with the possibility of tilting around this axis, a transverse arm 34 which, as shown in Figure 1, provides the connection between the catenary 13 and the clevis 25, that is to say the console 15 via the plate 16.

 More precisely, the yoke 25 receives via the pivot 32 a first end 35 of this arm 34, which carries the catenary 13 by a second end 136 under conditions which will be described later, with reference to FIGS.

 Towards the axis 21, respecting with respect to the sleeve 24 a radial clearance, with reference to this axis 21, in any orientation accessible between its upper and lower limit orientations, the section 38 has a forked free end 41, presenting towards the axis 21 a notch 42 open towards the latter and oblong in a mean plane 43 perpendicular to the mean plane 28 and including the axis 40. The notch 42 is defined by two flat flanks 44 parallel to the mean plane 43 and mutually symmetrical relative to the latter, and by a concave bottom 45, for example a semicylindrical of revolution about a non-referenced axis located in the mid-plane 43, perpendicular to the mean plane 28.

 The free end 41 of the section 38 is furthermore hollowed out with a notch 46 which is also open towards the axis 21 but which in turn has the mean plane 28 as its mean plane, parallel to which it has two plane flanks 47 mutually symmetrical with respect to this mean plane 28 and perpendicular to which it has a bottom also plane 48, perpendicular to the axis 40 and recessed towards the axis 30 relative to the bottom 45 of the notch 42, that the notch 46 thus crosses in the subdividing into two parts mutually symmetrical with respect to the mean plane 28.

 Inside the notch 46 is located, in any orientation of the section 38 from one to the other of its limit orientations, a threaded rod 49 of axis 50 fixed relative to the yoke 29, parallel to the pivot axis 21 and located in the mid-plane 28 on the same side of the pivot axis 21 as the tilting axis 30.

 Following this axis 50, fixed relative to the yoke 25, each spacer 29 thereof has a respective bore 51 through which the threaded rod 39 passes through the spacer 29 being guided to the relative rotation about the axis 50. threaded rod 49 is immobilized against a translation along the axis 50 relative to the spacers 29 and to the yoke 25 considered as a whole by any appropriate means, and for example by means of a pin 52 bearing on the upper spacer 29 and engaged in an upper end region, not referenced, of the rod 49, and by means of a head 53 located immediately below the lower spacer 29 and serving for the operation of the threaded rod 49 to the rotation about the axis 50 relative to the spacers 29. An immobilization of the threaded rod 49 against such rotation can be provided coercively, for example by means of a link 54 engaged in a hole 55 arranged in the t 53 is perpendicular to the axis 30 and in a hole 56 formed in the lower spacer 29, after adjusting the orientation of the section 38, that is to say, the orientation of the arm 34, around the 30 axis by rotation of the threaded rod 49 about the axis 50 relative to the spacers 29.

 For this purpose, the threaded rod 49 carries between the spacers 29 a threaded nut 57, engaged by its tapping not referenced with the unreferenced thread of the threaded rod 49, which forms with the nut 47 a visécrou system.

 Indeed, the nut 57 is immobilized against a rotation about the axis 50 relative to the yoke 25, by engagement between the flanks 47 of the notch 46 of the end 41 of the section 38 of the arm 34, bearing substantially without play, by plane lateral faces 58 mutually parallel and mutually symmetrical with respect to the axis 50, on one and the other sidewalls 47 of the notch 46.

 Projecting on each of these lateral faces 58 along the same axis 59 perpendicular to the axis 50 and that the retention of the nut 57 against a rotation about the axis 50 relative to the yoke 25 maintains in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the mean plane 28, the nut 57 carries integrally a respective pin 60 which extends to the immediate vicinity of a respective wing 27 of the yoke 25, through a respective one of the parts notch 42 located respectively on either side of the notch 46.

 Each pin 60 is defined in particular by a respective outer circumferential face 61 cylindrical of revolution about the common axis 59, with a diameter corresponding substantially to a functional clearance, at the distance mutually separating the flanks 44 of the notch 42, perpendicular to the average plane 43 thereof.

 A person skilled in the art will readily understand that a controlled rotation of the threaded rod 49 about the axis 50 with respect to the yoke 25 is translated, according to its direction, by a rise or a fall of the nut 57 following the axis 50, between the spacers 29, and therefore by adjusting the orientation of the axis 40 of the section 38, and more generally the orientation of the arm 34 considered as a whole, about the axis 30 relative at clevis 25 and pivot axis 21.

