DEVICE FOR CONNECTING THE CONTACT CABLE FOR VEHICLES RUNNING ON RAILS

Abstract: A device for suspending the contact cable for vehicles running on rails, particularly trains, where there is an upper tension rod (15) that is connected to a support mast (11), a compression rod (21) that is connected to the support mast to hold up the free end (16) of the tension rod, which carries a supporting cable (20) and a horizontal rod (27) that has a jointed link to the compression rod. The upper tension rod (15) is telescopically connected to an outer rod (18), that has an attachment (19) for the supporting cable (20). The compression rod is connected to the tension rod (15) by a clamped sleeve (23) that is fixed to the tension rod.

Description: Device for connecting the contact cable for vehicles running on rails. The invention comprises a device for suspending the contact cable for vehicles running on rails, particularly, trains, as stated in the introduction to Claim 1. Background The purpose of such a device or "suspension unit" is to keep the supporting cable and contact cable in the correct position in relation to the rails. The supporting cable acts as an attachment for suspension wires that keep the contact cable at a reasonably constant height above the rails. Both cables are under tension, usually the force is 1-1.5 tonnes. A known suspension unit of the type stated in the introduction to Claim 1, comprises a jointed connection between an upper tension rod and the upper end of a compression rod. As this suspension unit has to be adjusted to differing distances between the mast and the centre of the rails, the rods are adjusted by being cut into suitable lengths before they are put together. When known suspension units are used, they will consequently demand a lot of preliminary adjustments, usually in a workshop, before being taken to the place where they are to be fitted. This an expensive and time-consuming procedure. In a known type of suspension unit, the connection bracket of the supporting cable is jointed with a clamp connection between a tension rod and a compression rod. Adjustment of the suspension unit length, ie., the horizontal distance between the mast and where the supporting cable is attached, is thus restricted, difficult and time-consuming. Another known solution uses a similar clamp connection between a tension rod and a compression rod and a separate movable attachment for the supporting cable on the tension rod. The horizontal adjustment of the supporting cable is thus easier, but an extra clamp is required which increases the cost. The vertical adjustment of the supporting cable point is difficult and time-consuming with both these solutions. When changing and refurbishing cables, trains have to be stopped while the existing lines are removed and replaced by new ones. This work is made more efficient by using special-purpose vehicles with lifting equipment designed for the removal of old suspension units; fitting, stretching and loading new cables. This work nevertheless partially involves manual handling of the suspension unit. Existing suspension units in this context have been unnecessarily complex and have created problems in relation to the regulations governing the work environment. A general problem with known solutions is that they are time-consuming to implement so that the effective working time on lines, which has to be done between each passing train, is extremely short. Existing suspension units also have a variety of connections and clamps, which results in a lot of costly equipment in storage and expensive material administration. Objective The main objective of the invention is to design such a suspension unit that can be made ready for fitting by the manufacturer and transported to where it is to be used in a compact packing, so that it can just be fitted. Further, it should be easy to adjust to different mast positions, and simple to make vertical and horizontal adjustments. Another objective is also to reduce the weight of the elements in the suspension unit and also reduce the number of types of fittings and insulators in the system. A further consideration is seeking to use lightweight materials, such as aluminium, in bars and rods and use new insulator concepts, such as thosebased on artificial materials that can be incorporated in new total concepts for refurbishing and building new lines. The invention The invention is defined in Claim 1, other specific aspects of the invention are indicated in the subsidiary claims. A cable connection in accordance with the invention can be assembled before fitting and put together so that it takes minimal space during storage and transport to the place it is to be fitted. The design makes this feasible through the use of aluminium, so that the weight can be considerably reduced. This simplifies the handling of the suspension unit and makes it easier to carry out the work manually. Employing the designs described in the subsidiary claims, enables simple manual adjustments to be made to the telescopic part of the tension rods without any external tools. Other details of the invention will become clear from the following description of an example. Example The invention will be described below with reference to an example, where Fig. 1 shows a lateral cross section of a cable suspension unit in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through a clamp that can be used to join the cable suspension unit in Fig.l, while Fig. 3 shows a schematic section of one example, where a tool is used to control the extension of the suspension unit. The suspension unit in the example is attached to a support mast 11. Using clamps 12 and attachment links 13, electrical insulators 14A and 14B are connected at an upper and lower point respectively. The insulators can either be made in conventional ceramics or artificial materials. If artificial insulators are used, these can be identical and be attached by pivots. An upper tension rod 15 made of a tubular material is axially-connected to the upper insulator. At the outer end 16 the upper rod has part of its underside cut away, this is indicated as 17 in Fig. 2, and at this end an outer part 18 is inserted telescopically, and at the free end of this part, there is a clamp 19 to secure a supporting cable 20. The supporting cable 20 stretches along a railway track, and the telescopically-supported end rod 18 is axially adjusted so that the supporting cable is always in the correct position in relation to the centre of the track. From the lower diagonal insulator 14 there is an axial compression rod 21 pointing diagonally upwards. This rod is made of tubular material. At the upper end of the compression rod 21 there is a sleeve 22 with a continuous hole that can be locked by a pin 26. The compression rod 21 is connected to the tension rod 15 by a clamped sleeve 23 that is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The clamped sleeve 23 is fixed to, or alternatively can be released from, the tension rod 15 and is forked around the outer end 16 of the tension rod. The open part 24 of the clamp has a bolt 25 through it that holds it firmly around the sleeve 22. Alternatively the sleeve 22 can be removed and the compression rod led inside the clamped sleeve 23 if it is not necessary to make any vertical adjustment of the compression rod. The clamped sleeve 23 and the telescopically adjusted parts of the tension rod 15 are designed so that there is clamping against the telescopic parts before the sleeve 22 is clamped tightly and locks the angle between the tension rod 15 and the compression rod 21. This means that the cable suspension unit can be transported to the place it is to be used while folded with the inner telescopic part 18 already in the correct position without any risk of it being wrong. The lateral adjustment of the supporting cable connection can bedone from the compressed position of the telescopic part by carefully loosening the bolt 25 without having to lift the supporting cable off the tension rod. With known solutions it is necessary to lift the supporting cable off before the tension rod can be adjusted. Facing away from the lower insulator 14B, and connected to the compression rod 21 with the same clamp 23, a horizontal rod 27 of tubular material is connected so that it can pivot. On the outer end of the horizontal rod there is a clamp 28 that is similarly shaped to clamp 23 that can be locked in the correct axial position by a bolt. The bolt pivots on the end of a direction rod 29 that has a clamp on its inner, free end for a contact cable 30. The horizontal rod 27 is suspended from the connection of the supporting cable by a wire 31 connected to a clamp 32. The contact cable 30 and the supporting cable 20 are connected by suspension wires by a known method. The present device has numerous advantages compared known suspension units. Both horizontal and vertical adjustment of the connection of the supporting cable can be done by simply loosening the bolt 25. The clamp 23 can be used as a general attachment and contact clamp in the system, this can possibly be supplemented by other variants. The entire device can be folded together when stored, under transport and when being handled so that it is a compact unit. When it arrives at the place it is going to be used, it can be mounted and locked into position just by adjusting a single bolt. It has been found that it is feasible to manufacture the device with bars and diagonal rods in tubular aluminium and thereby reduce the weight considerably compared to known devices with similar dimensions. The device is also suited to be used with modern unbreakable low weight insulators, the so-called composite insulators that can be attached to the rod by a bolt and pin connection. With this type of insulators, the suspension unit complete with insulators, can be handled manually and transported without any danger of breakage. A great advantage of the present invention is that both insulators can be designed the same with identical fittings at each end. Fig. 3 shows a modified version of the invention, where the clamped sleeve 23 has an external hook 33. This gives an attachment for the end of a weighting rod 34 that is connected to the supporting cable clamp 19 by a chain 35. The suspension unit can be delivered with a compressed telescopic rod 18. When being mounted, the tension in the supporting cable 20 will force the telescopic rod to extend when the clamped sleeve 23 is released. The telescopic rod 18 can be pulled in manually with the weighting rod 34 to control the extension length.

