US2491973A - Conductor support - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1949 R. P. HANNA ET AL CONDUCTOR SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1945 lNV ENTORS ATTO EY Aaymond Bhanna and Leland/QBrahmer:

WITNESSES:

Qfi-MM O N O wN Dec. 20, 1949 R. P. HANNA ET AL 294913731 CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Filed Jan. 25, l-945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTORS aj MONO P 7a 7777a and Leia/1a f7 Bra/727762".

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Raymond P. Hanna, Pittsburgh, and Leland F.

Brahmer, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 25, 1945, Serial No. 574,496

9 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to trolley conductor supports and has reference, in particular,

to curved segments for use in overhead trolley conductor systems.

Generally stated, it is an object of our invention to provide an improved trolley conductor support for overhead trolley conductor systems which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to install and maintain.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide for adjustably connecting an elongated conductor support member to a pull-off member intermediate the ends thereof and for connecting tension means between the pull-01f member and the support member by means of end members pivotally connected adjacent the ends of the support member.

It is an important object of our invention to provide for pivotally connecting end members adjacent the ends of a conductor support in a curved segment and adjustably connecting tension members between the end members and pulloff means secured to the conductor support intermediate the ends thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide for using a pull-ofi plate in a curved segment construction having a substantially open part at the end remote from the conductor support so as to permit threadedly adjusting tension means relative to the pull-off means.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide for connecting tension means between a pull-off member and the ends of an elongated laterally bendable conductor support by means of end members pivotally connected to the ends of the conductor support and provided with means for securing the tension means thereto in substantially the horizontal plane of a trolley con ductor secured to the support.

It is also an object of our invention to provide for using a flexible tension member adjustably connecting the ends of a laterally bendable curved and are provided with means for maintaining them in different predetermined angular relations thereto. The other ends of the tension means pass through openings in the side walls of projecting end of the pull-01f means, whereby an adjustable connection may be made by means of nuts threaded on the ends of the tension means projecting through the openings.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of our invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be studied in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a curve construction for a trolley conductor system embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of an end member taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the end member taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showing the pull-off member in side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view to a reduced scale of a curve construction embodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end member shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevational View of the pull-off member in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral ill may denote, generally, a curve construction for use with overhead trolley conductor systems comprising a pair of trolley conductor supports or segments H which may be connected together by means of insulator devices I2 for supporting a pair of trolley conductors (not shown) in spaced end curved relation. Since the supports H are substantially identical in construction and may be used separately where only a single trolley conductor is concerned, the description will be ap plied in detail to only one of the supports.

As shown, the support or segment I I may comprise an elongated laterally bendable curved conductor support member 14 to which a trolley conductor (not shown) may be secured alon the lower edge for guiding a current collector thereon by means such as the clamps l5, which may be positioned therealong in spaced relation. The conductor support member l4 may be positioned in operating relation in the trolley conductor system by means such as the pulloiT means ll which maybe positioned transversely of the support member and be adjustably secured thereto intermediate the ends thereof by means such as the stud bolt l8 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the support member II and a nut !9.

The support means l1 may, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, comprise a channel shaped member having a central portion -.with upwardly projecting flanges 2| adjacent the edges. The central portion 2|] may be provided with an elongated opening 22 therein for receiving the stud bolt 953 in dilTerent operatin positions. In order to provide for supporting the conductor support in the trolley conductor system, means, such as the openings 24, may be provided adjaoentthe ends of the support means l! for attaching-securing means thereto.

With a view to positioninggt-hesupportmember l4 and applying the supporting forces th eretojn substantially the plane of a trolley conductor which may be secured along the lower edge of the supportmemben-thesupport-means 1 1 may be dished longitudinally so that the central portion in whichthefslot ope'ning22 isprovided will be raisedzabove thelevel of-the depressed end portions 25 andrZfi. "I-he -en'd.portion"26 Onthe-convex side of the curved conductor support-maybe provided .with-asubstantially open harp defined byithe diverging :sidefianges 2| which may be provided with an enlarged central opening :21 therebetween. YSuitableopenings28-may be providedin the flanges 2'l communicating with the central opening'fl in substantially the :horizontal plane of a trolley conductor on the conductor support for a reasonwhichwwill ;b. explained-hereinafter; in detail.

