US1363337A - Section-insulator - Google Patents

Description

w; c. McILVAIN. SECTION INSULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, I920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

W. C. MclLVAlN.

SECTION INSULATOR.

A P P L l C A T I O N F I L E D M A R. 9. I920.

31 WC'MC IZva.

Patented DecL-28, 1920.

2 SSSSSSSSSS ET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sno'rron-msunnroa.

Application filed March 9, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that'I, WILLIAM C. MoIL- VAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Russellton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Section-Insulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

lily invention relates toimprovements in section insulators or breakers for the purpose of joining sections of trolley wire and has for its primary object to provide a simple and effective breaker to insulate sections from one another and which is provided with a switch whereby the sections may be electrically connected. One of the primary objects of the inven tion is 'to provide section insulator that is constructed so that it may be. easily and quickly applied to a trolley wireso as to divide it into' sections, said device being arranged to be connected with a wire and clamped thereto prior to the cutting of the wire to divide it into sections.

Another object is to provide effective clamping means for securing the ends of the trolley wire in such manner that accidental derangement thereof is prevented and releasing thereof when desired may be had in an expeditious manner.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein l. have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy 1mproved section insulator,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the insulator,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the insulator,

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the clamping elements of the device, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Serial No. 364,540.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numerals 1 and 2 designate as entireties metallic clamping members to secure the ends of trolley wires and 3 an approximately rectangular body of insulating material to which the clamping members 1 and 2 are secured.

Each ofthe clamping members 1 and 2 comprises an elongated casting 4 that is approximately rectangular in cross section and provided at its inner end with spaced attaching ears 5. The cars 5 receive therebetween the ends of the insulating body 3 and suitable fastening elements 6 are inserted through the ears 5 so as to secure them to the body. It will thus beseen that the members 1 and 2 are insulated from one another.

The lower longitudinal edge of each castin 4 is provided with a longitudinal groove '7 that is approximately semi-circular in cross section and designed to receive a trolleywire designated A. Preferably cylindrical openings 8 are formed vertically through the castings 4.

I provide a pair of elongated clamping bars 9 and 10. Each of the bars 9 and 10 is tapered toward oneend and rounded along its lower longitudinaledge so as to conform as much as possible to the diameter of the trolley wire and obviate possibility of throwing the trolley wheel, not shown, off of the trolley in encountering said clamp. A longi tudinal trolley wire receiving groove 11 is formed in the upper face of each of the members 9. and 10. Carried by each of the members 9 and 10 is a pair of upstanding spaced split bolts 12 arranged to extend within the openings 8.. Formed integral with the castings 4 and extending transversely across the openings 8 are wedge members 13 to be received between the sides of the split bolts 12. These wedge members terminate at a point spa ced from the upper end of the openings 8 and serve to force apart. the sides of the split bolts-12. Nuts 14 are turned upon the upper ends of the bolts 12 which upper ends are extended beyond the upper faces of the castings 4.

The nuts 1a securely hold the members 9 and 10 in clamping cooperation with the castings 4 and to prevent the trolley wires from slipping relative to the members 9 and 10, I provide projections 15 within the grooves 11 that are arranged between the sides of the split bolts 12. These projections 15 serve to securely clamp the trolley wires.

As a means for electrically connecting the members 1 and 2 with one another, I provide a knife switch consisting of a knife blade 16 that is hinged at one end to a bearing bracket 17 that is carried by the member 1 on one side thereof. A handle 18 is carried at the other end of the blade 16 and a sta tionary contact member 19 is carried upon the member 2 and arranged to cooperate with the blade 16. Carried upon the insulating body block 3 at a point spaced from the inner ends of the attaching ears 5 is a hanger socket 20 to be connected with suitable supporting element, not shown.

The inner ends of the castings 4: at the lower edges thereof are. disposed below the lower longitudinal edge of the body plate 3 and form shoulders 21. An elongated insulating strip 22 is placed between the shoulders 21 in engagement with the lower longitudinal edge of the body 3. of insulting material and shaped so that. it corresponds to the lower longitudinal faces of the members 9 and 10. Suitablefastening means 23 countersunk within the mem ber 22 secure it to the body 3.

In use, the breaker is placed upon a trolley wire when it is desired to divide the wire into sections and the members 9 and 10 fitted into clamping relation to the wire.

The wire is then out between the shoulders 21 for a distance equivalent to the length of the member 22 and the strip 22 is then secured in place with its ends abutting the inner ends of the members 9 and 10 and trolley wires A. By throwing the knife switch out, the line will be divided. into sections which may be electrically connected at will by moving the knife switch blade 16 into engagement with the contact 19.

With reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have provided a section breaker or insulator which may be secured upon a trolley wire in such way that the trolley wire may be cut and the end spaced to divide the line into sections. With the use of my improved device burning out of the wires relative to the clamp is obviated, slipping of the wires relative to the clamp prevented and the wires supported in a re liable and effective manner.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings This strip 22 is and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is 1. A section insulator consisting of a body of non-insulating material, clampingmembers carried by the body and spaced from one another, means to establish an electrical communication between the clamping members, each of said clamping members consisting of a casting secured to the body plate, elongated clamping bars arranged te cooperate with the castings, the opposed faces of the clamping bars and castings being grooved to receive trolley wires, said castings having openings therethrough, split bolts carried by the clamping bars and arranged to extend into said openings, wedge members mounted within the openings and to be disposed between the sides of the split bolts, the free ends of the split bolts terminating above the plane of the castings and nuts turned on the free ends of said bolts.

2. A section insulator consisting of clamping members, abody of insulating material connected with the clamping members, switch means for electrically connecting the clamping members with one another, ch of said clamping members consisting of a casting secured to the insulating body, clamping bars to cotiperate with the castings, the lower faces of the castings being disposed below the lower edge of the insulating body, means to adjustably secure the clamping bars to the castings, and a strip of non-insulating material having a rounded relatively narrow lower face secured to the body plate and abutting the inner ends of the castings and clamping bars, said clamping bars being reduced and tapered toward their outer ends and provided with curved lower faces.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MOILVAIN.

Witnesses Ti-ros. HEIGHT, T. E. DOLAN.

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