IEEEOCSDICTIONARYrev FEB2005 B

DICTIONARY OF OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEM TERMS IEEE OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS COMMITTEE FOR RAIL TRANSIT DICTIONARY FOR
OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS WITH PANTOGRAPH AND TROLLEY POLE OPERATIONS REVISED DRAFT FEBRUARY 14, 2005
IEEE SUPPLEMENTARY DICTIONARY OF TERMS FOR OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS Terms given in this dictionary are presently not given in the IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronic Terms, (IEEE Dictionary), or are not defined in it with reference to Overhead Contact Systems (OCS). Some terms given here are defined in the IEEE Dictionary, and are so annotated. The purpose of this dictionary is to provide uniform terminology and definitions for technical terms used in OCS that supply electrical power to electric light rail vehicles (LRV) and streetcars with pantographs or trolley poles and to electric trolleybuses (ETB) with trolley poles. Terms used only in OCS for trolley pole operations are in italics. Terms, which in OCS are synonymous, are shown (Syn). Where synonyms exist the NON- PREFERRED term has an asterisk (*). OCS style can be either Catenary where the contact wire is supported from a messenger wire by hangers, or Direct Suspension where the contact wire is directly supported by a cross-span, bridle, trapeze, pendulum, resilient arm, bracket arm or cantilever. Either style can be either Fixed Terminated or Auto-Tensioned. Terms that are exclusively to one style, are referenced FT or AT respectively. All ETBs use swivel collector shoes to allow the trolleybus to deviate up to 12 or so feet each side of the trolley wires. LRVs and streetcars with trolley poles use fixed collector shoes, which allow them to track the correct trolley wire at turnouts without the use of electric frogs. For proprietary names see Suppliers Catalogs. . This dictionary does NOT define terms for ac-electrification OCS, but refers the reader to AREMA Chapter 33, which are recommendations
Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems
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DICTIONARY OF OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEM TERMS IEEE OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS COMMITTEE FOR RAIL TRANSIT DICTIONARY FOR OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS WITH PANTOGRAPH AND TROLLEY POLE OPERATIONS REVISED DRAFT FEBRUARY 14, 2005
prepared by Association.
the
American
Railway
Engineering
and
Maintenance
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1. Acceptance Measurements
Final definitive records of the installed contact wire heights and staggers at OCS support and registrations, and at midspan. See Step Potential See Span Length Placing the conductors heights and staggers. See Sectionalizing to the correct wire
2. Accessible Voltage* 3. Actual Span Length 4. Adjustments, Final adjustments 5. Airbreak; Half-tension Airbreak 6. Alignment 7. Track alignment 8. OCS alignment 9. Along Track Feeder* 10. Along-Track Movement (ATM) 11. (AT Systems) 12. Ambient Temperature 13. 14. 15. 16. Anchor Anchor Base Pole* Anchor Bolt Anchor Bracket
The centerline or other reference line of the track or tracks in both plan and profile. The position of the OCS relative to the (superelevated) centerline of the track. See Parallel Feeder The migration of catenary induced by BWs or tensioners due to thermal expansion or contraction of the conductors The weather related temperature of an OCS, which excludes temperature effects due to current in the conductors. See Bolted-Base Pole. See Foundation An attachment to the face of a civil structure (tunnel soffits, bridge deck, tunnel portal, boat section, retaining wall, parapet, etc.) for anchoring OCS. See Foundation See Fixed Termination Assembly A pole which provides the ground level anchorage at its base or base-plate for a down guy from an adjacent anchor pole. A specialty device with a helical cutting blade
17. Anchor Dead-Man 18. 19. 20. Deadend
Plate
or
Pole Base Anchor Screw Anchor
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21. Self Anchor (pole)
Supporting
that is corkscrewed into the ground as an anchorage for a down-guy An anchor pole without a down-guy.
22.
Arcing
When associated with commutation between pantograph and contact wire, arcing is the sparking at the interface point when the pantograph is drawing current at speed. Arcing typically does more harm to the pantograph carbons than to the contact wire, weakening the surface of the carbon and causing it to be eroded. With metalized carbons, erosion of the carbon releases metal (commonly copper) often in minute globules the size of ground coffee. These settle onto the underside of the contact wire up to 10 feet from the arc, where they now act as a rasp on the carbon causing more erosion - this time mechanically. Arcing is typically caused at hard spots along the contact wire. See Hard Spots Arcing can be minimized by trains powering down before reaching known hard spots, and by avoiding getting into regeneration mode, which can be a source of current equal, if not greater, than normal traction current values. Arcing is preventable by avoiding designing hard-spots into the system due to the use of section insulators, direct push-off registrations, resilient arms and sharp changes in gradient.
23. Assembly 24. OCS Assembly
A discrete configuration of components used in an OCS, and identified in combination for ease of reference. See Assembly Reference Assemblies such as trolley wire switches, frogs, crossings and curve segments are usually referred to as Special Work in the industry. 4 of 56
25. Assembly Reference
An alphanumeric code assigned to a discrete group of components, and that describes the materials list for one standard configuration, in which only the lengths of pipes or wires can vary. OCS conductors terminated with balanceweights, springs or hydraulic tensioning devices to maintain constant tension over a specified range of conductor temperatures by compensating for conductor thermal expansion and contraction. See AREMA Chapter 33. A third conductor typically installed with hangers above the contact wire and beneath the messenger wire of a catenary system and forming Compound Catenary Style A span guy or along track span-wire between structural supports used primarily to align contact/trolley wires around a curve using a series of pull-offs attached along the backbone. See Guy. The tensioning gear with weights that are installed at each end of a tension section of an auto-tensioned OCS. See Tension Section and Half Tension Section Mechanical means for preventing further movement of balanceweights beyond a specified range of movement. A support more commonly used with trolley wire than with contact wire, that is usually fixed directly to the underside of the protective troughing or sheeting that is customarily attached to the trolley barn roof. See IEEE Dictionary. See Bridge Bent
26. Auto-Tensioned (AT) Equipment
27. Autotransformer (AC) 28. System 29. Substation 30. Auxiliary Messenger or Auxiliary*
31.
Backbone
32.
Backguy*
33. Balanceweight Assembly (BWA)
34. Balanceweight Stops, or Temperature Stops* 35. Barn Hanger
36. Basic Impulse Insulation Level (BIL, bil) 37. Bent
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38. 39. 40.
Blow-off Boat section Body Span Wire
Lateral displacement of the contact /trolley wire due to wind. Civil engineering term for an open concrete structure that is below the general ground level. The center wire of a three-wire head span used mainly to carry the radial and wind loads exerted by the messenger wires. A pole with baseplate for use on a foundation with anchor bolts (as compared to a plain or planted pole which is directly embedded in stone or concrete). An electrical connection between metal hardware (rails, poles, rebar, etc) that eliminates voltage difference An inductive device bridging an insulated rail joint that allows passage of traction return current while preventing passage of signaling current. An impedance bond is typically housed in a metal box 1ft. deep and up to 3ft. square, that is located close by or between rails and connected across an insulated rail joint. Electrical connection between two rails in OCS return circuits and rated for the full traction return current. An electrical connection between a structure and the rebar cage of the foundation and/or to a ground rod, or to a grounding circuit of a civil structure.
41.
Bolted Base Pole
42. 43.
Bond Impedance Bond
44. 45.
Rail Bond (traction) Structure Bond
46. Booster Transformer or Suction Transformer (AC) 47. Bracket Arm or Mast Arm*
See AREMA Chapter 33. The frame usually supporting a direct suspension single contact wire or trolley wire directly from a pole without using a hinge. (A bracket arm, which is hinged to a pole, has the preferred term cantilever.) See Pole Bracket or Anchor Bracket See Section break or Airbreak
48. 49.
Bracket Break*
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50. 51. 52. 53.
Bridge Overpass Bent Bridge Barrier See Overpass A Structural Engineering term for a portal frame or transverse framework, as used to support the deck of a bridge. The name given to a permanent protective shield on an overbridge spanning over electrified tracks or over trolley overhead wires, for the purpose of shielding the overhead conductors from vandals, and/or protecting people from electrical danger. Also see Construction Barrier. The act of connecting across sectionalization points by pantographs. A span guy or wire between structural supports used primarily to provide support to a crossspan wire or pull-off attached approximately midway along the bridle. A short (4 feet to 6 feet long) loop of wire that supports a single contact wire from a horizontal (cantilever) pipe or pulley. A short (6 feet to 8 feet long) loop of wire that supports a messenger wire from a pulley in AT equipment. An eyebolt or other OCS mounting on a building. A steel ring usually 2 to 4 in diameter to which two or more aerial (span) guys may be attached. The locus of the center point of the front axle of a trolleybus along a transitway. NOTE. Not necessarily the centerline of the transitway.
54. 55.
Bridging Bridle
56.
Bridle Suspension
57. Building Attachment 58. Bull Ring 59. Bus Path
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60. 61. 62. 63. 64.
BW BWA Bypass Switch Cable Outlet* Cadweld
Balanceweight Balanceweight Assembly See Switch See Feeder Spout A proprietary thermic welding operation A hinged bracket arm* Cantilevers mounted on opposite sides of poles which are located between tracks. An OCS support frame typically for mounting a messenger support or suspension fitting and a contact wire registration assembly that is mounted on a pole or portal beam drop bracket using hinge fittings. A cantilever assembly whose reach (see below) typically exceeds 13 feet. A frame rigidly attached to a pole and serving three or more tracks. The dimension between the face of the pole and the contact wire, or in the case of several contact wires, the furthest contact wire from the pole. A cantilever where the system height of the OCS is (typically) more than one foot less than the standard system height, thereby requiring reconfiguration of the basic cantilever shape by lowering the messenger wire support. Two cantilevers installed side-by-side on spreaders on one pole, each supporting its own OCS, and both OCS serving the same track. Have application in overlaps and at crossovers where two catenaries will normally have differential along-track movement. A frame rigidly attached to a pole that serves two adjacent tracks to one side of it from which Anchor or Balanceweight
