Improvements in or connected with Vehicles for Electric Railways or Tramways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th M+r., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Vehicles for Electric Railways
or Tramways.
I EDWARD HOPKINSON D.Sc. of Salford Iron Works Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In using the improved means of making the electric connection of an electrical
railway or tramway between the generating dynamo electric machine and the
motor machine on a tramcar or locomotive described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 16,128 granted to Dr. John Hopkinson and dated the 8th day of
December 1884, I have found that it is desirable to prevent undue vibration of the
conductor and also to allow of the readier passage of the collecting bar or bars or
rollers or equivalent contact part or parts past any accidental obstacle such as a
displaced support or insulator or wire.
To effect this according to my invention the collecting bar or bars or rollers or
the like is, or are, carried in such a manner that it or they can yield when necessary
to pass an obstacle and after passing the obstacle return to their normal position.
This is most conveniently effected by giving it or them freedom of limited movement
round a horizontal axis and by providing a spring or springs or other equivalent
device which serves or serve to maintain the said bar or bars or rollers or the like
in its or their normal position unless displaced as above mentioned and tend to
immediately restore them to their normal position when so displaced. This method
of carrying the collecting bar or bars or rollers or the like also permits of the level
of the conductors being lowered in passing under bridges or through tunnels or at
other places where desirable. The arrangement described will also prevent
unpleasant noise or vibration in the electric car or vehicle arising from the rubbing
of the collecting bar or bars or rollers or the like upon the conductor.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
CUMI LEIN DE MULTICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Vehicles for Electric Railways
or Tramways.
I, EDWARD HOPKINSON D.Sc. of Salford Iron Works Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In using the improved means of making the electric connection of an electrical
railway or tramway between the generating dynamo electric machine and the motor
machine on a tramcar or locomotive described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 16128 granted to Dr. John Hopkinson and dated the 8th day of
December 1884 I have found that it is desirable to prevent undue vibration of the
conductor and also to allow of the readier passage of the collecting bar or roller or
bars or rollers or equivalent contact part or parts past any accidental obstacle such
as a displaced support or insulator or wire.

page_text: To effect this according to my invention the collecting bar or roller or bars or
rollers or the like is, or are, carried in such a manner that it or they can yield when
necessary to pass an obstacle and after passing the obstacle return to its or their
normal position. This is most conveniently effected by giving the said bar or
roller or bars or rollers freedom of limited movement round a horizontal axis and
by providing a spring or springs or other equivalent device which serves or serve
to maintain the said bar or roller or bars or rollers or the like in its or their normal
position unless displaced as above mentioned and tend to immediately restore it or
them to its or their normal position when so displaced. This method of carrying
the collecting bar or roller or bars or rollers or the like also permit of the level of
the conductors being lowered in passing under bridges or through tunnels or at
other places where desirable. The arrangement described will also prevent
unpleasant noise or vibration in the electric car or vehicle arising from the rubbing
of the collecting bar or roller or bars or rollers or the like upon the conductor.
In order that my invention may be well understood I will describe with reference
to accompanying drawings two arrangements by which it can be carried into
practical effect.
Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a collecting bar
arranged in accordance with my invention and carried on the roof of an electric
vehicle. Contact is made with the conductor by the upper surface of the bar.
which is supported by the members which are connected to the supports or
standards d (affixed to the vehicle) by means of pins e forming joints which are in
the same horizontal line and give freedom of movement of the bar about the said pins
as a horizontal axis.
S
The movement round the horizontal axis is limited by springs f one end of each
spring being attached to the standard d at f' and the other end being attached at /
to a portion of the collecting bar or its supports as shown at e. The bar a in its
normal position lies as shewn in a vertical plane through the standards d but when
displaced by the friction of its passage along the under surface of the conductor or
by meeting any obstacle it will move about the horizontal pins c as a centre its
motion being limited by the springs which restore it again to its vertical position
when the obstruction no longer exists or the obstacle is passed. The bar a may
have the form of a roller turning upon pins fixed in the top of the vertical
members and may have extensions 9 turned down at an angle so that should
the conductor leave the collecting bar laterally it may more easily regain its
position.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 a side elevation of a collecting bar
having the horizontal axis about which it can turn much lower and therefore
with a longer radius of angular movement than is the case with the arrangement
Figures 1 and 2 the bar (or roller) a is supported by the members d which turn
about pins c in the same horizontal line. The said pins c are not fixed relatively to
the car but are attached to slide blocks or cross heads f which are free to rise or fall
vertically in jaws or slides of the fixings or standards. The pins c supporting the
members d project from one side of the slide blocks or cross heads and on the
other side links k are fixed with lateral extensions to which springs are attached
having their other extremities attached to suitable arms or extensions 2 of the
fixing or standard . The bar can therefore turn about the horizontal axis formed
by the pins c, and the axis can also move in a vertical plane so that contact is
always maintained with the under surface of the conductor. The springs tend to
keep the collecting bar and its supporting members always vertical but it is also
possible for it to trail or drag or lower itself when it meets with an obstruction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In connection with, or for, vehicles for electric railways, or tramways a
collecting bar, or roller, or bars, or rollers, having freedom of limited movement

page_text: round a horizontal axis so combined with a spring, or springs, that the said bar, for
roller, or bars, or rollers, can yield to pass an obstacle, but will be returned to its,
or their, normal position after passing the obstacle; substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this 25th day of February 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.