US844792A - Mechanical ear for trolley-wires. - Google Patents

Description

No. 844,792. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

E. B. GILMORE.

MBGHANICAL EAR FOR TROLLEY WIRES. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1906.

v I 6 51mm. 4 mz/zz z/w UNITED STATES PATIENT @IEFICE.

MECHANICAL EAR FOR TROLLEY-WIFIES.

Application filed January 13 To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD E. GILMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Mechanical Ear for Irolley-\\"ires, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to supporting devices for electrical conductors, and more especial] to those devices known in the art as mechanical ears, and in this instance to those used for 4/0 grooved trol ley-wi res.

The object of the invention is to provide a sim )le, cheap, and effective ear or clamp for hol ing and supporting electrical conductors, and particularly for the bare conductors used on electrical railways.

A further object of the invention is to prode means whereby the wire is securely and imnly grasped between the jaws, with provision for tightening the jaws at any time should they become loose upon the wires.

Heretofore devices of this character have been designed without any thought as to the future as regards the wear and tear caused by the trolley-wheel passing over. If, for instance, a trolley-pole head becomes tight, the wheel will tend to run to one side on the wire. and when it strikes the point at which the ear is located it causes considerable wear that tends to loosen the grip of the jaws upon the wire. This would be liable to cause accidents, sometimes of a serious nature.

My invention is designed to obviate the above-mentioned difficulties; and to this end it consists in certain features of novelty that will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the conductor of the type used, and 2 and 3 the two jaws of the clamp. As each of these jaws are similar in all respects and have no right or left, it is evident that it requires only one mold to make both castings, and a de scription of one will be sufficient for both. The inner face of the jaw is flat, with the exception of the lower or gripping end, which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

, 1906. Serial No. 295,912.

I flared out to receive the conductor 1 and is provided at its end with a tongue 4, adapted to enter the groove 5 in the body of the conl ductor. At each end of the jaw a portion of l the body is bent back or formed in the cast 4 ing so as to constitute a flange 6, which lies I parallel with the body of the jaw andprojects backward toward theopposite end of the jaw. Midway of each aw 2 and 3 is an enlarged lportion 7, which constitutes one-half of a l conical hub extending above the body of the ljaw. Each half is provided with internal 1 screw-threads which mate l screw-threads in the opposite portion 7. To clamp the conductor, the two jaws are placed with their inner faces together and with the tongues 4 engaging the groove 5 of the conductor 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The

until the end of the body of each jaw is engaged by the flange 6. This clamps the conductor and at'the same time locks the jaw together so far as .lateral movement is concerned, and brings the two sides of the conical hub together, so that the internal screwthreads of each portion 7 will aline. I now place a sleeve or cap 8, having a conical aperture 9, over the conical hub formed by the r portions 7 and force it into engagement with l the hub by screwing the hanger or bolt 10 l down upon the top of the cap. This not only makes an excellent support, but allows l for tightening of the jaws upon the conductor 1 at any time it is necessary.

In practice the hangers l0 are usually coni nectcd to an insulator of any suitable type and through the insulator to the cross-arm l or supporting-wire of the trolley-post. l The cap 8 is slotted at 1] on either side, so j as to allow it to pass down and straddle both of the jaws 2 3. This allows any amount of i adjustment which may be necessary vents rotation of the cap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- In a mechanical ear for trolley-wires the I combination with a pair of jaws, of tongues on each of said jaws, said tongues being preand prejaws are then slipped endwise on each other.

with similar sented in opposite directions and adapted to i In testimony whereof I have afiixed my lock the j ews zipi fdixgst reative literal movesignature in presence of two witnesses.

ment, a conica u an a ea or engaging said hub for locking the jaws against rein- EDWARD GILMORE tive longitudinal movement said cap being Witnesses:

slotted to engage the jaws to prevent its -1'o- JAs. HEYWOOD,

tatiom DAVID M. ASHLEY

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