65. Cantilever 66. 67. Back-to-back cantilevers 68. Cantilever Assembly
69. Long-Reach Cantilever 70. Arm 71. Multi-Track Bracket
Reach
72. Reduced Height Cantilever
73.
Twin Cantilevers
74. Arm
Two-Track Bracket
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the OCS for each track is supported. 75. Two-Track Cantilever A single OCS cantilever frame serving two adjacent tracks to one side of its supporting pole, and catering to the independent movement of the catenaries in AT systems.
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76.
Catenary
The combination of two or more OCS conductors, with hangers and in-span hardware, but not including supports and cantilevers. The curve assumed by a perfectly flexible cord of uniform weight and cross-section hanging freely between two fixed points. Auto-Tensioned Simple Catenary (ATSC) and Fixed Terminated Simple Catenary (FTSC) styles each comprised of a contact wire supported from a messenger wire by hangers. Comprising a contact wire supported by an auxiliary wire, which, in turn, is supported from a messenger wire by hangers. A two conductor catenary system to which a stitch wire (messenger bridle) has been added at the supports to improve catenary dynamics. An arrangement of OCS conductors, where the messenger carries the horizontal (radial) load of the contact wire (and auxiliary wire) on curved tracks, in addition to providing vertical support, and in which the contact wire closely follows the centerline of the track. Inclined catenary has excellent commutation performance, has great economy of OCS support structures, but is difficult to install and to replace. A version of simple catenary with a small system height, (2ft. 0in. to 2ft. 6in. compared to 4ft. 0in. of standard simple catenary) which permits both conductors to be supported and registered from a single cross-span wire for improved aesthetics. As a consequence of the small system height the maximum span is typically limited to about 150 feet. A catenary system in which the messenger (and auxiliary) are installed vertically above the contact wire. Also known as Tangent-Chord style. A twin contact wire system. OCS construction wherein the messenger of a
77.
Dictionary Meaning
78. Simple Catenary Style
79. Compound Catenary Style 80. Stitched Catenary Style
81. Inclined Catenary Style
82. Low Profile Catenary Style
83. Chordal Catenary Style
84.
Contenary
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simple catenary system is locally substituted with a contact wire, that can be installed alongside the primary contact wire to create a catenary system of extremely small system height which is a practical solution for wiring bridges with very low clearances.
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85. Catenaries Dynamics 86. Chording of Curves
The interactive relationship between current collectors and contact/trolley wires at operating speeds. On curved route the propensity of the contact wire to cut the curve between points of registration. A fitting with bolts and nuts that be fixed in position on a pire or conductor, and yet can be removed (unbolted) and re-used at another position. The fitting on the end of the steady arm or registration pipe, which attaches to the contact wire A piece of hardware used to clamp two or more parallel wires together. A piece of hardware used to attach various types of components to a pipe. A piece of hardware used for deadending a wire or conductor under high tension. A piece of hardware used to support a tensioned conductor or cable in a hanging arrangement, the greater part of the applied load being due to conductor weight. The sagging (regulating) of the OCS conductors to correct tension, and clamping at the supports and installing the hangers. See Contact Strip The act of picking up electrical power from an overhead contact wire by pantograph or trolley pole. See Current Collection. See also Bridging See Catenary Dynamics An item of OCS hardware as commonly supplied complete by manufacturers.
87.
Clamp
88. Contact Swivel or Fixed Clamp 89. Parallel Groove Clamp 90. 91. 92. Pipe Clamp Strain Clamp Suspension Clamp
93.
Clipping In
94. 95.
Collector Strip* Commutation*
96. Commutation Performance* 97. Component (OCS)
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98. Compound Equipment 99. Compression Type Fittings* or Compression Fittings
See Catenary Fittings that require a hydraulic press to crimp or otherwise form a mechanical joint usually with one or more conductor using a sleeve or ferrule. Fittings that require the forcing of one or more pins into a solid conductor in order to effect a mechanical connection. See Conductor Rail OCS conductor joints carry full catenaries tension and full conductor current. Factory jointing of conductors is performed before final extrusion of the finished conductor, and joint between the individual stock bars may either be scarfed and braised or fusion butt welded. Field joints are usually mechanical, being cone type couplings, or compressed sleeves. Various shapes of rigid bar, e.g. double lobe bar, used in maintenance shops and under bridges as an alternative to a contact wire or trolley wire. Not to be confused with third rail. See Auto-tensioned equipment A temporary barrier serving the purpose of a bridge barrier during construction/reconstruction of an overbridge spanning electrified tracks. An OCS overlap without provision sectionalizing. An Uninsulated Overlap See Conductor Rail. The wearing strip on the head of a pantograph that enables an electric vehicle to draw power from an OCS. Typically made of carbon or metalized carbon, the strip may be in one piece or in four or five abutting pieces, with an overall length not more than 52 inches. The Pantograph head typically has two strips at approximately 13 inch centers. Each strip is either 40 cm. wide or 60cm. wide. In the past, other materials, such as copper and steel have been used with or without an integral for
100. Conductor Bar* or Conductor Beam* 101. Conductor Joints
102.
Conductor Rail
103. Constant Tension OCS* 104. Construction Barrier
105. Construction Overlap 106. Contact Bar* or Rail* 107. Contact Strip
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greasing system. 108. Contact Wire (CW) The wire with which the pantograph or trolley pole makes contact for current collection. Normally made of copper or bronze, the wire is a single wire conductor usually with a groove to which hangers and clamps may be fitted. Cross section shapes include round grooved with various copper cross sectional area from 106 kcmil to 350 kcmil, and figure-9, Deep Section (335, 350 and 400 kcmil.) See also Trolley Wire for trolley pole operations 109. Contact Wire AlongTrack Movement (ATM) See Along-Track Movement
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110.
Contact Wire Bridge
At track crossovers, crossings and turnouts, a rigid bar or piece of contact wire, up to 5 feet long, is attached to the in-running contact wire, and closely above it, to form a slot for a second contact wire to pass through, thereby preventing differential uplift of crossing contact wires. Also called a wire cross*.
111. 112.
Contact Wire Clamp For FT equipment The fixed clamp at the end of a registration arm or a steady arm, which is fitted into the groove of the contact wire or trolley wire to take the registration and wind loads. The swivel clamp at the end of a registration arm or a steady arm that is fixed into the groove of the contact wire or trolley wire to take the registration and wind loads. The swivel is to accommodate along-track movement of the contact wire due to angular displacement. The ongoing stretch of a contact wire or trolley wire, which is under a sustained tension. It has been shown that when a conductor is subjected to its normal tension, it will creep at a greater rate for the first 15 days under load than it will after the first month or so. When contact wires are staggered on straight tracks or registered on curved tracks the contact wire changes direction at each clamp, through an angle, which is termed the deviation angle. As a consequence a radial load is imparted to the registration arm or span wire. Experience suggests that the maximum deviation of the contact wire at any registration point should not exceed 7 degrees, nor should the radial load exceed 500 lb. under the worst conditions. The use of double registration arms is suggested for radial loads between 500 lb and 1000 lb. A bridging device between sections of contact wire that is mounted on the transom of doorframes of maintenance shops that can be opened to allow roll-up doors to open and close. Such a design may have a bridging piece that
113.
For (AT) equipment
114. 115.
Contact Wire Creep Initial Creep
116. Contact Wire Deviation
117. Contact Wire Door Bridge
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laterally overlaps the contact wire conductor rail in which case it would not be suitable for use with trolley poles. See Trolley Door Bridge. 118. Contact Wire Droop or Contact Wire Fall The additional downward displacement of the contact wire due to temperature or ice. The increase in sag; not the actual sag.
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119. Contact Wire Height (CWH)
The height of the underside of the contact wire above reference rail level or street (trolley bus) when not uplifted by the pantograph or trolley pole. The minimum allowable contact wire height, usually at mid pan or under bridges, which takes due account of vehicle clearance envelope, vehicle bounce and track tolerances, OCS temperature effects and electrical clearances. May also take future track raising into account if so required. The maximum allowable contact wire height within the vertical operating range of the pantograph or trolley pole. The dimensional rise of a contact wire under its own weight and tension, from grade over a distance. The increase in the height of the contact wire at midspan, due to the combined effect of : An increase in contact wire tension at low temperature. Wear of the contact wire. Uplift due to the pantograph or trolley collector pole pressure. See Uplift.
120. Minimum Contact Wire Height
121. Maximum Contact Wire Height
122.
Contact Wire Rise
123.
Contactor (OCS)
A device, normally fitted on a contact wire or a trolley wire for making or breaking a circuit, or instrumental to switching of other circuits, such as traffic signal pre-emption, or ETB route selection. See Catenary Contenary. A wire with a steel center and layer of copper fused around it or a number of such wires stranded together. The deterioration of a substance (usually a metal) because of a reaction with its environment. The destructive chemical action caused by local dc electrical currents to pipes, cables and other
124.
Contenary
125. Copper clad Conductor, also known as Copperweld 126. Corrosion
127. Electrolytic Corrosion
