US2343693A - Current collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1944.

G. A. MITCHELL CURRENT COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed July 16. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q a 21m in?" izuezzzor Georzge A.Mz'c/zell fiiozvzgs Patented Mar. 7, 1944 2,343,693 CURRENT COLLECTING APPARATUS George A. Mitchell,

Manning,

Maxwell & Moore,

Muskegon, Mich, assignor to Inc., Muskegon,

Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 16, 1942, Serial No. 451,10!

6 Claims.

This invention relates to current collecting apparatus particularly suitable for use with traveling cranes and similar bridge structures having a carriage or other traveling member which requires a supply of electricalcurrent for its operation.

Traveling cranes may be equipped with any one of a number of different types of runway conductor systems depending upon the specific requirements of each installation. Thus, in some instances it may be desirable to arrange the conductors of the system in avertical plane, that is, with the conductors spaced apart vertically, while in other systems the conductors may be arranged in a horizontal plane. With either conductor arrangement the system may be of the so-called loose wire type in which the conductors are supported only at their ends. Alternatively the conductors may be supported at one or more intermediate points in which case the conductors are generally stretched relatively taut. The latter systems will be referred to hereinafter as tight wire systems. Moreover, while the conductors of the runway system always extend generally parallel to the path of the traveling member they may be located'either above or below or at one side of the bridge structure which carries the tracks for the traveling member.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved current collecting apparatus adapted for use with any of the runway conductor systems mentioned above.

A more specific object is to provide a current collecting apparatus made up of a relatively small number of standardized parts constructed and arranged for assembly in various relationships to adapt the apparatus for use with any of the runway conductor systems commonly employed in traveling crane installations.

Another object is to provide a current collect ing apparatus utilizing interchangeable parts which, by reason of their universal adaptability for use with any of the commonly used runway conductor systems, materially reduce the number of different parts which must be manufactured'and carried in stock and thereby make it practicable to produce this type of equipment by mass production methods with a consequent reduction in the cost thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view'oi current collecting apparatus embodying the features of the parts are assembled loose wire runway contraveling bridge shown in transthe invention wherein for use with a vertical ductor system as installed in a crane, the crane bridge being verse section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the current collecting apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket forming a part of the current collecting apparatus with the individual elements of the bracket shown in separated relation.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the contactor assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of the contactor assembly arranged for use with a horizontal loose wire runway conductor system.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the current collecting apparatus assembled for use with a vertical tight wire" runway conductor system.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1-! of Fig. 6 showing details of the contact roll supporting structure.

tor pole l0 adapted to support Fig. 8 is a top View of the current collecting apparatus with the parts assembled for use with a horizontal tight wire runway conductor system.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the apparatus, partly in section, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.-

While I have shown and will hereinafter describe a preferred form of the invention and its application to a specific type of traveling crane, it will be understood that the invention may be employed with other types of cranes and similar structures and that various changes and modifications may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In carrying out the invention I provide a related series of standardized parts adapted to be assembled in'various relationships for use with the different types of runway conductor systems hereinbeiore referred to. This series of parts, as herein shown, comprises an insulated colleca plurality of contactors H (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) or 12 (Figs. 6-9) and a mounting bracket M by which the collector pole may be supported on a cranestructure in any one of a plurality of positions.

The collector pole H] as herein shown comprises a metal'bar I5 (Fig. 3) of generally rectangular cross section encased in a sheath l6 of suitable insulating material. The sheath effectively insulates the contactors from the pole and from each other and makes it unnecessary being shown in the exemplary apparatus. The

contactors for any given installation are all alike so a description of one of each type will sufiice.

The contactor II for the loose wire system, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, comprises a rigid bracket 2| having a transversely disposed cap 22 bolted or otherwise removably secured thereto. The bracket and cap are formed with complementary triangular grooves 23 (Figs. 4 and 5) which cooperate to define a square aperture adapted to snugly receive the insulated section of the collector pole NJ. The bracket may thus be rigidly clamped to the pole in either of two selected positions.

