US394039A - System of suspending electric conductors - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

C. J. VAN DEPOELIE.

SYSTEM 0E SUSPENEING ELECTRIC ooNDUoToEs.

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C. J. VAN DBPOELE.

SYSTEM OP SUSPBNDING ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS.

No. 894,039. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

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G. J. VAN DEPOELE.

SYSTEM 0E SUSPENDING ELECTRIC GONDUGTOES.

No. 394,039. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

WW1/wow@ 5ft/memo@ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

C. J. VAN DEPOELB.

SYSTEM 0E SUSPENDING ELECTRIC GONDUGTOES.

No. 394,039. Patented Deo. 4, 1888.

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vits suspending and anchorage devices.

UNITED STATES NPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOEL l, OE LYNN, MASSACIIIISETTS.

SYSTEM OF SUSPENDING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,039, dated December 4, 1888.

Appczilon tiled September l0, 1888. Serial No. 285,072. (No modela T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen ot' the lnited States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Suspending Electric Conductors, ot' which the t'ollowing is a description.

My invention relates to imlnovementls in l are supported as follows: On the inside ot the means for supporting the suspended supplyconductors used in what are called the overhead supply systems ott' electric railways, to

an improved arrangement and construction of 1 said supporting devices, and to various other details ot' construction-such as insulatorsthe arrangement of switches and crossings, as will more fully appear, reference bein ghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 'l is a diagrammatic plan view showing the general arrangement ot' the overhead conductor and supl'iorting devices. Eig. 2 is a similar view showing a part ot' the line including a turn-out. Fig. 2i illustrates thc arrangement when crossing another similar line. Eig. 4- is an enlarged detail view oi' the crossing-switch. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the turn-out switch. Fig. (i is an enlarged end view of a portion of a singletraclt line. Fig. 7 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, showing a portion ot the main t onductor and Eig. 8 .is an end view ol" one ot" the arched suspending devices. Fig. Si is a detail view showing a cross-wire or cable conm-lctiolr Fig. l0 is a detail view of a link-insulator. Pig. l1 is a similar view oi' the link-insulator somewhat differently constructed. Fig. 1; is an elevation, partly in section, showingI an insulating turn-buckle. Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic plan view at the end of a turn-out where double overhead comluctors are used. Fig. ll is an inverted plan view showing the construction at the point where supply-(Lonductors o't' oppositie polarities cross. Fig. l5 is a side elevation ot' what is shown in Eig. l-i.. Fig. l5 is a detail showingl a different form oi' guard.

Similarletters denote like partis throughout.

As seen in the drawin gs, A A A2 Ai2 Al represent the curb-lines ot' the streets along the line of travel ot' that portion oi an electric railway illustrated in Fig. l.

ot railwaj.' extending along thc street B and curving into the st reet C at right angles thereto.

P P are thc main supply-conductors in circuit with the source ot' current and extending along thc line ot' way at a height of about eighteen t'cet [from thc track and in a position substantially central thcreabovc.

The curvedportions ol the conductors P P curve is located a pole, (I, from which a stout wire or rope, E, extends along the street B to a pole, e, which may bc atY the next crossing or at any suitable intermediate point, the

' length ot' said rope at'ter it passes iittecn or twenty feet from the crossing at which is l0- cated thef-polcd beingimmaterial. A second similar rope, E', extends ti'rom the pole along the street C and is secured to a pole, e,which may also lfor convenience carry a cross-wire, c2, supporting a straight' portion oi' the conductors. Poles F E are located at the adjacent crossings, preferably on thc inside ot' the curbs A A2, and connected by a cable, F2, extendin across the street beyond the outer limit ot` the curve. "ables (i G extend from the poles E F to and are secured to poles ff', which may be located opposite to the poles c e, cross-wire @Q being also secured to the polef.

As indicated in the drawings, the line begins at the cross wire or cable f2, secured to suitable poles, fi f4, and to it the conductors P P are attached by insuhitting-links II, to be tui-ther specitically described, and adjacent to said links I provide turn-buckles I i'or adjusting the tension ot' the conductors. The straight portion of the conductors P P between the terminus and the curve is supported by cross-wires .I J which are secured to the cables E G. Said poles e j, respectively being adjacent to the curve, must hold the conductors against considerable lateral strain. The cross-wire J includes strong metallic suspending devices K, to which the conductor is directly attached. These devices` which I have denominated arched Suspenders, are not herein claimed, being included in a separate application tiled August 22, i888, Serial No. essa/i5.