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materials, often resulting from stray currents leaking from the traction negative rail return of the OCS. 128. 129. 130. 131. Counterpoise Counterweight* Creep Crimp Type Fittings A buried wire or a configuration of wires to provide a low resistance grounding system. See Balanceweight. The on-going permanent stretch of tensioned wires over time. Fittings that require the squeezing down with possible indenting, of a sleeve through which two or more wires pass. For small wires a hand tool may be used, but for larger sleeves and conductors a hydraulic press will normally be used. A type of clamp with a U-bolt and saddle that pinches two wires together so they hold tight. Typically a short cross bracket mounted high up on OCS poles that support feeders. See Cantilever, Bracket Arm. See Headspan See Contact Wire Bridge The plane through the tops of the rails of a track in the transverse direction. See Track Tolerances. An OCS assembly that permits two sets of trolley wires to cross each other, either at right angles, or a straight or curved skew angle. A single wire fastened between two supports that crosses the track or roadway just above contact wire level and supports one or more contact wires. See also Headspan. The act of picking up electrical power from overhead contact/trolley wire by pantograph or trolley pole.
132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137.
Crosby Crossarm Feeder OCS Crossarm* Cross Catenary* Cross Contacts* Cross Level
138. Cross Level Tolerance 139. Crossover (Special Work) 140. Cross-Span
141.
Current Collection
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142. 143.
Current Collector For Pantographs The contact strip at the top of a pantograph, which rides along under the contact wire to collect current. See Contact Strip. The carbon insert housed inside the trolley shoe and normally 3 inches long, which rides along under the contact wire collecting current.
144.
For Trolley Poles
145. 146. 147. 148.
Curve Construction Inside Curve Outside Curve Curve Hanger An arrangement where OCS support poles are on the inside of the curve, necessitating the use of bracket arm construction. Poles are on the outside of the curve. See Single and Double Curve Hanger. A short version of a curve segment for shallower turns. An OCS assembly used on trolley wire systems that permits the trolley poles to transfer to a curved rail in order to take an angle in the trolley wire with 10 to 45 deviation. A cross-span on a curve with one or more double curve hangers or a curve segment.
149. Curve Rail (Special Work) 150. Curve Segment (Special Work)
151. 152. 153. 154. 155.
Curve Span Curve Supports Inside Curve Outside Curve Cut-In-Switch
An arrangement for an OCS where the poles are on the inside of the curve. Poles are on the outside of the curve. A type of directional switch in the trolley wires where a section of trolley wire is cut out in order to insert the switch special work. A section insulator used in the trolley wires for sectionalization: but only installed in positive trolley wires. Contact wire Contact wire anchor.
156.
Cut-Out
157. 158.
CW CWA
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159. 160.
Deadend Deadend Assembly
The direct termination of a conductor under tension to a pole, beam or wall. See Fixed Termination Assembly An OCS with direct support of a trolley wire from a cross-span wire, bracket arm, resilient arm or resilient hanger in both AT and FT systems. See Switch See Contact Wire Door Bridge or Trolley Door Bridge An overhead assembly used in cross-spans to support trolley wires in large radius curves. Each hanger typically provides up to 2 deviation in the trolley wires. Insulation provided by two physically separated insulators, to create a safe working zone for maintenance staff between energized equipment and grounded equipment. A separation of at least six feet is preferred. (Requirements are described in California PUC GO 95 and other codes.) See Guy Fall of a conductor from its height at normal temperature, due to temperature change and/or ice coating. Droop is an increase in sag, rather than the total sag of a conductor. A fitting attached to the underside of a cantilever registration pipe that carries the steady arm or registration arm See Hanger or sometimes used ambiguously as Feeder. A steel frame or pipe rigidly attached to the underside of a portal or bridge deck for mounting an OCS support and/or registration assembly. An ETB or rail car designed to operate either by self-powered or by electricity taken from an OCS or third rail.
161. Direct Suspension System 162. 163. 164. Disconnect Switch Door Bridge* Double Curve Hanger
165.
Double Insulation
166. 167.
Down Guy Droop
168.
Drop Bracket
169.
Dropper*
170. Drop Vertical or Drop Pipe
171. Dual-mode or DualPowered Bus, or a Hybrid Bus or Rail Vehicle.
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172. Dual Operation or Dual Mode Operation 173. Duct, Duct-Line
Where rubber tired and rail vehicles share the same R-O-W. An enclosed conduit i.e. pipe, etc. for electrical cables, typically underground, or mounted on, or embedded in, civil structures. See Live Load See Catenary Dynamics The normal trolley wire clamp used to suspend the trolley wire. Also called a Clamp. See Manufacturers Catalogs. See Resilient Arm A form of resilient arm with a limited use due to being of lower strength than a normal resilient arm. A term applied to a trolley OCS where the trolley wires are free to uplift under the pressure of the current collectors at the supports. Typified by the use of pendulum suspensions comprising one hanger or two articulated parallel hangers. OCS poles without base plates that are directly inserted into socket-type or open foundations and fixed by concrete, grout or compacted backfill. See Pole Encumbrance.
174. 175.
Dynamic Load Dynamics
176. Ear, Trolley Ear, or Line-Ear 177. 178. Elastic Arm* Elastic Hanger
179.
Elastic System
180.
Embedded Poles
181. 182.
Encumbrance* Envelope
183. Combined Vehicle Envelope 184. Pantograph Clearance Envelope
The rail vehicle dynamic envelope plus the effects of track alignment and cross-level tolerances. The combined vehicle envelope applied to the pantograph plus a typical 6 lateral running allowance for safety and a typical 8 vertical allowance above static contact wire level. Only steady arms and registration arms are permitted within this envelope. The combined vehicle envelope plus a safety clearance allowance typically 6 all round, into which no part of the fixed facilities e.g. bridges, stations,
185. Structure Clearance Envelope
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signal, trackside houses, etc. shall intrude. 186. Trolley Pole Clearance Envelope 187. Vehicle Dynamic Envelope 188. Vehicle Static Envelope 189. Equation Stationing 190. Equivalent Span or Ruling Span* 191. Way 192. Exclusive Right-ofExothermic Welding The dimensioned space around the vehicle trolley pole(s) depending upon the position of the trolley wire(s) and the vehicle. The maximum envelope of a vehicle when it is free to lurch and sway. The maximum envelope of a static vehicle
Typically the mathematical adjustment at a point along an alignment where the running stationing is interrupted or restarted. A weighted average span of a given tension section of conductions used in sag-tensioned calculations. ROW only vehicles. accessible to the Agency s own
A type of welding where a charge is ignited which burns with intense heat and melts adjacent sections of metal allowing them to fuse together. See Building Attachment See Heel of Steady Arm See Heel Setting
193. 194. 195.
Eye-Bolt Eye of Pullover* Eye Setting*
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196.
Face of Pole
The absolute nearest part of a pole from the track for structure clearance purposes. Structure clearance requirements do not include base plate and top of foundation unless these are located significantly above the level of the rails and intrude into the clearance envelope. A track turnout that can be entered with point of switch entered first in the normal direction of travel (see also Trailing Turnout) The margin of safety in terms, usually of strength, between the breaking load and the maximum design operating load expressed as a ratio. See Contact Wire Fall or Messenger Wire Fall. A short pipe installed through the wall of a tubular pole, through which a feeder cable exits the pole. Conductors that supply power to or augment the power-carrying capacity of the conductors in an overhead contact system. The positioning of an OCS to the correct alignment and wire height, tightening up of all components and any remedial work prior to operation. See Pole Cap. Small components used in the assembly of cantilever frames, cross-spans and terminations. The dead-ended termination of a conductor. See Fixed Terminated, (FT) equipment and Auto-Tensioned, (AT) equipment. An assembly for dead-ending a conductor. OCS with dead-ended conductors, either Catenary or Direct Suspension, (fixed terminations). The tensions in FT equipment vary with temperature, being higher at low
197. Facing Turnout; Facing-Point Turnout 198. Factor of Safety
199.
Fall
200. Feeder Spout or Feeder Outlet* 201. Feeders
202.
Final Adjustment
203. 204. 205. 206.
Finial* Fittings Fixed End Fixed Tension*
207. Fixed Termination Assembly 208. Fixed-Terminated (FT) Equipment
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temperatures and lower at high temperatures. 209. Single Contact Wire Style (FTSCW) 210. Tramway Style Equipment* A style of Direct Suspension OCS FT equipment. A style of Direct Suspension OCS FT equipment.
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211.
Floating Section
A section of OCS equipment between two insulators which is neither bonded to the live conductors, nor is bonded to ground, and whose line potential is unknown. See AREMA Chapter 33 - Neutral Section
212. 213.
AC Foundation (OCS) Customarily a concrete block for the embedment or attachment of an OCS pole or down guy, or part of a civil structure (viaduct, overpass, tunnel, etc) for embedding or attaching an OCS pole, support bracket or down guy. The most common type of foundation in the US is a concrete pier with anchor bolts. This is usually made by pouring concrete directly into an augered hole in which the anchor bolts/reinforcing cage is already aligned. Sizes range from 2 ft 0in diameter to 3ft.6in diameter, and depth below ground from 10ft. to 18ft. depending upon loading and ground strength. A bolt inserted into a concrete foundation to form an attachment for a pole or support bracket. A buried plate at the end of an anchor rod used with down guys.
214. 215. 216.
Anchor Bolt Anchor Plate Core-formed
217. 218. 219.
Dead-Man* Earth-formed Gravity Foundation
A foundation that has been poured leaving a core hole which will accept an OCS pole without a base-plate firmly installed to line and level using grout. A mass buried in ground (usually a rectangular block of concrete) to which a down guy wire is directly or indirectly attached. Where the concrete is directly poured into an augered hole against the bare earth. See Spread Footing below.
220. Guy Anchor Foundation 221. Piled Foundations
222.
Precast Concrete
A foundation for a down guy. Steel pile foundations using a 24 inch diameter steel casing or a 10in x 10in I-beam have been used as foundations for anchor-base poles.
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223.
Foundation (cond)
224. Concrete Sleeve type