 Opposite its free end 41, the section 38 is connected to the section 37 at a bore 62 formed in the elbow 36 and delimited by an inner peripheral face 63 which is cylindrical of revolution about an axis confused with the tilting axis 30 and cooperates, for the purpose of guiding relative tilting about this axis 30 without any other possibility of relative displacement, with an outer peripheral face 64, also cylindrical of revolution about the axis 30, pivot 32.

 The portion 37 of the elbow 36 has the shape of a tubular sleeve of revolution about the axis 39 and open in the direction of a distance relative to the axis 30 along the axis 39, the level of a free end 65 of the section 37.

 More specifically, the section 37 has in its free end 65 a blind hole 67 defined in particular by an inner peripheral face 66 of the section 37, cylindrical of revolution about the axis 39, and a non-referenced bottom of indifferent shape.

 Through the blind hole 67, the section 37 of the angled endpiece 36 coaxially receives, in an integral manner, an end zone 68 of a first rectilinear section 69 of the arm 34. The mutual attachment is for example ensured by means of a bolt. 170 passing through the section 37, at the hole 67, and the end zone 68, engaged in the hole 67, along an axis 171 for example parallel to the axis of tilting 30.

 As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the section 69, rectilinear and having the axis 39 as the average axis, essentially consists of an electrical isolator 70, advantageously chosen of synthetic type because, on the one hand, of a diameter lower, with reference to the axis 39, than the diameter of the porcelain insulators usually used in the catenary supports and, on the other hand, a certain elastic flexibility. Naturally, this choice is however only a non-limiting example, other types of isolator can be chosen as well as other ways of communicating to the arm 34, taken as a whole, a certain flexibility especially in the average plane 28 however, the choice of a synthetic electrical insulator is currently considered the most advantageous, insofar as it has made it possible to reduce the diameter of the current section of the arm 34, considered in its entirety, to less than 80 mm and to communicate to the arm 34, without additional provision, a favorable elasticity in that it allows the rigid catenary 13 to respond flexibly to the stresses it undergoes the passage of a pantograph.

In contrast to its end zone 68, the first section 69 of the arm 34 is connected by an end zone 71 to an end zone 73 of a second section 74 of the arm 34, for example by means of means, not referenced , similar to those which ensure the joining of the end zone 88 with the elbow end 36.
the section 74 is rigid, for example metallic, rectilinear with a mean axis 75 situated in the middle plane 28, and forms a bend 72 with the first section 69 so that, as shown in FIG. 9, the section 74 can evolve between ascending or descending orientations from the axis 72, although close to a horizontal orientation, passing through such a horizontal orientation, depending on the orientation of the first section 69 about the tilting axis 30 by compared to the screed 25.

 The elbow 72 may be rigid, as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 9, and corresponds for example to the formation of an angle ss of the order of 1500 between the respective axes 39 and 75 of the two sections 69 and 74 of the arm 34, with reference to an axis 76 parallel to the tilting axis 30; Naturally, this figure is only given as a non-limitative example.

 The elbow 72 may also comprise means of adjustment of the angle ss thus defined, with possibility of mutual locking of the two sections 69 and 74 of the arm 34 in the relative orientation thus obtained by adjustment, as illustrated in FIG. 10 which shows a mutual assembly of the end zones 71 and 73, respectively of the first and second sections 69, 74 of the arm 34, via a pair of swiveling sector tips 117, 118 of the type recommended as than standard part by SNCF. Each of these end pieces 117, 118 is fastened to the end zone 71, 73 of the respectively associated section 69, 74 of the arm 34 by non-referenced means, similar to those which ensure the joining of the end zone 68 of the section 69 with the elbow end 36 and has, typically of this known type of nozzle, an annular ring, plane, such as 119, of revolution about an axis common to the rings of the two ends 117, 118, namely here the axis 76. The rings are placed face to face along this axis 76 and each of them is provided with identical teeth such as 120, radial with respect to this axis and placed projecting parallel thereto to mesh with the teeth corresponding to the other end in several relative orientations around the axis 76.

