Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to reverse current
devices used in the railway stock industry with a
view to ensuring transmission of the electrical cur-
rent be~ween the chassis of the vehicles and the
rails.
It is known that the devices of the type in
question most often comprise an openable casing of
circular section which is fixed on the chassis of
the vehicle in question and which contains three
10 junction brushes associated with springs or other
elastic means which tend to apply them permanently
against a rotating collector member rendered fast
with the hub oE one of the wheels. It suffices under
these conditions to connect each of the brushes to
15 any element of the chassis to obtain the electrical
junction of the latter with the rails on which the
wheels bear.
It goes without saying that these reverse
current devices must present a very robust construc-
tion to withstand the vibrations and shocks to whichthey are subjected during circulation of the vehicle,
due to their location at the level of the wheels.
It will be observed that this location renders them
particularly vulnerable to the projection of water
and to the res~ltant corrosion. The brushes wear
out particularly rapidly and replacement thereof
must not necessitate complicated and expensive opera-
tions.
It is an object of the present invention to
3~ overcome all the problems set forth hereinabove.
The reverse current device according to the
invention is principally noteworthy in that each
of the pressure springs is secured to its guiding
sheath by means of a clip which comprises, on either
side of a flat central part of which one end forms
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a point of anchoring for said spring, two projecting
reinforcements of which one end is bent twice at
right angles to determine a flange adapted to hook
against the corresponding edge of two projections
5 or ribs of the casing, whilst the opposite end of
each of said reinforcements is shaped so as to define
a hook arranged to abut against the opposite edge
of the said projections by momentary elastic deforma-
tion of the opening of said hook.
According to a preferred embodiment of the
preceding arrangement, the free end of t~e pressure
spring is secured against the clip by means of screws
or rivets and a bearing plate of arcuate section,
which is arranged to form stop Eor a lateral nose
15element provided on the brush, thus limiting the
displacement of the latter in its sheath under the
effect of wear.
The invention will be more readily understood
on reading the following description with referenc~
20to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a reverse
current device according to the invention, the cover
of the casing having been partially torn away.
Fig. 2 is a diametral section along plane
25II-II of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing, in
the dismounted position, one of the securing clips
and the elements associated therewith.
Fig. 4 is a section showing this clip in the
30mounted position.
Referring now to the drawings, the device
shown in FigsO 1 and 2 comprises a casing formed
by the assembly, with the aid of screws such as 1,
of a cage 2 of circular section and a cover 3. It
35should be observed that the annular edge 2a (Fig.
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2~ of the cage 2 is sandwiched between two rings
4 and 5 made of synthetic material and sectioned
so as to be connected to each other by high-frequency
welding; this particular arrangement ensures protec-
tion and isolation of the edge 2a, at the same timeas it allows three insulated channels 6 to be made,
adapted to receive the screws for securing the casing
2-3 on the chassis of the rolling vehicle.
The cage 2 is shaped so as to define a certain
10 number of horizontal sheaths 2b oriented parallel
to one another and open at their two ends. In the
embodiment envisaged, these sheaths 2b are three
in number and it will be noted that they are disposed
at about 60 with respect to one another so as to
15 lie, all three, in the upper part of the casing 2-3.
In this way, the possible flow of water and pollution
on a lower sheath is avoided, which might hinder
slide of the corresponding brush.
In each sheath 2b is slidably mounted a brush
20 7 of which one of the ends is adapted to bear against
a collector disc 8 (Fig. 2) fast with one of the
wheels of the railway vehicle, whilst the opposite
end receives the elastic pressure of a spring 9,
formed in manner known per se by a wound metal leaf.
The clip 10 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is used
for securing the spring 9 associated with each brush
7. This clip 10, made of an elastically deformable
metal, comprises a flat central part 10a bordered
by two reinforcements 10b which project on that face
30 of the clip turned towards the brush 7. One of the
ends of this central part 10a is pierced for the
passage of two rivets 11 which traverse the end of
the spring 9 to be secured an~ a retaining plate
12~ It will be observed that the reinforcements 10b
35 border the end of the spring 9 which is thus main-
s~
tained laterally.
The end of each reinforcement which faces~he brush 7 is bent twice at right angles to form
a flange 10c shaped so as to hook against the end
face or edge 13a of one or the other of two parallel
projections or ribs 13 of the cage 2. Furthermore,
the opposite end o~ the reinforcements 10b is curved
and rolled in order to determine a hook 10d which,
after en~agement of the edges 10c against the faces
10 13a, is capable, by momentary elastic deformation
of its opening, of abutting against the opposite
faces or edges 13b of the projections 13.
The clip is then firmly immobilized in the
casing 2-3 and thus ensures perfect securing of the
15 spring 9 associated with the brush 7 envisaged.
It wil]. be noted that the plate 12 presents
a curved section such that, as shown in Fig. 4, its
free edge projects in front of the lateral reinforce-
ments 10b of the clip 10 and is consequently disposed
20 on the path of a nose element 7a projecting from
the brush 7. It will be understood that the coopera-
tion of this nose element 7a and of the plate 12
limits the slide of the brush 7 which occurs during
wear thereof, avoiding any risk of damage due to
25 exaggerated wear.
Each brush 7 is connected by conductors (not
shown) to a terminal 14 screwed in the corresponding
sheath 2b and the cage 2 bears a common terminal
5 adapted to be connected by a plaiting to the chassis
30 of the railway vehicle. Optimum connection of this
chassis to the rails via the reverse current device
is thus ensured.
It goes without saying that the number of
brushes may vary to a certain extent. I~- must, more-
35 over, be understood that the foregoing description
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has been given only hy way of example and that it
in no way limits the domain of the invention which
would not he exceeded by replacing the details of
execution described by any other equivalents.