Usually a pier type casting with anchor bolts, which is placed into an oversize earth-formed augered shaft and grouted or back-filled to line and level. Precast foundations can be manufactured under factory conditions with supervision and testing staff in attendance to ensure the required quality, both in dimensional accuracy and materials quality. Precast foundations avoid the problems of getting large quantities to remote track side locations, and avoid many site problems associated with winter and summer weather. On operating railroads, precast foundations should reduce the need for track occupation compared to cast-in-place foundations. This foundation type was very successfully used on a very large project in the Kalahari Desert. High strength concrete sleeves (pipes), 18 inches overall diameter, 2 in. wall thickness and 10 feet long were directly embedded into a 30 inch diameter earth formed core hole using the excavated granular material as backfill. This was compacted around the sleeve using 4in diameter pneumatic hammers. A plain steel pole was inserted into the sleeve and clamped into line and level with a custom made jig that attached to the top of the sleeve. More of the granular material was compacted around the pole leaving 6 inches space at the top. Typically one bag of concrete mix was mixed up in a small portable concrete mixer, placed in the top of the sleeve, tamped and trowel finished with a watershed. The benefits of the sleeve are similar to those of pre-cast foundations, and the use of the excavated material and the low requirement for water in the remoteness of the desert were particularly good economies. When surface or sub-surface rock is encountered anchor bolts can be directly embedded into core hole drilled into the rock deep enough to carry the pole overturning moment but discounting the thickness of fractured rock. A shallow foundation typically 1ft 0in to 2ft 0in thick, but with a large area, typically 6 ft by 12 ft. but can be larger or smaller depending upon
225.
Rock Foundation
226.
Spread Footing
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overturning load and ground strength. 227. 228. Frog (OCS) Fixed Frog A solid metal device (casting) in the trolleywires that guides the direction of travel of a vehicle trolley pole at locations where two trolley wires diverge from a single wire. An electrically operated device above the trolley wires that switches the track of the frog as required. 230. Frog (track) A rail component used at the intersection of two running rails to provide support for vehicle wheels thus permitting wheels to cross over or join rails of other tracks. 1. The flattened part of a round pole ready to receive the mounting plate of a cross arm or bracket arm, or 2. A plastic molding type packer for interfacing between a round pole and a cross arm or mounting plate of a bracket arm.
229.
Electric Frog
231.
Gain
27 of 56
232.
A proprietary insulating material to 2 thick used to form troughs for protection of the trolley overhead from damage caused by DICTIONARY OF OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEM TERMS dewired trolley poles or to provide a safety IEEE OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS COMMITTEE FOR RAIL TRANSIT barrier for linemen working on live wires in DICTIONARY FOR OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS PANTOGRAPH TROLLEY POLEoverhead OPERATIONS beams close WITH proximity to AND uninsulated and pipes.
REVISED DRAFT FEBRUARY 14, 2005
Glastic
233.
Grade Crossing
A crossing of a highway, railroad track, other fixed guideway, or pedestrian walk or combination of these at the same level. The vertical separation at a crossing of a highway or walkway from a rail track by the provision of a bridge or underpass. The average slope of the contact wire between two adjacent OCS supports relative to the track. The act of directly bonding a pole or stucture to a ground rod by means of a cable, to prevent a voltage developing on a pole which might shock a person who might touch the pole. A conducting rod serving as an electrical connection with ground. Typically a less-thanone inch diameter copperclad steel rod 10 feet long driven into the soil. More than one rod may be required to achieve the low resistance value specified for any particular OCS installation. An electrical switch typically between an OCS conductor and a ground rod, to enable the conductor to be grounded for safety when deenergized. The conductor installed for the purpose of providing lightning protection and electrical continuity between the supporting structure of the overhead contact system and the common return or grounding system. A steadying or positioning wire, or span wire. A wire attached high on a pole and coming down at an angle to an anchor in the ground. See Foundation A protective strip, often of light colored plastic, typically 10 feet long, which fits around the lower end of a down guy for increased visibility. A wire, usually between two pole tops, for the purpose of transferring an anchor load. A wire between two poles, or buildings for supporting an OCS.
234.
Grade Separation
235. Gradient (Contact Wire) 236. Grounding
237.
Ground Rod
238.
Grounding Switch
239.
Ground Wire
240.
Guy
241. Down Guy Or Back Guy* 242. 243. Guy Anchor Guy Guard
244. 245. 246.
Head Guy Span Guy
Sidewalk Down Guy See Sidewalk Guy Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems
28 of 56
232. Half Tension Section or Half tension Length*
In AT equipment, the segment of OCS between a midpoint and a BW, or between a fixed termination and a BW. See also Tension Section. An access hole in a pole, or duct-line, for cable installation or inspection A support for a contact wire or trolley wire, normally used to support it from cross-spans. A series of light wire, light cable, light strap or light rod assemblies for suspending the contact wire from the messenger wire at regular intervals (typically every 15-30 feet). Catenary hangers are usually designed to avoid current flowing through them from the messenger to the contact wire and vice versa, by incorporating insulating components.
233. 234. 235. 236.
Hand Hole Hanger For Direct Suspension For Catenary
237.
Hard spot
Hard spots along the contact wire are typically points where the contact wire does not lift under the influence of pantograph pressure, as much as it does along the rest of the wire. As a consequence the pantograph is momentarily forced down from its normal trajectory. This may cause a separation of contact just beyond the hard spot due to pantograph inertia, and the inability of the pantograph springing to quickly raise the pantograph head. As a consequence arcing may occur which is harmful to both pantographs and contact wire. See Arcing Hard spots are caused by kinks in the contact wire, by heavy fittings such as section insulators, and by direct push-off registrations, all of which should be avoided in the mainline OCS where trains travel at speed and draw normal levels of current. Hardware mounted at the top end of a Trolley Collector Pole that houses the Trolley Shoe. An OCS support structure with two or more wires that straddles the tracks and supports several catenaries, or several single contact wires in multi-track area. See also Cross-Span, Body Span, Steady Span.
238.
Harp
239. Headspan or Cross Catenary*
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240.
Headspan wires
In a two-wire headspan, the combination of headspan wire and cross-span wire, and in a three-wire headspan, the combination of a headspan wire, steady span wire and cross-span wire, required for a complete headspan The pivoted end of a steady arm opposite to the end with the contact wire clamp. The dimensioned height of the pin or hinge at the heel of a steady arm or registration arm, above the plane of the contact wire. The heel setting is designed to minimize uplift of the contact wire due to the radial load in the registration arm caused by contact wire deviation.
241. Heel of Registration Arm or Steady Arm or Eye of Pullover* (Catenary) 242. Heel Setting Dimension (Catenary)
243.
Hog of Contact Wire
Arching of a contact wire between catenary supports. Prevalent in FT systems at low temperatures opposite of sag. The curved or angled downwards ends of the pantograph head, which lift out-of-running wires onto the contact strip, as they converge. Electrical power taken by a vehicle for uses other than traction. A mechanical device comprising a long cylinder filled with liquid or with gas which with its associated parts is installed at one or each of the anchor poles to compensate to some extent for variations in conductor tension due to ambient temperature. See Bond See Catenary An electro-mechanical switch with an electronic receiver placed just above diverging trolley wires that can receive radio signals from ETBs in order to set the trolley wires for the route direction required. The catenary for a track that has multiple catenaries (such as overlaps), which provides the passage for the pantograph.
244.
Horns (pantograph)
245. 246.
Hotel Power Hydraulic Tensioner
247. 248. 249.
Impedance Bond Inclined Catenary Inductive Switch
250.
In-Running Catenary
30 of 56
251.
Insert Concrete
A mechanical screw socket-type fixing for direct embedment into concrete usually placed before pouring concrete. See Sectionalizing See Sectionalizing Any body or substance provided and designed for the purpose of surrounding, supporting or interrupting an electrical conductor so as to restrict the flow of electricity to a desired path. A synthetic insulator that looks like a bobbin for thread. A bell-shaped insulator of ceramic or glass used singly or in strings. An strain insulator installed at a point along a conductor for sectionalizing purposes or to provide a level of insulation. A type of ceramic strain insulator, which has interlocking terminations for wires and is used primarily for guy, span wire or dead end insulation. The brand name for a type of section insulator. See Section Insulator A solid core insulator with bending strength.
252. 253. 254.
Insulated Midpoint Insulated Overlap Insulator
255. 256. 257. 258.
Bobbin* Bell or Disc* Cut-in Insulator Insulators (cond)
259. Johnny Ball or Porcelain Strain 260. Insulator 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 267. No-Bo Section Standoff Strain Strut Suspension Synthetic
An insulator or a string of disc insulators used in line in a tensioned conductor or guy. A standoff insulator used members of cantilevers. in compression
An insulator or string of discs, suspended in vertical position. An insulator made from fiberglass, plastic or epoxy resin. 268. Jumper Generally an electrical connection in the
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overhead contact system; a short conductor installed to provide electrical continuity. 269. Continuity or Full Current A jumper capable of carrying full line current from one catenary to another longitudinally at tensioning overlaps and track turnouts. A light jumper in the catenary connecting the messenger to the contact wire for electrical continuity. Generally installed one in each span. The measured cross-sectional area conductor in thousands of circular mils. of a
270.
Equalizing
271. 272.
Kcmil, mcm* (Syn) Knuckle
A rigid connection between two adjacent messenger wires and/or between two adjacent contact wires for their mutual alignment. Usually with insulation so as to prevent circulating currents or for maintaining electrical sectioning. A device typically mounted on OCS poles and connected to the OCS, designed to protect the OCS and adjacent equipment, e.g. traction power substations and feeder cables, against lightning. Lightning arresters typically provide a path to ground through a spark-gap, with or without variable resistance elements. The name given in the days before grooved trolley wire was available, for the fitting that supported round trolley wire. A bunch of short (12 ) steel wires with preformed twist that self lock around a conductor inside a support clamp to prevent the breakage o conductor strands due to fatigue. See also Messenger Liner
