GB2139167A - A contact line arrangement e.g. for suspended railway systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The insulating end piece 3 which may carry six conductor lines 2 has a spring web 4 directed towards the rail 1 with a snap nose 5 catching in the catch position of the angle end 9 of the angular fish-plate 5, and a counter-pressure web 6 on the other side of the angle end 9. This counter-pressure web 6 and the spring web 4 are reinforced by beads 7. The angular fish-plate 8 has two oblong slots for bolts 12 on the arms resting on the rail 1 and can therefore be arranged adjustably in length. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Contact line arrangement In certain railway systems, for example, suspended railways systems, the vehicles travelling on support rails have current collectors which are adjustable in position and which run on contact lines carried by the rail.

Problems arise at points and junctions between separate sections of rails. Hitherto it has been usual for insulating end collectors to be screwed to the rails. This method of fixing, however, is very timeconsuming.

The present proposal is for a contact line arrangement which is designed in a way which simplifies assembly of the contact lines in the region of the insulating end pieces. Accordingly, the contact lines are joined together at the ends of the sections using a common insulating end piece which is fixed on the rail by means of a connection which snaps in place transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail.

The snap connection permits simple assembly. The arrangement of the snap connection transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail preents the contact lines from moving lengthwise relative to the rail.

The snap connection may be an angular fish-plate which is fixed on the rail and has a catch position for a snap nose of the spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle end directed away from the rail.

The snap nose penetrates from one side into the catch position of the angle end while a counterpressure web of the insulating end piece rests on the other side of the angle end. The spring web with the snap nose on the one hand and the counter-pressure web on the other hand constitute the angle end running transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail and thus secure the insulating end piece against the axial movement. The snap nose is preferably directed towards the inlet end of the insulating end piece and can therefore easily be pressed out of the catch position using a simple tool, for example a screwdriver, for disassembly from the free end of the rail. To increase strength, the spring web and/or counter pressure web can be reinforced by one or more beads directed towards the arm resting on the rail.

The catch position is preferably a recess and the arm of the angular fish-plate which rests on the rail can have oblong slots extending in the lengthwise direction of the rail so that the fish-plate maybe adjustably bolted in position.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of an insulating end piece.

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the insulating end piece.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, an electrically insulating end piece 3 fixed on a rail 1 indicated by chain lines by means of an angular fish-plates. The end piece bears six contact lines 2, a single one of which is indicated by chain lines. The insulating end piece 3 has a spring web 4 directed towards the rail 1 with a snap nose 5 catching in the catch position 10 of the angle end 9 of the angular fish-plate 8 and a counter-pressure web 6 on the other side of the angle end 9. This counter-pressure web and the spring web 4 are reinforced by beads 7 which are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The angular fish-plate 8 has two oblong slots 11 in the arms resting on the rail 1. Bolts which secure the arms to the rail pass through the slots, so that the fishplate can thus be mounted adjustably in the longitudinal direction.

Figure 3 shows only half of the section Ill-Ill through Figure 2; the other half is a mirror-image.

1. A contact line arrangement with several sections, for example, points and junctions for variableposition current collectors which are guided on rails carrying the contact lines, wherein the contact lines are joined together at ends of the section by a common insulating end piece which is fixed on the rail by means of a snap connection acting transversely of the rail.

2. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the snap connection is an angular fish-plate fixed on the rail and having a catch position for a snap nose of a spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle end directed away from the rail.

3. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the snap connection is an angular fish-plate fixed on the rail and having a snap nose for a catch position of a spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle directed away from the rail.

4. A contact line arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the snap nose penetrates from one side into the catch position of the angle end behind which a counter-pressure web of the insulating end piece rests.

5. A contact line arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap nose is directed towards the inlet end of the insulating end piece.

6. A contact line arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spring web of the snap nose and/or the counter-pressure web is reinforced by one or more beads.

7. A contact line arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the catch position is a recess.

8. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the angular fish-plate has, on the arm resting on the rail, oblong slots extending parallel to the rail, for bolts.

9. A contact line arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Contact line arrangement In certain railway systems, for example, suspended railways systems, the vehicles travelling on support rails have current collectors which are adjustable in position and which run on contact lines carried by the rail. Problems arise at points and junctions between separate sections of rails. Hitherto it has been usual for insulating end collectors to be screwed to the rails. This method of fixing, however, is very timeconsuming. The present proposal is for a contact line arrangement which is designed in a way which simplifies assembly of the contact lines in the region of the insulating end pieces. Accordingly, the contact lines are joined together at the ends of the sections using a common insulating end piece which is fixed on the rail by means of a connection which snaps in place transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail. The snap connection permits simple assembly. The arrangement of the snap connection transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail preents the contact lines from moving lengthwise relative to the rail. The snap connection may be an angular fish-plate which is fixed on the rail and has a catch position for a snap nose of the spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle end directed away from the rail. The snap nose penetrates from one side into the catch position of the angle end while a counterpressure web of the insulating end piece rests on the other side of the angle end. The spring web with the snap nose on the one hand and the counter-pressure web on the other hand constitute the angle end running transversely to the lengthwise direction of the rail and thus secure the insulating end piece against the axial movement. The snap nose is preferably directed towards the inlet end of the insulating end piece and can therefore easily be pressed out of the catch position using a simple tool, for example a screwdriver, for disassembly from the free end of the rail. To increase strength, the spring web and/or counter pressure web can be reinforced by one or more beads directed towards the arm resting on the rail. The catch position is preferably a recess and the arm of the angular fish-plate which rests on the rail can have oblong slots extending in the lengthwise direction of the rail so that the fish-plate maybe adjustably bolted in position. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of an insulating end piece. Figure 2 is a cross-section through the insulating end piece. Figure 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2. Referring to the drawing, an electrically insulating end piece 3 fixed on a rail 1 indicated by chain lines by means of an angular fish-plates. The end piece bears six contact lines 2, a single one of which is indicated by chain lines. The insulating end piece 3 has a spring web 4 directed towards the rail 1 with a snap nose 5 catching in the catch position 10 of the angle end 9 of the angular fish-plate 8 and a counter-pressure web 6 on the other side of the angle end 9. This counter-pressure web and the spring web 4 are reinforced by beads 7 which are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The angular fish-plate 8 has two oblong slots 11 in the arms resting on the rail 1. Bolts which secure the arms to the rail pass through the slots, so that the fishplate can thus be mounted adjustably in the longitudinal direction. Figure 3 shows only half of the section Ill-Ill through Figure 2; the other half is a mirror-image. CLAIMS

1. A contact line arrangement with several sections, for example, points and junctions for variableposition current collectors which are guided on rails carrying the contact lines, wherein the contact lines are joined together at ends of the section by a common insulating end piece which is fixed on the rail by means of a snap connection acting transversely of the rail.

2. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the snap connection is an angular fish-plate fixed on the rail and having a catch position for a snap nose of a spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle end directed away from the rail.

3. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the snap connection is an angular fish-plate fixed on the rail and having a snap nose for a catch position of a spring web of the insulating end piece in an angle directed away from the rail.

4. A contact line arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the snap nose penetrates from one side into the catch position of the angle end behind which a counter-pressure web of the insulating end piece rests.

5. A contact line arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap nose is directed towards the inlet end of the insulating end piece.

6. A contact line arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spring web of the snap nose and/or the counter-pressure web is reinforced by one or more beads.

7. A contact line arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the catch position is a recess.

8. A contact line arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the angular fish-plate has, on the arm resting on the rail, oblong slots extending parallel to the rail, for bolts.

9. A contact line arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.