US1511379A - Wire-retaining device - Google Patents

Description

LSELBW m. M g 1924.

P.G.SWARS "WIRE RETAINING DEVICE Filed March 1923 INVENTOYR Paul 61 Swars WITNESSES: m W

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL G. SWARS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-RETAINING DEVICE.

Application filed March 5, 1923. Serial No. 622,743.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL G. SWARs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire- Retaining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire-retaining devices and the like, and particularly to such devices as are employed in connection with overhead line apparatus for electric railways.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved wire retaining device which shall possess great strength, and which shall be simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, effective and efficient in operation and convenient to handle and install.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects appearing hereinafter, my invention comprises the features of noveltyinvolved in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of'my invention and wherein- Figure l is a top plan view of a trolleywire splicer embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view representing a vertical central longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 1,

line IIIIIIjof Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4.- is a view representing an enlarged vertical central longitudinal section of one of the retaining means shown in Fig. 2.

In order that my invention may be easily understood, I have illustrated it as embodied in a simple form of overhead line apparatus, commonly known as a splicer, for conheating the ends of trolley conductors or wires, but it will be obvious, after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosure herein made, that it is readily applicable to other forms of apparatus and particularly to other forms of overhead line apparatus wherein the objectionable features that my invention is designed to overcome are most likely to be found.

Referring to the drawing, the trolley-wire splicer here shown comprises a body mem- Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the her 1, preferably a metal casting, having alined passages or openings 2 and 3 extending inwardly from its respective ends and adapted to receive the ends of the trolley wires 5 and 6. The customary lips 7 are provided at each end of the splicer to be crimped around the trolley wires 5 and 6, after they are placed in position, and thus provide a tight fit and also a smooth approach to the splicer for the trolley wheel.

The trolley wire splicer is provided, at or near its center, with a recess 8 which is threaded to receive a stud or bolt adapted for attachment to a member for supporting the splicer, as will be understood without detailed illustration. An opening 9, which passes from one side to the other at the central portion of the splicer, is provided to permit inspection to determine whether or not the trolley wires 5 and 6 have been fully inserted in the passages 2 and 3, and also to provide a means for removing dirt from the inner ends of the passages and from the bottom of the recess 8.

The top part of the splicer is provided on each side of the recess 8 with locking means 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, which are more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.

The illustrated locking means severally comprise a set-screw or bolt 16, which is inserted in a hole or aperture 17, that extends from the top of the splicer to, and communicates with, the passage 3 for the trolley wire. Each set-screw 16 is threaded through a nut 18 that is located in a rectangular passage or opening 19, which extends from the one to the other side of the body member of splicer and intersects the middle portion of the corresponding hole 17. Each rectangular passage or opening 19 is of such size and shape that the correponding nut 18 may lie in it loosely, but cannot be rotated. A shoulder '21 is thus located between each pair of openings 17 and 19, for a purpose to be set forth.

Each hole 17 is formed with its axis in substantially the same longitudinal plane as that of the trolley wire passage 2 or 3, but the axis of each hole 17 is inclined outwardly; that is, its lower end is nearer than its top portion to the central recess 8. The three illustrated holes 17 on either side of the recess 8 extend along parallel axes, although this arrangement is not essential.

- the nut 18 will, by reason of the fact that the hole 17 and the rectangular passage 19' are made considerably la-rgerthan the set-. screw and nut, swing into such position that the upper side oft-he nut 18 will engage the shoulder 21 to. thus: provide a wedging action that will become greater as the tension applied to the wire 6is increased. This action permits the threaded end of each setscrew 16 to securely wedgefagainst the'trolley wire without severelycutting it. j

I The several locking means individually illustrated in detail in. Fig. 3and Fig." 4:: are

shown in 1 Fig. 2. in the. different operating positions that theymay take. The locking q as loosely in place.

means is shown in the position that it has assumed upon the entrance of the wire 5 into the passage 2 to a point beyond it, while thelocking means 13 and 14 are shown I have shown the trolley wire 6 as placed in final position and secured by the locking means 10, 11, 12. Each one of the lockingmeahslO, 11 and 12 has been tightened so that the inner end of its set-screw 16- presses into the trolley wire 6, to which tension has been applied.

Inasmuch as my improvement may-be applied in manyways to various pieces of apparatus, I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular form of construction shown and described, since it is apparent not only that it may be changed and modified, but that my improvement may be employed in other forms of apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wire-retaining device, the com bination with a body member provided with an opening to receive a wire and with a second opening having a shoulder therein,

of an adjustable member adapted to wedge between said wire and said shoulder.

2. In a wire-retaining device, the combination with a body member provided with an opening to receive a wireand with a second opening having an internally located shoulder, of an adjustable member adapted to wedge between said wire and said shou'l der.

3. In a, wire-retaining device, the combination with a body member provided with a passage to receive a wire and with an opening having a rectangular opening in termediate its ends, of a set-screw and nut located within said openings, and adapted to wedge." against the wire when r'orceis applied. thereto.

4. In a wire retaining device, the combination with a body member having a passage for receiving a wire and having a hole the axis of which is in substantially the same plane as that of the passage with a transversely-extending opening intermediate its ends, of a set-screw and nut disposed in the hole and opening and adapted to act as a wedge against the wire when tension is applied thereto.

5. In a wire-retaining device, the combination with a body memberprovided' with an opening to receive a wire and. with a second opening having a rectangular portion intermediate its ends, of a nut located within said rectangular portion, and. a set-screw threaded through said nut andbeing adapted to wedgeagainst the wire-whenforce is applied thereto. 1 Y

6. In a. wire-retaining-i device, thecombination-with a body member" provided with anopening adapted. to receive-a wire, ,ofa

bolt loosely associated with the body member to permit lateral movement of the bolt when force is applied to the wire.

7. Ina wire-retaining device, the-combis nation with a body member provided with an opening for receiving a'wire, of a bolt mounted in the body member and havingla limited lateral movement;

8. In a wire-retaining device, thecombination with a body member havinga recess for a wire andprovided with an opfining, of a bolt and nut loosely retained in. the opening and adapted to act as a wedge when set against the wire.

9. In a wire retaining device, the -combination with a body member having an opening adapted to receive a wire, of a bolt loosely associated with thezbody member to permit automatic adjustment of the bolt to form an angle of less than 90 with the wire.

10. In a wire-retainingdeivice, the combination with a body member providedwith an opening for receiving a wire, of a-bolt loosely mounted in the body memberand ing, a nut seated in said secondopenin'g, and

a set-screw threaded. through saidnut and adapted tov act as a wedge againstthe wire when tensionis applied thereto 13. A trolley; wire splicer comprising,- a

body member having two oppositely extending portions each portion being provided with an opening for receiving the end of a wire and with a second transversely extending opening, a plurality of nuts seated in the respective openings, and a plurality of set screws threaded through the respective nuts in oppositely inclined direction and respectively adapted to act as Wedges between the wire and the body member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of February 1923.

PAUL G. SWARS.

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