273. Lightning Arrester or Arrestor*
274.
Line Ear
275.
Line Guard
276. 277.
Live Live Load (structural) A load or force that is temporary in nature such as wind, ice, tension due to temperature change and the dynamic uplift force of a passing current collector. A bare conductor carrying a voltage for power
278.
Live Wire (electrical)
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supply. 279. 280. Load Gauge Long Turn Lane See Gauge A segment of trolley wire OCS (trolley wire pair) parallel to the through trolley wires used by ETBs in preparation for a right or left turn that allows through ETBs to overtake.
281. 282. 283.
Lug Crimped Terminal An attachment to the end of wire or cable for an electrical connection made using a griping or crimping tool. A crimped, soldered or bolted metallic tag with a hole used to terminate a wire or cable on a stud to make an electrical connection. As assembly attached to in-running section insulators that quenches power arcs drawn by trolley shoes entering insulated runners. See Bracket Arm. Like an electrical sectioning diagram but including essential OCS design features and typically drawn to scale based upon civil alignment plan/profiles. An MOC will include provisional layout of the traction power substations, and the associated feeding/sectioning points in the OCS. Typically the location of additional operational sectionalization at track crossovers and pocket tracks will be shown. The type of sectioning arrangement be it an overlap, insulated midpoint, airbreak or section insulator will be indicated. On steeply graded track profiles the location of OCS fixed ends, midpoints and balanceweights will be given. The maximum wind speed in which vehicles will continue to be operated at their normal speed. The wind speed selected for pantograph security calculations. Typically 55 mph for LRT Systems.
284.
Magnetic Blow Out
285.
Mast Arm*
286. Master Overlap Chart (MOC); 287. Master Wiring Diagram (Syn)
288. Maximum Operating Wind Speed
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289.
Maximum Sag
The sag of conductors either at maximum conductor temperature or under a given radial ice loading, whichever is greater. See Kcmil The uppermost conductor in a catenary system. The conductor, which hangs in, the approximate shape of a catenary from which the contact wire is suspended by means of wire or loop hangers. A piece of insulating material inserted between messenger hanger saddles and messenger wires to prevent currents circulating through hangers. When given in tables for vertical clearance purposes: The increase in the height of the messenger wire at midspan, due to the combined effect of : An increase in messenger wire tension at low temperature. Wear of the contact wire. Uplift due to the pantograph or trolley collector pole pressure. See Stringline. A pole adjacent to the midpoint structure where the midpoint guy is terminated. The span guy that provides restraint in AT equipment. the midpoint
290.
Mcm*
291. Messenger or Messenger Wire
292.
Messenger Liner
293. Messenger Rise or Messenger Wire Rise
294. 295. (AT) 296.
Middle Ordinate* Midpoint Anchor Pole Midpoint Guy (AT)
The broadly horizontal guy wire, (preferably of galvanized strand for its light weight), that is anchored to the messenger wire at the midpoint (cantilever) of a tension section of auto-tensioned OCS. 297. Midpoint Structure (AT) The OCS support structure approximately midway between the two Balanceweights of a tension section of AT equipment where the OCS is anchored against along-track movement. The deviation of the static contact wire from
298.
Midspan Offset
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the superelevated midspan. 299. Mixed Operation*
centerline
of
track
at
See Dual-mode Operation
35 of 56
300.
Negative Feeder DC
In a DC rail system, the traction current return cable connecting the track rails or negative contact wire to the substation negative busbar. See AREMA Chapter 33. Negative Feeder. See AREMA Chapter 33. Floating Section. A proprietary type of section insulator. Insulator. See
301.
Negative Feeder - AC
302. Neutral Section (AC Only) 303. No-Bo 304. No-Load Tension or Unloaded Stringing Tension
The messenger stringing tension to be applied to a messenger alone so that, once the contact wire is suspended from the messenger, the messenger assumes the desired final sag and tension. The act of not connecting across sectionalization points by pantograph. See Out-of-Running. The selected temperature at which all the cantilevers in an auto-tensioned OCS are square (normal, mathematically) to the track. See Normal Tension. 1. The nominal selected tension for a conductor. 2. The tension in a conductor of a fixed terminated OCS at normal temperature range. 3. The tension in a conductor of an autotensioned OCS when tensioned by balanceweights within the auto-tensioned temperature range when the balanceweight stops are not engaged. The generic type of conductor configuration and tensioning system of a particular OCS. See Catenary and Direct Suspension.
305. Non-Bridging, NonCommutating* 306. Non-Riding*
307. Normal Temperature, Normal Setting Temperature. 308. Normal Tension
309.
OCS Style
310.
Offset The deviation of the contact wire/trolley wire in its static condition from the normal centerline of the track.
311. Contact Wire/Trolley Wire Offset
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312.
Pole Offset
The dimension of the centerline of the pole from the centerline of the track. Where more than one catenary is installed above one track, OOR catenaries do not provide passage for the pantograph because they are higher than, or offset from, the in-running catenary. That part of the traction power system comprising the overhead conductors (or single contact wire), aerial feeders, OCS supports, foundations, balanceweights and other equipment and assemblies, that delivers electrical power to non-self powered electric vehicles. A span of the overhead contact system where the contact and messenger wires of two adjoining tension sections overlap before terminating at opposite ends. The structures that position the two contact wires in parallel within an overlap section. That portion of the overhead contact system between two structures, where the contact and messenger wires of two adjoining sections overlap, thus allowing pantographs to transition from one tension section to the next under power. See Sectionalizing - Insulated Overlap Where a street, pedestrian walkway or railway crosses over the OCS tracks. NOTE. Bridge, Overhead Bridge, and Overbridge are ambiguous terms unless the location, under-rail or over-rail, are included. For the OCS dictionary, Overpass is the preferred term for a bridge overrail and underpass is the preferred term for a bridge under-rail. See also Viaduct An alternative name for the head of a pantograph, which carries the rubbing strips/carbon collectors*. A current collection device fitted on top of an electrically powered rail vehicle, hinged to allow
313. Out-of-Running (OOR) Catenary
314. Overhead Contact System (OCS)
315.
Overlap
316. 317.
Overlap Poles Overlap Span
318. Overpass, Bridge*, Overhead Bridge* or Overbridge* (Syn)
319.
Pan
320.
Pantograph
37 of 56
it to vary in height as it rubs along the contact wire. 321. Pantograph Clearance Envelope 322. Pantograph Head 323. Pantograph Pressure See Envelope, Pantograph Clearance Envelope . The uppermost part of the pantograph that is fitted with the current collector. The nominal upward force exerted by the pantograph on the contact wire. Typically 18 to 22 pounds. The analyses of the lateral relationship of the pantograph with the contact wire at a support/registration and at midspan, under prescribed operating conditions, including allowances for crosswind, track tolerances, vehicle sway, pantograph sway, temperature range and installation tolerances. Based on these analyses, maximum stagger, maximum span length on tangent, and span lengths on curves are determined. Lateral displacement of the pantograph induced by vehicle roll and lateral shock loads. Typical value 1 " each way (independent of pantograph height), unless specified otherwise. The distance the contact wire is lifted as a pantograph passes. See Pantograph Pressure An along-track aerial bare or insulated cable mounted on the OCS poles; or an insulated cable installed in a trough or duct, which provides electrical power reinforcement to the OCS by means of T-connected feeder jumpers at regular intervals. The design length where the two parallel contact wires in an overlap are suspended at the same height. See AREMA Chapter 33. Paralleling Station A type of support using two parallel hinges 12 to 24 long to support the contact wire keeping the contact wire oriented vertically as it lifts
324.
Pantograph Security
325.
Pantograph Sway
326.
Pantograph Up-Lift
327. Pantograph UpThrust* 328. Parallel Feeder
329. Parallel Running (Length) 330. Paralleling Station (AC Only) 331. Pendulum Support
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freely. 332. Pendulum Suspension An elastic hanger configuration in the form of a trapezoid hinged at each corner that maintains correct wire orientation of the trolley wire for use by trolley shoe and yet is free to move upwards under pressure from the vehicle trolley pole. A stick insulator installed square or near-square to the trolley wire pair for carrying two trolley clamps at the correct wire spacing and that can maintain insulation levels between them. See AREMA Chapter 33. Phase Break An OCS pole without a baseplate, that is directly embedded in a concrete foundation during pouring of the concrete, or grouted into a prepared corehole of a previously cast concrete foundation. An independent slender vertical structure with or without guy, used to support some part of the OCS. A connection or an assembly of small part steel components by which a cantilever assembly or bracket arm assembly is attached to the pole. The attachment over the top of a pole to prevent intrusion of rainwater. Fancy designs may be called Finials The across-track outside dimension of a pole and its attachments at vehicle level. 1. The side of the pole to which the cantilever or bracket arm is attached. 2. The side of the pole facing the track. See Trolley Pole Guide See Trolley Pole A frame support structure, typically of galvanized steel, consisting of vertical columns supporting each end of a horizontal beam. Two beams mounted on three columns would be termed a compound portal, etc.
333.
PH Hanger
334. 335.
Phase Break Planted Pole
336.
Pole (OCS) or Mast*
337.
Pole Bracket
338.
Pole Cap
339. 340.
Pole Encumbrance Pole Face
341. 342. 343.
Pole Guide* Pole (Trolley) Portal (OCS)
39 of 56
344.
Beam Bracket
A fabricated steel frame mounted on a portal beam, primarily for the attachment of cantilever assemblies. See Jumper A trolley overhead switch control system which operates in one position as the bus draws power from the overhead contact system and retracts to another position when the bus coasts through. A switch/contactor operated automatically by transit vehicles in city streets, which controls traffic signals to their favor. A trade name for a wrap-around type of dead end or guy grip. The static difference between the average contact wire height at the end hangers in a span and the height at midspan. Typically span/1000 in value. The tension, normally 30% to 50% of its breaking load, applied to conductor for a day or two to reduce long-term creep, after which it is reduced to normal tension for operations. The vertical alignment of OCS conductors relative to the track. See Wire Pull-off See Registration Arm A cantilever that provides registration of the contact wire towards the pole in relation to the centerline of track. A cantilever that provides registration of the contact wire away from the pole in relation to the centerline of track. A pulley block used in messenger support and in AT termination systems. See Registration Arm