As will be seen by reference to the drawings the bracket 2| is formed with a socket adapted to receive a roller supporting stud 24 (Figs. 1 and 4) or the shank 25' of a roller supporting member 25 (Fig. 5). A grooved roller 26 journaled on the stud 24 is thus positioned for contact with a conductor 21 disposed at one side of the pole l when the latter is arranged in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 2. A guard pin 28 set in the bracket 2| and extending over the roller 26 but spaced therefrom prevents accidental disengagement of the conductor from the roller. To adapt the contactor H for use with a horizontal runway conductor system, the stud 24 is replaced by the supporting member 25 (Fig. This member is bifurcated to provide spaced bearings for a shaft 29 on which the contact roller is journaled for rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collector pole l0.

With either of the two types of mountings above described the roller 26 provides a rolling contact with one of the conductors of the runway conductor system. The weight of the conductor insures adequate contact at all times. The current picked up by the roller is transmitted by the stud 24 or by the shaft 29 and member 25 to the bracket 2!. A conductor 30 suitably anchored to the bracket carries the current to the motor or other electrical device on the traveling member with which the current collecting apparatus is associated.

In runway conductor systems of the type in which the conductors are rigidly supported, that is, the socalled tight wire systems, it is desirable to provide means for holding the contact roller against the conductor with sufficient pressure to insure efiicien't current pick-up while permitting yielding movement of the roller to compensate for irregularities in the conductor. The contactor assembly l2 supplied for use with this type system is accordingly provided with a grooved contact roller 3| (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) journaled on a shaft 32 supported in the bifurcated end of a lever 33. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends between a pair of lugs 34 pro- .iects axially from one end of a cylindrical stud 35. The other end of the lever 33 is preferably inclined at an an le with respect to the roller supporting end and is bifurcated for the reception of an I-bolt 36 which is pivotally attached thereto by a pin or other suitable means. The free end of the I-bolt 36 projects substantially parallel to the stud and through an aperture in an arm 31 rigid with the stud 35 and extending radially therefrom adjacent the base of the lugs 34. A coiled compression spring 33 interposed between the underside of the arm 31 and a nut 39 threaded onto the end of the bolt tends to rock the roller supporting lever (in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6) and thus hold the roller in firm contact with the wire of the runway conductor system.

The contact roller assembly is mounted on the collector pole ID by means of a bracket 4| having a cap member 42 bolted or otherwise removably secured thereto as shown in Fig. 7. Adjacent surfaces of the bracket and cap member are grooved to define a square aperture for the reception of the collector pole. A wire 43 anchored to the cap member as by a set screw 44 conducts current from the contactor assembly to the motor or other device with which the apparatus is associated.

The bracket 4! is adapted to hold the contactor assembly in either of two positions for cooperation alternatively with a vertical or horizontal runway conductor system. To this end the bracket is provided with one stud receiving socket 45 disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the collector pole and a similar socket 46 extending generally parallel to the pole. The axis of the latter socket is displaced laterally with respect to the collector pole aperture as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to provide sufr ficient clearance for the roller supporting lever When used with a vertical runway conductor system the contactor supporting stud 35 is seated in the socket 46 with the roller carrying lever 33 projecting along one side of the pole as shown in Fig. 6. Alternatively for use with a horizontal runway system, the stud 35 is seated in the socket 45, thus positioning the roller car rying lever 33 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In either case, the contactor assembly is free to swivel or pivot on an axis perpendicular to the wire with which it cooperates. Moreover, the contact roller 3! is yieldably held against the wire 27' by the action of the spring 38 thus enabling the roller to maintain contact with the wire regardless of any irregularities therein.

