US3899825A

US3899825A - Method and means for connecting electrical conductors to railroad rails

Info

Publication number: US3899825A
Application number: US294922A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Hofer
Original assignee: Georg Fischer AG
Current assignee: Georg Fischer AG
Priority date: 1971-10-08
Filing date: 1972-10-04
Publication date: 1975-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-19
Also published as: JPS4846006A; CH530288A; FR2155597A5; BE789791A; GB1411816A; DE2244203B2; AT325676B; NO134411C; IT968533B; NO134411B; ATA755972A; DE2244203A1; ES407509A1; NL7213614A

Abstract

A conductor is electrically connected to a railroad rail by positioning a conductive adapter between an explosive charge and the rail. The relative locations of the adapter, charge, and rail are such that the detonation of a charge welds the adapter to the rail. The charge is then detonated. The conductor is either prejoined to the adapter before the positioning, or else is placed between a portion of the adapter and the rail before detonation. Thus, the conductor is ultimately joined to the adapter.

Description

United States Patent Hofer Au 19, 1975 [54] METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING 2,316,112 4/1943 Temple, Jr. 29/421 E X ELECTRICAL o 3,377,010 4/1968 Suzuki 6t a1. 228/3 3,380,908 4/1968 Ono et a1. 204/290 RAILROAD RAILS 3,449,819 6/1969 Blank 29/470.9 [75] Inventor: Peter Hofer, l-lofen, Switzerland 3,542,276 /1 7 James 2 2l E X 3,624,237 11/1971 Persson 29/470.1 X 1 Asslgneei Georg Flscher Aktlengesellsfihaft, 3,726,460 4 1973 Lemonds et a1. 238/1405 x schaffliausen, Switzerland [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1972 Primary ExaminerRona1d .1. Shore Attorney, Agent, or FirmToren, McGeady and [21] Appl. No. 294,922 Stanger [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Oct. 8, 1971 Switzerland 14701/71 A Conductor is electrically connected to a railroad rail by positioning a conductive adapter between an explo- '3 [52] 228/107 'g 7 sive charge and the rail. The relative locations of the Int Cl 2 k 21/60 adapter, charge, and rail are such that the detonation of a charge welds the adapter to the rail. The charge is [58] Field of Search 29/421 4701 then detonated. The conductor is either prejoined to [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,381 12/1918 Mead 29/421 E 2,050,047 8/1936 Febrey 29/421 E the adapter before the positioning, or else is placed between a portion of the adapter and the rail before detonation. Thus, the conductor is ultimately joined to the adapter.

22 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 9 975 pm 1 BF 2 Hg] Fig.2

PATENTEDA E 3,899,825

SLiZU 2 0F 2 Fig.3 Fig.4

9 1 1 9 1 y ZWJQ METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS TO RAILROAD RAILS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to methods and means for connecting electrical conductors, such as rail connectors and ground wires, to railroad rails.

The use of electric welding to connect rail connectors or ground wires to rails of a railroad tract is well known. However, considerable care and timeconsuming preparations are required to produce electric welds whose dimensions and locations lie within the ranges usually specified by the railroad. Moreover, it is comparatively difficult to transport the electric welding equipment and the accessories required to produce a series of welds along a railroad track.

An object of the invention is to improve methods and means for connecting electrical conductors to rails of a railroad.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the before-mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to connect electrical conductors to railroad rails so that the conductors make reliable contacts which are secure at their positions, but which is also quick and simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a feature of the invention, the beforementioned objects are obtained, in whole or in part, by positioning conductive means, which include the conductor to be connected between the rail and an explosive charge, while spacing the charge and the conductive means so that the detonation of the charge will weld the conductive means to the rail, and detonating the explosive charge.

According to another feature of the invention, the conductive means includes an adapter which is welded to the rail by the explosion of the charge.

According to another feature of the invention, at least the adapter of the conductive means is inserted at a predetermined distance from the rail into a holder, and the holder includes a positioning strap that mounts the holder to the rail at a predetermined position. The strap is such that the position between the charge and the conductive means as well as the rail provides the required welding distances from the point to which the conductor is to be welded on the rail.

These and other features of the invention are pointed out in the claims. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional end view of a rail and a device embodying features of the invention ready to be detonated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1 and further includes a portion of another rail abutting the rail in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of another arrangement, similar to that in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating another embodiment of the invention and showing the relationship just prior to detonation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 3 after the explosive charge has been detonated.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another arrangement, showing only the essential portions, also embodying features of the invention, and illustrating the relationship prior to detonation of the explosive charge.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the conditions after detonation of the explosive charge.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in simplified form, still another arrangement embodying features of the invention, and illustrating the conditions just prior to detonation of the explosive charge; and