The arched Suspenders K are so constructed a a a d are the track-rails of a double line l that the tension of the cross-wire is taken IOO through the line of the suspension of the conductor, and they therefore overcome all tendency to kick up and get in the Way of the traveling contacts. A similar cross-Wire, J', is provided at the other extremity of the curve, and is shown as secured to cables E and Gr, although it may, if desired, be secured independently thereof. Any desired number of cross-Wires j are secured to the cable F2 on the outside 'of the curve, and extend to and are securely attached to the arched suspenders K K', by which the curvedv portions of the conductors P P are supported.

I have only shown three of the cross-wires j; but it Will be understood that for heavier or lighter or a greater or less number of main conductors or a longer curve the number of the cross-wires j will be increased or decreased, according to circumstances.

The crossvires j are secured at their outer ends to cylindric insulators j?, strung on the cable F2, and held in desired position by suitable clamps, 73. Insulating-links H are also preferably placed in the wires]l near or at the point Where they are united to the suspenders K.

Heretofore it has been found necessary in supporting conductors on curves to provide some means for maintaining the conductor in a practically curved position throughout the curve, necessitating the addition of rigid metallic bars and other devices. Ifind, however, that when my improved curve ear is employed no such auxiliaries are necessary, and the conductor can be safely suspended at intervals of several feet around the curve, the portions of conductor between the arched suspenders being substantially straight. Furthermore, the conductors being supported in the same plane as the cross-Wire the contact device Will pass around without disturbing or deflecting it.

The straight portions of the conductors P P are supported upon the cross-Wires, as J e2, suitable insulators, L, being secured to their supporting-ears and to the cross-wires. At the next desirable point of support for the straight portion of the conductor, which may be from one to several hundred feet from the curve, according to circumstances, are located poles L L2 and a cross-Wire, Z, to which latter .is secured a form of arched suspender, provided With anchorage-ears L3. (Shown in elevation in Fig. 7.) The anchorage-ears L3 constitute points of attachment for the anchoragecables G2 G3, Which extend from poles e. f and are secured to said anchorage-ears. Thus it Will be seen joining the straight portions of the conductors and the cables extending around both sides of the curve, firmly bracing, guying, and uniting the straight and curved portions of the overhead system. The remaining straight portions of conductor are supported by ordinary insulators, (shown in patents already granted to me,) suspended from the cross-wires except Where the line is deflected, when the arched suspenders K are used, the point of suspension being then, as pointed out, in the same plane as the cross- Wire. The anchorage-cables G2 G3 Would be repeated upon the opposite end of the curve, but that the line, as shown, terminates at thatpoint.

The arched suspender comprises a metal arch, M, provided with holes m in each extremity for the recept-ion of the endsof the cross-Wire or for attachment `to an insulator, O, to which the cross-Wires are then secured. From the lower central portion of the arch and arranged at right angles thereto is formed or attached the bail M,seen in elevation in Fig. '7, but without the anchoragelugs L3. The bail M is tapered toward its extremities for lightness and in order to possess some flexibility und er certain conditions, and is formed with a deep groove, h' along its under side, in which groove the conductor P is permanently secured, desirably, by soldering, brazing, welding, or other equivalent means. The depth of the bail M'l is such that the conductor, when in place, Will be in the same horizontal plane as the cross-wire, so that lateral pressure exerted against the-conductor by the contact-Wheel, even When in combination with the pressure of the Wire due to a deflection from its straight course, will not elevate either end of the arch, and the conductor will consequently remain where placed.

The lugs L3 (seen in Fig. 7) form points of attachment for the anchorage-cables heretofore referred to. It being desirable to form e@ S5 i the suspenders M and the bails M in a siny/ gle metal casting, the necessary insulation is provided by what I have called link-insulators, which are placed in the crossvires,

as seen in Fig. 6, or attached directly to the suspenders themselves. Furthermore, I find it desirable to so construct one form of linkinsulator that it shall combine the functions of an insulator and a turn-buckle, thereby admitting of the ready adjustment of the line While in use Without any danger to the lineman.

