US1311033A - Planoqraph co - Google Patents

Description

J'. A. F. ASPINALL. PROTECTED THIRD RA IL.' APPL'ICATION msu' JULY 24. 1914.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET I. 4

III 1 I I I I I III Ill/ I I 1 11 111 1111 11 111 THE COLUMBIA PLANOHRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented July 22-, 1919.

IFII--- i.-. QM. xv hmuuu 3 1. A. F. ASPINALL- PROTECTED THIRD RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1914- J. A. F; ASPINALL. PROTECTED THIRD RAIL. APPLICAUON FILED JULY '24. I914.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SMEETS-SHEET 3 JOHN A. F. ASPIN'ALL, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

PROTECTED THIRD RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed July 24, 1914. Serial No. 852,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AUDLEY F RED- ERIC-K AsrrNALL, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protected Third Rails, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improvedithird rail. for electric current collection particularly applicable toelectric traction purposes such as electric railways, tramways and the like reference being made to the applicants divisional application No. 256,255 filed September 30, 1918 showing and claiming the collector disclosed in this application. p

According to the present invention current is collected from the side of one or more flanges of a flanged conductor rail in contradistinction to hitherto known methods of collection on the web, upper or under surfaces of the head of a conductor rail.

The rail is preferably of such a crosssection that its center of gravity lies so low that normal current collecting pressure upon the side of one of its flanges will not overturn it about its base even when its rail is not secured to the track.

The flange of the conductor rail which cooperates with the collector or contact shoe is preferably thickened to allowfor wear of the rail.

The present invention will be more particularly described with reference to the preferred forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through part of the track and current collecting means.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the collecting shoe and supporting bracket.

Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of a modifi cation. I

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a ramp portion of the track.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of an insulator and cap.

Fig. 7 is a plan view.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification.

Fig. 9 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional end view of a modified form of rail.

The preferred form of rail is of channel section having a base flange 1 preferably broader than the head flange 2, but the flange head 2 is of greater depth or thickness than the base flange 1.

By providing a broad base flange 1 it is secured that the center of gravity of the rail is lowered to the degree desired. he bearing surface 3 is preferably vertical as in Figs. 1, 6, and 9, but it can be in certain cases inclined inward toward the web 4c from the head of the rail (see Fig. 3).

In one form of construction as shown in Fig. 3 a pair of substantially channel shaped collector rails 5 and 6 are laid together with the inside edges of their flanges adj acent one another.. In this preferred form it is then desirable to collect from the upper flanges 7 of the two rails and a single collector such as 28, Fig. 1, can be arranged to bear on both these surfaces. u

It will be seen that by the preferred disposition of the center of gravity of the rail these may be held in their supports without the use of clips, screws, nails or other usual means, although such may be used if desired. It is preferred to secure the collector rail-s and their guards such as 8 and 9 by means of bent metal detachable clips 10. These clips are preferably of channel section provided with special depressions for the reception of packing pieces of wood or the like, or locking keys such as '11. These looking keys 11 are preferably duplicate and interchangeable with the locking keys 12 of usual form serving to secure the vehicle supporting rails of the usual track 13 to the usual chairs 14 where used.

The insulators supporting the collector rails are preferably provided with a central portion 15 having a depression to receive a wooden block 46 for the reception of the rail, this portion being somewhat broader than the rail so that a space 16 is left between the rail and the guard 9 forming an outlet for water, snow, or like matter which would otherwise at certain times form an obstruction. The insulator is preferably provided with two side shoulders 17 18, for supporting the guards 9 and 8 respectively. The insulators have tapering bases 19 and can be secured to the sleepers 20 by angle clips 21 engaging said tapering sides 19. To simplify the track the sleepers 20 are arranged to mutually support the insulators '19 and the chairs 1 1 for the permanent way 3 or where chairs are not used for supporting the track, to support the rails directly. The electric conductor rails are preferably connected together by the usual bending and also by fish plates which are preferably arranged in a substantially horizontal plane connecting the lower flanges of the rail.

A packing or distance piece 22 (Fig. 1) is preferably arranged between the web l of the conductor rails and the guard 9 arranged opposite the flanges of the conductor rails so that this guard 9 lies in spaced disposition relatively thereto providing a vertical slot 23 for the passage of the collector shoe 28. The distance piece 22 can be loosely inserted between the rail and guard and pieces of similar formation may be used for fish plates or expansion joints secured by means of bolt and nuts 24- to rail flange 1. The conductor rail is preferably provided with a recess portion 25 to receive one end of the bent metal distance piece or strip 22 to prevent it rising.