FIG. 8 is a simplified drawing of the arrangement in FIG. 7 after detonation of the explosive charge.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, an electrical conductor 1 is to be electrically connected to a rail 3. In FIG. 2, which is a plan view of the cross-sectional end view in FIG. 1, the conductor 1 is already connected to the left-hand rail 3 through an adapter 2 while the conductor is still to be connected through another adapter 2 to the right-hand rail 3. The adapters 2 tightly embrace the ends of the conductor 1. Accoding to one embodiment of the invention, the adapters 2 are pre-swaged or pre-soldered to the end of the conductor. According to another embodiment of the invention, the adapters 2 simply grasp the ends of the conductor 1 tightly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the adapter 2 is spaced from the side of the rail 3 by a distance 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an explosive charge 5 is part of a conductor-connecting device 6 which a strap holder 7 mounts on the rail 3. A foam plastic housing 12, forming part of the device 6, carries a mass of sand 13 which surrounds the explosive charge 5. The electrical conductor 1 together with its adapter 2 projects into the housing 12 through a recess 14 so as to rest against the explosive charge 5 within the housing and to be spaced the predetermined distance 4 from the rail 3.

The strap holder 7 secured to the device 6 is hookshaped to grip the rail head 19 of the rail 3. The strap holder 7 causes the housing 12 to make contact with the rail 3 and causes the device 6 to form a compact explosive unit on the rail 3.

FIG. 2 is divided into a portion A on the left-hand side where the conductor 1 has already been connected to the rail 3 and a portion B where the conductor 1 has not yet been connected to the rail 3. FIG. 1 and part B of FIG. 2 show the device 6 in a condition ready for detonation with a detonator cap 15 and a fuse 16 projecting into the housing 12. After the explosive charge 5 is detonated the adapter 2 is connected to the rail 3 in a predetermined position a distance 8 from the butt 17 of the right-hand rail and a distance 8 from the running surface 18 of the rail. The final position corresponds to the position shown in part A of FIG. 2.

A strap stop 22 extending from the holder 7 or attached to the device 6 engages the rail butt 17 to establish correct positioning of the device relative to the butt 17 of the rail 3. According to one embodiment of the invention, the holder 7 includes a plurality of pennanent magnets for attachment to the rail 3.

In operation, the conductor connecting device 6 with its explosive charge 5 is mounted on the rail head 19 of the rail 3 by means of the holder 7. The device 6 is placed on the rail head so that the holder 7 seats the device 6 directly next to the rail head end and the stop 22 engages the butt 17. Before or after the device 6 is mounted on the rail 3, the conductor 1 with its adapter 2 is inserted into the housing 12 through the recess 14. This positions the charge and the conductor as well as the adapter relative to the rail once the device 6 is mounted. After mounting, the fuse and detonator are used to detonate the charge within its sand surroundings. Explosion of the charge 5 drives the conductor and its adapter against the side of the rail head 19 at the position designated by the

distances

8 and 8. The force of the explosion welds the adapter 2 to the rail 3. When both ends of the conductor 1 have been welded to the rails 3 in parts A and B of FIG. 2 the rails 3 are electrically connected on a permanent basis.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the explosive charge welds the conductor 1 itself to the adapter 2. According to another embodiment of the invention, as mentioned above, the conductor 1 is presoldered or joined by the swaging to the adapter 2. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the adapter 2 embraces the conductor 1 with sufficient tightness so that the deformation of the adapter 2 by the explosion causes a sufficiently tight connection. However, it would be expected that in most cases, the deformation of the adapter 2 caused by the explosion would weld or otherwise bond the conductor 1 to the adapter 2.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are simplified representations of three modifications of the adapter. FIGS. 3, 5, and 7 show the modifications of the adapter prior to the explosion, and FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 show these modified adapters after the explosion.

In FIG. 3, the adapter is in the form of a connector lug 9 which receives a conductor end 20 of the conductor l. A plate 21 forming an integral part of the connector lug 9 is spaced a distance 4 from the rail 3 and adjacent to the explosive charge 5. The explosion deforms the connector lug 9 as shown in FIG. 4. The explosion welds the lug 9 to the rail 3 by means of the plate 21.

In FIG. 5, an adapter in the form of an omega-shaped clip 10 surrounds the end of the conductor 1. The clip 10 is again mounted a distance 4 from the rail 3 and adjacent a charge 5. Explosion of the charge 5 drives the conductor end 20 and the adapter clip 10 into the position shown in FIG. 6. It welds the clip 10 to the rail 3 and the adapter 10 to the conductor end 20.

In FIG. 7 the explosive charge 5 adjacent a plastically deformable strip 1] drives the strip. The initial position of the strip 11 is the predetermined distance 4 from the rail 3. The conductor end 20 is positioned between the strip 11 and the rail 3. As shown in FIG. 8, explosion of the charge 5 deforms the strip 11 as well as the conductor end 20.

As mentioned before the adapter 2 and the conductor end 20 may be joined together prior to the explo sion, by such means as swaging or soldering. On the other hand, the connection between the conductor end 20 and the adapter 2 may come about as a consequence of the explosion.

