System and method for supporting elevated power rails
AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
InventorIgor Strashny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular structure supports elevated rail segments for delivering electrical power to a moving work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site. Opposite ends of a roadside barrier contain complementary tubular couplers arranged vertically. A lower end of a dielectric post positioned in one of the tubular couplers has opposing dielectric plates at an upper end. A top edge of each plate has a creepage concavity between a pair of rail recesses. Another dielectric post of similar configuration is positioned in the other of the tubular couplers. Holes within the couplers and the posts ensure alignment of respective rail recesses in which conductive rails are placed. Dielectric inserts frictionally lock the rails into the rail recesses.
Claims20
A support structure for conductor rails, comprising:
- a dielectric post extending along a longitudinal axis from a lower region to an upper region;
- a first dielectric plate having a first top portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a substantially planar front surface, the first top portion having a first concave surface, a first rail recess, and a second rail recess, the first concave surface being disposed between the first rail recess and the second rail recess;
- and
- a second dielectric plate having a second top portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a substantially planar rear surface, the second top portion having a second concave surface, a third rail recess, and a fourth rail recess, the second concave surface being disposed between the third rail recess and the fourth rail recess, wherein the first dielectric plate and the second dielectric plate are connected to the dielectric post such that the front surface:
- is disposed opposite and facing the rear surface, and
- is spaced from the rear surface by a first distance.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an oblong base having a first end separated from a second end along a horizontal axis;
- a first rail support positioned at the first end of the oblong base along a first substantially vertical axis, the first rail support comprising a first dielectric post and a first dielectric plate, the first dielectric plate having a first top portion with a first concave surface between a first rail recess and a second rail recess;
- a second rail support positioned at the second end of the oblong base along a second substantially vertical axis, the second rail support comprising a second dielectric post and a second dielectric plate, the second dielectric plate having a second top portion with a second concave surface between a third rail recess and a fourth rail recess;
- a first conductor rail situated within the first rail recess and the third rail recess;
- and
- a second conductor rail situated within the second rail recess and the fourth rail recess.
A method, comprising:
- placing a moveable support structure on a ground surface, the moveable support structure having a first end and a second end separated along a horizontal axis by a base;
- inserting a lower portion of a first dielectric post into a first holder connected to the first end, the first dielectric post having an upper portion supporting first substantially parallel dielectric plates on opposite sides of the first dielectric post;
- inserting a lower portion of a second dielectric post into a second holder connected to the second end, the second dielectric post having an upper portion supporting second substantially parallel dielectric plates on opposite sides of the second dielectric post;
- arranging the lower portion of the first dielectric post in the first holder and the lower portion of the second dielectric post in the second holder to position a first pair of rail recesses on the first parallel dielectric plates and a second pair of rail recesses on the second parallel dielectric plates for receiving a first conductive rail;
- securing the lower portion of the first dielectric post to the first holder;
- and
- securing the lower portion of the second dielectric post to the second holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.