As shown in Fig. 3 a distance piece which may be of wood in the case of collec tion from two rails will be arranged between the rails 5 and 6.

The guards S for the collector rails are preferably of L shaped cross-section and in certain cases it may be desirable to provide a curved or rabbetcd portion corresponding to-the curved portion of the rail with which it would engage, and it can be beveled at the top edge .to allow greater clearance for the current collector. The guard protecting the other side of the rail is preferably rectangular in cross-section as shown in Fig. 1-.

In the case however of a double conductor rail shown in Fig. 3 the other guard will similarly be of L-section. The guards are preferably of wood bearing directly on the rail. In certain cases, however, insulating packing pieces 26 could be interposed between guard and rail having a higher dielectric strength.

The current collectoror shoe 2-8 is preferably of rectangular form (Figs. 2 and 4) It may take the form of a pivoted plate mounted on cylindrical trunnions 27 on a bracket 29 adjustable on a supporting plate 50 carried by the traction vehicle. The pivoted shoe 28 has pins 41 passing through bearings 42 on the brackets 29 so that by withdrawing the bolts 4-1 the shoe 28 will be readily detached from connection -with the brackets 29 and other parts on the vehicle. The brackets 29 have a toothed inside surface 43 engaging with a coll Sponding surface on the plate 50 and are preferably pro vided with slots 44 which engage bolts 4-5 so that the plate 29 can be locked in any desired adjusted position. The upper end of the pivoted plate 28 has a lug 30 to which the conductor leads 31 may be attached. A cup 32 is mounted by means of a bolt 33 on the upper end of the pivoted shoe 28 to receive a spring 3% which lies between this cup and an oppositely disposed cup 35 carried upon the vehicle. It will be seen that this spring 3% will tend to elastically press the lower end of the collector shoe 28 into side contact with the portion 3 of the conductor rails.

Where the conductor rails terminate at points or at a crossing, a ramp 36 is provided or the conductor rail may taper toward the outside of the track, in the case of a double line toward the space between the two running tracks to form a suitable guide for the contact shoe 28 approaching toward the end of the conductor rail. In the case in which pressure of the contact shoe by means of the spring 34 is directed inward in a direction toward the corresponding running track, the guide or ramp 36 is made inclined in the direction of the corresponding running track. This is considered preferable as, itallows a greater clearance in the space between a pair of running tracks. The ramp portion 36 of the conductor rail can if desired be isolated or made a dead length of rail by interposing a space between this rail and the next length of conductor "ail 37, but the ramp and rail are preferably arranged continuous to make the rail more stable at this point for the collecting shoe to strike against when moving on to the ramp previous t0 i'i'iovin'g on to the conductor rail parallel with the track. The space where such is provided can be bridged over by an insulating block 38 of wood or the liketo form a continuous path for the contact shoe. A guard 39 is also provided for this ramp or guide rail. This is adapted to be supported near the end of the ramp by brackets or caps l7 carried on the insulators of similar form to the normal third rail supporting insulators above described. The caps 47 also support the guards thus allowing one type of insulator to be used for the conductor rail at all points; the guard is arranged to project some distance ahead of the rail orrainp which it protects as at 40, and also prevents any current arcing from the rail or collecting shoe to the ordinary running rails.

i In order that a Standard insulator may be used for supporting the end of the ramprail a detachable metal cap such as 17 is provided (Figs. 5 and 9) which has side cheeks a8 against which the guards 9 and 39 may abut. This cap 47 slips over the top of the standard insulator used for supportiug the third rails as above described.

To prevent any person accidentally entering the end of the ramp rail between the outer end 40 of the main guard and the auxiliary guard 9 parallel to the track, an auxiliary guard piece 49 is arranged transverse to the guards 39 and 9 across this open end which may be held in place by the standard Clip 10 and'key 1'1. 1 1

1 In an alternativesection-to that described above therail may be of girder section or an inverted T-form with a thickened portion 81 on one side (see Fig. 10) at the base of the web which will then be uppermost to form a contact surface cooperating with'the collector or contact shoe which will bear on this side. 7

face of the rail 3; It will be seen that 'a' good contact will be obtained by this system in which the contact shoe bears on the side of one of the rail flanges as the shoe will be held in contact with the collecting surfaces irrespective of slight irregularities of the track or other causes which would lift the collector shoe vertically relatively to the track.

