GB824137A - An improved structural member and structures incorporating one or more such members - Google Patents

Abstract

824,137. Supporting conductors. BRITISH INSULATED CALLENDER'S CABLES Ltd. March 12, 1958 [March 13, 1957], No. 8318/57. Class 36. The tubes 1 of a structure for supporting contact wires are made of steel enclosed in a tightly fitting envelope 2 of copper and closed at the ends to seal off the interior of the tubes from the atmosphere. Fig. 1 shows one end of a tube closed by a cap 3 of tinned copper soldered to the tube, the corners of the cap being of a radius to allow for expansion and contraction of the tube without damage to the soldered joint. The cap may alternatively be made of neoprene or other elastomer which is stretched over the tube and secured by adhesive. Fig. 3 shows a cantilever structure embodying struts 6, 7 and an inner registration arm 8 all made as in Fig. 1. The struts 6, 7 are secured to insulators 9, 17 which are attached to a mast or other support 13 so as to allow movement of the struts in two planes. The main catenary is supported by a swivel clamp 16 and the arm 8 is supported by a V-wire 25 attached to the main catenary at two points equidistant from the clamp 16. An outer registration arm 30 made of coppercovered steel tube is pivoted to a clamp on an adjustable bracket 31 clamped to the arm 8. The arm 30 can swing in a vertical plane and carries a clip 33 for the contact wire. The metal fittings of the structure are made of nickel-gunmetal, aluminium bronze or other metal or alloy close to copper in the electrochemical series. The structure shown in Fig. 3 is for use when the support 13 is on the inside of the curve of a track. When the support is on the outside, the arm 30 projects outwardly in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 3, and on a straight track the two types are used alternately to provide a continuous change in the position of the contact wire.