Nesting protection system for overhead metal structures

Abstract

Title: Nesting Protection System for Overhead Metal Structures The invention relates to a nesting protection system for overhead metal structures (1) forming a base suitable for nest formation, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element (2) including a smooth strip (21) of electrically insulating flexible material extending between two ends (22), and means (4) for attaching each end (22) of the smooth strip (21) to a portion of an overhead metal structure (1) to be protected, said roofing element (2) being capable of being curved in an installation configuration in which the smooth strip (21) extends in a curve over at least a portion of the overhead metal structure (1) to be protected. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Nesting protection system for overhead metal structures technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of railway equipment.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to an anti-nesting protection system for overhead metallic structures, typically relating to catenary supports such as railway electrical disconnectors. State of the art

[0003] The metallic structures of the catenaries present numerous areas suitable for bird nesting.

[0004] When nests are built in areas where ground and voltage are close together, there is a risk of short circuits resulting from branches brought by the birds to build their nests. Damage to installations can be significant and cause traffic disruptions lasting several hours.

[0005] The risk of electrocution for birds is significant when they frequent the dangerous area in which they have built their nest.

[0006] During nesting periods, agents conduct inspection rounds to schedule the destruction of nests for the following night. The speed at which nests are built during the nesting period renders this method ineffective.

[0007] Tests of installing vertical spikes intended to prevent birds from landing were not satisfactory, as the birds used the spikes to wedge branches which they drop in flight, vertically above the nesting area, in order to build their nest. Technical problem

[0008] The invention aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] More specifically, the invention aims to provide a solution to prevent nesting on metal structures such as those used along railway tracks. Summary of the invention

[0010] These objectives, as well as others that will subsequently arise, are achieved through the invention, which relates to a nesting protection system for above-ground metal structures forming a base suitable for nest formation, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element including a strip of electrically insulating flexible material extending between two ends, and means for fixing each end of the strip to a part of an overhead metal structure to be protected, said roofing element being capable of being bent into an installation configuration in which the strip extends in a curve over at least a part of the overhead metal structure to be protected.

[0011] The invention makes it possible to create a roof over the overhead metal structure.

[0012] This roof consists of one or more roofing elements.

[0013] The resulting roof is domed, very slippery due to the smooth nature of the strips, and flexible. Thus, branches dropped by birds cannot be caught, and the flexibility of the roof, along with its slippery surface, makes it difficult for birds to land on it.

[0014] Thanks to the fact that the strip of the roofing element, or of each roofing element, is electrically insulating, the creation of a short circuit is then avoided in the event of an accidental fall of a roofing element.

[0015] According to a preferred solution, the protection system includes at least one end element comprising a smooth cheek made of electrically insulating flexible material, and means for fixing the smooth cheek to the overhead metal structure to be protected, the smooth cheek being intended to be bent into a lateral opening delimited by the roofing element in the installation configuration to at least partially close the opening.

[0016] This allows the roof formed by the roofing elements to be closed, and helps to prevent the formation of nests.

[0017] Preferably, the flexible material is silicone.

[0018] The characteristics of this material allow the product to withstand ultraviolet radiation, ozone, and high and low temperatures. Furthermore, the hydrophobic nature of silicone limits the build-up of pollution.

[0019] Advantageously, the fastening means are magnets.

[0020] This facilitates the installation of the system, and allows for rapid intervention on the overhead metal structure by quickly and easily removing the system. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of various preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the accompanying drawings, among which: • [Fig.1] [Fig.1] is a schematic representation of an overhead railway metal structure; • [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a structure metallic aerial railway equipped with the protection system according to the invention; • [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a roofing element of the protection system; • [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of an element end of the protection system. Detailed description

[0022] With reference to [Fig. 1], an aerial metallic structure 1 is shown forming a base suitable for the formation of a nest. This structure 1 is notably of the railway type. This structure 1 is also of the type supporting an electrical component.

[0023] The structure shown corresponds in particular to a structure supporting a railway electrical circuit breaker composed of two insulators with blades at their bases allowing the opening of an electrical circuit. Such a metallic structure forms an ideal base for nesting.

[0024] The structure 1 includes, among other things, a post 11, and a frame 12 supported by the post 11. The frame 12 includes stringers 13 extending from the post 11, and crossbeams 14 extending transversely to the stringers 13.

[0025] With reference to [Fig.2], the protection system is shown installed on structure 1 of [Fig.1]. The protection system and the structure are included in one installation.

