US1477387A - Trolley frog - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 311, 1923. 1 W. SCHAAKE TROLLEY FROG Filed Jan. '7, 1922 2 Sheer.s-Sheet l INVENTOR M7//67/77 Sc/zaa/re Q T E m WITNESSES ATTORNEY Dec. 111,, 1923,

W. SCHAAKE TROLLEY FROG File d Jan. '7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [MW/am Sc /make.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. llll, teas.

WILLIAM SCHAAKE, OF PITTSBURGH", PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8; MANUFACTURING CUIi-TPANY, A CORPORATION OF 1 ENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLEY FROG.

Application filed January 7, 1922. Serial N01 527,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SoHAAKn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolley Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trolley frogs and the like, that are employed in overhead trolley systems.

One object of my invention is to provide a frog that shall render satisfactory service in an overhead trolley system, regardless of the radius of curvature of the particular track turnout for which it may be employed.

Another object of my invention is to so design a trolley frog that the tendency for a contact device, such, for example, as a trolley wheel to become misplaced in passing under it, is reduced.

Still another object of my invention is to construct a trolley frog having its guide portions in as great angular relation as pos sible and still be consistent with good practice.

Briefly speaking, my invention consists in providing a frog having a turnout channel portion in angular relation to a plurality of tangent channel portions and so shaping the turnout channel portion that it forms a relatively small angle of intersection with the tangent channel portions at its adjacent end and a larger angle at its remote end.

For a better understanding of my invcntion, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a plan view of a trolley frog constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the trolley frog illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of my trolley frog; and

Figs. at to 7, inclusive, are cross-sectional views taken along the corresponding lines IVTV to VII-VII inclusive.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a trolley frog 1 comprises a web or body portion 2 and a plurality of channel portions 3, a and 5, which are adapted to position a plurality of trolley conductors (not illustrated), in the usual way. A plurality of eye members 6 are provided for securing the trol ey frog to a plurality of guide wires or other supports (not shown). A plurality of movable extension or approach members that, in practice, are secured to the frog 1 at each of the ends of the channel portions 3, 4c and 5 have not been illustrated, as they do not constitute parts of my invention and are well understood in the art. The type of approach or extension member preferably employed with the trolley frog 1 is described and illustrated in the patent to N. J. )Vahlberg, dated June 10, 1919, numbered 1,306,566, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company.

The channel or guide portions 3 and a are of U-shape and are in alinement. The channel or guide portion 5 is also of U- shape and is disposed in angular relation to the alined channel portions 3 and 1. A cross-section of the channel portion 3 is illustrated by Fig. 7 of the drawing, and the shapes of the channel portions 1 and 5 are best illustrated by Fig. 5 of the draw- The tip 8 of the channel portion 5 is in relatively small angular relation to the channel members 3 and 4:, which serve as guides to a contact device, such, for example, as a trolley wheel (not illustrated). The preferred angle which the tip 8 makes with the channel portions 3 and 4 is 8. The main part of the channel portion 5 preferably makes an angle of 12 with the channel portions 3 and a of the troley frog 1. The tip 8 and the channel portion 5 constitute the tangents and an intermediate portion 9 constitutes the curve, of a continuous ridge or compound guide or channel portion for changing the angle of travel of a contact device when passing from the tip 8 to the main body portion 5.

Downwardly-projecting flanges 11 and 12 are provided to assist in preventing lateral displacement of a contact device during its transition from one of the channel or guide portions 3, 4 and 5, to another. A plurality of lugs 13* having longitudinal grooves 14; therein are provided on the upper part of the frog 1 to co ope'rate with a clamp (not '3 of the frog 1 is nearest and the wheel is proceeding straight ahead, the trolley wheel will remain in engagement with the channel portion 3 until its engagement by the channel portion Y4,- as the corresponding lap.

If the car on which the trolley wheel is mounted, is approaching from the turnout Wheel travels along the projection 3over the tip 13 upon the tip 8 and, hence, over the curve portion 9 of the channel portion 5 to the main portion thereof. As the length of.

the tip 8 is relatively short, by comparison with the length of the frog, a great deal of material is' saved which would otherwise be lost, if the same angle of 8 Were maintained throughout the entire length of the channel portion 5 and the same distance between the ends of the channel portions 1 and 5 were also 'maintained.

It the car, on which the trolley wheel is mounted, is approaching from the turnout track onto the tangent track; (not shown),the

trolley wheel will be almost parallel to the channel portions 3 and 4 of the frog 1, when the wheel is passing under the curve portion 90f the channel portion 5. If the angle formed by the sides of the tip .13 of the channel portion 3 otthe frog 1 is relatively large, such, for. example,- as 12, the

wheel will not ride upon the channel portion 3 but will slip ofl' toward the side upon which the dow nwardly-pro-jecting' flange 12 is located. This difiiculty is'not experienced, if'the angle of intersection of the' sides of the tip 13 is relatively small, such, for ex- 211111916, as 8, which isthe angle of inter section ofthe frog illustrated herein. In

other words, applicants frog permits the advantageous transition. of a trolley wheel from one channel portion to another, which iss'ecured by having a small angle of inter-- section therebetween and also secures the advantage of a rapid turnout by employing a 12angle ,for the main part ofthe channel 5 portion 5. The latter angle is subsequently referred to as thean gle of departure to disk 'tinguish it from the first angle, which is termed the angle of intersection.

-VVhile I- have set forth the preferred angles .for the parts of the frog .1, it is apparent that my invention may be embodied in frogs having different angular relations of their parts. It would also be possible to have the channel projection 4: in curved relation to: the channel portionB Without depart ing from the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A. trolley frog comprising a plurality portions in angular relation one to another. points or tips 13 and 14: considerably overchannel portions in angular relation one to another.

5. A trolley-conductor device comprising a channel portion adapted to embrace a con ductor' and an additional channel portion in angular relation thereto, said additional channel portion having two continuous tangent portions in angular relation the one tothe other. g 1

6. A trolley-conductor device comprising a plurality of guide portions extending in different directions, one of said guide portions being-in relatively small angular relation at its one end to the other guide portion and in greater angular relation at its other end to thesame guide portion. I

7. A trolley frog for turnouts having a relatively small angle of intersection and a larger angle of departure. v

' 8.'A trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides, said guides having an angle ofintersection of less than eleven and one-half degrees and an angle half degrees. i

eleven degrees and an angle of departure of more than eleven degrees.

10. A trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of'conta'ct guides, said guides having an angle of intersection of less than "of departure of more than eleven and onetendegrees and an angleof departure of more than ten degrees.

11. A. trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides, said guides having an angle el -intersection of less than nine degrees and an angleiof departure of morethanninedegrees. i 1 i 12-. A trolley frog for turnouts having a plurality of contact guides, saidguides having an angle of intersection of substantially eight degrees and an angle of departure of more than eight degrees.

13. A trolley-conductor device comprising a plurality of alined channel portions adapted to embrace a conductor and an additional channel portion in angular relation to said alined channel portions, said channel portions forming an angle ofsubstantially eight degrees at their adjacent ends and an angle of substantially twelve degrees at their remote ends.

14. A trolley conductor device comprising a plurality of a-lined channel portions adapted to embrace a conductor and an additional channel portion in angular relation to said alined channel portions, said channel portions forming an angle of less than ten degrees at their adjacent ends and an angle of at least twelve degrees at their remote ends.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of December, 1921.

WILLIAM SCHAAKE.

Images