The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-15
ANOTHER CAR SYTEM.
Inventor Proposes To Use the Mag
netic Principle on Street Traffic.


netic Principle on Street Traliic.
From the Boston Transcript
An electric railway service system
which the inventor believes Will II
fectively dispense with overhead WNes'
UNDERGROUND trolleys, and consequent
~ diminish the danger from shocks at
tending the present street railway
methods, has been devised IN st. Louis.
The system seems to he similar 10
that with which the Westinghouse
company is experimenting. Tn" cur
rent is supplied from the power house
by means of a feed-wire in ia" ground
along the track 1t is tapp'1 off this
wire into SX1OX17 cast-i"Or magnet
boxes buried in the center Of the track
az intervals of tnirty feet, more or
less as the size of the car rcldiTes.
n each box is ar electrode magnet,
compound wound, to stand from six
tenths of an amoCre to $50 ampercs
This magnet acts on an armature
which applies and releases the current
from the wires. Projecting from the
top Of the box about half an inch ana
level with the rail is a capper knot
the size of a quarter. This the inventor
terms the contact point, as it is
through it the power passes into the
motor of the car. The ordinary car
can be used with but little alteration.
Two powerful compound wound elec-
trude magnets must be placed at eth
cr end, beneath the platforms or at
tachcd to the trucks, and connecting
these the travelling bar, made of thin
ly-rulled copper. No other change is
necessary. This bar always touching
the contact points. conveys the power
into the motor, When a car reaches a
contact point the attraction from the
car magnet passes down through the
knob in the box and lifts the little
armature or connecting rod within
With the raj! used for connecting the
negative current the circuit is thus
COmplct d and the electricity from the
feed-Wire is permitted to flow out oven
the armaturo, through the little mag
net, up into the motor. When the troll
Icy has passed OF the contact point
the magnet in the box lets go of tht
armature and ii drops, breaking th'
circuit The little box magnet is uSeC
solely to hold the armature in plac,
while the car il passing and when tn,
influence Of the big magnet above il
removed the bar drops from it, leaV
ing the box perfectly dead Thus Their
il no current exposed at any time saw
directly beneath the car. TIL Sc bONe
must be placed at such intervals as I,
allow the trolley to he continually il
contact with one. The patent also Gov
trs a method Of controlling the mega
tive as well as positive current b,
means of these boxes. Two boxes ar
placed in the ground and one is use
for carrying off the negative curren
instead Of using the rail. as Is nov
done. This prevents the electrcit
from damaging underground pipes.
For the location and correction q
any difficulty in the buried magnet
boxes fuse-boxes have been arrange
for. These will be Ulaced on the side
walk and have fuse connection wit
all boxes on that block, or, if desiI
able, the next five blocks. In case
ground or short circuit should com
on at one of the box on the sdewall
The location of the trouble is shown a
once. but the box itself remains pei
fectly harmless To the public. ri
burnt-out fuse can readily be replace
by conductor or mOtorman as h
car passes.
1t Is claimed that the cost Of pla,
ing and maintaining the new systel
will be fifteen per cent. less than II
overhead trolley method, and that wa
er has no effect on the boxes, thus n
ducing the escape of the current to
minimum. As compared with the vi
oerground trolley or conduit syster
the innovation is said to cost less, gi'
less trouble and is far more endu