US1158203A - Under-contact rail and support. - Google Patents

Description

A. GOLLOS. UNDER CONTACT RAIL AND SUPPORT.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, I9I2.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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Application filed September 30, 1912. Serial No. 723,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANAToL GoLLos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Under-Contact Rails and Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to under contact rails, which are adapted for use in connection with electric railways for supplying current and more especially to such rails which are used as intermittent contact rails for railway signal systems, stop systems or the like.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a rail with a suitable approach or beveled portion for depressing the contact shoe, which will cause the contact shoe to be depressed gradually, and which will not be apt to become rapidly worn or worn in spots where the shoe strikes the same; and to provide the rail with a support which can be easily and cheaply made, and which will serve to hold the rail securely in position.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is an end view, partially in section, showing my improved support and method of securing the rail; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same also showing the approach or beveled portion of the rail; and, Fig. 3 is an end view partially in section, showing a modified form of support.

As indicated in these drawings, 4: represents a bracket which is adapted to be secured to a tie or other support, and which is provided at the top with a longitudinal plate 5. This plate has an outwardly extending flange 6 thereon. Insulating blocks 7 and 8 are arranged on either side of the rail 9, these blocks fitting into the space between the flange and head of the rail, and preferably having their outer faces coming substantially in alinement with the outer edges of the flange. The plate 5 is preferably made sufficiently long to receive two bolts 10 on either side of the upwardly extending portion of the bracket 4, and the blocks 7 and 8 are about as long as the plate. The block 7 fits against the face of the plate 5 and rests upon the upper face of the flange 6. The bolts 10 pass through the outer block 8, then through the web of the rail 9,

through the block 7 and plate 5 and are provided with suitable nuts for drawing the parts tightly together. The heads of the bolts 10 are prefer-ably countersunk in the outer face of the block 8. In order to further insure the insulation of the rail from the bracket, the holes in the web, through which the bolts pass are made considerably larger than the bolts and collars orsleeves 11 of insulating material are placed over the. bolts. These collars are made somewhat longer than the thickness of the web. and their ends fit in counterbores in the blocks. It will be seen, that by means ofthis arrangement, the insulating collars are fully protected and tight joints are made which will prevent water or moisture from enter ing in between the rails and the bolts. The rail is preferably covered throughout its length by trough or cover 12, comprising a top board 18 and sides 14: and 15. The sides 15' are cut away at the supports in order to clear the plate 5.

In the modified form of construction of supports shown in Fig. 3, the plate 16 which corresponds with the plate 5, above mentioned, is provided with two outwardly eX- tending flanges 17 and 18. These flanges may be arranged to embrace merely the rails and blocks, such as shown in Fig. 1, suitable insulating material being placed between the rail and the top flange or, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 they may embrace the rail and its longitudinal cover. In this instance, the bolt 19 passes through one of the cover plates as well as through the blocks and rail. It will be seen that by means of this arrangement the upper flange 17 tends to receive the strain caused by the upward pressure of the contact shoe so that there is comparatively little strain placed upon the bolt 19. Furthermore this upper flange serves as an additional protector to protect the connection between the rail and the bracket.

When such rails are used as intermittent rails, for signal systems or stop systems for railways they are ordinarily required to' the cars or trains. For this reason the insulating blocks in the first instance may be made of wood as shown.

With the contact rails heretofore used, it has been common to make the end approach or beveled end Which is used for depressing the contact shoe, of cast metal which is connected with the rail proper. I have found that when such beveled ends or approaches are used for contact shoes for signal or stop systems they are apt to cause the shoe to be thrown downwardly out of contact therewith when it first strikes the rail, this being apt to cause an improper operation of the signal or stop system. In order to overcome these objections and provide a smooth operation between the rail and contact shoe, the end of the rail is bent upwardly at'any pitch desired, and then the portion of the rail whichwould extend above the upper surface thereof is cut away substantially as indicated in Fig. 2. The approach or beveled portion of the rail is therefore formed from the head of the rail proper, and I have found this gives a smooth and eflicient action when the contact shoe engages therewith. 7

Having thus described my invention, which however, I do not wish to limit to the exact details or arrangement herein shown and described, except as specified in the appended claims, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The combination of a support for holding a contact rail in raised position, said support having a longitudinal plate with a flange along the lower side thereof, an insulating member having a fiat surface, engaging With said plate and resting on said flange, a contact rail engaging with said insulating member, a second insulating member on the opposite side of the contact rail,

an insulating sleeve extending through a hole provided for the same, in the web of said rail, and extending into recesses in the adjacent surfaces of the contact members, a bolt passing through said plate, contact members, and sleeve, for holding said parts together, and a trough or cover over said rail, comprising side pieces which extend down over the joints between the rail and the insulating members, and a top piece which extends out to the outer faces of the side pieces, whereby the rail and connections are fully protected, and Water is prevented from running down into the connections.

ANATOL GOLLOS. Witnesses C. C. BREUER, IRENE Fonnns'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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