US2354117A - Insulator device - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1944. R. P. HANNA INSULATOR DEVICE NEY , INVENTOR FaymonaP/iorma ATT Filed April 15, 1941 WITNESSES: 67 "I Patented July 18, 1944 INSULATOR DEVICE.

Raymond P. Hanna, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 15, 1941, Serial No. 388,584 I Claims.

My invention relates, generally, to insulator devices and it has reference in particular to insulators for use in overhead trolley conductor systems.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide a trolley conductor insulator device that is both strong and durable, and which is also simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide for limiting the load on an insulating member in a trolley conductor insulator to one of substantially pure tension.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a section insulator, for connecting the end members to an insulating strain member in such manner as to prevent bending of the strain member.

A further object of the invention is to provide for relieving the tension member in a trolley conductor insulator of other than a substantially pure tension load, so that the member may be designed for the maximum tensile strength with a minimum cross-section.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for pivotally connecting a tension member of an insulator device between the end members, through which a tension load is to be applied to the tension member, and for adjustably connecting a compression member between the end members in spaced relation to the tension member to align the end members.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a reenforced insulating tension member for a trolley conductor insulator having means for effecting a hinged connection thereto adjacent the ends. o

Other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part be explained hereinafter.

In accordance with one embodiment of'my in-' vention, a reenforced insulating tension member is pivotally connected to end members which provide for connection in a trolley conducting system, so that a substantially pure tension load is applied to the tension member. An insulating compression member positioned between the end members in spaced relation to the tension member is provided with adjusting means to vary the effective length of" the compression member so as to insure the proper alignment of the end members, A renewable runner member is provided beneath the tension member for guiding a current collector and renewable approach and wear members are detachably secured to an end memher to provide a smooth approach to the runner member.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, referenc may be had to the following description, which may be read in connection with the accompanyin drawing in which;

Figure l is a side elevational view, broken out in part and partly sectioned, of an insulator device embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along theline IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the right hand end runner member and approach member assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of a runner support member; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the approach member.

Referring to Figure 1, the reference numeral It may denote, generally, a trolley conductor insulator device in the form of a section insulator. The insulator'device may comprise, generally, an insulating tension member l2, an insulating compression member l3,and end members l4 and I5 secured thereto for connecting the device in a trolley conductor system; A renewable runner member I6 may be positioned beneath the tension member l2 to provide a smooth path for a current collector, and a renewable wear member I1 and an approach member I8 may be associated with the end member l5 to provide a smooth approach to the runner member for a current collector.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it may be seen that F the tension member l2 may comprise, generally,

end connecting members 20 having head portions 2| with transverse openings 22 therein. The stem portions 23 of the connecting members may be provided with roughened surfaces having, for example, a plurality of circumferential ribs 25. In order to effect a mechanical connection between the connecting members 20 and maintain a relatively high degree of electrical insulation therebetween, the stem portions 23 of the connecting members may be imbedded in a suitable insulating material 26 such as, for example, a phenolic resin which may be moulded under heat and pressure.

For the purpose of securing the maximum mechanical strength in the tension member with a minimum cross-section, suitable reenforcing means may be provided in the body of the ing sulating member l2. For example. means such as the elongated reenforcing members 28 may be provided, extending throughout the body portion of the tension member to adjacent each end and overlapping and at least partially enclosing the stem portions 23 of the connecting members. The reenforcing members 28 may, for example, comprise a suitable length of tubing, which may be roughened on the interior adjacent the ends by threads 29 to provide a better bond between the insulating material and the members, and which may be split longitudinally so as to provide longitudinal openings 30 which permit the insulating material 26 to fiow more evenly about and between the reenforcing members and connecting members to provide an integral insulating unit. Such a unit may be designed to withstand much higher tensile loads than the usual type of insulator, if it is kept substantially free of any bending stress.

The end members i4 and may be of any suitable design for effecting the connection of the insulator device to a trolley conductor or any of the different trolley devices with which the insulator device may be used. The end member l4 may, for example, comprise a body portion 32 having a recess 33 therein to receive one of the connecting members 28 of the tension member. A transverse opening 34 may be provided through the body portion to receive a pin 35, which is adapted to pass through the opening 22 in the head portion of the connecting member 20, so as to effect a hinged or pivotal connection between the connecting member and the body portion 32 of the end member, thus keeping the connecting member substantially free of any bending stresses and subject only to tension loading. The end member may be provided with an upwardly projecting arm portion 37 to which the compression member I 3 may be connected. A relatively horizontal flange portion 39 may be provided for effecting connection of the end member to an adjacent trolley device (not shown).

The end member [5, which is disposed to provide for connection to a trolley conductor (not shown) may be provided with an elongated body portion 49 having an opening 4| therethrough from the lower side sloping upwardly at a relatively small angle for receiving a trolley conductor. Means may be provided for securing the conductor therein, such as the set screws 42. The body portion of the end member i5 may also be provided with a recess 33 for receiving a connection member 20 of the tension member 12, and transverse openings for receiving a pin for eiieciing a hinged connection of the connecting member 20 with the body portion 42. An upwardly projecting arm portion 3'! may also be provided on the body member to which connection of the compression member [3 may be made.

The compression insulating member I3 which is positioned between the arm portion 3? of the end members to maintain them in the proper alignment may be of any suitable construction. It may, for example, comprise a tubular insulating member having threaded openings 43 at the ends.

