Improvements in Insulating Supports for the Third Rail or Electric • Conductor of Electric Railways.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan.; 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.Improvements in Insulating Supports for the Third Rail or Electric
• Conductor of Electric Railways.
·
1, ALBERT ANDERSON, of 289-293..A-Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an insulating support for electric conductors, and more
especially to an insulating support for the conductor of that class of electric
railway systems commonly known as the third rail system.
My present invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient
insulating support for the purpose specified, and I accomplish my object by the
construction shown and which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Fig. 1 represents in elevation an insulating support embodying this invention.
Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the insulating support shown in
Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3, a top or plan view of the insulating support shown in Fig. 1.
The insulating support herein shown is provided with a hollow metallic base a,
from the bottom of which extends an annular flange a¹ having holes a² for the
reception of spikes or other suitable fastening devices by which the insulating
support is firmly fastened to the railway ties or other suitable foundation.
The hollow base a is provided with a thickened or re-enforced top a³ provided
with a threaded opening, into which is screwed the threaded end a of a metal
standard or bolt a³, provided at its lower end with an annular flange a6 constituting
a shoulder to rest upon the top of the said base.
The bolt as is provided at its upper end with a head a', which is enveloped by a
covering as of insulating material molded upon the head and shank of said bolt.
The insulating covering as is provided with one or more longitudinal or vertical
ribs a³, herein shown as two in number (see Fig. 3) and located substantially
diametrically opposite each other, and which enter longitudinal recesses, slots or
grooves a¹0 on the. inner side of a metal hood a¹2 adapted to be fitted upon the
insulating covering a8 as shown, and which is provided with a skirt a¹5 extended
outwardly from the bottom of the metal hood.
The metallic hood a¹ is locked to the insulated bolt against rotary movement, as
herein shown, by means of the longitudinal ribs a³ and the grooves a¹, and the
said metallic hood may and preferably will be also locked on the insulated bolt
against longitudinal movement, preferably by means of lugs or ears a¹, which
normally extend from the under side of the hood in a substantially straight line
(see dotted lines Fig. 2) to permit the hood to be fitted onto the insulated head of
the bolt, but which are adapted to be bent inwardly as represented in Fig. 2, by full
lines to engage the underside of the insulation covering the head of the bolt.
The metallic hood a¹² may and preferably will also be secured onto the insulated
bolt, by means of a layer of preferably insulating material, which may be poured
or pressed into the hood with the latter inverted, so as to fill the space between the
D .
037

page_text: insulation covering the head of the bolt and the metal hood, which layer of material
is represented in Fig. 2 by the heavy black line a²0.
The metal hood al is designed to support the electric conductor, commonly
known as the third rail, which is not herein shown, but which may be secured to
the hood a¹ by means of a bent lug or ear a integral with the hood, and a remov-
able bolt a23 having a bent finger a and extended through an opening in an offset
or ear a25 on the said metal hood. The bolt a may be secured in its operative
position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a nut a26 and a washer a².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An insulating support comprising a metallic hood provided with longitudinal
sockets on its innerside, a metal bolt having its head and shank enveloped by a
covering of insulating material, longitudinal ribs on the insulated head engaging
the longitudinal sockets in said hood, and a base to which said bolt is secured,
substantially as described.
2. An insulating support comprising a metallic hood provided with a skirt and
with normally straight locking lugs depending from its underside, a metal bolt
having its head and shank enveloped by a covering of insulating material, longi-
tudinal ribs on the insulated head engaging longitudinal sockets in the hood, and
a base to which said bolt is secured, substantially as described.
3. An insulating support comprising the metal base a provided with a threaded
opening in its top, a bolt comprising a head and shank having a flange or collar
to rest on the top of the base a, and with a threaded end to engage the threaded
opening in the said top, a covering of insulating material enveloping said shank
and head and provided with longitudinal ribs a³, a metal hood having longitudinal
grooves into which the said ribs extend when the insulated head is inserted into
said hood, lugs or ears on the underside of the head adapted to engage the under-
side of the insulation covering the head of said bolt, and means to secure the
conductor to the metal hood, substantially as described.
4. An insulating support comprising the metal base a, a bolt secured thereto and
provided with a covering of insulating material enveloping the head and shank
of said bolt, a metal hood fitted over the insulation enveloping the head of the
bolt and provided with a lug or ear a at one side and with an offset or ear a25 at
the other side having an opening for the reception of a bolt provided with a bent
finger, and means to lock said hood and insulated bolt together against rotary and
longitudinal movement, substantially as described.
Dated the 7th day of December 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.