ELECTRIC TRACTION
Rule-94: Additional rules for electric traction:
(1) The rules in this Chapter
apply only where energy is used for purposes of traction.
Provided that nothing in this
Chapter shall apply to energy used for the public carriage of passengers,
animals or goods on, or for the lighting or ventilation of the rolling stock of
any railway or tramway subject to the provisions of the Indian Railways Act,
1890 (9 of 1890).
(2) In this Chapter the conductor
used for transmitting energy to a vehicle is referred to as the “line” and the
other conductor as the “return”.
(3) The owner of the line,
return, rails or trolley wire, as the case may be, shall be responsible for the
due observance of rules 95 to 108.
Rule-95: Voltage of supply to vehicle:
No person shall supply energy at
high or extra-high voltage to any trolley-wire or other conductor used in
direct electrical and mechanical connection with any vehicle, except with the
written approval of the Central or the State Government, as the case may be,
and subject to such conditions as the State Government may think reasonable and
proper in the circumstances.
Rule-96: Insulation of lines:
Every line shall be insulated
throughout.
Rule-97: Insulation of returns:
(1) Where any rails on which cars
run, or any conductors laid between or within 0.9 metre of such rails, form any
part of a return, such part may be uninsulated. All other returns or parts of a
return, shall be insulated, unless they are of such conductivity as to secure
the conditions required by sub-rules (2) and (3) of rule 98.
(2) Where any part of a return is
uninsulated, it shall be connected with the negative or neutral of the system.
Rule-98: Proximity to metallic pipes, etc.:
(1) Where an uninsulated return
is in proximity to any metallic pipe, structure or substance not belonging to
the owner of the return, he shall, if so required by the owner of such pipe,
structure or substance, connect his return therewith at the latter’s expense.
(2) Where the return is partly or
entirely uninsulated, the owner shall, in the construction and maintenance of
his system, adopt such means for reducing the difference produced by the
current between the potential of the uninsulated return at any one point and
the potential of the uninsulated return at any other point as to ensure that
the difference of potential between the uninsulated return and any metallic
pipe, structure or substance in the vicinity shall not exceed four volts where
the return is relatively positive, or one and one-third volts where the return
is relatively negative.
(3) The owner of any such pipe,
structure or substance as is referred to in sub-rule (2) may, in respect of it
require the owner of the uninsulated return at reasonable times and intervals
to ascertain by test in his presence or in that of his representative, whether
the condition specified in sub-rule (2) is fulfilled, and, if such condition is
found to be fulfilled, all reasonable expenses of, and incidental to, the
carrying out of the test shall be borne by the owner of the pipe, structure or
substance.
Rule-99: Difference of potential on return:
Where the return is partly or
entirely uninsulated, the owner shall keep a continuous record of the
difference of potential, during the working of his system, between every
junction of an insulated return with an uninsulated return and the point on the
route most distant from that junction, and the difference of potential shall
not, under normal running conditions, exceed a mean value of seven volts
between the highest momentary peak and the average for the hour of maximum
load.
Rule-100: Leakage on conduit system:
Where both the line and the
return are placed within a conduit, the following conditions shall be fulfilled
in the construction and maintenance of the system:
(a) Where the
rails are used to form any part of the return, they shall be electrically
connected (at distances not exceeding 30 metres apart), with the conduit by
means of copper strips having a cross-sectional area of at least 0.40 sq.cm. Or
by other means of equal conductivity. Where the return is wholly insulated and
contained with the conduit, the latter shall be connected with earth at the
generating station or sub-station through an instrument suitable for the
indication of any contact or partial contact of either the line or the return
with the conduit; and
(b) The
leakage-current shall be ascertained daily, before or after the hours of
running, when the line is fully charged; and if at any time it is found to
exceed 0.6 ampere per km. of single tramway track, the transmission and use of
energy shall be suspended unless the leakage is stopped within twenty-four
hours.
Rule-101: Leakage on system other than conduit system:
Where both the line and the
return are not placed within a conduit, the leakage current shall be
ascertained daily before or after the hours of running, when the line is fully
charges; and if at any time it is found to exceed 0.3 ampere per km. of single
tramway track, the transmission and use of energy shall be suspended unless the
leakage is stopped within twenty-four hours.
Rule-102: Passengers not to have access to electric circuit:
Precautions to the satisfaction
of an Inspector shall be taken by the owner of every vehicle to prevent:
(a) The access
of passengers to any portion of the electric circuit where there is danger from
electric shock,
(b) Any metal,
hand-rail or other metallic substance liable to be handled by passengers,
becoming charged.
Rule-103: Current density in rails:
Where rails on which cars run are
used as a return, the current density in such rails shall not under ordinary
working conditions, exceed 1.4 amperes per sq. cm. of cross-sectional area.
Rule-104: Isolation of sections:
Every trolley-wire shall be
constructed in sections not exceeding 1.6 km. in length, and means shall be
provided for isolating each section.
Rule-105: Minimum size and strength of trolley-wire:
No trolley-wire shall be of less
cross-sectional area than 0.5 sq.cm. or shall have an actual breaking load of
less than 2000 kg.
Rule-106: Height of trolley-wire and length of span:
A trolley-wire or a traction
feeder on the same supports as a trolley-wire shall nowhere be at a height from
the surface of the street of less than 5.2 metres except, where it passes under
a bridge or other fixed structure, or through or along a tunnel or mineshaft or
the like in which case it shall be suspended to the satisfaction of an Inspector.
Rule-107: Earthing of guard wires:
Every guard wire shall be
connected with earth at each point at which its electrical continuity is broken
and shall also be connected with the rails at intervals of not more than five
spans.
Rule-107A: 1[Proximity to magnetic observatories
and laboratories:
Traction works shall not be
carried out in the vicinity of geomagnetic observatories and laboratories
without the concurrence of the Central Government or of any officer authorised
by it in this behalf.]
Rule-108: Records:
(1) The owner shall, so far as is
consistent with his system of working, keep the following records, namely:
(a) Daily
records showing:
(i) The
maximum working current from the source of supply;
(ii) The
maximum working voltage at the source of supply;
(iii) The
difference of potential, as required by rule 99; and
(iv) The
leakage current (if any), as required by rule 100 and rule 101, and;
(b) Occasional
records showing:
(i) Every test
made under sub-rules (2) and (3) of rule 98;
(ii) Every stoppage
of leakage, together with the time occupied; and
(iii)
Particulars of any abnormal occurrence affecting the electrical working of the
system.
(2) Such records shall be open to
examination by an Inspector or by any person authorised in writing by an
Inspector.
1. Ins. by GSR 523, Date.28.3.1966, with effect
from 9.4.1966.
