Gauge Plate

Abstract

A gauge plate insulator includes a body having a first side and a second side positioned opposite the second, with the first side of the body defining a planar surface, and the body defining a first opening and a second opening, and a leg extending from the second side of the body and configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members. The leg is positioned between the first and second openings of the body, with the body and leg formed integrally from a fiber-reinforced polymer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gauge plate insulator comprising:
 a body having a first side and a second side positioned opposite the second, the first side of the body defining a planar surface, the body defining a first opening and a second opening; and   a leg extending from the second side of the body and configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members, the leg positioned between the first and second openings of the body, wherein the body and leg are formed integrally from a fiber-reinforced polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced polymer comprises at least one of fiberglass-reinforced polyester, fiberglass-reinforced vinyl ester, fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane, and fiberglass-reinforced epoxy. 
     
     
         3 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 1 , wherein fiber-reinforced polymer comprises at least one of E-class fiberglass and S-class fiberglass. 
     
     
         4 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fastener configured to be received by the first opening and to secure the body to a first gauge plate member and a second fastener configured to be received by the second opening and to secure the body to a second gauge plate member. 
     
     
         5 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a huck collar and huck pin. 
     
     
         6 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 4 , further comprising a first washer configured to be positioned between a portion of the first fastener and the body and a second washer configured to be positioned between a portion of the second fastener and the body. 
     
     
         7 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second washers each comprise a hardened flat washer. 
     
     
         8 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 4 , further comprising a metallic plate, first and second insulating washers, and first and second insulating bushings, the metallic plate is configured to be received by the first side of the body and defines first and second openings corresponding to the first and second openings of the body, the first insulating washer configured to be positioned between a portion of the first fastener and the metallic plate, the second insulating washer configured to be positioned between a portion of the second fastener and the metallic plate, the first insulated bushing received within the first opening and configured to receive the first fastener and the second insulated bushing received within the second opening and configured to receive the second fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening comprises a pair of spaced-apart openings and the second opening comprises a pair of spaced-apart openings, the gauge plate insulator further comprising a first elongate metallic plate extending between the pair of spaced-apart openings of the first opening, a second elongate metallic plate extending between the pair of spaced-apart openings of the second opening, the first and second elongate metallic plates positioned parallel to the leg. 
     
     
         10 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulating plate positioned in the first side of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 10 , wherein the insulating plate comprises a glass fabric impregnated with epoxy resin. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a gauge plate insulator comprising a body having a first side and a second side positioned opposite the second, and a leg extending from the second side of the body and configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members, the method comprising:
 impregnating a fiber reinforcement with resin;   pulling the fiber reinforcement impregnated with the resin through a forming die to form a profile of the body and leg of the gauge plate insulator;   heating the profile to cure the resin; and   cutting the profile to a predetermined length.   
     
     
         13 . A gauge plate insulator comprising:
 a pair of laterally spaced, elongated, planar metallic cores, each of the laterally spaced, elongated, planar metallic cores extend in a first direction; and   an electrically insulating material encasing the pair of laterally spaced, elongated, planar metallic cores, the electrically insulating material defining an insulating member that includes a T-shaped cross section defined by a body of the electrically insulating material and a leg of the electrically insulating material that depends from the body, the depending leg having an elongated dimension that extends in a second direction laterally to the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each elongated, planar metallic core has a first end and a second end; and   the elongated dimension of the depending leg extends between the first and second ends of each elongated, planar metallic core.   
     
     
         15 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 14 , further including a plurality of fastener holes, wherein each fastener hole extends through the body of the electrically insulating member and one of the metallic cores. 
     
     
         16 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 15 , wherein each metallic core is comprised of two of the plurality of fastener holes, wherein one of the two fastener holes of the metallic core is positioned between the elongated dimension of the depending leg and the first end of the metallic core, and the other of the two fastener holes of the metallic core is positioned between the elongated dimension of the depending leg and the second end of the metallic core. 
     
     
         17 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 15 , further comprising an insulating bushing in each fastener hole. 
     
     
         18 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 13 , wherein the body of the electrically insulating material defines a pair of plateaus that extend above a surface of the body that faces away from the depending leg, wherein each plateau encases a surface of one of the metallic cores that faces away from the depending leg and at least a part of a side of the metallic core. 
     
     
         19 . The gauge plate insulator of  claim 13 , wherein a top of the electrically insulating member forms an H-shape. 
     
     
         20 . A gauge plate insulator comprising:
 an L-shaped insulating member having a base configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members and a leg extending from the base;   a metallic backing plate having a first part configured to engage a first gauge plate member, a second part configured to engage the leg of the L-shaped insulating member, and a third part extending between the first part and the second part of the metallic backing plate and configured to engage a portion of the base of the L-shaped insulating member;   a first fastener configured to be received by a first opening defined by the first part of the metallic backing plate to secure the metallic backing plate to a first gauge plate member and a second fastener configured to be received by a second opening defined by the second part of the metallic backing plate and an opening defined by the leg of the L-shaped insulating member; and   an insulation plate configured to be positioned between a portion of the second fastener and the second part of the metallic backing plate.   
     
     
         21 . A gauge plate assembly comprising:
 a first gauge plate member having a thick section and a thin section adjacent an end of the first gauge plate member;   a second gauge plate member having a thick section and a thin section adjacent an end of the second gauge plate member, a portion of the thin section of the first gauge plate member overlapping a portion of the thin section of the second gauge plate member;   an insulating member positioned between the first and second gauge plate members;   at least one fastener extending through an opening extending through the thin sections of the first and second gauge plate members and the insulating member; and   an insulation plate positioned between a portion of the at least one fastener and the thin section of the second gauge plate member.   
     
     
         22 . The gauge plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the insulating member is thicker adjacent to a transition between the thick section and the thin section of the first gauge plate member, and wherein the insulating member is thicker adjacent to a transition between the thick section and the thin section of the second gauge plate member. 
     
     
         23 . The gauge plate assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the insulation plate is formed integrally with the insulating member.