Patent GB-189920227-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with the Collectors and Conduits for Electric Tramways.
Inventor: TAYLOR ALFRED MILLS
Filed: 1899-10-09
Granted: 1900-06-16
Abstract: 20,227. Taylor, A. M. Oct. 9. Electric tramways on the conduit system with conduits such as are described in Specification No. 4727, A.D. 1899, and means for picking up, dropping, or changing the ploughs in case of obstruction or of change to overhead conductors or deeper conduits. Collectors; conduits.- The plough, as shown in plan in Fig. 6, consists of two conducting-strips M' connected by globe strain insulators M<3> or blocks of wood or other insulators and provided with U-shaped joints M<2> to g i v e flexibility. The forward parts M<12> are tapered to force in the contact-plugs E described in the prior Specification, and are also provided with a guiding-wheel N and in some cases with an inclined nose M<13>, Fig. 11, to clear the slot of obstruction. A brush O and scraper &c. 9 may be attached to the plough, or may be carried by the vehicle to sweep out the conduit. This collector is carried by the shanks M<8>, which have heads M tapered at each end, and these heads are received on the ledges inside the " picking up " box P, where plungers 5, as shown in the section, Fig. 9, make contact with the leads from the sides of the plough, but springs or other contacts may be used. The box P is supported from the vehicle by parallel-motion links P<3>, which may also be mounted on a vertical axis P<10> to give lateral as well as vertical play. The head of the shank M<8> may be prevented from slipping out of the box by a spring-held flap at the back which opens in case of obsiruction or at the will of the driver. Or the same object is attained, as shown in Fig. 11, by a link Q with a breakable connection engaging the nose of the plough. This link has a curved loop-shaped head to allow of rounding curves, and it can be raised or lowered from the vehicle. When an overhead conductor section is reached, the slots of the up and down lines run together as shown in Fig. 27 at 12, and the plough is dropped or picked up there. At the junction 13, a tongue 16 pivoted at 17, Fig. 26, opens one or other of the slots, and a guide-plate 19 underneath is thrown over to the same side but rather further by means of a pin connection 20 placed beyond its pivot 18. When different sections of conduit are used on the line, a collector such as shown in Figs. 15 and 24 may be employed. In this form, rubbers T' to work on continuous conductors are shown on bars T which are carried by links R from the upper collecting-bars M'. Extensions of the bars T are provided with rollers which engage guides at the junction of two forms of conduits so as to raise or lower the under collectors. When raised, the latter lie between the upper bars M', and may be held by catches, and the pivots which connect the various parts are provided with cams S which cause the lower bars to spread when lowered as shown in the section, Fig. 15. To increase the length of the leakage path, the conduit may be lined with wood A<x> as shown in Fig. 6<B>, and aprons M<21> of flexible insulating- material supporting by guard plates and provided with rubbing-pieces M<22> are attached to the collector so as to enclose the conducting-parts.