 The two end pieces 117, 118 are drilled right through this axis, inside the respective ring, a respective unreferenced bore which coaxially receives a bolt 121 which, passing through all the two ends 117, 118 along the axis 76, ensures their guidance to the rotational rotation about the axis 76 which then defines a relative tilting axis of the two sections 74 and 69. The bolt 121 receives a nut 122 for mutual clamping of the ends 117, 118 next this axis in order to ensure, by mutual engagement of the toothed rings, an immobilization of the two end pieces 117, 118 against such relative rotation, in any freely chosen relative orientation about the axis 76, among the relative orientations. allowing this mutual meshing and between mutual abutment limit orientations, for example angularly spaced by 30 about the axis 76, corresponding to values of 1500 and 180, respectively, with respect to the ngle B; these figures, as well as this assembly, are however only a non-limiting example.

 The second section 74 of the arm 34 can in turn have a fixed geometry, and in particular a constant apparent length between its end zone 73 and an end zone 77 opposite to that with reference to the axis 75, but preferably it presents as it is illustrated means for adjusting this apparent length.

 For this purpose, in the example shown, it is made in a telescopic form along the axis 75.

 More specifically, it comprises in this example a first tubular portion 78, rectilinear axis 75 and constituting the end zone 73, which first portion 78 is open by a free end 79 in the direction of a distance from the axis 76 along axis 75; the section 74 further comprises a second part 80 in the form of a straight rod with an axis 75, which second part 80 defines the end zone 77 and enters, through a free end 181, into the first part 78 through the free end 79 of the latter.

In a non-detailed but easily understandable way
Those skilled in the art, the first portion 78, internally, and the second portion 80, externally, are dimensioned, perpendicular to the axis 75, so that the second portion 80 is guided to slide in the first portion 78, according to the axis 75, with no other possibility of relative movement with the exception, possibly, of a relative rotation about the axis 75; to this end, these portions 78 and 80 have for example respectively an inner peripheral face 182 and an outer peripheral face 183 cylindrical of revolution about the axis 75 with a substantially identical diameter.

 It is thus possible to adjust the apparent length of the section 74, between its end zones 73 and 77, by relative sliding of the two parts which, when the desired adjustment is reached, can be locked relative to one another.

 According to an embodiment not shown, the locking can be carried out in any relative position of the two parts 78 and 79 along the axis 75, by means not shown but known to a person skilled in the art, but it is possible to admit a possibility of locking only in a certain number of predetermined relative positions along the axis 75, since these relative positions are sufficiently close.

 By way of nonlimiting example, it is possible to use for this purpose a mutual pin of the two parts 78 and 80, arranged for this purpose as illustrated in particular in Figures 1 and 5.

 In their illustrated embodiment, the two portions 78 and 80 of the section 74 of the arm 34 are pierced right through a plurality of bores, respectively 81 and 82, cylindrical of revolution about a respective axis 83, 84 parallel to the axis 76 and located in a non-referenced plane including the axes 75 and 76. The bores 81 and 82 have the same diameter and their axes 83, 84 are distributed at the same pitch along the axis 75, this which makes it possible to align several bores 82 of the part 80 simultaneously with several bores 81 of the part 78, by appropriate positioning of these two parts along the axis 75, and to immobilize these two parts 78, 80 against of a relative translation along this axis by engaging a pin 85 in at least one of the bores 82 and in the bores 81 aligned with this bore 82.

 At its end 77, the second section 74 of the arm 34 is secured to a tip 86 defining the end 36 of the arm 34 and intended to carry the rigid catenary 13 via a member 87 for suspending it, under conditions suitable to allow to orient the catenary according to the slope of the track.

 For this purpose, the end piece 86 comprises, in one rigid piece, for example metal, with a sleeve portion 88 in which the end zone 77 of the section 74 of the arm 34 is received coaxially and retained by means of a bolt 89 in the same way as the end zone 68 of the first section 69 in the section 37 of the elbow 36, two flat arms 90 mutually parallel, mutually symmetrical with respect to the middle plane 28 and forming a projection relative to the sleeve portion 88, in the extension of the section 74 of the arm 34 along the axis 75, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 to which reference will now be made.

 In contrast to their connection with the socket portion 88, the arms 90 have a respective free end zone 91 in which they are drilled, along the same tilting axis 92, parallel to the axes 76 and 30, of a 93. In the two bores 93 is engaged coaxially and retained against any relative displacement, for example by bolting, a pivot 94 ensuring the guiding, to the rotation about the axis 92 relative to the arm 90 without another possibility of relative displacement, of a bent piece 95, rigid, for example metal, engaged substantially without clearance between the arms 90 about the axis 92 and receiving the pivot 94 by a bore 96.

