US1193508A - buttrick - Google Patents

Description

G. BUTTRICK.

TROLLEY WIRE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

l ,1 93,508. Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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GEORGE BU'ITRICK, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, OF MANSFIELD, OI-IIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TROLLEY-WIRE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed April 6, 1912. Serial No. 689,024.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonen BUTTRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-'Wire Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trolley wire apparatus and has more particular reference to improvements in apparatus of the class gen erally known as strain plates, crossings, frogs and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this character which will be simple, durable and reliable in construction and effective and eilicient in oporation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved strain plate or like device having means by which the device may be readily attached to the trolley wire withoutthe aid of bolts, screws and similar fastening devices and as easily detached therefrom without damage or destruction either to the device or trolley wire, and which can be cheaply made as a casting, requiring no expensive machine work to prepare and tinish it for use.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects hereinafter appearing, my invention consists in the features of novelty disclosed in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and in which a Figure 1 is a top plan view of a strain plate embodying-my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof on line 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33, of Fig. 1. Fig. -il is a transverse sectional view on line 4% of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the detachable tip and clamping member.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a device known as a strain plate which is generally installed in some position along the trolley wire where the trolley wire has a tendency to creep or be pulled longitudinally, for the purpose of anchoring the trolley wire against such strains, but it will be obvious to one skilled in the art after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosures herein made, that my invention may be embodied in whole or in part in various other apparatus used in trolley wire construction, such for instance, as frogs, crossings and the like, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The structure shown in the drawings has a main or body portion A in the form of a flat metallic plate, having openings 1 for the sake of reducing the weight of the device without sacrificing the strength thereof. At each corner of the plate is a hole or aperture 2, providing suitable places to which guy wires may be conveniently attached. This plate has an integral depending rib or ridge 3 disposed longitudinally of the plate and shaped to accommodate the trolley wheel carried by the car. The rib has a deep longitudinal groove or channel 4 which is open at the top and which is adapted to receive the trolley wireo, as shown. The lower portion of the rib is rounded off, preferably on the same curvature as the trolley wire so as to provide proper under-running surface for the trolley wheel carried by the car. The bottom wall 6 of the channel is relatively thin so that practically no bump or raised portion will occur in the continuity 85 of the trolley wire. The walls 4 of the channel are practically parallel, diverging slightly upwardly to allow freedom in entering or removing the trolley wire. The trolley, however,,fits snugly in the bottom of the channel so as to have no relative lateral movement. At each end of the plate the walls 4: of the trolley channel are cX- tended upwardly by means of two upstanding lugs 7 integrally formed on the plate adjacent ,the edges of channel as clearly seen in Fig. 2. Between each set of lugs I provide a clamping member adapted to clamp the trolley wire in the bottom of its channel. These clamping members are preferably in the form of rotary wedges or cams S shaped. as shown in the drawings. They are cccentrically pivoted on ordinary bolts 10 which pass through holes in the cams and lugs and have nuts 10 on one end. The cam members are thus mounted so that they may be readily removed or replaced in order that the strain plate may be easily installed in position on the trolley wire or removed therefrom. The cam members have integral extensions or wear members 9, which are preferably formed integrally with the cam wedges and may be of any suitable length. They are preferably made relatively thin for the sake of lightness in weight consistent with strength and are adapted to take up the wear on the device due to blows from the moving trolley wheel. These extensions have grooves or channels 12, Fig. 5, in their under sides to receive the trolley wire and their lower or free edges 13 are bendable so that they may be forced or bent and thereby securely attached to the trolley wire.

If desired, they may be additionally fastened by soldering. Their edges 13 are preferably of substantially the same thickness as the bottom wall 6 of the trolley wire channel so that when bent around the wire they provide an under-running surface of the central rib of the body plate. It will be noted also that the cam members 8 have flattened portions 1st, which insures the trolley wire being clamped in the bottom of the channel especially at the extreme ends thereof, hence there is no chance of the wire and the device becoming relatively displaced at these points.

The bottom wall of the wire channel in the central portion thereof has raised or elevated portions 15 and a depression 16 therebetween. Above these portions 1 provide a clamping member, which in conjunction with portions 15 and 16 kinks the trolley wire 5, thus providing a powerful clamp bolt on the wire against longitudinal movement. This clampin member 18 preferably comprises a plate 17 having an integral lug or projection which enters the channel 4 and presses the wire into the bottom thereof. The lower edge 19 of the projection 18 is preferably curved to conform generally to the kink in the trolley wire as shown in Fig. 3. The clamping plate 17 lies transversely of the body plate A and flatly upon the upper side of said body plate. The clamping pressure may be obtained by any suitable means such as the bolts 20 which pass through both plates and have nuts 21 at their lower ends. In the projecting ends of the clamping plate 17 are provided holes or apertures 21 similar to those in the corners of the body plate. The holes form additional means for attachment to guy wires. It will be noted that the clamping member is also readily separable from the body plate in order that the trolley wire may be entered in or removed from its channel.

