US1524223A

US1524223A - Means for heating railway rails and the like

Info

Publication number: US1524223A
Application number: US545635A
Authority: US
Inventors: Loren S Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-03-22
Filing date: 1922-03-22
Publication date: 1925-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1942-01-27

Description

Jim 27, 1925.

1.. s. WELLS MEANS FOR HEATING RAILWAY RAILS AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1922 INVENTOR Ila/ en J iflk JBY ATTORNEY Q Q I Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,524,223 PATENT OFFICE.

1 LOREN S. WELLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR HEATING RAILWAY RAILS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,635.

. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Heating Railway Rails and the like, of which the following is a specification.

On electrified railroads the power for traction purposes is delivered to cars or trains by means of an electrical conductor connnonly called third rail, channel rail and other forms which parallel the track rails. The power to operate cars or trains is collected from such conductors by means of shoes attached to the cars which come in contact with the stationary electrical conductor referred to. During time of sleet or snow storms a coating of ice frequently forms on the conductor rails which insulates them electrically from the shoe or other form of collector on the car, thereby preventing, temporarily at least, the collection of power for the operation of the car and seriously interfering with the train schedule, the shoe being electrically connected with the motor equipments on the cars, etc.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means in conjunction with railway rails or conductors, and particularly in association with the third rail or other rails that conduct the current for the motors of the railway cars, to prevent formation or accumulation of sleet, snow, or ice on such rail or conductor, which heating means wil not interfere with the operation of the railroad trains, and will not be liable to be injured or to permit leakage of elec tric current.

My invention comprises novel details of improvement that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein-- Figure' 1 is a side view illustrating my improvement in connection with a so-called third rail of a railway track;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view adjacent to the joint between two rails;

Fig. 3 is a section on

line

3, 3, in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section illustrating connecting means between conducors;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating supporting means for conductors along the rail;

Fig. 6 is a partly sectional detail view illustrating the conductor protector;

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 illustrates protecting boards along the rail.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates a part to be heated, such as a railway rail, or a conductor or power line for an electrically propelled railway, such as commonly called third rail, channel rail, or other form. of conductor which parallel the railroad track rails, and from which power to operate the trains is collected by means of shoes on a. car which come in contact with such electrical conductor. At 2 is an electrical conductor to supply heat to the rail or conductor 1, the conductor 2 being shown located along one side of rail or conductor 1 and maintained in thermal relation thereto, so that the heat from the resistance conductor 2 will radiate to rail or conductor 1 to heat the latter. Conductor 2 is shown, in part, covered by refractory heat conducting means, such as insulating sleeves or tubes 3, which may be in the nature of porcelain, mica, asbestos, or other insulating tubes, strung along conductor 2, preferably in relatively close relation. The resistance conductor with its insulating heat conducting material thereon is shown enclosed within a moulding 4.

shown in the form of a channel piece, which may be of metal, having one side open, the open side thereof being located against the web 1 ofconductor or rail .1, so that the heat from conductor 2 will readily radiate to rail 1. The moulding 4 is preferably provided with an insulating lining 4*, shown open on the side opposite rail 1. The moulding 4 extends along the rail to protect conductor 2 and is shown retained in place by means of spaced blocks which. may be of wood, having lateral recesses 6 receiving the moulding 4. The blocks 5 are retained against the conductor rail 1 by means of clips 7. The'clips 7 are shown in the form of metal strips having a main portion 7 adapted to bear against the bottom of the rail and at one end having a reverse hook-like portion at 7 to engage the adjacent edge of the bottom web of the rail, or a block 5' as in Fig. 8. the opposite end of clip; T-having a prong orprojection l' adapted to fit over and agai-nst the adjacent lower portion of block 5. Bypret erence the block has an 1111g1-1l211=-b358 por-- receive the prong 7, whereby the 10 blodk is retained"--a'gainst the" rail and lateral shitti'i-ig ofthe block al-oirg'the rail is prevented. After the block 5 hasb'eenlocat- "ed against the rail the ;*end 7of clip :7 is to be hooked against the rail and the pron'g "T" bent into-the recess 5 ortheend"? is'engagedwith block '5 in case that is used as in Fig. 8. The blocks 5 are to be se'cured along tl1e=rail in any desired spaced relat-ien -to maintain'the moulding l and "the "contained conduct-or 2in proper position be lowthe tread'ot 1'ai l"1.' At the junction between'two rails 1, such asadjacent to'the lish' plate '8; the conductor and moulding 4 may extend, or an insulated conductor 9 may be iprovide d'to span thefishplate the ends ofithe con'ductor' 9 being electrically and mechanicallyconnected to the adjacent en'ds otresistance conductors-2 that extend along the-corresponclnig "rails 1. As a con- 3 *venient}meansfor su'ch connection a connec-to'r' 10 isysho'wn comprising a well known fomnvofunetal tubingdiai ing screws 11 to seeure the inserted "ends of the conductors Qifiand 9; (Figu l'). Such connector '10 is preferably "enclosed within an insulator 12,

which may be o'i por'celain or other suit able kinsu'lating? material. The inner end otT'insu'l ator 12 Eand' tlieWa-djaoent end of moulding-E4 are shownabutting and en- 40 cle'sed Wi thin"the recess 6 of the corresponding block :1 5, whereby said parts are united and maintained against rail 1 (see e-2).-

