Mounting block assembly for electrical interconnection between rail cars

#The present invention relates to a rail car mounting block assembly for electrical interconnections between railway cars and to a lanyard for receiving an electrical cable with the lanyard connecting to the assembly. It also relates to the lanyard in combination with the cable.

#Today's railroad trains are equipped with air brakes and the trains' cars are provided with air brake pipes that terminate at the end of each rail car. The pipes have air hoses that connect to the pipes at the end of each car and extend or hang between each car. The combination of pipes and hoses carry compressed air to operate the brakes on each car. The flow of compressed air is controlled by valves mounted on the brake pipes at each end of each car. The air hoses that hang from each end-of-car brake pipe are joined between the cars by what is known as a “gladhand”. To prevent the hoses themselves and the gladhands from swaying too much or to prevent them from touching the tracks, there have been field fixes comprised of wires or chains that are hooked or connected to the gladhand and various parts of the rail car to attempt to prevent the air hoses from hitting the ground.

#Likewise, freight trains may have electrical cables that also run along each car and from car to car. The electrical cable connections are also mounted at the end of each car (usually at junction boxes) and their cables have restraining wires and chains similar to those used with the air hoses. This results in additional wires and chains dangling from the end of each car and between the cars.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting block assembly where U-bolts extend through openings in the top surface of the housing, according to the principles of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting block assembly where U-bolts extend through openings in the side surface of the housing, according to the principles of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting block assembly where a C-clamp is secured through openings in the side surface of the housing, according to the principles of the present invention.

#Generally, the mounting block assembly invention is comprised of a housing having a threaded hole that receives an electrical plug and electrical cable that is part of the electrical system that carries the electricity and communications from rail car to rail car through am entire train. The assembly also has a receiving means, in the form of a ring or hook, that is adapted to receive a connector such as a hook or clasp from a lanyard. The housing also has a securing means, which, in one embodiment, may be one or more U-bolts or a C-clamp that enable the housing to be secured, for example, around and to an air valve pipe. The air valve pipe, which is mounted at the end of each rail car, has an air hose connected to it. This combination of air valves and hoses on each rail car carries the compressed air that operate the train's brakes.

#In another embodiment, the housing can also be secured to the end of a rail car by mounting it to a mounting plate on the rail car adjacent to the air valve or in a further embodiment, by casting it as an integral part of the air valve itself.

#The lanyard aspect of the invention comprises a strap of a fixed length with a plurality of loops positioned along and extending from the strap. The loops can be of fixed or adjustable circumferential length and are adapted to encompass the aforementioned electrical cable that extends between rail cars. The lanyard has a connector at each of its ends, with one of those connectors attaching to the mounting block housing and the other attaching to a receptable in an electrical connector at one end of the electrical cable.