Having in mind the construction and mode of operation of the contactors I I and i2 above described it will be appreciated that the collector pole It] must be rigidly supported and accurately located with respect to the runway conductor system with which it is intended to operate. Novel supporting structure is provided for this purpose, the support in this instance comprising the bracket I 4 which performs the function of supporting and positioning the collector pole and contactors carried thereby. Due to the novel form of the bracket, the pole may be mounted in the proper position for use with any of the conventional runway conductor systems hereinbefore mentioned.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings the bracket M in its preferred form comprises a generally rectangular base 5! formed on one side with spaced pads 52 and 53 adapted to bear against the flange of an I-beam or other structural element to which the bracket is to be attached. These pads likewise provide seats for flat, generally rectangular clamping members 54 and 55 which engage the flange of the beam to secure the bracket thereto. These clamping members may be recessed on their undersides as at 56 to conform to the contour of the'fiange and the oppositeedge is suitably apertured for "the reception of bolts by which the members I are removably secured to the base Projecting from the side of the b'aseppposite the pads 52 and 53, substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the base, is a rigid plate 51 formed with crossed triangular grooves 58 and 59 in' its front face. A gusset plate 60 (Figs. 2 and 8) extends between the rear face of the plate and the adjacent end of the base to strengthen the plate and to assist in holding it rigid. The grooves 58 and 59 are preferably disposed at right angles to each other, one being perpendicular to the "plane of the base and the other parallel to said plane.

Cooperating with the plate 5'! is a cap member 6t of substantially the same external dimensions --as the'plate and adapted to be removably secured thereto as by bolts 53 engaging in apertures adjacent eachbf the four corners of the cap member and plate. The cap member is likewise formed with crossed triangular grooves 64 and 55' adapted to register respectively with the grooves 53 and 59 to form square sockets for receiving theunsheathed end of the collector pole. Thus by tightening the bolts 63, the pole may be securely clamped in place on the bracket. I

It will be apparent that the bracket may be clamped in various positionson a crane or other structure with which it is associated and that when so clamped it is capable of holding the col- .lec'to'r pole in either a horizontal or vertical position as desired. Thus, only one bracket is'required regardless of the type of 'runway: conductor system with which the current conducting apparatus is to be used.

By way of illustration,'the installation of the collecting apparatus on a bridge crane equipped .with a vertical loose wire runway conductor system is shown in Fig. l. The particuJa-r'crane illustrated comprises a bridge formed by spaced, horizontally disposed I-beams ,H equipped with rails 12 forming a track for a traveling member or carriage 13. The conductors 21 of the system are attached to uprights 14 supported at opposite ends of the bridge structure by means of brackets 15 bolted to the inner face of one of the I-beams H.

The carriage 13, as herein shown, includes a rectangular frame consisting of side beams 16 joined by cross beams 11. Conventional flanged wheels l8 journaled on the side beams support the carriage on the track rails 12. An electric motor M mounted on the carriage is arranged to drive the wheels through the medium of a chain 19 and associated apparatus of well-known construction. The current collector system serves to conduct current from the runway conductor system for the operation of this motor. Accordingly, in order to position the contactors H for cooperation with the conductors 21, the supporting bracket I4 is clamped to the lower flange of the-beam 15 forming a part of the frame of the carriage.

For use with a horizontal loose wire runway conductor system the supporting bracket may be clamped either to the upper or lower flange of the beam 16 depending upon the location of the conductors either above or below the plane of the carriage. In this case the collector pole is inserted in the horizontal socket formed between grooves 58 and 64.

Figs. 6 and 9 illustrate a crane form of mounting structure of apparatus for channel supports suitably attached to the bridge member as by an angle bracket 85.

A similar type system with the conductors arranged in a horizontalplane is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this instance the intermediate supports 84 are carried on a horizontal member 81 which may be mounted on the bridge structure in any suitable manner. In the particular installation shown in Fig. 9 the conductors are positioned above the plane of the carriage and consequently the collector pole supporting bracket is conveniently clamped to the upper flange of the beam 16 forming a part of the carriage frame The collector pole, in this instance, is engaged in the horizontal socket provided for its reception while the contactors l2 are assembled in the manner previously described for use with horizontal runway conductor systems.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a current collecting appara tus of novel and advantageous form. The apparatus consists of a relatively small number of standardized parts constructed and arranged for assembly in various relationships to adapt the use with any of the conventional runway conductor systems employed in traveling crane installations. The parts making up the apparatus are interchangeabl for the different types of installations and materially reduce the number of different types of parts that must be manufactured and kept in stock. This permits the parts to be manufactured in quantity with a in the manufacturing costs.