 The bent piece 95 comprises two rectilinear arms 97, 98 having respective axes 99, 100 secants of the axis 92, at right angles, and arranged in the middle plane 28.

 The arm 97, located between the axis 92 and the sleeve portion 88, has towards the latter a free end zone 101 also housed between the arms 90 and bearing integrally, along an axis 102 parallel to the axis 92 , a stud 103 passing along the axis 102 an arcuate lumen 104, axis 92, arranged in one of the arms 90; this light 104 is positioned and dimensioned so that the arm 97 can pivot about the axis 92 between two limit orientations angularly offset, about this axis 92, by an angular distance of the order of 20 to 30, for example, adapted to allow to orient the axis 100, relative to the vertical, at any angle a corresponding to a possible angle of cant, in one direction or the other given the different possibilities of implementation of the way, on the one hand, and different possibilities of orientation of the section 74 of the arm 34, for example relative to the horizontal, on the other hand.

 A nut 105 screwed onto the stud 103 makes it possible to immobilize the arm 97, that is to say the bent piece 95, against any rotation about the axis 92 when the desired adjustment is reached, by clamping of the arm 90 carrying the light 104.

 The bent part 95 may naturally have many variants. In particular, in an alternative embodiment of this elbow member 95, illustrated in Figure 1 1 where we find also the same and under the same numerical references components or component parts of the catenary support of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the arm 97 extends beyond the axis 92, opposite its free end 101, and therefore carries the arm 98 cantilever relative to the axis 92; the axis 100 is then no longer secant of the latter but remains disposed in the middle plane 28 in the same way that the axis 99, which remains secant of the axis 92 around which it can be placed in an orientation chosen, as described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

 Whatever the orientation thus given to the arm 97, the arm 98 is turned down and the orientation of its axis 100 relative to the vertical compensating for the possible cant of the track, is perpendicular to the pantograph bow when it passes right above the bent piece 95.

 Under the arms 90, the bent piece 95 carries by its arm 98, with possibility of relative pivoting about the axis 100 thus oriented, without any other possibility of relative displacement, the 87 suspension member of the rigid catenary 13.

 For this purpose, this suspension member 87, having the shape of a plate having a symmetry with respect to the axis 100, is provided centrally, that is to say along this axis 100, a bearing 106 of receiving the arm 98. Preferably, as illustrated, the latter has for this purpose the conformation recommended by the SNCF as a standardized conformation of a receiving pivot of a catenary suspension member to a catenary support.

Downwardly, the suspension member 87 has a planar face 107, perpendicular to the axis 100 and serving as flat support, upwards, to the rigid catenary 13 which is of a known type, marketed by the
Applicant.

 It will be recalled simply that such a rigid catenary comprises a body 108 of electrically conductive material, in particular consisting of an aluminum profile, and a bare electrical conductor 109 retained by pinching and interlocking in this body 108, under conditions such that may come into contact with the pantograph without hindering the passage of it. the body 108 and the conductor 109 have the same plane of symmetry 110 which must be situated between the above-mentioned limits 10a and 10b and must respect, with respect to the vertical, an angularity a corresponding to the superelevation of the track. According to this plane 110, the conductor 109 is turned downwards and the body 108 entirely located above the body 109, presenting upwardly a flat heel 111 itself presenting upwardly a flat upper face 112, perpendicular on the map 110.

 When using a catenary support according to the present invention, this flat upper face 112 rests flat against the lower face 107 of the suspension member 87, on which the body 108 is retained, under conditions such that the plane 110 includes the axis 100, by lateral claws 113 advantageously provided in the example shown in the number of four, mutually symmetrical with respect to the plane 110 as compared with the axis 100.

 Preferably, the suspension member 87 also has means for ensuring at its level the protection of the catenary 13 against the runoff water.

 For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it advantageously carries, integrally, two plates of electrically insulating material 113, perpendicular to the axis 100, disposed respectively on either side of the endpiece 86, in the longitudinal extension coplanar with each other, and mutually symmetrical with respect to the axis 100. These plates, of rectangular shape, are fixed on the suspension member 87, above it, by example by screwing and have in particular longitudinal edges 125 through which they receive, by snapping, a respective electrically insulating cover 114 which, in the longitudinal direction, extends from the immediate proximity of the cap 86, above the organ suspension 87, beyond the plumb with it, relative to which it is partially cantilevered above the heel 111 of the body 110 of the catenary. At this overhang, each cover 114 freely rides on a respective electrically insulating cover 116 in all analogous point, snapped onto the heel 111 of the body 108 and extending longitudinally from the immediate vicinity of the suspension member 87 to the immediate vicinity of the similar suspension member of a respective adjacent catenary support. The covers 114 and 116, when viewed in cross-section as shown in FIG. 8, advantageously have the same shape, convex upwards and for example on a roof with two slopes, and are advantageously obtained by cutting off a single synthetic profile.

