CONDUCTIVE GASKET ASSEMBLY FOR A CORRUGATED ROOF OF A TRAIN CAR

摘要

An electrically conductive assembly for providing a low electrical resistance contact between an antenna and the corrugated roof of a train. The assembly comprises a gel and skeletal gasket member which has an electrically conductive skeleton encapsulated in a tacky gel. Multiple foam and gel members, typically made up of compressible at least partially open cell foam, are laid in the troughs and are thick enough, such that the top surface of the foam and gel members is about equal to or slightly higher than the top surfaces of the ridges of the corrugated train roof. The antenna is then laid atop the gel and gasket member and bolted to the roof with fasteners in such a manner that the tacky flowable gel at least partially squeezes out the edges of the gel and gasket member as the antenna is compressed downward while the fasteners are snugged up. This compression allows the electrically conductive skeletal member to provide contact between the antenna and the roof, the roof typically metallic and that results in a decrease of EMI (electromagnetic interference).

主权项

1. An electrically conductive assembly for providing a low resistance electrical contact between an antenna, the antenna having an underside, a footprint, and an antenna cable extending from the underside, and a corrugated train roof having multiple ridges with top surfaces and multiple troughs with floors, the assembly comprising:
a gel and skeletal gasket member comprising an electrically conductive skeletal member encapsulated in a tacky gel, the gel and skeletal gasket member dimensioned to have a perimeter about the same as the footprint of the antenna; at least one foam/gel member dimensioned to fit between the underside of the gel and skeletal gasket member and the floor of the troughs; and the gel and skeletal gasket member for laying atop the foam/gel member and the top surfaces of the ridges and beneath the underside of the antenna such that compression between the antenna and the roof will cause some of the gel of the gel and skeletal gasket member to squeeze out and will cause contact between the skeletal member and the roof and the skeletal member and the underside of the antenna.