.I o d o ovid rfo mainta n e s pport member 1- 1a ;-pr d ;e mined curvature t on mb r ma zbeu i ized fo adjust-ab y n tin h :en .o h su ort m mber M to the projecting end 26 of the pull-off means, H. The tension members.;3!l -may;eomprise elongated rods of steel or any other suitable material having threaded end portions :3 2 disposed to :extend through the openings in :the side flanges 2| into the central opening 21. Nuts 33 may be provided on the ends of the tension means for effecting ,an adjustable connection with the .pull-off means IT. The other ends ofthetension membersfiilmay beprovided with ,threa'ded' portions 34 for effecting a connectiontorend members 35, whereby theymayibeponnected to the conductor support adjacent thaends thereof. Means such as the rivets ,36 may be provided for preventing the tensionmembersfrom turningrelative to the end members.

.As shownin Figs. .1 ,,2.and 3, the end members 35 may each comprise.an' .elongated downwardly inclined central body portion .3] having .a substantially horizontal flange 38,adjacent theupper end with an opening therein .forreceiving connecting nieans,;such.as the bolt40 secured to the support member [4, whereby .the end member ma be D 0 a lv bnn e i the sunliort meme diacem the v v 'fen .aIihrsaded-ppenin 43 maybe p dedjn ubstanti ll the horizonta p aneo' thetrolle conclugto seguredt th 19W er ed o supno membe 1; [iQ e eivin the adede d o the .tenslonmemberfifl A tr n rs pe nggimw be provided. ntone Junc w t t O e in 4 forre e yin the rivet 36 tol ck hete is qn membe in th op nn Th bod po ion may a so .be provided Withan e ens o avin a substant a ly ho izo ta flan e .5 adjacent the P r QQ LR -Q'L R 15 hil- Yiqeli i h 5% sla ted 2 3 291 port member I l and the tension member 30. An ear 5 l,lmay be provided adjacent the lower edge of" the deflector which drops off from the flange .gfitoward thetension member 30 to provide for ireenforcing the deflector against damage by blows from a dewired current collector.

As shown in dotted outline, the curvature of the supportmemberld may be readily varied by changing the position of the central portion thereof relative to the pull-off means I? by positioning the bolt [8 in 'diiferent positions in the longitudinal slot 522. ;At the same'time the positionof the nuts,.33;on thethreaded ends of the tension members 30 should'be changed to provide for diiferent positions of the ends ofjthe support .mcmber M relative to the projecting end 26 0f the pull-off means. Atthe same time the-position-of the bolt t! in the slot 46 0f theiend member .35 maybe adjusted so as to provide for the-change in angular relations between :the tension member and theend portion of theconductor support it. Upon the adjustment of the support member L4 to the desiredcurvature, the nuts -33 may be locked together .on the tensi0n members, and the .nuts and the bolts [8 ,and 4 may be tightened so astosecure,thesupportmember in the desired curvedrelation.

Referring to Fig. 157,7,the reference numeral .52 may denote, generally, ,a curveiconstructi'on for trolley.conductorsystems,whereina pair of trolley conductor supportsiii may be positioned'in spaced relationjby means of insulator device [2 for supporting a pair of trolley conductors (not shown) in predetermined spaced relation.

The conductor supports 53 may comprise elongated laterailybendable curved support members M provided with clamps l5 for securing trolley conductors (not shown) theretojin predetermined operating relationalong 'the,1ower edges thereof. The support members l4 maybe positioned in the overhead systembymeans of pull-oii members 54 whichmay be adjustablysecured thereto intermediatethe ends and maybe provided with tension means ;55 for maintaining them in predetermined curvatures.