 The covers 114 and 116, electrically insulating, also allow, if necessary, to approach the vault, in places and for example at a localized projection of rock in the case of implantation in a tunnel cut directly into the rock, at shorter distances than standard isolation distances.

 It will be noted that, since the body 108 and the conductor 109 of the rigid catenary 13, the suspension member 87, the tip 86, and the section 74 of the arm 34 are electrically conductive, and consequently placed at the voltage of supply trains with electricity, so that they must respect the electrical safety gauge 3.

 The foregoing description essentially refers to the use of catenary supports according to the invention for supporting a rigid catenary.

 A catenary support according to the invention can, however, also be used for supporting a flexible catenary, of known type, consisting of at least one electrically conductive contact wire, for example two contact wires 124 mutually juxtaposed, suspended by the intermediate of a suspension wire or hanger 125, generally electrically insulating, common in the case of a plurality of contact wires, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 to which reference will now be made.

In these figures, the components or component parts of the catenary support according to the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, in identical form and under the same numerical references, are found except that: the first section 69 of the arm 34, essentially constituted by the electrical insulator 70, is extended by insertion between the latter and the bend 72, here rigid but also capable of being adjustable as described with reference to FIG. tubular portion 123 rigid, rectilinear and coaxial with the electrical insulator 70, with a mutual assembly similar to that of the first end zone 68 of the section 69 with the elbow 36; it will be observed that such an embodiment of the section 69 could be adopted together with the use of a rigid catenary, just as the section 69 could be made in the manner described with reference to FIG. case of a flexible catenary; - The suspension member 87 is replaced by a claw 126 of known type, adapted to grip the hanger 125 and rotatably mounted about the axis 100 on the arm 98, pivoting, the elbow member 95; this piece 95 has been illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 in the conformation described with reference to Figures 1 and 5 to 7 but it is understood that it could also be shaped as described with reference to Figure 1 1 - when the installation conditions require it, as shown in FIG. 12, on a bracket 127 fixed on the tubular portion 123 of the first section 69 of the arm 34, if it exists, or at another point of the arm 34, close to the elbow 72, is rotated in all directions, that is to say around a substantially vertical axis 128 of pivoting and a substantially horizontal axis 139 of tilting, by means of known means of a
Those skilled in the art, at least one rigid arm 129, preferably telescopic for example in the manner described with respect to the section 74 of the arm 34; this arm 129, placed below the second section 74 of the arm 34, may be unique and intended to ensure a return of a single contact wire, or two contact wires 124 jointly via a double claw of known type, not shown; when two contact wires 124 are provided, it is also possible, as illustrated in FIG. 12, to provide two arms 129 each of which ensures the return of a respective contact wire 124, via a claw respective single 131 of type also known; these two return arms 129 are set to different lengths and articulated independently of one another on the console 127, and they mutually diverge from it, as is known per se.

 Such return arms 129, as well as their mounting, are well known to a person skilled in the art, in association with conventional catenary supports; they can be electrically insulating or electrically conductive; a person skilled in the art also knows that it can also be dispensed with, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when it is not necessary to apply lateral traction or lateral thrust to the (x) thread. (s) contact.

 It has been demonstrated that, especially when the arm 34 was provided with a mutual articulation of its two sections 70 and 74 about the axis 76, as described with reference to FIG. 10, this condition could be respected. even in a single-track tunnel initially intended for steam or diesel traction, requiring only a lowering of the track much lower than that would have required the use of catenary supports of the prior art.