In order to insure the proper alignment of the end members l3 and [4 so that the load applied to the tension member [2 will be substantially pure tension, suitable means may be provided for varying the effective leng h of the compression member l3 relative to the length of the tension member l2, which is subjected to the greater portion of the stresses in the insulating device. Means such as the spacer 44 may,

for example, be utilized with the bolt 45, different thicknesses of spacers being used to provide the desired spacing between the arm portions 31 of the end members. Another form of adjusting means which may be utilized, is designated, generally, by the numeral 46. For example, a stud 4'! having a shoulder portion 48 intermediate the ends maybe threaded into the end opening 43 of the compression member I3 so as to project through the opening 49 in the arm portion 31. Means such as the lock nuts 59 may be provided on the stud for varying the effective length of the compression member between the arm portions 31, and a nut 51 may be utilized to maintain the predetermined spacing between the end members once the lock nuts have been secured in the desired position.

In order to provide for guiding a current collector along the insulator device, the runner member I6 may be positioned beneath the tension member 12 by means such as the saddle support members 53 such as shown in Fig. 4, which may be connected to the end members by means of transverse bolt members 54. substantially rigid runner member, an additional support may be provided intermediate the ends of the runner member such as the saddle support member 56 which may be connected to the tension member I2. The runner member i6 may, if desired, comprise a pair of sections supported at one end by the support member and at the other ends by the support members 53.

With a view to providing a smooth transition from a trolley conductor to the runner member E5, the approach member l8 may, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, be secured to the body portion 40 of the end member 15 by means of a hooked portion 5! on the upper side, which engages a transverse bolt member 58 positioned in a clevis 59 adjacent the end of the body portion 40. The approach member may be provided with depending lip portions 63 which may be pressed inwardly about a trolley conductor, and which are gradually tapered towards the end in both the horizontal and vertical planes. By thus tapering the lip portions 60, they do not enclose the conductor until a point is reached from two thirds to three quarters of the length from the outer end. An approachin current collector may (thus) continue to engage the lower portion. of the trolley conductor for an appreciable distance after it enters the approach and gradually engage the side portions of the depending lips so that thetransfer from the surface of the trolley conductor to the lip portions of the approach member where they enclose the conductor on the lower side does not occur until the current collector is guided into position by the side portions of the approach member, so that the transfer is extremely smooth.

In order to provide a smooth path for the current collector between the approach member [8 and the runner member IS, the renewable wear member 11 is provided to enclose the opening ll in the body portion 40 of the end'member l5 and provide a smooth renewable wear surface therealong. The wear member I! may comprise a substantially U-shaped sheath having upstanding ear portions 62 and 63 adjacent the ends to, cooperate with the transverse bolt members 64.

and 5B in securing the wear member in position. The side portions of the wear member may be cut out intermediate the ear portions so as to fit snugly about the body portion 40 of the end member and provide a minimum thickness to To provide a permit the smooth passage of a current collector therealong.

From the above description it will be apparent that, I have provided for limiting the stresses on the tension member of the insulator device to substantially pure tension, so that the tension member, which receives the greater portion of the stresses in the insulator device, may be designed for a substantially pure tension loading, having, for example, a much higher ratio of tensile to fiexural strength. than the usual type of tension member. The tension member may thus have the maximum strength for the minimum cross-sectional dimensions, since it is substantially freed from any bending stresses which might be produced by relative movement of the end members under load. By providing for adjustment of the efiective length of the compression member which is subjected to the lesser portion of the stresses in the insulator device the correct alignment of the end members may be readily obtained.

Since certain changes may be made in the above description and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit 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 the limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. An insulator device comprising, an insulating tension member, an end member having an upwardly projecting arm portion, a transverse pin member positioned in the end member operable to provide a hinged connection between the tension member and the end member, an insulating compression member associated with the arm portion in spaced relation to the tension member, a runner member positioned beneath the tension member, and a substantially U- shaped retaining means for the runner member positioned about and operable to retain the pin member.

2. The combination in a trolley device, of an elongated member having an opening therein on the lower side to receive a trolley conductor and a clevis adjacent one end, a renewable runner member positioned on the lower side of the said member having an upstanding ear adjacent the clevis, an approach member positioned adjacent the said member and runner member having an upwardly projecting portion adjacent the clevis, and transverse holding means cooperative with the clevis, ear and upwardly projecting portion to maintain the said member, runner mem ber and approach member in operating relation.

3. A trolley conductor device comprising, a me tallic end member for connecting the trolley conductor in predetermined relation to the device, a substantially U-shaped renewable runner member having upstanding sides positioned about the lower side of the end member, means adjacent one end to connect the runner member to the end member, means adjacent the other end of the end member including a clevis thereon and transverse holding means for securing the other end of the runner member to the end member, and an approach member secured to the trolley conductor and connected to the transverse hold ing means.

4. An insulator device comprising, spaced end members with recesses having transverse openings, an insulating tension member having me tallic connecting members adjacent the ends positioned in the recesses, means positioned in the transverse openings connecting the connecting members to the end members in hinged relation, an additional insulating member positioned between the end members in spaced relation to the first-mentioned insulating member to maintain the end members in alignment, a runner member positioned beneath the first-mentioned insulating member, and retaining means securing the runner member to an end member operable to secure the connecting means in the transverse opening.

5. An insulator device for a trolley conductor system comprising, spaced end members for connecting the device in the system an insulating tension member positioned between the end members, transverse holding means providing a hinged connection between the tension member and the end members to prevent flexing the tension member, an insulatin compression member positioned between the end members in spaced relation to the tension member, a runner member comprising a plurality of sections positioned beneath the tension member, retaining means secured to the end member to secure one end of a section of the runner member and retain the transverse means in position, and means securing the other end of the section to the tension member.

RAYMOND P. HANNA.

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