I provide in the center of the clamping plate a threaded socket 22, to which a hanger of any type of suitable form may be attached. Thus in the event that it is necessary to guy the trolley wire at one of the.

usual cross wires at the poles my improved strain plate may be attached to the hanger in place of the ordinary trolley car.

It will be observed that my improved device accomplishes all of the purposes and objects which I have disclosed herein. The parts are so constructed and arranged that they may be made as castings, requiring no expensive machine work to finish them, in order to prepare them for assembling and installation. Practically the only machine work required is the drilling of the several holes for the pivot and clamp bolts, when these are used. In consequence the structure may be cheaply manufactured. It is strong, durable and compact, and it possesses the advantage of having practically no small parts which are likely to be dropped and lost by the man installing the device. The central clamping member and the rotary or auxiliary clamps may be removed leaving the entire upper side of the channel open so that the body plate may be placed in position from below the trolley Wire. The trolley wire need not be cut or severed, but instead simply laid in the bottom of the channel in the body plate. After positioning the plate in this manner the rotary clamps may be attached to the body member in the angular position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and then rotated downwardly until the wire is clamped firmly in the channel and the; wear members, or extensions, are in alinement with the trolley wire. These wear members may then be formed around the trolley wire as described and soldered, if desired, thus constituting not only cheaply renewable pieces for taking the wear but they lock the rotary clamps in position by direct attachment to the wire. The central clamping member may be put in position and clamped down upon the trolley wire. This, more especially, serves toprevent the longitudinal movement of the device with respect to the trolley wire and, by attaching the guy wires in the holes provided therefor in the corners of the body plate, the trolley wire will be firmly anchored against creeping, or other strains to which it is likely to be subjected. The device also possesses the advantage of not interfering in the least withthe movement of the trolley wheel,

since the wear extensions and the under-running rib of the body member are practically flush with the surface of the trolley wire.

To one skilled in the art it will be obvious that the structure may be modified in many ways to adapt it to particular manufacturing and operating conditions without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

tachable wear extension adapted to be positioned on the trolley wire on the end of the said body member, and a rotary wedge formed on said wear member and pivotally mounted on said body member for clamping the wire in its channel.

2. In a device of the class described, a body member having a wire receiving channel, in combination with a rotary member pivoted on said body member for clamping the wire in its channel and having an extension projecting beyond the end of said body member and adapted to be secured to the wire after the rotary member has been rotated to its clamping position.

3. In a device of the class described, a body member having an open-top, wire-re ceiving channel, in combination with a retary clamp detachably mounted 011 said body member and adapted to clamp the trolley wire in its channel when rotated to a given position, and an extension on said rotary clamp arranged to be secured to the trolley wire and hold said clamp in its clamping position.

at. In a device of the class described, a body member having an open-top, wire-re- CBlViIig' channel, in combination with a retary clamp detachably mounted on said body member and adapted to clamp the trolley wire on its channel after being rotated to a given position, and a wear extension memher arranged to embrace and to be secured to the trolley wire adjacent the end of said body member for locking said clamping member in its clamping position and for taking up the wear on said device.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body member having a wire-receiving channel, a clamping member eccentrically pivoted on said body member and adapted to be rotated to clamp the wire firmly in said channel, and means carried by said clamping member for direct attachment to the trolley wire to lock said clamping member in its clamping position.

0. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body member having a wire-receiving channel, a clamping member eccentrically pivoted on said body member and adapted to be rotated to clamp the wire firmly in said channel, and an integral extension on said clamping member adapted to be formed around the trolley wire after said clamping member has been rotated to its clamping position.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body member, a rotary clamp mounted on said body having means adapted to be rotated into position with said clamp and then attached directly to the trolley wire to lock said clamp.

8. In a device of the class described, a body member having a relatively deep wirereceiving channel open at its top, a cam member pivoted on said body member and adapted to be rotated to a clamping position, and an integral extension on, said cam formed for attachment directly to the trolley wire after said cam has been rotated to its clamping position and constituting an extension of said body member for taking up the wear.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body member adapted to be positioned on the trolley wire and having a continuous channel into which the trolley wire may be placed, a demountable extension adapted to be attached directly to the trolley wire adjacent the end of said body member and having a cam portion pivoted on said body member for clamping the trolley wire in its channel.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body member having an open-top, wire-receiving channel whereby it may be mounted in position on the trolley wire without severing the continuity of the wire, rotary clamps mounted onv said body member and positioned adjacent the ends thereof tor clamping the trolley wire against the bottom wall of the channel, extension Wear members on said clamps adapted, by rotation of the clamps to clamping position, to be alined with the trolley wire and directly attached thereto, whereby to lock said clamps in position and to protect the body member from. the wear incident to the travel of the trolley wheel.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body member having an open-top, wire-receiving channel whereby it may be mounted in position on the trolley wire without severing the continuity of the wire, rotary clamps mounted on said body member and positioned adjacent the ends thereof: for clamping the trolley wire against the bottom wall of the channel, extension wear members on said clamps adapt ed, by rotation of the clamps to clamping position, to be alined with the trolley wire for direct attachment thereto, whereby to lock said clamps in position and to protect the body member from the wear incident to the travel of the trolley wheel, and demountable means intermediate the ends of said body member for clamping said device to the wire.