I claim as my invention:

1; A contact'or assembly for traveling cranes and the like having, in combination, an elongated collector pole, a series of contactors adjustably mounted on said pole for cooperation with the individual wires of a runway conductor system, and a bracket operative to support said pole on the crane structure for operation with either a horizontal or a vertical runway conductor system, said bracket comprising a rectangular base, clamping members secured to one side of said base for removably securing the bracket to the crane structure, a plat projecting outwardly from the opposite side of said base, a cap member adapted to be assembled with said plate in face-to-face relation, said member and said plate having registering grooves defining angularly disposed apertures for receiving the collector pole, and means removably securing said cap member to said plate to clamp the collector pole rigidly in a selected position.

2. A universal supporting structure for a. collector pole having a series of contactors mounted thereon to cooperate with the wires of a runway conductor system, said supporting structure comprising, in combination, a rigid base, mean operative to clamp said base detachably to the flange of a beam constituting a part of a crane or the like, a member rigid with said base projectgrooves in the abutting faces of said members defining sockets adapted to receive and clamp the collector pole in a selected position, the grooves of the respective pairs being disposed substantially at right angles to each other and positioned so that the sockets are enabled to hold the pole either parallel or perpendicular to the beam to which said base is clamped.

3. A universal bracket for supporting a collector pole having a plurality of contactors mounted thereon to cooperate with the wires of a runway conductor system, said bracket comprising, in combination, a rigid generally rectangular base, clamping members adapted to be secured to said base and having sections extending over the flange of the beam to rigidly clamp the bracket thereto, a member projecting substantiall at right angles from the base opposite the side engaging the beam, a second member adapted to be removably secured to said first member in face-to-face relation, said members having two pairs of registering grooves in their abutting faces defining socket adapted to receive and clamp the collector pole, the respective pairs of grooves being disposed substantially at right angles to each other and in a position to adapt said sockets for holding the collector pole either parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the base, and a gusset plate extending from the rear surface of said first member to the bas operative to hold the members rigid.

4. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, in combination, a bracket adapted to be rigidly clamped to an elongated collector pole, a, unitary contactor assembly mounted on said bracket, said assembly including a cylindrical stud, a pair of spaced lugs projecting axially at one end of said stud, an arm projecting radially from said stud adjacent said one end thereof, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends between said lugs, a contact roller journaled on one end of the lever, and means yieldably urging the other end of the lever toward said arm, said bracket having a pair of sockets adapted to receive said stud for pivotally supporting the contactor assembly, one of said sockets extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collector pole and the other socket extending generally perpendicular to the axis of the pole.

5. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, in combination, a bracket carried by an elongated collector pole, a unitary cOntactor assembly mountable in different positions on said bracket, said assembly including a. cylindrical stud, a rigid arm projecting radially from one end of the stud, a lever pivoted at an intermediate point at said one end of the stud and having one end projecting over said arm, a contact roller journaled on the other end of the lever, and sprin means connecting between said one end of the lever and said arm effective to yieldably hold the lever in predetermined relation to the arm, said bracket having a plurality of sockets adapted to receive said stud for pivotally supporting the contactor assembly, at least one of said sockets extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collector pole and another of said sockets extending at an angle to said one socket.

6. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, in combination, an elongated supporting member adapted to be mounted on a crane structure in either a horizontal or a vertical position, a bracket carried by said supporting member and having a pair of sockets disposed in perpendicular relation to each other, one of said sockets being disposed in a vertical position when the supporting member is horizontal and the other of said sockets being disposed in a vertical position when the supporting member is vertical, a unitary contactor assembly including a stud adapted to be mounted in the vertically disposed socket, a contact carrying lever mounted on said stud, and spring means yieldably holding said lever in predetermined position with respect to the stud.

GEORGE A. MITCHELL

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