Claims: Claim: 1. A device for suspending the contact cable for vehicles running on rails, particularly trains, where there is an upper tension rod (15) that is connected to a support mast (11), a compression rod (21) that is connected to the support mast to hold up the free end (16) of the tension rod, which carries a supporting cable (20) and a lower horizontal rod (27) that has a jointed link to the compression rod, and that the horizontal rod supports a jointed direction rod (29), where the contact cable (30) is suspended at the free end, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the outer end of the tension rod (15) being connected to a clamped sleeve (23) that surrounds the tension rod and an inner axially movable rod (18) which the attachment of the supporting cable is connected to and that can be locked in the required axial position by means of a clamped sleeve. 2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the tension rod (15) having a telescopic, axially-movable rod (18) inserted that protrudes outwards as a support for the supporting cable (20) and that the outer end of the tension rod (15) is connected to a clamped sleeve (23) with a downward clamp (24) that surrounds the outer end of the tension rod or a constituent part of this, and that the clamped sleeve (23) is activated by a screwed bolt (25), where the clamped sleeve is fixed to the tension rod by the loose screw bolt, and where the gap in the clamp for the compression rod (21) is designed so that the clamping is only activated when the end of the tension rod is clamped tightly on the telescopic rod (18). 3. Device as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the clamped sleeve (23) being fitted with an attachment for a tool (34) that is used to control the total extension of the tension rod. 4. Device as claimed in Claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the device for fitting the insulators being designed so that the insulators for the tension- and compression rods can have the same shape.

Inventors: ROENNING TROND A, SKJETNE TERJE, ROENNING, TROND, A., SKJETNE, TERJE
Applicants: ALUPRO N AS, ALUPRO-N A/S
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B60M1
IPC codes: B60M1