GB2428657A

GB2428657A - Collector shoes

Info

Publication number: GB2428657A
Application number: GB0614821A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Robert Hallett
Original assignee: Brecknell Willis and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Brecknell Willis and Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-26
Filing date: 2006-07-26
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-26
Also published as: GB0515271D0; GB2428657B; GB0614821D0

Abstract

A collector shoe (10) for mounting on an electric rail vehicle has a face that, in use, is directed downwardly for engagement with an upwardly presented face of a conductor rail and the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe (10) is formed with a plurality of elongated slots (11) the axes of which are acutely inclined, e.g at 30 degrees, relative to the direction of movement of the collector shoe (10) relative to the conductor rail. The slots (11), which are milled, are parallel and of greater width than the resultant ribs (12). Further milling of the ribs (12) provides parallel slots at 75 degrees to them and the direction of shoe movement, resulting in castellated ribs. The ribs (12) and slots (11) aid ice removal.

Description

COLLECTOR SHOES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to collector shoes.

Collector shoe assemblies are mounted on electric rail vehicles and include means whereby the shoe is biased into engagement with a conductor rail for the supply of power to the vehicle prime mover.

One form of collector shoe assembly is described in British Patent Specification No. 2 277 913, to which reference should be made. The collector shoe shown in the drawings of Patent Specification No. 2 277 913 has a substantially flat lower face that bears against the upwardly presented face of the conductor rail.

The arrangement described in Patent Specification No. 2 277 913 normally operates perfectly satisfactorily but problems may be encountered during the winter if the conductor rail becomes covered with snow or ice.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of collector shoe.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a new method of making a collector shoe.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a collector shoe having a face that, in use, is directed downwardly for engagement with an upwardly presented face of a conductor rail and in which the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe is formed with a plurality of elongated slots the axes of which are acutely inclined relative to the direction of movement of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.

The elongated slots preferably extend parallel to one another and preferably afford a majority of the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe, i.e. the downwardly directed face comprises slots and ribs between the slots with the slots having a greater width than the ribs.

The arrangement may be such that the ratio of the width of a slot to the width of a rib is of the order of 20:3. The slots are typically arranged so that the axes of the slots are inclined at an angle of the order of 300 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.

The slots in the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe are preferably formed by milling, and the collector shoe may be formed of cast iron.

The ribs between the slots are preferably of castellated form, such castellated formation being produced by a secondary milling operation at an inclination of the order of 750 to the direction j which the initial or primary milling operation is carried out.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a collector shoe that includes milling a plurality of parallel slots in the face of the collector shoe that faces downwardly in use, the axes of the slots being acutely inclined relative to the direction of movement of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.

As mentioned above, the parallel slots preferably afford a majority of the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe, i.e. the downwardly directed face comprises slots and ribs between the slots with the slots having a greater width than the ribs, the ratio of the width of a slot to the width of a rib typically being of the order of 20:3. The slots are typically arranged so that the axes of the slots are inclined at an angle of the order of 30 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.

The ribs between the slots are preferably of castellated form, such castellated formation being produced by a secondary milling operation at an inclination of the order of 75 to the direction in which the initial or primary milling operation is carried out, and at an inclination of 75 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.

Claims

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an underneath plan view of a collector shoe for a collector shoe assembly of a rail vehicle, Figure 2 is a side view of the collector shoe, Figure 3 is an end view of the collector show, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of the collector shoe along the line A - A of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The collector shoe 10 shown in the drawings is of unitary construction and is of generally rectangular configuration, but with tapered ends. It has a maximum length of 305 mm. and a maximum width of 101 mm. The shoe is formed of cast iron and the iron casting is then subjected to primary and secondary milling operations as described below.

The primary milling operation is carried out in such manner as to produce slots 11 in the underside of the shoe 10 that are inclined at an angle of 30 to the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10, i.e. at an angle of 30 to the direction of travel, in use, of the shoe relative to the conductor rail that it engages. The slots 11 have a width of 20 mm. and the ribs 12 formed between the slots 11 have a width of 3 mm. The slots 11 have a depth of 10 mm.

The secondary milling operation is carried out at an angle of 750 to the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10, and also at an angle of 750 to the axes of the slots 11. The depth of the cut produced during the secondary milling operation is less than the depth of the cut produced during the primary milling operation, i.e. 6 mm. as compared to 10 mm. The effect of the secondary milling operation is such that the ribs 12 are of castellated form, with spaces of 15 mm. between upstanding portions having a width of 10 mm.

The collector shoe 10 is attached to an arm (not shown) of the collector shoe assembly and has spaced fixing holes, the axes of which are indicated as 13 and 14 in Figure 2. The fixing holes are formed in mounting faces 15 and 16 that are so shaped as to ensure secure attachment of the collector shoe 10 to the associated arm.

In use, the downwardly directed face of the shoe 10 will engage the upwardly presented face of the conductor rail and, in icy conditions, the inclined faces of the ribs 12 will cause any ice to be scraped off the surface of the conductor rail and will be displaced sideways along the slots 11 that are inclined relative to the direction of travel of the shoe 10 relative to the conductor rail.

The castellated form of the ribs 12 will assist in ensuring that there is no build-up of ice in contact with the ribs 12.

Claims:- 1. A collector shoe having a face that, in use, is directed downwardly for engagement with an upwardly presented face of a conductor rail and in which the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe is formed with a plurality of elongated slots the axes of which are acutely inclined relative to the direction of movement of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.
2. A collector shoe as claimed in Claim 1, in which the elongated slots extend parallel to one another.
3. A collector shoe as claimed in either of the preceding claims, in which the elongated slots afford a majority of the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe, i.e. the downwardly directed face comprises slots and ribs between the slots with the slots having a greater width than the ribs.
4. A collector shoe as claimed in Claim 3, in which the arrangement is such that the ratio of the width of a slot to the width of a rib is of the order of 20:3.
5. A collector shoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the slots are arranged so that the axes of the slots are inclined at an angle of the order of 300 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.
6. A collector shoe as claimed in Claim 3, in which the slots are formed by milling.
7. A collector shoe as claimed in Claim 6, in which the ribs between the slots are of castellated form, such castellated formation being produced by a secondary milling operation at an inclination of the order of 75 to the direction in which the initial or primary milling operation is carried out.
8. A collector shoe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
9. A method of making a collector shoe that includes milling a plurality of parallel slots in the face of the collector shoe that faces downwardly in use, the axes of the slots being acutely inclined relative to the direction of movement of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which the parallel slots afford a majority of the downwardly directed face of the collector shoe, i.e. the downwardly directed face comprises slots and ribs between the slots with the slots having a greater width than the ribs.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the ratio of the width of a slot to the width of a rib is of the order of 20:3.
12. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, in which the slots are arranged so that the axes of the slots are inclined at an angle of the order of 300 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.
13. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the slots are produced by milling.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, in which the ribs between the slots are of castellated form, such castellated formation being produced by a secondary milling operation at an inclination of the order of 750 to the direction in which the initial or primary milling operation is carried out, and at an inclination of 750 to the direction of travel of the collector shoe relative to the conductor rail.
15. A method of making a collector shoe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings