Radial and axial interface between conductor rod and work machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorIgor Strashny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site, includes a conductor rod housing concentric metal tubes for receiving electrical power from a contactor sliding on a power rail. A head-end interface of the conductor rod proximate the work machine includes metallic rings spaced apart and extending circumferentially around the head-end interface. Bores pass longitudinally through the head-end interface and into cavities within the conductor rod between the concentric metal tubes. The metallic rings enable the delivery of electrical power radially from the conductor rod for powering the work machine, while the bores enable the delivery of pneumatic power longitudinally into the conductor rod for powering axial movement of the conductor rod.
Claims13
An apparatus for conducting electrical energy, comprising:
- a rigid outer tube with a first end and a second end, the outer tube having an outer diameter and a longitudinal center defining an axis between the first end and the second end;
- a first conductor within the rigid outer tube, the first conductor comprising:
- a first metal tube;
- and
- a first metallic endplate, the first metal tube surrounding and extending along the axis from proximate the first end to the first metallic endplate, the first metallic endplate having a first longitudinal thickness extending orthogonally from the first metal tube to the outer diameter, and the first conductor further comprising a first bore through the first longitudinal thickness of the first metallic endplate;
- and
- a second conductor comprising a second metal tube and a second metallic endplate, the second metal tube concentrically surrounding and separated from the first metal tube by an annular space, the second metal tube extending from proximate the first end to the second metallic endplate, the second metallic endplate having a second longitudinal thickness extending orthogonally from the second metal tube to the outer diameter, the second metallic endplate being farther from the second end than the first metallic endplate.
A conductor assembly, comprising:
- a first conductor comprising a first conductive tube and a first conductive annulus, the first conductive tube surrounding and extending along a longitudinal axis from a distal end to the first conductive annulus, the first conductive annulus having:
- a first longitudinal thickness extending radially from the first conductive tube to an outer diameter;
- and
- one or more bores through the first longitudinal thickness;
- and
- a second conductor comprising a second conductive tube and a second conductive annulus, the second conductive tube being concentrically inside the first conductive tube and extending from the distal end to the second conductive annulus, the second conductive annulus having a second longitudinal thickness extending radially from the second conductive tube to the outer diameter, the second conductive annulus being farther from the distal end than the first conductive annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.