Thepull-ofi members 54 may, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7, be of substantially similar construction to.the pull-off means l1 described ,in connection with Figs. 1 and 4 ofthe drawings. Instead of having a substantially open part adjacent the projecting endof the convex side of the support member with openings therein for;securing the tension means, as described in connection with Fig. l, the pull-off members ,54 may be provided with projections 56,on the lowervsides adjacent the ,proiectins ends, having curved saddle o tions'iil with lip portions 58 associated therewith for receiving the tension means 55.

The tension means 7'55 maybe secured to the support members M adjacent the ends thereof by means of end members 60 whichmay-be generally similar to the end members 3 5 described in connection with Fig. 1 of thedrawing. As shown inFigsb and 6, the end members '60 maybeprovided with openings '62 similar to the threaded c sting .4 9 th an membe 5 exc p ii that the openings 62 extend through the lower end of the body portion 31, and are provided with set screws 64 for adjustably securing the tension means therein.

In accordance with this embodiment of my invention, the tension means 55 may comprise a single relatively flexible cable, wire, bar or the like having the end portions secured in the openings 52 in the end member and having the central portion thereof positioned by the saddle 51 on the lower side of the projecting end of the pull-off member 54. By adjustably positioning either one or both ends of the tension member 55 in the openings 52, and adjustably positionin the boits l8 and i! which secure the conductor support to the pull-off means and to the horizontal flanges d5 of the end members, respectively, the curvature of the support members M may be readily changed and maintained at any desired predetermined curvature.

From the above description and accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that we have provided a simple and effective manner for adjustably connecting the ends of an elongated curved conductor support member to pu1l-off means connected intermediate the ends thereof. By pivotally connecting the end members to the conductor support member and providing for changing the angular relations therebetween, and for securing the end members and the conductor support memher in different angular relations, a curved conductor support is provided which is readily adjustable to different curvatures and may be substantially rigidly maintained in any particular curvature to which it may be adjusted. Our construction provides a conductor support which is adjustable over a relatively wide range of different angles of curvature and is at the same time both simple and inexpensive to manufacture and durable in operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A trolley conductor support comprising, an

elongated support member adjustable to different curvatures, means for securing a trolley conductor in predetermined relation to the lower edge of said member, pull-off means projecting to the convex side of said member intermediate the ends of the member, connecting means adjustably connecting the pull-off means intermediate the ends of said member, tension means extending from the projecting end of the pull-01f means toward the ends of the body member, and end members each having one end connected adjacent one end of the support member and provided with connecting means adjacent the other end adjustably connecting said other end to the support member intermediate the pull-off means and the end of the support member to secure different angular relations of the end members with the ends of the support member for connecting the tension means thereto.

2. A trolley conductor support comprising, an elongated laterally curvable support member, means for securing a trolley conductor along the lower edge of the support member for guiding a current collectorin a predetermined path, pull-off means adjustably connected to the support member intermediate its ends and projecting to the convex side thereof, and means adjustably connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means adjacent the ends of the support member including tension means connected to the pull-off means, and end members pivotally connected to the support member adjacent its ends and adjustably secured to the support member intermediate its ends and the pull-off means so as to be positionable in different predetermined angular relations with the ends of the support member.

3. A curved segment for a trolley conductor system comprising, an elongated laterally curvable body member, pull-off means adjustably connectable to said member intermediate its ends and projecting to the convex side thereof, means for securing a trolley conductor in predetermined operating relation with the lower edge of said member, and means connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means adjacent the ends of said member including tension means extending from the projecting end toward the ends of said member, and end members pivotally connected to the said member adjacent said ends, adjustably connected to the said member intermediate said ends and the pull-off means, and connected to the tension means.

i. A trolley conductor device comprising, an elongated laterally curvable metal bar having means for securing a trolley conductor along the lower edge for engagement by a current collector, pull-oi? means adjustably secured intermediate the ends of the metal bar and projecting to the convex side thereof, and connecting means connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means adjacent the ends of the bar including tension means secured to the projecting end of the pulloff means and end members pivotally connected adjacent one end to the support member adjacent its ends, and connected adjacent the other end to the support member intermediate the pull-01f means and the end of the support member so as to be securable in diiferent angular relations with the ends of the bar, said end members having portions between the bar and the tension means for deflecting a d'ewired current collector from wedging in the angular space therebetween.