By fproyi'ding :the resistance conductor 2 with insulators S "strung :alongthe conductor, I-a1n:=enabl'ed to :use l'L tory insulating' i'n'ea'ns through which heat from there sistance conductor nag "radiate without infjuq to the-insulation: due to vibration or bending-lot rails or we ather conditions,-since my "improvementsr'not "only maybeused to heat condimtori rai'ls, sue'h asthird rails, but mayalsoflbe auplied' along "tl1'e"-traok rails;"particularly at the pla es Where switches, frogs, and the dike arewlocate d, to

prevent the {ICCl'illltlltLtiOnQf*SDUW, ice-and "sleet thereon. f To limit I the Fmovement of theinsulators 3 and 12'Z'due toith'eiriexpan- 'si'onit'rom heat Within moulding at I provide stops 15".{1t'"(11l601 bothends' ot'a moulding -to 1 abut the i endm'ost insulator; the stops beingvlapertured at 15 for the conductor "2, (Figs; seam The flexibleinsulated'condu ctors .9,' which; spani the ltish 1 plates, are 55 not requirfe'd asheatingwlements sinee when and: the block is provided with a recess 5- at its lower portlon' on the-exterior to" ation ot -heat therefrom and drive' 'th'e heat "third-rails,channel rails and rails, or track 'r'alls as Well as other forms of elecresistance: conductor extending (along the adjaeent to' the-rail, andmoans to retain the resistance 'eo'nductors; insulators encflofs- Fig. '85 The bloc-ksbf on the sides of the rails opposite the "blocks 5 afi'ord means to secure hoards along the rails below their tread-ssimilarly to thatdescribed re- "spectingboar'ds 1st; Said boards being outside of the concluctorsjre'si'stf-outivardraditoward the rail. 7

By the term rail as used by ine I mean to include railway rails whether -'used as conductors of electricity, such'as so-called trioal con'c'luctors-that it is desired to maintain, at least temporarily, at a' temperature above atmosphere;

Having now described -my invention,

1. Means "for -heatingrails comprising a resistance conductor extendlng 7 along the rail, -spaoed bloeksretaining theresistance outside U1 said cenductor to resist radiation of heat therefrom and drive the heat to- -Ward the'rail. c

Means tor fheatin'g rails comprising a 1 rail, a "moulding-enclosing "the resistance conductor-mail having oi'ie side free to-pcranit radiation" of heat "therethrough t0 the raiL spaced blocks retaining: the moulding; 1

the bleeks. V p p 3; Means for heating rails COllll'H'lSlllQ a" resistance conductor extending "along the rail, heat conducting electrical"insulators 5r enclosing? the "resistance conductor,

the rail, and means to retain themoulding alongrail. I i V "4. Means-for heating rails comprising resistance conductors extending along-the rails; an insulated"conductor attached to ing the junction 'between said conductors, I blocks retamm'g SfllCl insulators, and means to retain the -blociks adqae'entto the rail.

' Mea'nS for heating:railscomprisingresistan'ce conductors extending along the rails,"'1nsulated conductor-s attached to th'e resistance conductors, insulators enclosing 1 the junction between said conductors, moulding enclosing the resistance conductors, blocks retaining the adjacent portions of said insulators and said moulding, and means to retain the block adjacent to the rail.

6. The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of the rail, a molding having one side open opposing the rail and enclosing said conductor, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses facing the rail and receiving said conductor and molding, and means to retain said blocks against the rail.

7 The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of the rail, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses receiving said conductor, and clips having hook-like portions fitted against the rail and having prongs retaining the blocks against the rail.

8. The combination of a rail, a resistance conductor at a side of the rail, blocks spaced along the rail having recesses receiving said conductor, and clips having hooklike portions fitted against the base of the rail and having prongs retaining the blocks against the rail, said blocks having recesses reeeiving said prongs for retaining the blocks from displacement along the rail.

9. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail, an insulated conductor attached to the resistance conductor, an insulator enclosing the junction between said conductors. a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor, said moulding having one side open opposing the rail to permit the passage of. heat from the resistance conductor to the rail, a block having a recess receiving adjacent portions of the insulator and moulding, and means to retain the block adjacent to the rail.

10. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail, an insulated conductor attached to the resistance conductor, an insulator enclosing the junction between said conductors, a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor. said moulding having one side open opposing the rail to permit the passage of heat from the resistance conductor to the rail a block having a recess receiving adjacent portions of the insulator and moulding. and means to retain the block adjacent to the rail, said resistance conductor having electrical insulating heat conducting sleeves thereon enclosed in said moulding.

11. The combination of rails, fish plates connecting them, resistance conductors along the rails, insulated conductors along the fish plates connected to the resistance conductors, moulding enclosing the resistance conductors, insulators enclosing the junction between the conductors, blocks retaining the moulding and insulators adjacent to the rails, and means retaining the blocks adjacent to rails.

12. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail, separate heat conducting electrical insulators upon the resistance conductor, a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor and the insulators, and stops at the ends of the moulding to limit movement of the insulators along the conductor.

13. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail, separate heat conducting electrical insulators upon the resistance conductor, a moulding enclosing the resistance conductor and the insulators, and stops at the ends of the moulding to limit movement of the in sulators along the conductor, said stops having openings receiving the resistance conductor.

14. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail and having a heat conducting covering, a moulding extending along the rail enclosing said conductor and having one side opposing the rail free for radiation of heat from the conductor to the rail,and a lining, of insulating material within the moulding outside of the conductor and open on the side toward the rail.

15. Means for heating rails comprising a resistance conductor extending along the rail and having a heat conducting covering, a moulding extending along the rail enclosing said conductor and having one side opposing the rail open for radiation of heat to the rail, an insulating lining within the moulding above, below and outside of said conductor and open on the side toward the rail.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 20th day of March, A. D. 1922.

LOREN S. WELLS.