The collector rail can be arranged either in the center of the track or upon the outside of the track, or a ain alternatively, in a double track the collector rails could be arranged between the two lines of rails. The improved supporting system of the present invention has the advantage of a great saving in width so that particularly in the case in which the collector rails are arranged in the space between two running tracks, greater space than heretofore is provided between these collector rails for plate layers or similar persons passing along the track in the performance of their duties.

In the simplest form of track of course the third rails will simply be laid upon the insulators. Such construction of track is illustrated in Fig. 6 and shows an end view of a rail on an insulator in position. The rail 60 rests on a wooden block 61 carried by a recessed portion of the insulator 62.

It is preferred to provide caps on the in sulators such as 63. The cap is preferably formed of a piece of stamped metal having upstanding tongues 64 thereon adapted to engage either side of the lower flange of the conductor or third rail. This cap may be for instance the form shown in Fig. 7 held in place by lugs 65 on the insulator, or the form shown in Fig. 8 in which the cap is formed of one piece 66 fitting completely over the insulator and provided with downwardly turned lips 67. The upstanding lips 64 are preferably formed by punching out of the metal strip so that there are spaces left in the center through which the wooden block 61 can project.

Instead of these caps it is possible to provide lugs on the wooden cushions for the rails such as 68, Fig. 9.

Big consisting of two end boards 1 to whlch is hinged at 7 6 a flap 7 7 is locked 1n position by any desired securing cover 77.

If desired the rail may be rolled with ribs Stopsmay be provided on the vehicle or brackets thereon to prevent undue movement of the collecting shoe so that it will be in convenient position to enter the ramp after it has left a rail at points or the like.

The'guardS 8 and 9 are preferably provided with extension portions 70 (Fig. 1)

'reachingbelow the bottom of the conductor rail.

It is. preferred toprovide a guard for the collector shoe and this may consist of a cas- (Fig. 1) which flap means such, forrinstance, as a wing bolt and nut connection 7 8 engaging 1n slots 79 in the 80 on its under surface engaging the sides of the wooden block recessed in the insulator (Fig. 10).

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertically disposed working side face, an insulator adapted tobe secured to a sleeper, and having shoulders at its opposite sides, acushion between the shoulders upon which the rail loosely rests, an inner angle guard resting at its lower edge on one of said shoulders with its upper horizontal member overlying the top surface of the rail, a second or outer guard resting at its lower edge on the other shoulder and from which the base of the rail is spaced to permit exit of water, etc., a clamp having ends one of which engages the outer side of the outer guard and the other of which extends up parallel with the inner guard, and a looking key between the inner guard and the adjacent end of said clamp.

2. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertically disposed working side face and a web parallel thereto, an insulator having a cushion on its upper face upon which said rail loosely rests; said insulator having shoulders at opposite sides of the rail, an angle guard resting at the lower edge of its vertical member upon the inner shoulder and extending at its upper horizontal memberacross the upper surface of the rail, a second outer guard resting at its lower edge upon the outer shoulder, a drain space being formed between the rail and the outer guard, a spacing member between the Web of the rail and outer guard, and clam-ping means lrolding the two guards to the rail and insuator.

3. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertical working side face, an insulator adapted to be secured to a sleeper, a cap on said insulation supporting the third rail, shoulders on said cap, and guards held in spaced relationship by said shoulders.

at. In a third rail system a third rail having a, vertical working side face, an insulation adapted to be secured to'a sleeper, a'cap fitting on saidinsulator and havinga socket, a cushionin said socket supporting thethird rail, shoulders on said cap, and guards held in spaced relationship by said shoulders.

5. In a-third rail system, a third rail having a Vertical working side face, an insulator adapted to be securedto a sleeper, a cap on said insulator supporting the third rail shoulder-son said cap, an inner angleguard resting at its lower edge on one of said shoulders with its upper horizontal member overlying the top surface of the rail, and a second orouter guard resting at its lower edge on the other shoulder.

6. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertical Working side 'face, an insulator adapted to be secured to a sleeper, a cap on said insulatorsupporting the third rail, shoulders on said cap, guards, and a bent metal spring clamp embracing the guards andrail to hold the said guards against the shouldeis.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 11th day of July 1914:, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN A. ASPINALL.

Witnesses:

HECTOR ARMSTRONG, JOHN J. LEARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents -each,,by addressing theflcommissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. '0.

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