Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-16
Novel Electric Railway System.

An electric railway service system
which the inventor believes VIII effec-
lively dispense with overhead wires.
underground trollcys, and consequently
diminish the danger from shocks at
tending the present street railway
methods, has been devised in st. Louis
The system seems To be similar to that
with which the Westinghouse Com
pany Is experimenting. The current is
supplied from the power-house by
means Of fced-wire In the ground
along the track. II is tapped off this
wire into sxl0x17 cast-iron magnet
, boxes buried in the center of the track
| at intervals of 80 feet, more or less, as
| the size of the car requires. In each
box is an electrode magnet, compound
wound, TO stand from six-tenths of an
ampere to $50 amperes. This magnet
acts on an armaturc which applies and
releases the current from the wires
Projecting from the top OF this box
about half an inch and level with the
| rail is a capper knot the size of
quarter. This the inventor terms the
contact point, as ii is through il the
power passes into the motor of the car
The ordinary car can be used with but
little alteration. TWO powerful COM
pound wound electrode magnets must
be placed at either end. beneath the
platforms or attached To the trucks,
and connecting these the travelling
bar. made of thinly rolled copper. No
lotiaer 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 rail
used for connecting the negative eur
rent the circuit is thus completed and
the electricity from the feed wire is
permitted To flow out over the arma-
ture, through the little magnet, up into
the knob which communicates it to the
travelling bar or trolley. and is deliv-
'ered into the motor. When the trolley
has passed off the contact point the
magnet in the box lets go Of the arma-
ture and it drops. breaking the circuit.
The little box magnet is used solely to
hold the armature in place while the
car is passing and when the influence
of the big magnet above is removed
perfectly dead. Thus there is no cur
rent exposed at any time save directly
beneath the car. These boxes must be
placed at such intervals as to allow the
trolley to be continually in contact with
one. The patent also covers method
of controlling the negative as well as
positive current by means of these box
es, Two boxes are placed in the ground
= Il. &
negative current instead of using the
rail. as is now done. This prevents the
electricity from damaging underground
pipes.
For the location and correction of
any difficulty in the buried magnet
boxes fuse-boxes have been arranged
for. These viii be placed on the side
walk and have fuse connection with
all boxes on that block. or if desirable. |
the next five blocks. In case a ground |
or short circuit should come on at one |
of the boxes in the street it blows the |
fuse in the box on the sidewalk. The |
location of the trouble is shown at |
once, but the box itself remains per- |
fectly harmless to the public. The |
burnt-out fuse can readily be replaced |
by a conductor or motorman as his car
passes.
1t is claimed that the cost of placing |
and maintaining the new system will |
be fifteen per cent less than the over
head trolley method, and that water
has no effect ON the boxes, thus reduc- |
ing the scape of the current to a mini
mum. As compared with the under
ground trolley or conduit system. the |
is said to cost less. give less
trouble and is far more durable. In the
matter Of speed it imparts to cars it is
said to meet all requirements.