[0026] The protection system includes at least one roofing element 2. According to the present embodiment, the system includes a plurality of roofing elements 2. However, it is conceivable that the system may include only a single roofing element 2 which could have larger dimensions.

[0027] In this case, the protection system includes roofing elements 2 above the stringers 12, juxtaposed and aligned with each other along the stringers, and roofing elements 2 above the parts of the crossbeams 14 extending on either side of the stringers 12.

[0028] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, each roofing element 2 comprises a smooth strip 21 of electrically insulating flexible material extending between two ends 22. More specifically, the strip 21 has, when flat, a rectangular shape which extends straight longitudinally between the two ends.

[0029] This shape allows several roofing elements 2 to be placed side by side, as can be seen in [Fig. 2]. Other shapes allowing the same function are of course conceivable.

[0030] Each roofing element 2 also includes means for fixing 4 of each end 22 of the smooth strip 21 to a part of the overhead metal structure 1 to be protected.

[0031] These fastening means 4 are notably formed by magnets.

[0032] The magnets are positioned on the same side of the smooth strip 21. More precisely, these magnets are carried by supports bolted through holes provided at the ends of the strips 21.

[0033] In this way, the end 22 of the strip extends parallel to the surface on which the magnet forming the fastening means associated with said end 22 is coupled.

[0034] When coupling a roofing element 2 to the above-ground metal structure 1 to be protected, the roofing element 2 is curved in an installation configuration in which the smooth strip 21 extends, forming a curve over at least part of the above-ground metal structure 1 to be protected. This is made possible by the flexible material of the smooth strip 21.

[0035] At rest, i.e. not installed, the roofing element 2 can adopt any other shape resulting from the stresses it undergoes (for example when stored), or can adopt a planar configuration in the case where the material has an elastic restoring capacity in this planar configuration.

[0036] The flexible material is preferably silicone.

[0037] With reference to [Fig.2], the system also includes at least one end element 3. In this case, the system includes a plurality of end elements 3 (two of which are visible in the figure).

[0038] With reference to figures 2 and 4, each end element 3 comprises a smooth cheek 31 made of electrically insulating flexible material.

[0039] Each cheek 31 extends from a base 311 towards a high end 312. The cheek 31 has a flat shape in the absence of constraint, and can be curved in the presence of a force constraining it.

[0040] The smooth cheek 31 is intended to be bent into a lateral opening delimited by the roofing element 2 in installation configuration to at least partially close the opening, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

[0041] According to the present embodiment, the material constituting the smooth cheek is silicone. This material is notably identical to that of the strip.

[0042] By way of non-limiting example, the band and the cheek may have a thickness of between 1 mm and 8 mm.

[0043] Each end element 3 also includes means for fixing the smooth cheek 31 to the overhead metallic structure 1 to be protected.

[0044] These fastening means 4 are also formed by magnets.

[0045] Unlike the means for fixing the roofing elements 2, the means for fixing the end elements 3 include a bracket 41 coupled at one end to the cheek 31, and at a second end to a magnet support 42.

[0046] The bracket is in particular bolted through two holes provided on the base 311 of the cheek 31.

[0047] In this way, the cheek can extend perpendicularly with respect to the surface on which the magnet is coupled.

[0048] It is conceivable that the different configurations of fastening means 4 are interchanged between the end elements 3 and the roof elements 2.

[0049] According to a possible embodiment mentioned above, the system could comprise one or more roofing elements of larger dimensions than those of the roofing elements illustrated in [Fig.2], in order to avoid having to multiply the number of roofing elements to be juxtaposed, and to make the installation of the system on an aerial metal structure 1 to be protected faster.

[0050] A plurality of smaller roofing elements 2 facilitates the system's adaptability to aerial metal structures 1 of different dimensions to be protected.

Claims

Demands

1. A nesting protection system for aerial metal structures (1) forming a base suitable for nest formation, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element (2) comprising a smooth strip (21) of electrically insulating flexible material extending between two ends (22), and means for attaching each end (22) of the smooth strip (21) to a part of an aerial metal structure (1) to be protected, said roofing element (2) being capable of being curved in an installation configuration in which the smooth strip (21) extends in a curve over at least a part of the aerial metal structure (1) to be protected.

2. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one end element (3) comprising a smooth cheek (31) made of electrically insulating flexible material, and means for fixing (4) the smooth cheek (31) to the overhead metallic structure (1) to be protected, the smooth cheek (31) being intended to be bent into a lateral opening delimited by the roofing element (2) in installation configuration to at least partially close the opening.

3. A protection system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible material is silicone.

4. A protection system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means (4) are magnets.

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