It will be recognized that in FIGS. 3 to 8 various details have been left out for the purpose of clarifying the embodiments. Only the most important aspects for illustrating these embodiments have been shown.

The invention has a number of inherent advantages. The compact design of the device assures correct positioning of the point of contact of the electrical conductor with the rail. The ease with which the device can be operated allows use of unskilled operators. By virtue of the invention it is unnecessary to make time-consuming preparations and to transport bulky and heavy machinery. It is also possible to detonate a multiplicity of the devices at one time.

The manner of welding the adapter or conductor to the rail may be conveniently called explosion welding.

In FIGS. 3 to 8 the charge 5 also forms part of a device 6 with a housing 12 and a mass of sand 13. Holder 7 and stop 22 are also used but not shown in these Figures.

While embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a housing, said housing being formed of foam plastic.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an explosive charge received in the first region.

3. An apparatus as in claim I, in which the second region includes a recess extending from a surface of the holding means into the interior thereof.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second region of said carrying means positions the conductive adapter between the first region and the conductor, and wherein the conductive adaptor extends beyond the cross-sectional dimensions of the conductor so that when an explosive charge in the first region can deform the adaptor around the conductor and press at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said adaptor is sufficiently long and extends sufficiently beyond the cross-sectional dimension of the conductor so that an explosive charge in the first region can wrap the adaptor around the conductor and press two ends of the adaptor against the rail.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said housing being adapted to be placed in contiguous relationship with the rail, said housing forming within its interior the first and second regions.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said conductive adaptor forms an omega-shaped clip surrounding the conductor.

8. Apparatus for making a lmeans for mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sand surrounding said charge and a housing holding said mass of sand and said charge.

9. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor said positioning means including a permanent magnet.

10. A method of making a permanent electrical connection between a conductor and a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioning both the conductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosive charge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said adaptor forming an omega-shaped clip surrounding the conductor.

11. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor said holder means including a housing of foam plastic.

12. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means hav ing a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sand surrounding said charge and a housing for holding said mass of sand.

13. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said positioning means including a plurality of permanent magnets.

14. A method of making a permanent electrical connection between a conductor and a railroad rail which comprises the steps of positioning both the conductor and a conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosive charge, and thereafter detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively Weld the conductor to the adaptor, the adaptor comprising a plate, and the positioning step comprising disposing the conductor between the plate and the rail and disposing the charge adjacent the plate.

15. The method of making a permanent electrical connection between a rail and a stranded flexible conductor, which comprises the steps of positioning a portion of the conductor between an explosive charge and the rail, positioning an integral conductive adaptor between the explosive charge and the rail so that at least a portion of the conductive adaptor extends between the explosive charge and the conductor and another part of the conductive adaptor extends beyond the cross-sectional dimension of the conductor between the explosive charge and the rail, deforming the conductive adaptor by moving it against both the conductor and the rail and welding the adaptor to the rail and the conductor, said deforming step including detonating the charge.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said adaptor is in the shape of a connector lug.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the adaptor is in the shape of a plastically deformable metal strip.

18. The method as in claim 15, further comprising the step of detachably assembling the adaptor and the conductor prior to the positioning step.

19. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of positioning both the conductor and the conductive adaptor between the rail and an explosive charge includes spacing the conductive adaptor from the rail so that at least a portion of the conductive adaptor is out of contact with the rail and must travel to the rail during the detonation and strike the rail.

20. The method as in claim 15, wherein said conductive adaptor is positioned so that at least a portion of the conductive adaptor which is moved against the rail is spaced from the rail to require the adaptor to strike the rail.

21. The method as in claim 15, wherein the step of deforming includes embracing the conductor with the adaptor while pressing at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail.

22. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said second region of said carrying means positioning the conductive adaptor between the first region and the conductor, the conductive adaptor extending beyond the cross-sectional dimensions of the conductor so that when an explosive charge in the first region can deform the adaptor around the conductor and press at least a portion of the adaptor against the rail said carrying means spacing the adaptor in noncontiguous relationship with the rail so that the explosive charge must move the adaptor into contiguity with the rail.

Claims

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which the second region includes a recess extending from a surface of the holding means into the interior thereof.

8. Apparatus for making a 1means for mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sand surrounding said charge and a housing holding said mass of sand and said charge.

12. Apparatus for making a permanent mutual electrical connection of a conductor and a railroad rail, comprising a conductive adaptor, carrying means having a first region for receiving an explosive charge and a second region disposed in spaced relation to the first region for receiving the conductor and the adaptor, said carrying means embracing said regions, means for positioning the carrying means relative to the rail such that the second region is disposed between the first region and the rail, and means for detonating the charge to explosively weld the adaptor to the rail and to simultaneously explosively weld the conductor to the adaptor, said carrying means including a mass of sand surrounding said charge and a housing for holding said mass of sand.