Patent GB-190213438-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Electric Railway Systems for Parcels and the like with Automatic Operation of the Cars.
Inventor: MURRAY THOMAS EDWARD
Filed: 1902-06-13
Granted: 1903-01-29
Abstract: 13,438. Lake, H. H., [Murray, T. E., and Vleck, J. van]. June 13. Stopping e n g i n e s and trains. - Relates to an electric railway for the conveyance of parcels, mail matter, &c., in which the cars are operated automatically, being switched off the main line at their appointed stations ; safeguards against failure of the points, excessive speed, and collisions are provided. The line is double, and the stations are placed on loops above or below the main line, and current for the motors or the vehicles is supplied from sectional conductors which are normally kept alive but are cut out immediately in the rear of a car. Fig. 4 gives a general plan of the circuit at a station loop. The motor current is supplied from the main D to the sectional conductors L' through switches N<8>, but the section to the rear of a vehicle is cut out by a current through the auxiliary sectional conductors L<6> and coils M<12> which act on the switches N<8>. Resistances R on the feeders of the supply sections L<1> at the entrance to the loops reduce the current to and speed of the vehicle at those points. The common return conductor A<7> is continuous. At the entrances to and in the loop additional sectional conductors L', L<3>, L<4>, L<4a>,L<6a> are provided. Of these L<3> is used to send current to the coil M<11>, which operates the rail joints to divert the vehicle, and this conductor is placed in a different position at each station, and the brush or trolley on the vehicle is correspondingly set so that it will only operate at the station at which it is desired that the vehicle should stop. In case the points do not work satisfactorily, the switch C<6>, mechanically operated from the points, connects the conductor L<4> to the main and so supplies current to the safety devices on the car. The section L' supplies current for working the vehicle in the loop. The remaining sections L<4a>, L<6a> at the exit from the loop serve respectively to stop the outgoing vehicle or an approaching vehicle in case of danger of collision. The various sectional conductors may be placed between the rails and on a hook J over them, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. which also show the adjustably-mounted brush P concerned in the operation of the points. The roller T<1> which collects the current for the motors is mounted on a long spring arm D', which lifts when it passes crossings and so avoids short-circuiting. Fig. 10 is a diagram of the circuits on the vehicle. Certain of the circuits are shown in thicker lines to represent the condition of affairs when a vehicle is being brought to rest on the main line owing to failure of the points. The vehicle is driven by a motor K, and its speed is controlled by the brake U and by two regulating and resistance switches G, F in conjunction with various circuit-breakers and switches which determine the distribution of the current. The brake U is applied by a spring S' assisted by an electromagnetic coil or is released by the coil M'. The switch F is controlled by the coil M<6>, and the switch G is controlled by a weighted arm mounted on one of the vehicle wheels and acting on a centrifugal speed governor. The action of the various switches is fully traced in the Specification.