Low cost electrical power connectivity for railway systems manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials

• US 7,549,521 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integral Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integral Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Aisenbrey, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Mark T
• Application Number:
  US11/284,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 191/45.R, 191/49, 191/50, 191/52, 191/59, 191/59.1, 191/33.R, 191/22.R, 191/29.DM, 191/33.PM, 191/22.DM, 174/68.1, 174/110.R, 174/119.R, 174/126.1, 174/126.2, 174/128.1
• US Class Current: 191/29.0DM
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0013 using fillers dispersed in the moulding material, e.g. metal particles
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/22 the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/24 the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/027 containing carbon particles or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/029 comprising conducting material dispersed in an elastic support or binding material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/065 formed by freely suspended particles, e.g. magnetic dust or balls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/38 Plug-and-socket contacts

Abstract

Electrical connectivity devices for railway systems are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are metals or conductive non-metals or metal plated non-metals. The micron conductive fibers may be metal fiber or metal plated fiber. Further, the metal plated fiber may be formed by plating metal onto a metal fiber or by plating metal onto a non-metal fiber. Any platable fiber may be used as the core for a non-metal fiber. Superconductor metals may also be used as micron conductive fibers and/or as metal plating onto fibers in the present invention.

Claims

1. An electric circuit apparatus comprising:

an electric motor fixably mounted in a train;

an electric power source physically separated from said train; and

an electrical conductor electrically connecting said motor to said power source wherein said conductor comprises a conductive loaded, resin-based material comprising micron conductive fiber in a base resin host wherein the percent by weight of said micron conductive fiber is between 20% and 50% of the total weight of said conductive loaded resin-based material.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the percent by volume of said micron conductive fiber is between about 4% and about 10% of the total volume of said conductive loaded resin-based material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said micron conductive fiber are metal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said micron conductive fiber is a non-conductive material with metal plating.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductor comprises a cantenary device suspended over said train.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a pantograph device extending above said train to contact said catenary device wherein said pantograph device comprises said conductive loaded resin-based material.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductor comprises a pantograph device extending above said train.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductor comprises a conductive rail mounted on or near a train track.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a conductive shoe device extending from said train to contact said conductive rail wherein said conductive shoe device comprises said conductive loaded resin-based material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conductor comprises a conductive shoe device extending from said train.

11. An electric circuit apparatus comprising:

an electric motor fixably mounted in a train;

an electric power source physically separated from said train; and

an electrical conductor electrically connecting said motor to said power source wherein said conductor comprises a conductive loaded, resin-based material comprising micron conductive fiber in a base resin host.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said micron fiber is nickel plated carbon micron fiber, stainless steel micron fiber, copper micron fiber, silver micron fiber or combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductive loaded resin-based material further comprises micron conductive powder.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said micron conductive powder is nickel, copper, or silver.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said micron conductive powder is a non-metallic material with a metal plating.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductive loaded resin-based material further comprises a ferromagnetic material.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductor comprises a cantenary device suspended over said train.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a pantograph device extending above said train to contact said catenary device wherein said pantograph device comprises said conductive loaded resin-based material.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductor comprises a pantograph device extending above said train.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductor comprises a conductive rail mounted on or near a train track.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a conductive shoe device extending from said train to contact said conductive rail wherein said conductive shoe device comprises said conductive loaded resin-based material.

22. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said conductor comprises a conductive shoe device extending from said train.

23. A method to form an electric circuit apparatus, said method comprising:

providing an electric motor fixably mounted in a train;

providing an electric power source physically separated from said train;

providing a conductive loaded, resin-based material comprising micron conductive fiber in a resin-based host;

molding said conductive loaded, resin-based material into an electrical conductor;

placing said electrical conductor to electrically connect said motor to said power source.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the percent by weight of said micron conductive fiber is between about 20% and about 50% of the total weight of said conductive loaded resin-based material.

25. The method according to claim 23 wherein the percent by volume of said micron conductive fiber is between about 4% and about 10% of the total volume of said conductive loaded resin-based material.

26. The method according to claim 23 wherein said step of molding comprises:

injecting said conductive loaded, resin-based material into a mold;

curing said conductive loaded, resin-based material; and

removing said electrical conductor from said mold.

27. The method according to claim 23 wherein said step of molding comprises:

loading said conductive loaded, resin-based material into a chamber;

extruding said conductive loaded, resin-based material out of said chamber through a shaping outlet; and

curing said conductive loaded, resin-based material to form said electrical conductor.