 Naturally, these particular conditions of implantation are not the only conditions of implantation of a catenary according to the invention which, in particular with a view to adaptation to different implantation conditions, may be known to many variants without the need for This is a departure from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (18)

 1. Catenary tunnel support, of the type comprising: - an electrically insulating arm (34) having a first end (35) for mounting on the roof (2) of the tunnel and a second end (36) for suspending the catenary ( 13) and having a first and a second straight section (69, 74) adjacent respectively to the first end (35) and the second end (136) and interconnected by a bend (72), - a mounting plate ( 16) which can be fixed to the roof (2) of the tunnel in a determined position and on which the arm (34) is mounted by its first end (36) so that the first section (69) is ascending from it and that the second section (74) is approximately horizontal, so as to go along the roof (2) of the tunnel, - a member (87, 126) for suspending the catenary (13) at the second end (36) of the arm (34),  characterized in that the first end (35) of the arm (34) is connected to the mounting plate (16) via means (25, 31, 32, 42, 46, 49, 53, 54, 57) adjusting the orientation of the first section (69) relative to the mounting plate (16) around a first axis (30) of tilting, which is substantially horizontal in said determined position, and the second end (36) the arm (34) carries the suspension member (87, 126) of the catenary (13) via means (86, 95, 103 to 105) for adjusting the orientation of this suspension member (87). , 126) relative to the second section about a second axis (92) of tilting parallel to the first axis (30) of tilting.  2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the elbow (72) comprises means for adjusting the orientation of the second section (74) relative to the first section (69) about a third axis (78) of tilting parallel to the first and second tilt axes (36, 92).  3. Support according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the suspension member (87) is adapted to receive a rigid catenary (13).  4. Support according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the suspension member (126) is adapted to receive a flexible catenary (124, 125), comprising a suspension wire (hanger 125) and to least one contact wire (124) suspended therefrom.  5. Support according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one arm (129) for returning the contact wire (124) of the catenary, articulated on the electrically insulating arm (34) near the elbow (72). ), and placed below the second section (74) with reference to said determined position.  6. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second section (74) comprises means (78 to 85) for adjusting the distance between the second axis (92) of tilting and the bend ( 72).  7. Support according to claim 6, characterized in that the second section (74) is telescopic.  8. Support according to claim 5 in combination with any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the or each return arm (129) is telescopic.  9. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the arm (34) is elastically flexible.  10. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first section (69) consists essentially of an electrical insulator (70).  11. Support according to claims 9 and 10 in combination, characterized in that the electrical insulator (70) is a synthetic insulator, elastically flexible.  12. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the arm (34) has a section of diameter at most equal to 80 mm.  13. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the mounting plate (16) comprises means (23, 24) for free articulation of the first end (35) of the arm (34), through means (25, 31, 32, 42, 46, 49, 53, 54, 57) for adjusting the orientation of the first section (69) about a first pivot axis (21), which is substantially vertical in said determined position.  14. Support according to claim 13, characterized in that the member (87) for suspending the catenary (13) comprises means (98, 106) of free articulation on the second end (36) of the arm, by the intermediate means (86, 85, 103 to 105) for adjusting the orientation of this suspension member (87, 126) about a second axis (100) of pivoting located in a plane (28) perpendicular to the second axis (92) of tilting and may be oriented substantially parallel to the first axis (21) of pivoting or obliquely relative thereto via means (86, 95, 103 to 105) for adjusting the orientation of this suspension member (87).  15. Support according to claim 14, characterized in that the means (86, 95, 103 to 105) for adjusting the orientation of the suspension member (87, 126) comprise a pivot (98) which is articulated freely around the second axis (92) tilting on the second end (36) of the arm (34), defines the second axis (100) of pivoting and carries the member (87) of suspension of the catenary (13) hingeably freely about this second pivot axis (100), and means (86, 95, 103-105) for locking the pivot (98) against rotation about the second tilting axis (92), by compared to the second section (74).  16. Support according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the means (25, 31, 32, 42, 46, 49, 53, 54, 57) for adjusting the orientation of the first section (69 ) comprise a yoke (25) on which the first end (35) of the arm (34) is articulated freely around the first axis (30) of tilting and means (42, 46, 49, 57) of micrometric connection, offset by relative to the first axis (30) of tilting, between the first section (69) and the yoke (25), and in that the yoke (25) is articulated freely on the mounting plate (16) about the first axis (21). ) of pivoting.  17. Support according to claim 16, characterized in that the yoke (25) comprises means for defining a plurality of predetermined, selectable positions of the first axis (30) of tilting, offset relative to the means (42, 46, 49, 57 ) micrometric linkage.  18. Support according to any one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the means (25, 31, 32, 42, 46, 49, 53, 54, 57) for adjusting the orientation of the first section (69 ) comprise means (54) for locking the micrometric connection means.