Patent ID: 8069965

Claim:
A section insulator with neutral section for rigid catenary which enables the interruption of continuity of an electric field between two adjacent sections of the catenary on the passage of a pantograph, said insulator comprising two conductor rail segments which can be coupled to a conductor rail of the catenary by connection flanges, said conductor rail having a profile with a lower end, an upper part, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said lower end configures a housing; a central shoe disposed between said two conductor rail segments; two spark wires, which allow the electric field to be broken, connected to the central shoe by a spark height adjustment system which enables their height to be adjusted; and a bridging means which allows the central shoe to be bridged, thus adjusting the operation of the insulator as section insulator or as neutral section insulator, wherein the central shoe comprises a horizontal base which rests on the upper part of the two conductor rail segments giving continuation to the catenary, and a vertical core oblique to the direction of the catenary, wherein said base incorporates a series of clamps for the fixing of an insulator wire; and wherein the two spark wires extend from the housing of the conductor rail segments and are inserted to the horizontal base of the central shoe, wherein the distance between said two spark wires is greater than the width of the pantograph table to allow the central shoe to behave as a neutral section during the passage of said pantograph, and further wherein each spark wire is joined to the corresponding conductor rail segment through an opening mechanism which comprises: two side pieces adaptable to the outer surface of said conductor rail segment; two inner pieces which can be coupled to the inner surface of said conductor rail segment and which are installed opposite the side pieces; two through-bolts which, bolted to the side pieces, maintain the opening mechanism joined; a central non-through bolt comprising a head, said central bolt being bolted on one of the side pieces and which abuts against one of the inner pieces, so that its tightening causes the opening of the housing of the conductor rail segment and allows the replacement of the spark wire; and a series of washers which, when interposed between the head of said central bolt and the side piece to which it is bolted, prevent the tightening of said bolt and, therefore, the opening of the housing.