345. Potential Equalizer (Jumper) 346. Power On-Off Switch
347.
Pre-Emption Device
348. Preformed or Preformed End Fitting 349. Presag
350. Prestress (of conductors)
351. 352. 353. 354.
Profile (overhead) Pull-Off* Pull-Off Arm* Pull Off Cantilever
355.
Push Off Cantilever
356. 357.
Pulley (AT) Pull-over*
40 of 56
358. 359. 360.
Radial Load Rail Bond Rail Return
A horizontal load dynamic forces. See Bond.
comprised
of
static
and
The combination of track rails, impedance bonds, and cables that provides the electrical return path for the traction current from the rail vehicle to the substation. The installed backward lean of the pole from vertical, before loading, such that when loaded the pole does not lean towards the load once the load is applied. The safe distance an ETB may move laterally away from its overhead wires-usually about 12 feet
361.
Rake
362. Range (Touring) or Travel*, of an ETB. 363. 364. 365. Range of Pantograph Operating Maximum
The operating height range for Pantographs to operate normally The range of a pantograph between its upper limit stop, and its lock-down height. See Cantilever Reach Lateral stabilizing (with or without support), of conductors to maintain a fixed horizontal location relative to the track. The lateral restrainer on the contact wire at a structure or other point of registration, such as at a wire pull-off. The lowest pipe of a cantilever, to which a steady arm or a registration arm is attached, with or without a drop bracket. See also Steady Arm. A span guy between poles for contact or trolley wire registration; usually the lower of two horizontal span wires. See Adjustments A contact wire or trolley wire support embodying
366.
Reach
367. Registration or Alignment* 368. Registration Arm or Steady Arm 369. Registration Pipe
370. Registration Span Wire or Registration Span Guy 371. Regulation* or Regulating* 372. Resilient Arm 373. For Direct Suspension
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374.
For Catenary
a sprung suspension, typically used under decks or in tunnels where cross-spans and bridles cannot be installed. A combined registration and support assembly with vertical resilience, used for support of catenary conductors in situations of restricted clearance such as tunnels and overbridges, or for providing a soft contact wire suspension where a messenger or messenger bridle is not present. The circuit for the traction return current utilizes track rails or negative contact wire to a location near to a traction substation, where it is connected by the Negative Feeders to the substation negative busbar. Typically used in maintenance shops and at moveable bridges. An overhead contact system using an un-tensioned contact wire relying on continuous support, (such as proprietary aluminum extrusions or T-bars) or barn hangers at close spacing to supply the necessary rigidity. An untensioned self-supporting (copper) conductor rail, such as double lobe bar. A vertical conduit and cable supplying traction current from an underground feeder system to the OCS. Right-of-way; a definition of land ownership; the available space for a railway. See Contact Strip See Equivalent Span. The inside faces of the rail heads of a track. The fitting that supports a hanger on the messenger wire, sometimes fitted with an insulated lining to prevent current entering the hanger. A zone around the OCS in which OCS maintenance staff can undertake routine OCS inspections and maintenance, without there being some electrically grounded equipment, except plastic sheet, wood, stone or concrete,
375.
Return Circuit
376.
Rigid Contact System
377.
Riser
378. 379. 380. 381. 382.
ROW Rubbing Strip* Ruling Span Running Edges Saddle
383. Safe Working Zone (1500 volts or less)
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etc within easy/accidental reach. 384. Sag The difference between the average heights of a conductor at its adjacent supports and its height at the lowest point in the span. The act of installing messengers and other conductors to the correct tension by measuring conductor sag. Charts referred to during wire stringing that give conductor tensions related to ambient temperature for use during the sagging operation. On older electrified lines, the long steel rods that support the center section of a portal beam from extensions to the portal columns.
385.
Sagging
386.
Sag-Tension Charts
387.
Sag Rods
43 of 56
388. Sectionalizing or Sectioning* 389. 390. Half-Tension Airbreak
The division of the OCS into electrical sections, while permitting trolley poles and pantographs to operate from section to section. An airbreak where the two parallel contact wires are each at half tension and are cut into a single contact wire over a distance of 100 feet to 200 feet. Half-tension airbreaks do not require additional contact wire anchor poles, thus making them a practical substitute for section insulators. Not recommended for new construction since overlaps are more conventional. A sectionalization point in an OCS formed by cutting insulation into the out-of-running sections of the two overlapping catenaries with at least minimum electrical clearance between them, which provide a continuous powered path for pantographs. A sectionalization point in an OCS formed at an insulated overlap with fixed terminations, by cutting insulation into the out-of-running sections of the two overlapping catenaries. An insulated midpoint can thus provide sectionalizing while replacing a midpoint anchor in an AT tension section.
391. Insulated Overlap or Airbreak*
392.
Insulated Midpoint
393.
Section Break
An electrical break in the overhead contact system. When two adjacent section breaks are installed, the section of OCS between them can be isolated and energized or de-energized. A device for isolating two electrical sections from each other. An OCS anchor pole without a down-guy. A proprietary electro-mechanical switch for setting the route for ETB trolley collector poles at a turnout, that is operated by the interaction of two contactors judiciously placed in the trolleywire pair in advance of a trolleybus turn and triggered by the relative position of trolley shoes. See Pantograph Head, Trolley Shoe.
394. Section Insulator or Section Isolator* 395. Self Supporting Anchor Pole 396. Selectric Switch
397.
Shoe*
44 of 56
398.
Sidewalk guy
Used where a normal down guy anchorage would occur on a sidewalk or other pathway and possibly be an obstruction to pedestrians and sidewalk vehicles. A sidewalk down guy is a down guy that is diverted to a vertical position for anchorage to the ground, by use of a horizontal strut braced against the pole at about halfway down the pole. See Catenary See Direct Suspension
399. 400.
Simple Catenary Single Wire System*
45 of 56
401. 402.
Sleeve Chaffing Sleeve A sleeve around a conductor to reduce damage from abrasion. A steel sleeve placed around a steel pole at ground line to protect against corrosion damage. A short length of smaller diameter pipe fitted into a larger diameter pipe to reduce the internal diameter of the larger pipe. A compressed copper sleeve around a conductor to repair local electrical damage. A custom-designed circular concrete tube placed in a drilled hole to provide a foundation for an embedded pole. See Foundation- Concrete Sleeve Type Steel brackets, frames, links, plates and yokes, etc, which are cut from stock steel sections for attachment of catenary assemblies, but not constituting part of a principal support structure. The underside of a tunnel roof or bridge deck. See Guy The distance along track between structures as determined by the difference in along track stationings. The horizontal length of contact wire between two adjacent support points (not necessarily the distance or difference in stationing between the support structures).
403. Ground sleeve, Reinforcing Sleeve or 404. Dog Collar 405. 406. 407. Pipe Sleeve Repair Sleeve Sleeve Foundation
408. Small Part Steelwork (SPS)
409.
Soffit
410. Span Guy, or Span Wire 411. Span Length 412. Actual Span Length
413.
Span Width
The distance across track or roadway (may be skewed) between the columns of a portal, headspan, or cross-span. Generic description for the frogs, switches, crossovers and curve segments used in trolley wires for vehicles with trolley poles. The transitions from tangent to curve track along which superelevation increases from zero to the
414.
Special Work
415.
Spiral (Track)
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selected value for the curve, and vice versa. 416. Splice, Splicer* A fitting for joining two conductors together capable of carrying the full current capacity and the breaking load of the conductor. The splice may be a mechanically using cones or setscrews, or use compression pins or a compressed sleeve, etc. See Feeder Spout. The stringline of the contact wire on curved tracks with inclined catenaries. (1). On a pole, the 4ft. to 5ft. long brackets made of small angle or channel sections mounted on the front of a pole and facing the track, a pair of which carry two or more cantilevers. Each cantilever carries its own catenary, and the cantilevers are spaced sufficiently to allow independent along track movement of each catenary. (2). In the OCS, a device for maintaining a set distance between two parallel conductors and used for registration purposes. See Knuckle. A mechanical device comprising a long spring and associated parts installed in an OCS (usually at one or both terminations) which compensates to some extent for variations in conductor tension due to conductor temperature. The (normally alternating) offset of the contact wire from the tangent or superelevated track centerline by registration at each support that causes the contact wire to sweep side to side over the pantograph head during vehicle operation. Increase or decrease of wire stagger due to along-track movement of the OCS under the influence of balanceweights, as wire temperature changes The additional contact wire deviation above the normal value of wind blow-off in a span, whenever the staggers at each end of the span are unequal.
417. 418.
Spout Sprawl
419. Spreaders or Spreader Bars*
420.
Spring Tensioner
421.
Stagger
422.
Stagger Change
423.
Stagger Effect
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424.
Stagger Gauge
A mechanical or electronic device that can be mounted on track rails for measuring contact and messenger wire heights and staggers. Usually the rate at which the contact wire crosses the pantograph contact strip in inches per span length, with the purpose of setting minimum and maximum values. Typically 1 inch in 20 feet would be an acceptable minimum, and 1 inch in 5 feet an acceptable maximum. See Insulator. The weight of the structure and any permanent load applied to it. This will include wire tension loads at nominal temperature. Loads due to temperature change are considered Live. A lightly loaded registration arm that serves to steady the contact wire from lateral displacement. See Registration Arm. A cross span guy for contact wires, usually the lower of two horizontal span guys.
425.
Stagger Sweep
426. 427.
Stand-Off Insulator Static, Dead Load