5. A curved construction for an overhead trolley conductor system comprising, a laterally bendable elongated support member having means for securing a trolley conductor along the lower edge, pull-off means secured intermediate the ends of the support member and projecting to the convex side, means connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means and the ends of the support member including tension means adjustably connected to the projecting end of the pull-off means, and end members adjustably connectable adjacent the ends of the support member and connecta'ble in different relative positions to the support member intermediate its ends and the pull-off means for securing the end members in different angular relation therewith.

6. In a curved segment for supporting an overhead trolley conductor, a support laterally bendable to different curvatures and having means for securing a trolley conductor along the lower edge, pull-off means adjustably secured to the support intermediate the ends thereof and projecting on the convex side for supporting the segment, means for adjustably connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means and the endspf the support in different predetermined relations including tension means connected to the projecting end of the pull-off means, and end members pivotally conheated at on endte thes mpor n the u per ide adia n the; e ds r th su o t and having de n ent po tions in substa a y the s hori. ta p an as the trolley conductor for fecting connections tQths tension means, said end members having horizontally extending flanges with adjustableconnecting means operableto secure theend nembers tothe support intermediatethe pulleofi-means and the ends of the supp t- 7. A trolley conductorsupport comprising, an elongated conductor support laterally bendable to different curvaturesand having means for securing .a trolley conductor along the lower edge thereoi for engagement by a current collector, a pull-oil member adjustably connectedto the support-intermediate the ,endsthereof and having a portion extending tothe convex side thereof provided with substantially vertical flange means having openings therein,end members pivotally a connected tothe support adjacent the ends and provided with adjustableconnecting means for eonnecting the endmembers to the support intermediate the pull-off member and the ends of the support for-positioningthe en'd members in .diiferent angularrelationswith the support, and tension members connected to'the-end members having threaded endportions projecting through openings in the flange means and provided with adjusting nuts forvarying thecurvature of the upp rt- 8. Atro-lley conductorsupport comprising, an elongated: conductor support bendable laterally to different curvatures, meansfor securing a trolley ponductoralong. the lower edge. of the support for engaging iacurrent collector, a pull-off member positioned transverselypf the support intermediate the ends and projecting'to the convex side thereof saidpull-off member having a relatively fiat portion adjacent'one end with an elongated slot for adjustably receiving securing means on the upper edge ofthesupport and an enlarged depressed portion adjacent the other end having acentral opening therein defined by divergent side Walls with vertical side openings therein, end members having elongated body. portions pivotally conn c ed at n en adiee et the e softhe up.- port and adjustably connected thereto toward the ther e s. d e d m ans b n p v e wi h laterally dependent side portions extending sub? stantially to the horizontal plane of the trolley conductonand tension members for maintaining different predetermined curvatures of thesupport having one endtsecured to the dependent side portions and having a threaded portion on the other end projecting into the central opening through said vertical side openings and provided with adjustable stop nuts.

9. A curvedsegment for a trolley conductor system comprising, an elongated support bendable in'a horizontal plane to different curvatures and having means for securing a conductor along the lower edge, pull-oi? means positioned intermee diate the ends of the support and extending on the convex side, said pull-off means being provided with a curved saddleportion adjacent the projecting end, endmembers secured to the support adjacent the ends of the support, and a flexible tension member adjustably extending from one end member to the other around the saddle, said tension member being adjustablysecured to at least one of theend members.

RAYMOND. P. HANNA. LELAND F. BRAHMER.

REFERENCES QITE The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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