Patent GB-190317179-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Electric Railway Systems and Apparatus for use therein.
Filed: 1903-08-07
Granted: 1904-07-21
Abstract: 17,179. Lake, H. H., [Morgan Electric Machine Co.]. Aug. 7. Electric railways on the third rail or overhead system. Conductors ; collectors.-Relates to an electric railway system having a combined third and rack rail which is placed between the two track rails. The conducting-rail is insulated in any suitable manner, and secured against transverse or longitudinal movement, as shown in Figs. 12 and 21, in which F represents the conducting rack rail. Fig. 13 shows the general arrangement and levers for actuating the track and rack rail connections at branch lines. Fig. 1 shows a sectional side elevation along the line 1-1, Fig. 3, of a double motor locomotive, a single motor locomotive being also shown in the Specification. Fig. 3 shows the gearing which connects the motors to the track and rack-wheels E, G. A double motor locomotive has two sets of such gearing, the axles being then connected through the additional shaft J'. The gearwheel K and that shown beneath it are arranged to give to the track-wheel E the same peripheral velocity as the wheels L, O give to the rack-wheel G, which is of smaller diameter. The teeth of the rack-wheels, being conductors, are insulated from the axle D, the insulation being shown in black, the current passing from the rack rail through the teeth of these wheels to the brushes T. The locomotive may also, if required, take its current from an overhead conductor. Au arrangement is also shown by which the track or rackwheels may be thrown out of gear with the motor as desired. Figs. 6 and 8 show another method of mounting the motors, the gearing in this case being by bevel-wheels, the two rack-wheels being connected by a chain. The locomotive frame is made of two parts, an inner and an outer, as shown in Fig. 6. The outer frame C carries the main part of the weight and is mounted on springs on the axles, the inner frame S<1> is mounted on its own wheels and is connected to the outer frame by springs B' and a bar P<2>. This inner frame carries the rackwheels and, as it does not carry much weight, can adapt itself to the variations in the rack rail. Two rack-wheels are always used, so that one at least is always in gear with the rack rail at crossings and the like. This construction of the frame is stated to diminish the difficulty of side pressure which is present when the rack rail is not placed along the centre of the track. In addition to ordinary brakes, the locomotive is fitted with that shown in Fig. 1, in which two sets of shoes B' are made to grip the motor brake-wheels by means of the handle Q. Fig. 8 shows another form of brake, in which two jaws N<2> actuated by screws clutch a fourth rail L<2>. The head of this rail is made beaded so as to prevent the wheels from jumping the rails. The electric connections are partly shown in Fig. 1, there being four possible ways for the ground return current. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 show three different arrangements for connecting the locomotive to the first trailer for use when the rack is not central, so as to diminish the side pressure.