428.
Steady Arm
429.
Steady Span
430. Step and Touch Potential 431. Step Potential ( see IEEE Dictionary) The potential difference between two points on the earths surface separated by a distance of one pace assumed to be in the direction of maximum potential gradient. Syn: Step Voltage* The potential difference between the grounded metallic structure and a point on the earth s surface separated by a distance equal to the normal maximum horizontal reach, approximately one meter. Syn: Touch Voltage* Voltage difference between any two points accessible to passengers or workers on the transit system. See Balanceweight Stops. The process of installing overhead wires under tension The distance between the track arc and its chord
432. Touch Potential (see IEEE Dictionary)
433. Accessible Voltage (see IEEE Dictionary) 434. 435. 436. Stops* Stringing Stringline Value
48 of 56
between catenary support structures, measured at midspan. 437. Structure A principal support normally including cantilever(s)/bracket span; or eyebolts and See Grounding See Envelope, Structure Clearance Envelope A design table of span length and track curves that shows the maximum OCS span length for a track curve of a given radius. Conduit bends, cast into concrete foundations, for later use with or without extension risers, to accommodate feeder cables. A configuration of OCS components forming part of a larger OCS assembly. See AREMA Chapter 33. Displacement of the pantograph centerline from the vertical track centerline due to track superelevation. Lateral displacement of trolley wires from a ground reference point, e.g. centerline of bus-path, due to roadway superelevation. 447. 448. Surge Arrester* Swath (Pantograph) See Lightning Arrester The swept area above railway tracks at contact wire level that is covered by the pantograph during train operations, into which no part of the fixed facilities, except the contact wire, may intrude. The swept area of the roadway covered by the plan area of the trolley bus when driving on a curved bus path. See Stagger Sweep for the OCS conductors, foundation, pole(s), and arm(s) or headspan/crosscross-span.
438.
Structure Bonding
439. Structure Clearance Envelope 440. Structure Spacing Chart 441. Stub-Ups
442. 443. 444. 445. 446.
Subassembly (OCS) Suction Transformer* Superelevation Effect For rail tracks For ETB
449.
Swath (Trolleybus)
450. 451.
Sweep* Switch (OCS)
49 of 56
452. Disconnect Switch, Feeder Switch*
A switch typically installed at a sectionalizing point or at a traction power feeding point in the OCS or for isolating the positive feeder cable at a substation. Such switch would be designed only to operate off-load, usually by hand, hot stick or by motorized operation controlled remotely. See By-pass Switch. At traction power feeding points, pad-mounted disconnect switches may be located within the substation compound or on the adjacent feeder pole. Bypass disconnect switches are installed at the sectionalizing points in the OCS and are closed for normal train operations. An electrical switch typically between an OCS conductor and a ground rod, to enable the conductor to be grounded for safety when deenergized. An electrically operated disconnect switch under command from the Agency Operations and Control Center. An electric frog for trolleybuses, or a plain frog for streetcars, to allow trolley poles to enter a diverging route at a track turnout. Disconnect switches are customarily mounted on OCS poles, but can also be pad-mounted or mounted on walls.
453. 454.
Bypass Switch Grounding Switch
455. 456. 457. 458.
Motorized Switch Special Work Switch Switch Mounting Track Switch
459.
Synthetic Guy Strand
460. System Height or System Depth*
A track turn out A synthetic rope material, such as Kevlar or Phillystran, used in cross-span guying and messenger bridles. Not normally used in trolley pole operation The vertical distance between messenger and contact wires, at the support structure.
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461. Tail Wire or Tail Guy* 462. Tangent Chord Catenary 463. Temperature Stop* 464. 465. Tension Reducer Tension Length*
The wire that joins the yoke plate balanceweight assembly or deadend See Catenary See Balanceweight Stop
to
the
A strain reliever, usually a terminating guy connected at the shallow angle to a tensioned conductor to take up a portion of the tension. See Tension Section, See also Half Tension Section
466.
Tension Section
A length of OCS between two corresponding terminations with automatic tensioning or fixed terminations. See also Half Tension Section A method of controlling the configuration of conductors. Tensioning is normally performed by using balanceweights, but in certain situations, by spring or hydraulic tensioners. A device installed at one end or both ends of a conductor to maintain as constant a tension in the conductors as possible. Maybe spring or hydraulic units or balanceweight assemblies, Traction Electrification System - comprising of the Traction Power System (TPS) and the Overhead Contact Systems (OCS). Top of rail (as a vertical datum). Traction Power Feeder System. Traction Power System - comprising of the Traction Power Substations (TPSS) and the Traction Power Feeder System (TPFS) (i.e. duct banks and traction power feeder and return cables). Traction Power Substation A vertical curve in the track alignment producing a crest. See also Track Sag
467.
Tensioning
468.
Tensioner
469.
TES
470. 471. 472.
TOR TPFS TPS
473. 474.
TPSS Track Hog
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475. Track Raising Allowance
An allowance for additional vertical clearance at overpasses when determining OCS contact wire and messenger wire heights, to cater to future lifting of the tracks in order to improve the track structure.
52 of 56
476.
Track Sag
A vertical curve in the track alignment producing a dip. See also Track Hog Variations from design dimensions. Allowable variation between the levels of the two rails (or the designated difference in levels on superelevated track). Allowable variation in the track alignment. Allowable variation typically from 4 - 8. Allowable variation in track height. The electrical power supply to the OCS Tracks converging with point of switch last in the normal direction of travel. See Direct Suspension System . A curve of continuously increasing radius that connects a curve to a tangent or to a curve of larger radius. See Spiral. See Pendulum Support See Range Sheaves used in pulling wires during stringing preferably with one cheek that can be opened for inserting wires and pull lines. A bridging device between sections of trolley wire that is mounted on the soffit of the doorframes of maintenance shops that can be opened to allow the doors to open and close. Such a design must have a bridging piece or conductor bar aligned between the trolley wire dead-ends to provide a trolley path for use with trolley poles. or An electric power collector on a trolleybus or streetcar, which delivers current from the trolley wire to the vehicle.
477.
Track Tolerances
478. Cross Level Tolerance 479. Lateral Tolerance
480. Track Gauge Tolerance 481. 482. 483. 484. 485. Vertical Tolerance Traction Power Trailing Turnout Tramway Equipment Transition Curve
486. 487.
Trapeze* Travel*
488. Travelers, or Stringing Blocks 489. Trolley Door Bridge
490. Trolley Pole Collector Pole (Syn)
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491. Trolleybus, Trolley Coach*, Trackless Trolley*, Electric Trolley Bus*, ETB. 492. 493. Trolley Funnel Trolley Harp
A trackless rubber-tired public service vehicle for passengers propelled by electricity, which draws power from the trolley overhead conductors by means of two (positive and negative) trolley poles. See Trolley Pole Guide See Trolley Shoe The system of overhead trolley wires and their supports from which vehicles with trolley poles collect current See Direct Suspension System. The long shaft mounted on the roofs of trolley buses, streetcars and a few Light Rail Vehicles, with a shoe (current collector) at the top end that presses upwards against the underside of the trolley wire, to draw current. A device to steer the trolley pole collector shoe upward onto the trolley wire from the retracted position. An assembly comprising a carbon insert fitted into the holder attached to the harp at the top of a trolley collector pole to collect current. See Contact Wire The two trolley wires providing electrical power and return for ETBs. Typically spaced 2 feet apart in the US, bu t700mm in Europe. A catenary, feeder, or return wire support assembly for use in tunnels and normally mounted in the tunnel soffit. A Threaded device inserted in a tension member to provide minor adjustment of tension or sag. (IEEE Dictionary) The arrangement of a track switch and a frog with closure rails by which rail vehicles can be diverted from one track to another. See Contenary. OCS supports used beneath overpasses normally attached to their soffits. and
494. Trolley OCS, Trolley Overhead*
495. Trolley Pole, or Trolley Collector Poles*
496. Trolley Pole Guide or Funnel 497. Trolley Shoe
498. 499.
Trolley Wire Trolley Wire Pair
500. Tunnel support (assembly) 501. Turnbuckle
502.
Turnout (Track)
503. Twin Contacts (Wires)* 504. Underbridge Supports 505. Underpass or
Where a road or river crosses beneath the LRT
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Underbridge* 506. 507. 508. OCS Uninsulated Overlap Uplift Variable Tension in
tracks. An OCS overlap without provision sectionalizing. A construction overlap. for
The difference in height of contact wire when at rest and when subjected to an upward force due to current collectors passing. A characteristic of Fixed Terminated OCS, where rise in conductor temperature due to traction current and/or ambient air temperature results in lowering of conductor tension due to the expansion of the conductors. Similarly low ambient temperatures cause contraction of the conductors resulting in a rise of conductor tensions. See Auto-tensioned OCS which is also termed Constant Tension OCS*. See Stringline Value A long civil structure with rail tracks that on transit systems crosses over other rail tracks or over a road, or river or land, or buildings, etc., typically built on piers or bents. A light rod that is provided to prevent collapse in compression of lightly loaded registration arms due to wind forces. See Contact Wire Bridge See Contact Wire Gradient A pull-off using a registration arm, Single or Double Curve Hanger attached to the end of a guy wire, that does not directly support the contact wire, although it can be lifted by the vertical component of the registration load. The distance from anchorage to anchorage of an OCS conductor upon which the length of each OCS conductor is determined for requisitioning. A discrete Wire Run Number is assigned to each specific wire run for materials control purposes. A steel plate or casting on which two or more wires terminate on one side and continue as one wire on the opposite side (usually yoke-shaped and with lever action to distribute loads from a Balanceweight to the messenger and contact
509. 510.
Versine (OCS) Viaduct
511.
Wind Stay or Steady
512. 513. 514.
Wire Cross* Wire Gradient Wire Pull-off
515.
Wire Run
516.
Yoke
55 of 56
wire).
DICTIONARY OF OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEM TERMS
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DICTIONARY OF OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEM TERMS IEEE OVERHEAD CONTACT SYSTEMS COMMITTEE FOR RAIL TRANSIT DICTIONARY FOR