12. In a device of the class described, a body plate having an open-top channel. into which the wire may be laid, a. cam member removably pivoted to said body member for clamping the trolley wire in the bottom of its channel, and a locking member carried. by said cam and rotatable therewith into direct engagement with the trolley wire whereby it may be attached thereto and lock said cam against rotation.

13. In a device of the class described, a body member having a wire-receiving channel upon the end portion of the bottom wall on which the trolley wire rests, said bottom wall having a depressed portion removed from the end of the channel, in combination with a rotary clamp removably mounted on said body above said depressed portion and adapted to bear upon and slightly spring th wire into said depressed portion, whereby the wire will be firmly'clamped against the end portion of the bottom wall, and a wear.

extension on said clamp projecting beyond the end of the body and adapted to be directly attached to the trolley wire after the clamp has been rotated to clamping position.

14. In a strain plate of the class described, a body plate having an open-top channel into which the wire may be laid, a cam member removably pivoted to said body member for clamping the trolley wire in the bottom of its channel, and a locking member carried by said cam and rotatable therewith into direct engagement with the trolley wire whereby it may be attached thereto and lock said cam against rotation, a removable clamp member on said body member operable in conjunction with said cam member to prevent the relative longitudinal movement of said strain plate and trolley wire, and fastenings on said strain plate whereto guy wires may be attached.

15. An improved strain plate or similar device, comprising a body member having a relatively thin, bottom-walled channel open at its top through which the trolley wire passes, and means for clamping said body member in position on the trolley wire, comprising rotary cams detachably mounted adjacent the side of said channel and adapted to press the wire in firm contact with the bottom wall of the channel whereby said bottom wall will form practically a continuation of the trolley wire, and means attachable to the trolley wire adjacent the ends of said channel for locking said cams in their clamping position.

I claim 1. In a trolley wire apparatus, the combination with a clamping plate having eyes at the end adapting it to be independently supported by means thereof transversely of and above a trolley wire, a body member with a wirereceiving groove adapted to be positioned below a trolley wire, and means for'securing the plate and member together without rotation of either part and for clamping a trolley wire between them.

2. In a trolley wire apparatus, the combination with a clamping plate having eyes at the end adapting it to be independently supported by means thereof transversely of and above a trolley wire with an integral Copies of this patent depending clamping portion, a body member with a wire-receiving groove and a particular portion thereof adapted to cooperate with the said clamping portion of the plate below a trolley wire, and clamping bolts for securing the plate and member together without rotation thereof and for clamping a trolley wire between the said cooperating parts.

3. In a trolley wire apparatus, the combination with a clamping plate having eyes at the ends adapting it to be independently supported transversely of and above a trolley wire and with a depending clamping portion, a body member comprising a strain plate with a longitudinal groove therein and a portion cooperating with the said depending clamping portion of the other plate adapted to be placed below a trolley wire and having guy wire holes at the corners of the plate by means of which the said body member is independently supported below a trolley wire and prevented thereby from longitudinal movement with respect to a trolley wire, and fastening means to bind the said body member and the clamping plate together below and above the trolley wire respectively, and to grip the trolley wire between the said cooperating clamping portions.

4. In a trolley wire apparatus, the combination with a rectangular strain plate having guy wire holes at the corners and a longitudinally extending groove with upstanding ears forming a trolley cross-over on its lower side, a cam member pivotally mounted in the ears at each end of the groove having an extending grooved arm adapted to embrace a wire seated in the groove from the upper side of the wire and forming a gradual approach for the said cross-over, a clamping plate bridging the groove between the ears extending transversely of the trolley wire and above the trolley wire with guy wire apertures at its ends by means of which it is independently supported above the trolley wire and with a depending portion insertible in the grooveof the strain plate, and bolts for clamping the strain plate and the clamping plate whereby said clamping portion will engage and bind the wire in the groove.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 27th day of March A. D. 1912.

GEORGE BUTTRICK.

NATHAN SHUTE.

Washington, .1). C,

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