Patent GB-190408077-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the Trolley Heads of Electric Tramcars and the like.
Inventor: THOMPSON SAMUEL RICHARDSON
Filed: 1904-04-08
Granted: 1905-02-23
Abstract: 8077. Thompson, S. R. April 8. Electric tramways on the overhead - conductor system. Collectors.-Relates to the trolley heads of electric tramcars, and consists in providing means for automatically lubricating the periphery of the trolley wheels and the overhead conductors. Fig. 2 shows a side sectional view of portion of a trolley head with one form of the lubricating-means attached. In this form, the trolley-head is made with a cylindrical chamber c through which passes the axis d of the pulley swivel fork c. Upon this axis is fixed a piston f, which works in the chamber c containing semisolid lubricant. The axis d is hollow for a part of its length, and this portion is in communication with the chamber c by means of a series of holes dx. Fitting into this axis and above the holes d<x> is a tube j having a small bore and extending to a point immediately below the trolley pulley b, where it carries a small feed-wheel k yieldingly pressed against the trolley pulley. The lubricant is forced by the springs h through the holes d<x>, up through the tube j on to the feed-wheel, and so on to the periphery of the trolley pulley and the overhead conductor. The lubricant may be delivered on to the trolley pulley directly by the pointed end of the tube j, the wheel k being dispensed with. Fig. 4 shows a modification in which the lubricating-device is formed as an attachment instead of being made integrally with the trolley head. In this form, the cylinder is arranged to be moved, the piston f being fixed. In a further modification, the piston is fixed and the cylinder c arranged to move downwards to feed the lubricant. In another modification, the cylinder c and the spring h are arranged horizontally in the part marked a in Fig. 2, the lubricant being forced through a series of holes into the tube j, which in this form rests in one end of the cylinder c. Fig. 7 shows another form of the lubricating- means in which the upward force of the trolley arm against the overhead wire serves for feeding the lubricant. The piston f is connected to the pulley swivel, which is kept in the raised position by the spring w. With this arrangement, the lubrication automatically commences, or ceases, when the pulley is placed on, or taken off, the trolley wire. In addition to, or instead of, the above devices, the lubricant may be fed from the interior of the trolley pulley. For this purpose the pulley is formed with a series of holes a', Fig. 10, and a chamber b<2> out of which the semisolid lubricant is slowly pressed by the expanding spring c<2>. In order readily to insert the lubricant, one side of the pulley is made detachable. The Provisional Specification also states :-(1) that, in the pulley shown in Fig. 10, the lubricant may pass through the wheel axle and from thence through a tubular wiper into the groove of the wheel; (2) that when a liquid lubricant is used the wheel k, Fig. 2, may serve to actuate a small pump by which the lubricant is slowly fed to the trolley wheel ; (3) that the lubrication may also be applied to the trolley wheel axle and the vertical axle of the trolley wheel fork ; (4) that the wheel k, Fig. 2, may press against the trolley wire, the trolley wheel groove being lubricated from the wire.