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

17. Anchor Dead-Man 18. 19. 20. Deadend

Pole Base Anchor Screw Anchor

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

21. Self Anchor (pole)

23. Assembly 24. OCS Assembly

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

25. Assembly Reference

26. Auto-Tensioned (AT) Equipment

33. Balanceweight Assembly (BWA)

34. Balanceweight Stops, or Temperature Stops* 35. Barn Hanger

36. Basic Impulse Insulation Level (BIL, bil) 37. Bent

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

38. 39. 40.

Blow-off Boat section Body Span Wire

Bolted Base Pole

Bond Impedance Bond

Rail Bond (traction) Structure Bond

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

50. 51. 52. 53.

57. Building Attachment 58. Bull Ring 59. Bus Path

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

60. 61. 62. 63. 64.

BW BWA Bypass Switch Cable Outlet* Cadweld

65. Cantilever 66. 67. Back-to-back cantilevers 68. Cantilever Assembly

69. Long-Reach Cantilever 70. Arm 71. Multi-Track Bracket

72. Reduced Height Cantilever

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

78. Simple Catenary Style

79. Compound Catenary Style 80. Stitched Catenary Style

81. Inclined Catenary Style

82. Low Profile Catenary Style

83. Chordal Catenary Style

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

85. Catenaries Dynamics 86. Chording of Curves

Collector Strip* Commutation*

96. Commutation Performance* 97. Component (OCS)

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

98. Compound Equipment 99. Compression Type Fittings* or Compression Fittings

100. Conductor Bar* or Conductor Beam* 101. Conductor Joints

103. Constant Tension OCS* 104. Construction Barrier

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Contact Wire Bridge

For (AT) equipment

Contact Wire Creep Initial Creep

116. Contact Wire Deviation

117. Contact Wire Door Bridge

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

119. Contact Wire Height (CWH)

120. Minimum Contact Wire Height

121. Maximum Contact Wire Height

Contact Wire Rise

125. Copper clad Conductor, also known as Copperweld 126. Corrosion

127. Electrolytic Corrosion

Dictionary of Terms for Overhead Contact Systems

132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137.