A form of link-insulator is shown in Fig. 1l as consist-ing of a link or bar, Q, of Wood 0r other equivalent material, about one foot in length and three-fourths of an inch in diameter, a desirable form having enlarged ends q q, strengthened by a metallic ferrule or sheath, q', placed thereon and secured in position by a bolt or rivet passing through the ferrule and insulator. An aperture is formed through the ferrule and insulator for the reception of the cross-Wire to which it is connected.

' Another form of link-insulator is shown at Fig. l0, Q Q representing fiat strips of vulcanized fiber or leatheroid, or even Wood, which are at their ends firmly bolted to porcelain or other good insulating-Washers, q2, which are desirably grooved to receive the Wires to which they are secured. For use as turn-buckle insulators the insulating end sec- IOS IIC

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positive main conductor P is attached at the under side of the plate U, thus crossing the negative conductor, an d is supported at a short distance below the surface of said plate by metallic bails of about the depth of the groove in the contact-trolley. As shown, the conductor P passes diagonally across the plates and across the spaces between the extremities of the ribs, and in the spaces between the extremities of said ribs the conductor P is curved upward and desirably fitted into a groove in the said insulating-plate, so that the negative trolley can pass across it without touching. Ifdesired, a small projection, W, of insulating` material, may be placed at the central point of the depression of the conductor P, in which position it will engage the groove in either trolley and prevent lateral diversion thereof. This arrangement isshown in Fig. 15a. rlhe'relative angles of the conductors crossing the plate U will obviously be varied to suit the positions in which it may be used.

Y Many details of construction, hereinbefore described, are specifically shown and referred to, but merely by way of illustration, since it will be understood that various minor modiiications may be made without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, with the curved portions of the conductor or conductors, of a cable extending across the outside of the curve, a plurality of supporting-wires extending'from the cable to the conductors to be supported, and cross-wires, as .I attached to and sustaining said conductors at or near the extremities of the curve, substantially as described.

2. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, with the curved portions of the conductor or conductors, of a cable extending along the inside of the curve, a cable extending diagonally across the outer part of the curve, wires, as j, secured to the conductors and to the latter cable for sustaining the curve, and transverse supports secured to the two cables and provided with suspending devices attached to the conductors at or near the extremities of the curve, substantially as described.

3. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination of a cable extending along the inside of the curve and to a point along the straight track, a cable extending diagonally across the outer portion of the curve to a corresponding point on the opposite side of the straight track, curve-supporting transverse connections between the conductors and the outside cable, and anchorage-cables extending from the termini of the cables and attached to straight portions of the conductor, whereby the cables supporting` the curved and the straight portions of the conductor are braced and connected, substantially as described.

4. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination of a pole at the innermost part of the curve,poles at right angles therefrom and adjacent to straight portionsA of the track, a cable connecting the poles, poles located exterior to the curve and substantially opposite to the extremes thereof, and poles located in line with said last-mentioned poles and opposite to poles along the straight part of the track, a cable extending between poles at the outer extremities of the curve and to the polesin line therewith, transverse supporting-wires extending between the outside cable and the curved conductors i and secured thereto, transverse or cross wires secured to the cables and to the straight parts of the conductors at the extremities of the curve, and anchorage-cables connecting the end poles of the system to anchorage-bails secured to straight portions of the conductor, whereby the curve-supporting structure is mechanically united to the straight portions of the suspended system, substantially as described.

5. In a system of suspended electric conductors, the combination, with main and branch conductors at a turn-out, of suitable frogs or switches near its extremities, supporting-poles at or near said extremities, cables extending between the poles along the turn-out in the direction of the line of way, and transverse conductorsupporting wires connected to said cables, substantially as dei connection therewith, substantially as dei scribed.

"7. In a system of suspended electric conductors, aduplex turn-out comprising sepa-` rate switches for the positive and negative main and branch conductors, and an insulating-crossin g at the pointof intersection of the branch negative and main positive conductors, substantially as described.

8. In a system of suspended electric conductors, a duplex turn-out comprising separate switches for the positive and negative conductors, and an insulating-crossing at the point of intersection of the branch negative and main positive conductor, comprising a plateV of insulating material interposed between and supporting the positive and negative main conductors at the point .of intersection, substantially as described.

9. In a system of suspended electric conductors, a crossing for conductors of opposite polarity, comprising a plate of insulating material secured to the under side of one of said

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